Crystal Bridges and the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese Announce Navigating Lolelaplap | Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (original) (raw)

New exhibition highlights Marshallese Indigenous culture and rich local community

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese (ACOM) today announced Navigating Lolelaplap, a new exhibition that honors the Marshallese community by infusing a reverence for tradition with an eagerness to celebrate Marshallese Indigenous culture here and now. Opening Saturday, October 19, the focus show features objects and stories shared from community members and works created by local artists and makers.

In the Marshallese language, “Lolelaplap” is the name for the Marshall Islands. Located in the Pacific Ocean about halfway between Hawaii and the Philippines, the island nation consists of five islands and 29 atolls (ring-shaped coral islands that encircle a lagoon). While separated by more than 6,000 miles, Lolelaplap and Northwest Arkansas share a close connection: Northwest Arkansas is the home to the largest concentration of Marshall Islanders in the United States. Navigating Lolelaplap explores that intergenerational connection rooted right here in the region.

Developed through a multi-year partnership between ACOM and Crystal Bridges, the show features works including Canoe of One Community, a traditional kōrkōr canoe built by master boat-builder Liton Beasa in 2021 on the Crystal Bridges grounds. The exhibition also includes _Manit Day Weaving (_2023), a woven mat made of pandanus leaves and spray-painted by local artist Helamr Anitok; and two dresses, one of which was made by Tie Lawin and Fressana Lawin that features a stick chart design and was worn at last year’s Stroll the Atolls event in Springdale.

Crystal Bridges will commemorate the opening of Navigating Lolelaplap with a celebration on October 19 featuring free family activities, art making, a gallery talk, guided tour of the exhibition, and more. Navigating Lolelaplap is on view at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art from October 19, 2024, through March 31, 2025. The exhibition is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit the museum’s website.

WHAT: Navigating Lolelaplap opening day

WHEN: Saturday, October 19

Early American Art Gallery
- 1 – 1:45 PM | Opening Conversation with Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese Chief Executive Officer Melisa Laelan and Crystal Bridges Curator of Contemporary Art Alejo Benedetti
- 1:45 – 2:30 PM | Guided Tour of Navigating Lolelaplap
Durand & Estes Studios
- 1 – 4 PM | Drop-in Artmaking: Stick Charts
- 1 – 4 PM | Weaving Studio Demo
Walker Landing
- 12:30, 1:30, and 2:30 PM | Traditional Marshallese Performances

WHERE: Crystal Bridges | 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, AR 72712

WHO: Families, art lovers, the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese, and more.

WHY: Celebrating the opening of Navigating Lolelaplap, Crystal Bridges’ newest focus show.

HOW: Navigating Lolelaplap is free and open to the public.

Media interviews will be available following the guided tour of Navigating Lolelaplap at 2:30 PM on Saturday, October 19.
Media should email their RSVP for the Opening Day Celebration to Crystal Bridges Public Relations Coordinator, Emma Claybrook, at emma.claybrook@crystalbridges.org.