Today, I’ll be talking about The Listening Forest in Bentonville, Arkansas. If you’ve ever lived in Bentonville or are familiar with its entertainment scene, you probably already know that Crystal Bridges does an outdoor art display every year (curated by a different artist). This year, the topic garnered a lot of curiosity from locals and visitors alike, which is why many wanted to see firsthand what it was actually about. So, what do you need to know about The Listening Forest?
The Listening Forest is an outdoor art display hosted by Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, Arkansas. It is an interactive exhibition by Mexican artist Rafael Lozano-Hammer created to provide its admirers with an unforgettable experience achieved through light work and state-of-the-art technology.
In short, the exhibition does exactly what you expect it to – it’s a forest that listens, and through the darkness, a river of alphabet letters shines through the actual pathways. The whole thing is full of lights, and if you touch a part of the forest, say, a tree, it starts tracking your heart rate and the forest starts beating with it. So, read on to learn more about this fascinating art display so that you plan an unforgettable visit next time you’re in Bentonville.
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Everything You Need To Know About the Listening Forest
The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art hosts some of the most amazing installations, which is why so many tourists from all around the country flock to Bentonville, Arkansas as soon as a new artist displays their work for the season.
However, this time, the museum will be both figuratively and literally glowing, and that’s thanks to its newest exhibition, The Listening Forest. The artwork was created by acclaimed Mexican artist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, known for his out-of-the-box way of thinking. So, without further ado, let’s dive into everything you need to know about the installation, including its most unique features and some more practical details that can help you plan your visit.
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Features
The masterful audiovisual artwork is what sets this exhibition apart from other beautiful installations that the Crystal Bridges Museum has hosted. The most unique characteristic of The Listening Forest is the fact that it actually responds to a visitor’s presence, making them feel like the whole thing was curated for them.
The interactive nature of the display creates a remarkable connection between the visitor and the landscape. For example, the way the lights start flickering at the beat of your heart once you touch one of the displayed components makes you feel like you’re one with your surroundings.
The exhibition also responds to your body heat, is able to recognize facial features, and can create personalized stories and share them orally with the audience. It’s truly unlike anything you’ve seen before.
This level of personalization is achieved through state-of-the-art technology, and your experience viewing the installation is bound to be unforgettable. It’s not every day you get to see such an interactive exhibition, not only at the Crystal Bridges Museum, but virtually anywhere, so this piece is really something to behold.
Installations
The exhibition is compiled of eight separate installations, each of which has something impressive and interactive to offer. Here’s what you can expect to see during your visit:
- Summon
- Voice Forest
- Embodied Light Beacons
- Remote Pulse
- Thermal Drift
- Pulse Forest
- Arkansas Text Stream
- Recorded Assembly
Unfortunately, this is not a Christmassy exhibition; however, if you’re in a cheerful mood, there’s no shortage of festive things to do in the area.
Keep in mind that throughout your experience, photos are allowed and you’ll be able to document your visit. However, flash photography is strictly prohibited since it can interfere with the lightwork of the installation.
While on the topic, I also want to note that the lightwork does include some intense flickering, which is what guests prone to sensory overstimulation or those who have any light-related sensitivities might be triggered by the experience, so visit at your own discretion.
If you want to know more activities that you can do around the Crystal Bridges area, feel free to check out my post about the best things children can do in Bentonville.
Music
Though the installation is extremely visually-stimulating, the soundtrack used in it plays a significant role in how the whole experience is perceived by the visitor. The audio used in the exhibition was commissioned and composed by Scanner (Robing Rimbaud), a British musician famous for his electronic sound.
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Ticket Pricing
Though ticket pricing can vary based on the time of the visit and your membership status in relation to the Crystal Bridges museum, you can expect to pay anywhere between 15 and 30 dollars for a chance to experience The Listening Forest. Though the tickets aren’t necessarily cheap, I’d say the cost is entirely justifiable considering what you’ll be getting in return.
Discounts are available; however, these are prone to changes so it’s best to contact the museum beforehand (more on that below) to get more information on your options.
While on the topic, it might be a good time to note that children are welcome to the exhibition and that their ticket prices range from 7 to 15 dollars.
Considering all the time and effort put into the extensive lightwork, audio effects, and projections, I’d say that, overall, the ticket prices are reasonable.
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Hours and Contact Info
The Crystal Bridges Museum opens the doors to its seasonal exhibitions only after sunset, so make sure to plan your visit accordingly. Your visit should last anywhere from one to two hours in order for you to enjoy the whole thing, so clear your schedule beforehand. However, there aren’t any hard visiting time-related rules in place, so you can spend as little or as much time as you want exploring the installation.
To contact the museum, you can either input your inquiries here or call (479) 657-2488.
Conclusion
If you’re ever in Bentonville this time of year, you don’t want to miss out on The Listening Forest, a gorgeous outdoor art installation that’s guaranteed to impress even the harshest critics.
The lightwork used throughout this exhibition is nothing short of jaw-dropping, and the heartbeat-tracking feature will surely leave you speechless. Beware, though, that the timeframe of this installation is limited, so if you want to partake in the wonders of The Listening Forest, you’ll want to book your visit as soon as possible by using the contact info outlined above.