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The Portal drone show rendering
The Portal will inspire Crystal Bridges visitors to explore Jewel’s concept of the Three Spheres of existence: the inner world, outer world, and the unseen world, encompassing the human experience of mind, body, and spirit. When the spheres align, happiness, harmony, and well-being can be achieved, while misaligned spheres manifest as anxiety, anger, or unrest. Jewel has meticulously crafted each aspect of the art experience to harmonize the Three Spheres, creating a dynamic space and experience where inner thoughts, external actions and hidden emotions converge.
“Jewel’s vision for The Portal aligns beautifully with our mission at Crystal Bridges,” said Rod Bigelow, Executive Director and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for Crystal Bridges and the Momentary. “We believe in creating welcoming, transformative new experiences that disrupt and expand art conventions while enhancing wellbeing. Jewel’s creative vision does just that, and we’re thrilled to work with her to bring it to life. Nestled within 120-acres of Ozark forest in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature, Crystal Bridges is uniquely positioned to provide the space for this work.”
Known for her three-decades long, award-winning music career and mental health advocacy work, Jewel is making her mark in the visual arts world. Visitors will have an opportunity to witness her debut in the art world and celebrate creativity, mindfulness, and the transformative power of art at Crystal Bridges. Jewel's passion for art dates back to her childhood, predating her songwriting career, declaring visual art her “first love.” After studying sculpture and painting, designing sets, and embracing technology and audio components in her artmaking in recent years, Jewel's artistic journey has evolved into a holistic approach that extends to mental health advocacy, informing her creation of The Portal.
The Portal: An Art Experience by Jewel is on view at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas from May 4 through July 28, 2024. The experience will run Thursdays through Sundays most weeks. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for kids 11-18, and free for kids 10 and under. Tickets for members are $20 for adults, $12 for kids 11-18, and free for kids 10 and under. A cash bar and culinary add-ons are available. To select dates and purchase a ticket, please visit crystalbridges.org.
Opening Events
The Portal kicks off with an exclusive VIP Premiere on Friday, May 3. Guests will get a first look at the experience and can hear about Jewel’s creative process from the artist herself.
Set during the opening weekend of The Portal: An Art Experience by Jewel, Crystal Bridges and the Momentary are hosting the Wellness Festival. Happening May 2 through 5, the Wellness Festival will feature a variety of free and ticketed talks, workshops, culinary experiences, and family-friendly engagements by community partners, showcasing the profound connections between creative expression and personal health.
Sponsors
The Portal: An Art Experience by Jewel is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company, Stout Executive Search, Black Hills Energy Corporation, and Cynthia and Forrest Miller.
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About Jewel
Jewel is a 4x Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, visual artist, actress, New York Times best-selling author, and mental health pioneer. Best-known for her musical talents, Jewel’s passion and training in sculpture, drawing, and painting began before her songwriting career. Over the years, she has continued creating, working with paint and clay. In spring 2024, Jewel will make her debut in the art world at Crystal Bridges Museum of Art in Bentonville, Arkansas with The Portal: An Art Experience by Jewel, featuring her own painting and sculpture. Throughout her art, Jewel combines her passions for storytelling, experimentation and democratizing mental health. For the past 21 years, Jewel’s Inspiring Children Foundation and Jewel Inc. have brought specially-designed mental health programs to at-risk youth and to leading corporations. Jewel created SELLA, a language arts curriculum for schools integrating social and emotional learning and mental health practices, and recently co-founded Innerworld, an innovative virtual mental health platform. Jewel’s remarkable journey has taken her from a childhood with no running water on an Alaskan homestead to becoming a multi-platinum recording artist and mental health advocate. She has released 13 studio albums, including her latest release Freewheelin’ Woman, and will embark on a national co-headlining tour with Melissa Etheridge this summer.
About Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Since opening in 2011, the museum has welcomed more than 12.2 million visitors across its spaces, with no cost for admission. Crystal Bridges was founded in 2005 as a non-profit charitable organization by arts patron and philanthropist, Alice Walton. The collection spans five centuries of American masterworks from early American to current day and is enhanced by temporary exhibitions. The museum is nestled on 120 acres of Ozark landscape and was designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. A rare Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house was preserved and relocated to the museum grounds in 2015. Crystal Bridges offers public programs including lectures, performances, classes, and teacher development opportunities. Some 418,375 school children have experienced the museum through art kits, virtual visits, and the Willard and Pat Walker School Visit program, which provides educational experiences for school groups at no cost to the schools. Additional museum amenities include a restaurant, gift store, library, and five miles of art and walking trails. In February 2020, the museum opened the Momentary in Downtown Bentonville (507 SE E Street), conceived as a platform for the art, food, and music of our time. In 2026, Crystal Bridges will complete a nearly 100,000 square foot expansion that will allow the museum to expand access for all. For more information, visit crystalbridges.org. The museum is located at 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712.
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