Article about ART
Bentonville, Ark. Art is a way of life for some people of Northwest Arkansas and Becky Christenson is a perfect example of what this area has to offer. Becky Christenson is an artist with a great eye for design with many forms of art and her studio Art by Becky Christenson located in Bentonville, Ark. displays everything from paintings to sculptures. Christenson hasn’t always been an artist but she has always known she wanted to be one. Before becoming a full time artist Christenson was a real estate agent and later realized that all she wanted to do was art. She decided to get a degree in graphic design from Northwest Arkansas Community College to get herself back into art. Christenson had an art studio in her home but after filling it with art; she decided to open her own studio in an empty house that she already owned. ART Inc. was opened in 2007 and she began doing what she loves. Painting, sculpting, recognition pieces and awards are among most of her works. Christenson has been involved in many exhibitions and has had many major accomplishments such as a Seven Days of Creation outdoor wall tile installation at Creation Park in Rogers in 2001. Christenson was also commissioned to do two wall sculptures in Northwest Arkansas Community College and she has been featured in many local newspapers and on local news stations. Christenson has taught summer art programs at the YMCA back in her home town of Bartlesville, OK and has taught art classes at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Rogers, Ark. and now she teaches a little from her studio. “I teach a few students because they’re good and they need art and I can relate to that because I feel the same way,” she said. Christenson does a lot of recognition pieces such as plaques and awards. “I made plaques for the original trustees of the Northwest Arkansas Community College during their anniversary out of clay with symbols that were meaningful to the college”, she said. Christenson has also made plaques for the donors of the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter. The children from the shelter came to her studio to press their handprints for the plaques out of plaster molds themselves. “It was a very neat experience to get to interact with different kids every day and some of them that really liked it came back to my studio,” she said. The building and the art inside go hand in hand. With every glance there are pieces more unique than the ones before. A fireplace and mantle that she made both herself out of clay are one of a kind with their unique design. The rooms of her studio are filled with pieces of different color and texture, each one with a story. Every piece whether it is a sculpture or a painting is completely different and would appeal to every art lover. Some pieces are very whimsical such as a birdbath, bird feeder, bird house are in one that was made out of clay. Its colors and shapes made it seem as if it belonged in a Dr. Seuss book. With the opening of Crystal Bridges in two months many art lovers will be coming to Northwest Arkansas and Christenson is very excited. “I can’t wait for Crystal Bridges to open and I think it will be awesome,” she said. “I’m not worried about my gallery losing business but I am excited to see what all it brings to Northwest Arkansas,” she said. Christenson hopes that with the opening of Crystal Bridges that more artists will come to her area and open other studios. She said she is always open to helping fellow artists. “It would be really neat to have a bunch of art studios in a row,” she said. Christenson said that she has already had one artist from Grove, OK come and visit her because she was considering opening up a studio in Bentonville. The artist was interested in Bentonville because of the traffic that Crystal Bridges will hopefully bring in. Becky Christenson has turned her dream of being an artist into a reality and is delighted to share her works of art and her story. With her whimsical sculptures and vibrant paintings one would only wonder what she will create in the future and how she will help keep art alive and growing in Northwest Arkansas. “One thing I see, and I think it may take some time is that every type of arts program will grow in this area,” she said. Becky Christenson 479-273-0668
September 15, 2011
Art in Many Forms
“When I was little I wanted art supplies instead of toys, so I’ve pretty much always known I wanted to be an artist,” she said.
“I’m really excited that it’s free and anyone can go and that makes it really special because I know many people will go since it is free that otherwise probably wouldn’t,” she said.
