I was biding time till my flight home in the evening, and honestly, the jaded NYC designer snob in me did not expect much from Arkansas, but I was pleasantly surprised.
First I was assigned two very bright design-student/tour-guides, Sienna Peterson and Jasmine Jetton. We had breakfast at the hotel and they showed me the campus. Here they are between the brand new architecture building and the more traditional library building.
The new architecture building, the Steven L. Anderson Design Center, designed Marlon Blackwell is recently completed, and very impressive. Its not huge, but the spaces it creates for students and teachers are fun and purposeful. A green roof and rooftop patio, an amazing auditorium, a conference room that floats on top with views of the Ozark mountains. I cannot say how impressed i was. It strikes the perfect note for an architecture school, and I loved the way it was annexed onto original more traditional architecture building.
The fountain in from of the Architecture School was designed by its first Dean, E Fay Jones, a local design legend who apprenticed with Frank Lloyd Wright.
Turns out Jasmin is a roller derby skater. We had lots to talk about as I am an avid roller skater. I loved this poster she had hung above her desk for their next bout.
Then Carl Matthews took me on a tour of Northwestern Arkansas. First stop was Pigment in Fayetteville, a very sophisticated florist/home store that carries my product. Apparently they love my pig in Fayetteville as this is “Razorback Country.” The Razorback pig is the UARK mascot. Below I am with (L to R) Chelsea Hermez, Johnathan Edwards, and Jordon Robinson
Then we headed up to Eureka Springs (I know, the name!) but its a cute little New Hope-y victorian town in the hills. Pretty Cute and home to E. Fay Jones Thorncrown Chapel.
Our last stop before the airport was at a coffee shop in Bentonville, home of the original Walmart Store:
Unfortunately Crystal Bridges, the Alice Walton museum was closed on Tuesday! Apparently it is amazing. I’ll have to come back.