Events

Gallery Performance: Dear Heartsey: The Letters of Abigaill Levy-Franks

In partnership with the Jewish Federation of Arkansas, Crystal Bridges proudly presents the world premiere of Dear Heartsey: The Letters of Abigaill Levy-Franks. This special evening begins in the gallery with a pre-performance 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 to her son Naphtali (1733–1748).

Bringing Abigaill’s words of devotion, concern, and enduring Jewish identity to life, soprano and ordained Cantor Samantha Stinson joins pianist Traci Hall for a moving musical performance that bridges history, art, and timeless expressions of a mother’s love.

This event is free, tickets required. Reserve your spot online or with Guest Services at (479) 657-2335 today.

Additional support provided by the The Tyson Scholars of American Art Program and Voce NWA.

About the Speakers
Emily Beeber
Emily Beeber is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Art History at the University of Delaware and a 2025–26 Tyson Scholar of American Art at Crystal Bridges. Her dissertation, “Visualizing Jewishness in the Atlantic World, 1715–1830,” examines the relationship between portraiture and Jewish identity within this context. Emily has held curatorial internships at institutions including the National Gallery of Art and the Baltimore Museum of Art, and she participated in the Summer Institute at the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts. Her dissertation research has been supported by the Center for Material Culture Studies at the University of Delaware and the American Jewish Historical Society.