The new custom designed glass cladding the parking structure at The Momentary is drawing a lot of attention. The sheets of glass with their swirling patterns serve as a canvas that honors the Caddo Nations’ homeland and establishes a permanent remembrance of their history.

At The Momentary in Bentonville, Ark., artist Chad “Nish” Earles, a member of the Caddo Nation, has transformed the utilitarian building into a powerful cultural landmark that honors his people’s history through design. The architectural glass installation, titled Above and Below, wraps the garage in patterns inspired by ancestral Caddo pottery. The artwork is digitally printed onto custom glass panels using ceramic frit technology, creating a durable façade that shifts with light and the changes in weather.

The installation was made possible through Bendheim’s innovative glass rainscreen system, offering a bird-friendly, ventilated exterior that reduces the need for mechanical ventilation. Beyond its performance benefits, the system allows for uninterrupted, large-scale artwork to come to life across the building’s surface without visible hardware.

“Art creates dialogue. Some of the questions I got were: What is that made of? What's the story behind it? The history,” Earles explained. “Choosing the design, I wanted something that pulled from the visual language, that identity of us. It was something that Caddos could see and know that it was them.”

The patterns fired into the glass are not simply aesthetic. Rooted in Caddo cosmology and ceramic traditions, they speak to thousands of years of cultural continuity. Through this collaboration with The Momentary and the design team at Wheeler Kearns Architects, Earles brings those traditions into the public eye.

“Making things beautiful is impactful. It’s good for people. We shouldn’t assume a parking garage has to be ugly,” said Project Architect at Wheeler Kearns Architects, Thomas Boyster. “Working with Chad was an honor, we wanted to make sure the technical execution stayed true to his intent.”

When working with the architects, Earles said, “I felt they wanted to bring those ideas to life as close as they could to the vision that I had for it.” Bendheim played an important role in that process.

Bendheim rainscreens combine sustainability and performance, making them a go-to solution for architectural facades. Their rainscreens can also be found at the Kansas City International Airport and 727 West Madison in Chicago. Each system is tailored to meet unique artistic and environmental goals.

Above and Below stands as a daily reminder that history lives in the built environment. For the Caddo Nation and the visitors who pass through this space, it’s a bold and beautiful act of remembrance and resilience.

Bendheim offers third-party verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs) across their offering of architectural glass products. These EPDs and HPDs provide architects and designers with the transparency needed to make informed, sustainability-focused material choices.

For more information on Bendheim, its architectural glass products, and its systems, visit https://bendheim.com/professional/.

About Bendheim:

Bendheim is one of the world’s foremost resources for specialty architectural glass. Founded in New York City in 1927, the family-owned company offers a virtually unlimited range of customizable glass solutions for interior and exterior building applications. Through its commitment to Building a Clear Future, Bendheim is actively engaged in promoting sustainable practices in architecture and design. 

Bendheim develops, fabricates, and distributes its products worldwide. The company maintains production facilities in New Jersey and a design lab in New York City. For additional information, please visit Bendheim.com.

PRESS CONTACTS:

Thomas Renner

Sabrina Boccuzzi

Mercury Marketing Communications, Inc.

(203) 348-7541