Patrons preview America 250: Common Threads

By Carin Schoppmeyer
March 21, 2026

Sponsors of “America 250: Common Threads” got a first look at the new exhibition March 12 during a curator-led preview at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville. A Director’s Reception for museum members followed the tour.

“As we look ahead to the nation’s 250th anniversary, this exhibition invites us to reflect on how art shapes our understanding of America,” executive director Rod Bigelow told gathered guests.

An ambitious community project is also part of the show.

The museum distributed 30,000 quilt kits to Arkansas K-12 students, asking them to create fabric squares reflecting themes of identity and independence. During the exhibition, more than 150 volunteers from Arkansas quilting guilds will serve as quilters-in-residence, stitching the student squares together in the gallery.

Assistant Curator of American Art Larissa Randall and Ella Nowicki, Windgate curatorial fellow, guided patrons through the exhibition, which includes quilts, paintings, photographs, everyday objects and historic documents.

Among them are a circa 1820 stone engraving of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” and writings by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams.

The tour began in the George Washington gallery.

Randall noted that “Washington mania” dates to 1799, when artists and everyday Americans mourned the death of the first president and created objects and images to commemorate him.

Randall said the exhibition explores how artists across centuries have interpreted familiar American symbols.

“American artists continue to build on centuries of visual culture,” she said. “They’ve embraced familiar emblems, challenged them and even rewritten them.”

“Our symbols are constantly evolving, much like the nation itself,” she added.

The exhibition also looks at how art reflects public conversation and identity through sections including “Moments of History”, “National Symbols”, “Future Generations”, “America: One Century” and “Democracy and Dialogue.”

“I hope this exhibition prompts you to consider how intertwined visual literacy and political literacy are in this nation,” Randall told guests.

“America 250: Common Threads” opened to the public March 14 with events including a live papermaking demonstration by Drew Cameron, participatory artwork with Sheryl Oring, performances by TheatreSquared artists-in-residence and music by the University of Arkansas Wind Ensemble.

The exhibition was organized in partnership with the American Folk Art Museum and is part of Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, presented by Craft in America.

Sponsors include Stout Executive Search, Christie’s, The Coca-Cola Company, UHP, Becky and Bob Alexander, Shari and Lamar Steiger Family, Harrison and Rhonda French Family, Valorie and Randy Lawson/Lawco Energy Group, Frederick and Shelby Gans, Avis Bailey, Beverly and Charles Lee and Marybeth and Micky Mayfield.

Original article here.