Behind the Scenes (Videos)

In We The People, Nari Ward, used colorful shoelaces to write out the three most recognizable words of the United States Constitution. He was interested in the idea that we all know these words, but we don’t always think about what they mean.

The Fly’s Eye Dome is a creation of American designer, inventor, and theorist R. Buckminster Fuller, and was originally intended to provide economical, efficient housing.

This fall, experience a stunning outdoor exhibition featuring the work of artist Dale Chihuly. Presented for the first time in an Ozark woods, it’s a world of wonder, waiting to be explored, only at Crystal Bridges.

The Art of Installation: Follow Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art's team of preparators as they install one of artist Donald Judd's Specific Objects in the 20th-century art gallery.

“Maman” is French for “Mommy." For Louise Bourgeois, the image of the spider refers to her mother, described as her closest friend. Bourgeois thought of the spider as caring, helpful, and hard-working—the way she remembers her mother.

Lead Preparator Chuck Flook and Facilities Engineer Ken Robinson discuss the planning and process of installing Jeff Koons' Hanging Heart at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Conservator Gay Myers treats the painting Little Joe with Cow by Yasuo Kuniyoshi.

Conservator Lance Mayer treats Thomas Cole's painting View of Mount Etna.

Conservator Gay Myers discusses her work on Alfred Thompson Bricher's View of Mount Washington.

Conservator Lance Mayer explains the treatment he applies to Andrew Wyeth's Airborne.

The prep team installs Redstick, 1,430-pound sculpture by Deborah Butterfield, in Crystal Bridges' South Lobby.

Conservator Gay Myers cleans Lyonel Feininger's 1915 work Schlossgasse.

Janet Sobel's Hiroshima is treated by conservator Lance Mayer.

Conservator Gay Myers treats the painting Trinity by Adolph Gottlieb.

The Crystal Bridges' prep team installs John Baldessari's unusual sculpture, Beethoven's Trumpet (With Ear), Opus #132 Reverse.

Karen LaMonte discusses the process of constructing Dress Impression with Wrinkled Cowl.

The Crystal Bridges prep team installs Evan Penny's sculpture Old Self: Portrait of the Artist as He Will (Not) Be. Variation #2.

Conservator Lance Mayer discusses his work on William Merritt Chase's The Song.

Leo Villareal is a sculptor who uses light as his medium. Through the technology of LED (light emitting diode) bulbs and computer software that Villareal designed, the artist creates ever-changing displays of moving light and color. Named in honor of theorist and engineer Buckminster Fuller, Buckyball features two nested geometric spheres that take the shape of a Carbon 60 molecule. The structure is covered in LED tubes capable of producing 16 million distinct colors.

The Crystal Bridges’ Prep Team installs Ursula von Rydingsvard’s Unraveling. A flood inspired the work, which the artist sees as a “drawing” in cedar. Some of the chainsaw-carved pieces weigh more than 300 pounds, making the process even more impressive.

Robyn Horn shares her thoughts on installing Already Set In Motion via a crane.

The installation of Chaise Gabion as well as some thoughts from artist Celeste Roberge.

A time-lapse of the installation of Devorah Sperber’s After the Last Supper, a work consisting of more than 20,000 spools of thread suspended from the ceiling.

A time-lapse video of Crystal Bridges’ preparators as they install Roxy Paine’s three-dimensional artwork Bad Lawn.

Time-lapse video captured the installation of Louise Nevelson’s large work, Night Zag Wall, in Crystal Bridges’ Twentieth-Century Art Gallery.