Modern Times in Bentonville

Times are changing in our neck of the woods, and I think this little alley shows it well. I photographed this many times, anticipating a painting, but it took me a while to get a handle on it. Interesting that until I started painting, I never noticed "OKLAHOMA" was inscribed right across the middle. I need to investigate the origin of that. The "Modern" sign always drew my attention more than anything, but it's amazing how much depth there can be in a little alley behind and between the popular eateries, Table Mesa and Tavola Trattoria. There's a dumpster, too.

Bentonville has been turned on an angle with the advent of Crystal Bridges, the 21c Hotel, and now the Amazeum Children's Museum that will be coming our way in a couple of years.

As I was delivering this painting, I met a woman in the gallery who informed me that she was from Dallas, and had come to Bentonville to see what all the excitement was about. She volunteers in museums, travels regularly to New York to experience art, and she said she was amazed at all that was happening in this little corner of Arkansas.

It's wonderful to be here, if just to observe and absorb.

UPDATE: Found this blogpost by Todd Sanders, the creator of the Modern sign.


Modern Times
Mixed media on canvas
16"x20"



...