As you walk into 21c, behind the front desk are three Kehinde Wiley oil paintings. (above) Kehinde Wiley’s “The Prophet and the King II (Columbus)” 2006 |
where you sleep
with the art!
Museum Director: Alice Gray
Hidden in the small northwest Arkansas town of Bentonville is Walmart’s World Headquarters, a hub of international commerce. Also in Bentonville are the new cultural destinations of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the 21c Museum Hotel and both of these cultural venues have excellent restaurants.
At the 21c Museum Hotel, Bentonville, you are greeted at every turn by their iconic “Green Penguins” sculptures. 21c is a 104-room boutique hotel with a contemporary art museum for its lobby and art installations on every floor. The museum/hotel is located on the northeast corner of the Bentonville, Arkansas’s historic town square. 21c, museum and hotel continue the cultural experience most visitors begin at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art which is a short walk away along a scenic nature trail.
The front desk and lobby area of 21c Museum Hotel, Bentonville. |
The Crystal Bridges Museum has a nature trail that links the large museum with this boutique hotel, restaurant and 24/7 museum. |
21c Museum Hotel’s logo. |
Rachel Lee Hovnanian’s installation/sculpture “Dinner for Two” (Our digital and networked life gives us the impulse to text instead of talk. We are lonely, but fearful of intimacy.) |
Rachel Lee Hovnanian”Dinner for Two” (detail) in front of male, a projected mouse is eating the cake. |
The information sign for “DIS-SIMBLAGE – PROJECTING AND PERCEIVING IDENTITY” the current six month Museum Gallery Exhibition at 21c Museum Hotel. |
Yinka Shonibare’s “Food Faerie” sculpture is featured in the 21c lobby. |
A Yinka Shonibare sculpture |
Dis-semblance: Projecting and Perceiving Identity is currently on view in 21c’s galleries and public spaces. The exhibition explores the shifting nature of identity in our digital, global age where we are increasingly more interconnected and interdependent. “We become what we behold. We shape our tools and then our tools shape us,” said ’60s “the medium is the message” theorist Marshall McCluhan. For the next six months, the “Di-semblance” exhibition will be an intriguing, imaginative and thought-provoking welcome to all those who visit the 21c Museum Hotel, Bentonville.
A large Kehinde Wiley oil on canvas, behind the front desk. |
Kehinde Wiley “Support the Rural Population and serve 500 Million Peasants” 2007, oil on canvas |
An edition of 199 “Green Penguins” greet 21c guests. Created by the Italian art studio, Cracking Art Group. |
Hank Willis Thomas “Baron of the Crossroads” side view |
Hank Willis Thomas “Baron of the Crossroads” front (blurred) view |
Adriaan van der Ploeg (Dutch) “Head Shots (European)”, 2007 |
Adriaan van der Ploeg (Dutch) “Head Shots (Chinese)”, 2008 |
Anthony Goicolea, photograph. |
Anthony Goicolea, “Warriors”, photograph. |
Bradley McCallum and Jacqueline Tarry,”Cora McHaney (Arrest #7088)” oil on canvas under toner on silk |
Bradley McCallum and Jacqueline Tarry,”Arrest #” series oil on canvas under toner on silk |
Large editioned plastic art sculptures available in the gift shop. |
21c’s sculpture on the patio. |
Drew Tal, “Porcelain Promises”, Chromagenic print |
Drew Tal, “Porcelain Promises”, Chromagenic print |
Eva and Franco Mattes, digital prints on canvas |
Mohau Modisakeng.” Dikubu Series”Chromagenic prints on watercolor paper |
Serkan Ozkaya, “Sudden Gust of Wind, Bentonville” |
Valerie Belin, “Painted Daisy (Carmine Blush Chrysanths)” 2010, Photograph |
Southern Breakfast
to the highest
possible level!
Under the direction of executive chef and Arkansas native Matthew McClure, “The Hive Restaurant” pays tribute to “High Southern Cuisine” while giving a nod to the classic fresh and local cuisine Southern farm families have enjoyed over the past century.
“The Hive” is a work of art surrounded by contemporary works of art. Our personal experience for breakfast was remarkable, from the friendly and interesting waitstaff, through all of the food courses we sampled.
Service station at Hive. |
When judging any food for quality there are many different criteria, but the highest possible compliment may be: “The food tastes as wonderful and real as my grandmother’s country kitchen. It was made from only the freshest ingredients and created with great attention and care.” That is what my table-mate said of our breakfast sampler.
We tasted:
The House-Cured thick Bacon
The House-Made Pork Sausage
The Steel Cut Oatmeal
The Fresh Poached Eggs
The Steel Cut Grits
The Steel Cut Grits with Bacon
The House-Made Country Biscuits
The House-Made Molasses infused Butter
The French Roast Coffee
We did not taste any items on the dinner or lunch menus, but in many ways a hotel restaurant is best judged by their breakfast. The breakfast at Hive is worth a visit to enjoy, even if you don’t have the opportunity to stay at the 21c museum and hotel.
The Hive’s glasswear becomes an art installation. |
The “open kitchen” at The Hive. |
A changing art exhibition surrounds the dining area. |
Detail of photo, above left. |
Detail of photo, above center. |
Detail of photo, above right. |
“The Hive” cocktail lounge. |
(Source: A visit to the hotel & restaurant All photos were taken by ARTSnFOOD staff, with the permission of 21c Museum Hotel, Bentonville and The Hive Restaurant.)
Editor’s Note: To see some of the current special exhibition at Crystal Bridges Museum of Contemporary Art – “State of the Art” – go to this link:
https://artsandfood.com/2014/11/state-of-art-crystal-bridges-showcases.html/
“State of the Art” exhibition at CB ends January 19, 2015.