Picturing a River: The Buffalo National River in Art, Photography and Film

Photo Submitted

Thomas Hart Benton, "Fisherman's Camp, Buffalo River"

The ongoing celebration of the Buffalo National River will journey to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art for a full program on Saturday, Aug. 6.

From 11 a.m. to noon, a conversation with experts will explore the ways in which artists have understood, depicted and advocated for the river. Speakers will include:

• Steve Sitton, historic site supervisor of the T. H. Benton Home State Historic Site in Kansas City, Missouri, will present on Benton's relationship to the Ozarks and the Buffalo, including a viewing of the 15-minute film A Man and A River. The film, produced by the Environmental Protection Agency, explores Benton's love of the Buffalo and its effect upon his artwork.

• Angie Albright, director of the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, will speak on the ways photography has been used in advocacy for the river. The museum is currently hosting an exhibition of the photography of Ken Smith, using primarily photographs taken on his 1965 exploration of the Buffalo. The exhibit brings a different perspective on the relationship of artist and landscape mediated through another artistic form.

Immediately following the panel, the Crystal Bridges team has arranged a screening of First River: How Arkansas Saved a National Treasure. The film, created by the Ozark Society, is a history of the river and its preservation from the 1960s to today with particular emphasis upon the conservation efforts of the Ozark Society. 

Reservations

The panel and screening will be free and open to the public, but you must reserve your free spot online or with Crystal Bridges Guest Services at (479) 657-2335 or through the museum's ticket link.

This panel is part of The Digital Buffalo project, which has been sponsored by the U of A Chancellor's Fund and is under the direction of the U of A Humanities Center and the University Libraries. News on upcoming events, as well as videos of past events and a developing library of digital documents, is available at the project website.