Fort Smith Regional Chamber Of Commerce: RAM – The New Home Of John Bell, Jr.

Press release from the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce:

October 21, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 8, 2021
CONTACT: suzie@fsram.org
PHONE: 479-784-2787
WEBSITE: fsram.org
 
RAM – the New Home of John Bell, Jr.
 
The Fort Smith Regional Art Museum is pleased to announce the new exhibition, “John Bell, Jr. - Coming Home,” which opens October 29, 2021. This exhibition will be the inaugural exhibition in the Sandi and Sandy Sanders Gallery for the Permanent Collection.
 
RAM received the gift of artwork from Bell’s family, which contains over 50 works, including original oil and watercolors, pen and ink and graphite drawings, many pieces never before seen in public. Due to the scope of the work, the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum has created a new series of programs called The John Bell, Jr. Legacy Project whose mission is to preserve, protect and educate about the art and life of John Bell, Jr.
 
To display this exhibition and other permanent collection pieces, a new gallery was created, the Sandi and Sandy Sanders Gallery for the Permanent Collection. To provide funding for the preservation, education and display of Bell’s art the John Bell, Jr. Legacy Society has been established.  RAM – the new home of John Bell, Jr.
 
You don’t want to miss this exciting exhibition for Fort Smith’s native son at RAM, “John Bell, Jr. – Coming Home.”  On view from October 29, 2021, through February 20, 2022.  The Fort Smith Regional Art Museum is always free and located at 1601 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, AR, 72901.
 

ABOUT THE FORT SMITH REGIONAL ART MUSEUM  RAM originated in 1948 under the Arkansas Association of University Women. In 1951 the Associated Artists of Fort Smith began exhibiting art and holding classes in various locations throughout Fort Smith. In 1960 space for an art center was purchased, and in 1968 the Fort Smith Art Center was incorporated. RAM originated in 1948 under the Arkansas Association of University Women. In 1951 the Associated Artists of Fort Smith began exhibiting art and holding classes in various locations throughout Fort Smith. In 1960 space for an art center was purchased, and in 1968 the Fort Smith Art Center was incorporated. The opening of the new museum located at 1601 Rogers Avenue near the heart of Fort Smith marked a major turning point for this organization. The Art Center was fully re-branded opened in January of 2013 as the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum that is fully compliant with the standards of the American Alliance of Museums. RAM facilitates nationally and internally recognized traveling exhibitions and rotating exhibits of works by local and regional artists. The museum offers facility rentals and a specialty gift shop featuring one-of-a-kind items created by local and regional artists. The new state-of-the-art Museum meets national standards and has greatly contributed to cultural growth in the region. HOURS OF OPERATION HOURS OF OPERATION Tuesday- Saturday 11 am-6 pm Sundays - 1-5 pm 479.784.2787 and FSRAM.org

This press release was produced by the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.