Art Review: Nick Cave Show at the Momentary

Earlier this week, I wrote about Crystal Bridges, the museum in Bentonville in northwestern Arkansas. It’s now ten years old, and I’m still mortified to say I’d never visited until last month. So this temple of American art will observe its tenth birthday later this year and the first anniversary of the Momentary, its new and exciting contemporary space in an old cheese factory near the center of Bentonville. Wheeler Kearns Architects, a Chicago firm, retrofitted the factory into an arts space, keeping most of the industrial fittings, including catwalks, brick walls, and concrete floors.

The Momentary is a few miles from Crystal Bridges. I don’t know whether Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges’ founder and patron, was involved, but the two museums are connected by joint programming and marketing. Walton’s nephews and niece spearheaded the factory’s conversion.

About the Author

Brian T. Allen

Brian T. Allen is National Review’s art critic.

Earlier this week, I wrote about Crystal Bridges, the museum in Bentonville in northwestern Arkansas. It’s now ten years old, and I’m still mortified to say I’d never visited until last month. So this temple of American art will observe its tenth birthday later this year and the first anniversary of the Momentary, its new and exciting contemporary space in an old cheese factory near the center of Bentonville. Wheeler Kearns Architects, a Chicago firm, retrofitted the factory into an arts space, keeping most of the industrial fittings, including catwalks, brick walls, and concrete floors.

The Momentary is a few miles from Crystal Bridges. I don’t know whether Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges’ founder and patron, was involved, but the two museums are connected by joint programming and marketing. Walton’s nephews and niece spearheaded the factory’s conversion.