The new artwork by Stefan Sagmeister celebrates the state’s commitment to promoting Arkansas waterways and vibrant art at Ledger
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (August 1, 2023) – The Natural State will celebrate Lakes and Rivers by artist Stefan Sagmeister, the newest addition to the OZ Art NWA collection, with a community gathering on Friday, August 18 at Ledger from 5 – 7 p.m. The family-friendly event invites the Northwest Arkansas community to participate in artmaking, learn about Arkansas’ waterways, and meet local vendors with the unveiled artwork as the event backdrop.
@arkansasoutside75The Natural State Gathers to Celebrate the New Lakes and Rivers Installation and Outdoor Recreation Experiences The new artwork by Stefan Sagmeister celebrates the state’s commitment to promoting Arkansas waterways and vibrant art at Ledger
At the intersection of art and nature, the event will highlight the arts and outdoor experiences to explore in NWA. Lakes and Rivers is a sculptural installation of two smallmouth bass, calling on Arkansas’ abundance of natural outdoor experiences and robust outdoor recreation industry. The larger of the two smallmouth bass measures about 93 feet long, which is the same as the average length of a blue whale, the largest animal on earth.
Lakes and Rivers thoughtfully incorporates the Natural State’s incredible outdoor recreation industry and natural water sources. The inspiration for the artwork stemmed from the beautiful rivers and lakes that surround Bentonville. The artwork is a visual representation of the number of kayakers on American waterways. The number tripled in the last five years from 6 million people – represented by the small fish – to 18 million people visualized in the larger fish.
The celebration will be held at Ledger in honor of Bentonville’s newest public artwork while educating the community on ways to have fun and explore Arkansas’ waterways. Local vendors will provide family-friendly activities full of education and fun, including a mobile aquarium and casting exercises from Arkansas Game & Fish, resources for open water swimming from the Swim OZ team, water safety education by The Joys of Swimming, paddleboarding exercises from 37 North Expeditions, and more. The event is free and open to the public, and attendees will receive a Wonders of the Waterways activity book while supplies last.
A native of Austria, artist Stefan Sagmeister has designed for a diverse array of clients such as the Rolling Stones and the Guggenheim Museum. He’s a two-time Grammy award winner and has earned several esteemed international design awards.
Sagmeister’s work is on view in Bentonville at Ledger, the first-ever bikeable building with six stories of exterior switchbacks that lead to incredible views of Downtown Bentonville, with Now is Better, Bentonville, 2022. Produced in partnership with OZ Art NWA and Ledger, the interactive exhibit features 13 varied species of local Ozark insects, leading up to an impressive 95 unique mosaics embossed within the concrete. As guests embark on the journey up the ramps, they are rewarded at the 6th floor rooftop destination with a tiled message composed of the jewels deposited by the journeying critters.
The OZ Art NWA collection brings artworks and installations by renowned artists to the most unexpected places in Northwest Arkansas, seen throughout Bentonville, the Downtown Square, and favorite local establishments. Through The Collection, appreciation for fine art becomes a daily part of life in Northwest Arkansas. To learn more about the OZ Art NWA collection, please visit the website.
