Art for Two: Glass Bottle Stoppers (SOLD OUT)
2024-11-01 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
Art For Two is the perfect one-night class experience for two where you each take home a finished piece! Class materials and refreshments are included, no skills required – just come ready to create, unwind, and add some artistic spark to your evening.
In this session, learn how to control, manipulate, and add color to a rod of glass while shaping a unique and colorful wine bottle stopper.
Instructor: Donnell Williams

Art for Two: Bolo Ties
2024-11-01 18:00 - 21:00
Art For Two is the perfect one-night class experience for two where you each take home a finished piece! Class materials and refreshments are included, no skills required – just come ready to create, unwind, and add some artistic spark to your evening.
In this session, make a bolo tie by soldering hardware to a steel plate and applying color in the design of your choice. Add a bright cord tie to your bolo and wear it home.
Instructor: Myriam Saavedra

Gallery Tour
2024-11-02 10:30 - 11:30, 2024-11-09 10:30 - 11:30, 2024-11-16 10:30 - 11:30
Drop in and discover AMFA with a free docent-led tour through the galleries!
With this fun, engaging, and memorable experience, guests of all ages are invited to explore the art on view while learning how to interpret and appreciate works of art in various media.

Photo by Jason Masters.

The Legend of Sleepy Flurffy
2024-11-02 11:00 - 12:45
Spooky season is upon us, and Flurffy and his friends are preparing to put on their annual fall play. But will their mysterious director, Mr. Crane, prove to be a pain in the neck? Can Flurffy and the gang battle their stage fright, or will they balk under pressure to produce the perfect show?
New songs and interactive storytelling combine to delight little ones and families alike! The program runs about 30 minutes, with showtimes starting at 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

The Legend of Sleepy Flurffy is supported by the Alice L. Walton Foundation.

Gallery Engagement
2024-11-03 13:30 - 15:00, 2024-11-10 13:30 - 15:00, 2024-11-17 13:30 - 15:00
AMFA’s welcoming and enthusiastic docents are available throughout the galleries to answer questions and help guests connect with art in a deeper, more meaningful manner.
We invite you to drop by, say hello to a docent, and discover new details, insights, and stories about your favorite art and artists while exploring the galleries at your own pace.

Photo by Jason Masters.

Bright Nights
2024-11-06 17:00 - 20:00, 2024-11-13 17:00 - 20:00, 2024-11-20 17:00 - 20:00
Spend the holiday season at AMFA enjoying a night of live jazz and festive vibes. Immerse yourself in the glowing ambiance of the Cultural Living Room, where the melodies meld perfectly with a glass of bubbly champagne and gourmet snacks.
This experience extends into the galleries, where our docents will elevate your evening with an illuminating conversation about the art on view. Wrap up the night (and maybe a few gifts) with a shopping trip to the Museum Store.
Drinks and music start at 5:00 p.m. in the Cultural Living Room. Gallery engagements start at 6:30 p.m. in the Galleries.

Bright Nights is supported by Stella Boyle Smith Trust, Catherine and Michael Mayton, Trustees.

Member Mingle: Undivided
2024-11-07 17:00 - 17:45
Members are invited to stop by the Museum and get an exclusive crash course on the artists featured in Undivided.
Learn all about Theaster Gates and Nari Ward during this casual hangout before the lecture begins. Consider this the perfect opportunity to get to know other Members and gain an insider perspective on these two world-renowned artists.
The program starts promptly at 5:15 p.m.
Not an AMFA Member? Join today for access to this event.

Undivided: Theaster Gates/Nari Ward is supported by the Alice L. Walton Foundation.
In-kind support provided by Moon Distributors Inc. and O’Connor Distributing.
Image courtesy of Jason Masters.

Undivided: Theaster Gates/Nari Ward
2024-11-07 18:00 - 19:30
Theaster Gates and Nari Ward, two internationally recognized artists, will sit down for a once-in-a-lifetime conversation as they delve deep into unexplored territories within their artistic practices.
AMFA’s Undivided series redefines the traditional conventions of an Artist Talk by pairing contemporary artists together to interview each other, creating nothing less than an unforgettable dialogue.
Gates and Ward see art as a tool for social change, creating work that is familiar but disruptive. Through their innovative approaches to found objects, these artists reflect their communities while confronting issues ranging from value to spiritualism.

About Theaster Gates
Theaster Gates is an artist whose practice finds roots in conceptual formalism, sculpture, space theory, land art, and performance. Trained in urban planning and within the tradition of Japanese ceramics, Gates’s artistic philosophy is guided by the concepts of Shintoism, Buddhism and Animism – most notably honoring the “spirit within things.”

Foundational to Gates’s practice is his custodianship and critical redeployment of culturally significant Black objects, archives, and spaces. Through the expansiveness of his approach as a thinker, maker, and builder, Gates extends the life of disappearing and bygone histories, places, traditions, and loved ones.

Gates has exhibited and performed at the Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan (2024); the Contemporary Art Museum Houston, Houston, Texas (2024); The LUMA Foundation, Arles, France (2024, 2023); The New Museum, New York, (2022); The Aichi Triennial, Tokoname (2022); The Serpentine Pavilion, London (2022); The Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK (2021); Whitechapel Gallery, London, UK (2013 and 2021); Tate Liverpool, UK (2020); Haus der Kunst, Munich (2020); Walker Art Center, Minneapolis (2019); Palais de Tokyo Paris, France (2019); Sprengel Museum Hannover, Germany (2018); Kunstmuseum Basel, Switzerland (2018); National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., USA (2017); Art Gallery of Ontario, Canada (2016); Fondazione Prada, Milan, Italy (2016); Kunsthaus Bregenz, Austria (2016); Punta della Dogana, Venice, Italy (2013); and dOCUMENTA (13), Kassel, Germany (2012).

Gates is the recipient of numerous awards and honorary degrees including the Isamu Noguchi Award (2023); National Buildings Museum Vincent Scully Prize (2023); Frederick Kiesler Prize for Architecture and the Arts (2022); an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Institute of British Architects (2021); the World Economic Forum Crystal Award (2020); J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development (2018); Nasher Sculpture Prize (2018); Sprengel Museum Kurt Schwitters Prize (2017); and Artes Mundi 6 Prize (2015).

Learn more about this artist here.

About Nari Ward
Nari Ward (b. 1963, St. Andrew, Jamaica; lives and works in New York) is known for his sculptural installations composed of discarded material found and collected in his neighborhood. He has repurposed objects such as baby strollers, shopping carts, bottles, doors, television sets, cash registers and shoelaces, among other materials. Ward re-contextualizes these found objects in thought provoking juxtapositions that create complex, metaphorical meanings to confront social and political issues surrounding race, poverty, and consumer culture. He intentionally leaves the meaning of his work open, allowing the viewer to provide his or her own interpretation.

One of his most iconic works, Amazing Grace, was produced as part of his 1993 residency at The Studio Museum in Harlem in response to the AIDS crisis and drug epidemic of the early 1990s. For this large-scale installation, Ward gathered more than 365 discarded baby strollers—commonly used by the homeless population in Harlem to transport their belongings—which he bound with twisted fire hoses in an abandoned fire station in Harlem. Echoing through the space was an audio recording of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson’s Amazing Grace on repeat. The lyrics speak about redemption and change, generating optimism and a sense of hope. As with most of his work, this installation explored themes informed by the materials, community, and location in which Ward was working. The work has since been recreated at the New Museum Studio in 2019, the New Museum’s Studio 231 series in 2013, and in several locations across Europe. With each change of context, the significance of the work changes as each community associates differently with these found objects.

Learn more about this artist here.

Undivided: Theaster Gates/Nari Ward is supported by the Alice L. Walton Foundation.
Photo of Nari Ward by Axel Dupeux.

Art Together with ASL Interpretation
2024-11-09 10:30 - 11:30
For guests who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, drop in and discover the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts with a docent-led gallery tour accompanied by an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter.
This fun, engaging, and memorable tour provides all guests the opportunity to explore the art on view while learning how to appreciate works of art.

Art Together with ASL Interpretation is supported by Judy C Thompson Rev. Trust.
Photo: Iwan Baan

Family Theatre Games
2024-11-09 13:00 - 14:30, 2024-11-15 18:00 - 19:30
Unplug and connect for a night of family fun! Explore classic parlor games from charades to the laughing game – there is something for the whole family to enjoy.

Making Together: Fall Botanical Watercolor Painting
2024-11-10 14:00 - 16:00
Experiment with watercolors while you and your little one paint side-by-side to create a vibrant botanical painting using leaves, flowers, and other natural materials.

Festive Winter Dish Workshop
2024-11-12 18:00 - 21:00
Learn how to make a small, festive winter-themed dish using colorful polymer clay! All skill levels are welcome and all supplies are included.
Work will be fired after class for later pick up.

Dish by Danya Golden.

Woodblock Printmaking Workshop
2024-11-13 13:00 - 16:00
Create a woodblock inspired by AMFA’s exhibition The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art.
Learn how to design, carve, and print in this one-day workshop open to all beginner and experienced printmaking students.

The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art is presented by Terri and Chuck Erwin.
The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art is organized by the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia, and toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington, D.C.
Photo courtesy of Jason Masters.

Member Mingle: Bright Nights
2024-11-13 17:00 - 20:00
Members are invited to kick off the holiday season at a special edition of Bright Nights. Your first glass of bubbly is on us!
Check in to receive a special gift from the Museum that will help you celebrate all season long, then mingle with familiar faces and make new friends.
This experience extends into the galleries, where our docents will elevate your evening with an illuminating conversation about the art on view. Wrap up the night (and maybe a few gifts) with a shopping trip to the Museum Store.
Drinks and music start at 5:00 p.m. in the Cultural Living Room. Gallery engagements start at 6:30 p.m. in the Galleries.
Not an AMFA Member? Join today for access to this event.

Bright Nights is supported by Stella Boyle Smith Trust, Catherine and Michael Mayton, Trustees.
In-kind support provided by Moon Distributors Inc. and O’Connor Distributing.
Image courtesy of Jason Masters.

Ceramic Flower Dish Workshop
2024-11-14 18:00 - 21:00
Find inspiration from AMFA’s exhibition The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art to make your own ceramic artwork. Hand form and pinch a decorative ceramic flower dish with colorful petals.
This is a perfect workshop for those without any previous clay experience!

The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art is presented by Terri and Chuck Erwin.
The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art is organized by the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia, and toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington, D.C.
Ceramics dishes by Kelly Edwards.

Concert Series: Hiss Golden Messenger
2024-11-14 19:30 - 21:00
Singer-songwriter M.C. Taylor, known for leading the band Hiss Golden Messenger, finds himself in a joyful and eternal state with his new album Jump for Joy. Reflecting on his journey leading a band through various stages and venues, Jump for Joy explores the role of music in Taylor’s life, capturing the highs and lows of touring, creativity, and self-discovery.
Taylor takes listeners on a journey in Jump for Joy, presented as postcards between himself and his younger self, Michael Crow. Produced at Sonic Ranch studio in Texas, the album dances with spontaneous energy, accompanied by Taylor’s live band.
With tracks like 20 Years and Nickel and Nu-Grape, Taylor contemplates the pursuit of art, the passage of time, and the essence of existence. Through heartfelt lyrics and evocative melodies, Jump for Joy celebrates the joy of life, making it a timeless and special addition to Hiss Golden Messenger’s discography.

Photo by Graham Tolbert.

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The 2024-2025 Concert Series is supported by Saracen Casino Resort.

Glass Icicle Workshop (SOLD OUT)
2024-11-16 09:00 - 13:00
Learn how to make a glass icicle over a torch flame during this fun, one-day workshop. Thin and thick glass rods will be used to decorate your icicle into a colorful and eye-catching creation.

Glass icicles by Donnell Williams.

Holiday Bolo Ties Workshop
2024-11-16 13:00 - 16:00
Learn how to create a custom bolo tie by soldering bolo hardware to a steel plate and applying color in the design of your choice. Add a bright cord tie, and your creation will become a hit at your next holiday party!

Bolo tie by Myriam Saavedra.

Making Together: Embellished Holiday Cards
2024-11-16 14:00 - 16:00
Work side-by-side with your little one while learning how to emboss paper with the printing press, experiment with pop-ups, and explore collage techniques to create embellished holiday cards for everyone on your mailing list.

Art Journaling and Bookbinding Workshop
2024-11-19 13:00 - 16:00
Explore the art on view in AMFA’s exhibition Studio Time + Studio Practice and discover how raw materials can be transformed by making your own art.
Use color, writing, layering, and more to create a beautifully expressive journal while exploring art-making and traditional bookbinding techniques.

Studio Time + Studio Practice is presented by Jackye and Curtis Finch Jr. and the Alan DuBois Fund for Contemporary Craft.
Photo courtesy of Jason Masters.

Glass Snowflake Workshop (SOLD OUT)
2024-11-19 13:00 - 16:00
Create beautiful glass snowflakes to decorate your home or give away as gifts.
Learn about the fundamentals of glass fusing, including an overview of glass cutting to make diamonds and other geometric shapes that form each snowflake’s design.

Glass snowflakes by Sandra Graham.

Art Together for Guests with Dementia and Their Caregivers
2024-11-19 14:00 - 16:00
Drop in and discover AMFA with a docent-led tour through the galleries!
Led by trained docents and specialists, this tour welcomes guests living with dementia or Alzheimer’s – along with their caregivers and family members – to connect and use art to build cognitive skills. The afternoon concludes with a studio workshop with art educators who lead artmaking activities that build creativity and encourage play.
For ease of accessibility, guests are encouraged to arrive early, park on Crescent Drive off Ninth Street on the north side of the Museum, and enter through the Courtyard Entrance.
Availability is limited, so please register yourself and your loved one as soon as possible.

Art Together: Guests with Dementia and their Caregivers is a collaboration with Alzheimer’s Arkansas and is supported by Judy C Thompson Rev. Trust

The World of Art Nouveau
2024-11-20 17:30 - 19:00
AMFA Circle Society Members, Corporate Partners, Benefactors, and Collectors Group members are invited to learn more about The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art from one of its curators, Dr. Lloyd DeWitt.
Enjoy cocktails and conversation, meet our special guest, and hear exciting insights on the works selected for the exhibition.
Not in Circle Society? Join today for access to this event.

The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art is presented by Terri and Chuck Erwin.
The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art is organized by the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia, and toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington, D.C.

In-kind support provided by Moon Distributors Inc. and O’Connor Distributing.
ARTWORK: Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory, Waterlily Vase, 1900, blown and cameo-carved glass, 6 x1/4 x 7 3/8 x 3 7/8 in., On loan from the Chrysler Museum of Art: Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. 71.6687. Image courtesy of the Chrysler Museum of Art. Photography by Edward Pollard. © Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory.
