Social Connecting

Social Connecting (While Social Distancing) with the Community

During the early months of the pandemic, Crystal Bridges and the Momentary wanted to determine how best to help the region’s vulnerable communities and bridge the inequity gap widened by the effects of COVID-19.

After speaking with community partners, such as the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences’s Community Health and Research team and Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education, and assessing our resources, the museum identified a need for social connecting. The Social Connecting Campaign was established to foster connections with vulnerable, isolated groups. Community partners raised concerns about the negative effects of isolation for seniors, healthcare workers, and hospital patients. They were enthusiastic about using the arts to provide comfort and joy during a time of extreme isolation and to support mental health and well-being. Sara Segerlin, head of community programs at Crystal Bridges, shared that feedback from community members expressed a “big need for the arts to serve as a catalyst for social belonging and community cohesion across Northwest Arkansas towns.”

As part of this campaign, staff, volunteers, and local artists worked together to develop artist-designed postcards, engage the community to spread messages of hope, and create a traveling art exhibition which made 22 stops around Northwest Arkansas this past summer.

Postcard Power

As team members brainstormed meaningful ways of connecting, their minds turned to one of the most reliable and appreciated forms of communication: postcards. Nine local artists answered the call to create postcard designs inspired by the word, “TOGETHER.” The artists included Kenny Arredondo, Stacy Bates, Kinya Christian, Tram Colwin, Leana Fischer, Octavio Logo, Matt Miller, Hannah Newsom Doyle, and Alan Rodriguez. Their designs were inspired by images of strength in nature, memories of cherished time with family, and appreciation for frontline workers. The interpretations range from personal reflections on the word and separation from family and friends, to broad messages of hope in coming back together again with love. Once the designs were made, the museum called upon the local community via social media and eNewsletters to give life to the postcards by coloring in the artists’ drawings and writing messages of hope to those living and working in healthcare facilities across Northwest Arkansas. Once completed, the postcards were returned to Crystal Bridges and the Momentary, and the team sent the personalized postcards, along with creativity art kits, to patients and staff around the area. Altogether, over 5,700 postcards and art kits were distributed to community members.

5,700+ postcards delivered to community members

22 sites visited with the traveling art murals

9 local artists created original artworks for the campaign

Community Impact

In addition to the postcards, the nine artists also painted large-scale colorful versions of their postcard drawings which were displayed outside hospitals and senior living facilities for staff, facility residents, and patients to view over the summer. Each drawing was brought to life on a freestanding, custom-made 4×8-foot mural, thanks in part to our Preparation team. Patients and staff were able to spend time with the works installed outdoors. After its tour, the murals were on view at the Momentary and Crystal Bridges during August.

Crystal Bridges member Lamar Steiger shared: “My mother, Mary Pat Steiger, is under the COVID-19 guidelines at her assisted living residence. She had concluded that her southfacing window was her only view of new art: watching the clouds blow by and the branches wave. So, she was pleasantly surprised and found great joy in the traveling art exhibition from Crystal Bridges. Mom has shared with me several times how thankful she is and how interesting it was to have the museum generously share with the residents a part of their collection. It made her feel important that Crystal Bridges brought an exhibition to her. She is hoping for more.”

Ms. Steiger is not the only one. Above all else, this campaign demonstrated the impact that can happen when community institutions work together to improve the lives of all community members, reaching them where they are. Crystal Bridges and the Momentary would not have been able to make this campaign a reality without the input and advocacy of our community partners. The institutions continue to partner with social services, healthcare, and other local organizations to effectively understand the needs of the community and how art can play a role in filling those needs, bringing us all one step closer “TOGETHER.”