Common Threads in Arkansas “America 250: Common Threads” weaves together textiles, art, and artifacts to tell the story of a nation

As much as apple pies and baseball are American traditions, so too are textiles. In fact, one of the most famous symbols of American identity is a piece of fabric: the American flag. Through the talented hand and creative mind of its original maker, Betsy Ross, colony unity was woven together into a piece of art.

Many artistic and decorative objects made in the United States, both old and new, hold this ability. A statue of a famous statesman, a piece of paper with decorative calligraphy, and even the squares of a quilt made centuries ago can evoke a sense of time and place—whether good, bad, or in-between—from America’s past.

Such is the basis of the upcoming exhibition, America 250: Common Threads. Opening on March 20 and continuing until July 27 at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, the show weaves a look back at American history with objects spanning the United States, time, and national and personal narratives. The “America 250” in the show’s title refers to America’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, also known as a semiquincentennial, while “Common Threads” reflects on how American art has influenced civic participation and developed community relationships.