Gallery Talk and World Premiere Performance
Thu, May 07
|Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Premiere in the gallery of composer Jonathan Stinson's evocative song cycle, inspired by the heartfelt letters of Abigaill Levy-Franks to her son Naphtali in colonial America. Soprano Samantha Stinson and pianist Traci Hall will perform with Jewish Federation of Arkansas, VOCE, and Tyson support.
Time & Location
May 07, 2026, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA
About the event
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Arkansas, proudly presents the world premiere of Dear Heartsey: The Letters of Abigaill Levy-Franks on May 7 at 6pm.
Free; Registration required here: https://tickets.crystalbridges-themomentary.org/95655/95656Details on post-performance meetup with JFAR to follow at Tower Bar at The Momentary will follow.
This special evening brings together three Northwest Arkansas-based Jewish scholars and artists for a powerful celebration of Jewish art and history. The program begins with a pre-performance gallery talk by PhD Candidate and Crystal Bridges Tyson Scholar Emily Beeber, who will explore Jewish life in colonial America, the remarkable Levy–Franks family portraits spanning three generations, and their resonances with Beth Lipman’s contemporary glass work Belonging(s). The program culminates in the premiere of composer Jonathan Stinson’s evocative song cycle, inspired by the heartfelt letters of Abigaill Levy-Franks written between 1733–1748 to her son Naphtali. Bringing Abigaill’s words of devotion, concern, and enduring Jewish identity to…