Marria Thompson
- Email: marria.thompson@stthomas.edu
- Phone: (651) 962-5877
The art and architectural collections and galleries at the University of St. Thomas serve as teaching opportunities for our students and the public. For undergraduate and graduate students in art history, the VISUAL ARTS@St. Thomas provide the experience of working with artwork, learning proper curatorial and exhibition techniques, and fostering a better understanding of the works' cultural context.
The VISUAL ARTS@St. Thomas include:
The American Museum of Asmat Art is dedicated to expanding human understanding and promoting intercultural awareness through the preservation and exhibition of Asmat art.
The term “Asmat” refers to a people, a language, and a geographic area. Today, Asmat homeland lies within the province of Papua, Indonesia on the southwest coast of the island of New Guinea. Asmat artists are among the finest and most prolific wood sculptors and weavers in the Pacific Islands.
The AMAA’s collection of Asmat art is one of the largest in North American with nearly 3,000 works. It was originally formed by the American Crosier Father and Brothers, under the leadership of Bishop Sowada who used anthropological approaches to renew cultural traditions and encourage artistic production in Asmat. This Catholic religious Order first arrived in Asmat in 1958 and acquired objects through purchase, trade, and as gifts. In 2007, the collection was given to the University of St. Thomas to educate our community and the broader public about Asmat. The museum opened in 2012 and is on the second floor of the Anderson Student Center on the St. Paul campus.
Visit the American Museum of Asmat Art website for additional information.
The American Museum of Asmat Art at St. Thomas engages students and the global community through preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting the art of Asmat people, in order to expand human understanding and promote intercultural awareness.
The vision of the American Museum of Asmat Art at St. Thomas is to be a preeminent teaching collection, interdisciplinary in nature and programmatically diverse, that promotes global understanding of Asmat art and culture consistent with the mission and values of the University of St. Thomas.
The AMAA is divided into two sections. The objects on permanent display include Asmat ancestor poles (bis), a spirit canoe (wuramon), and other large-scale works such as shields and body masks. The rest of the gallery is dedicated to rotating exhibitions based on different aspects of Asmat art and culture.
The AMAA forms an integral part of the University’s broader commitment to foster respect and appreciation for cultural diversity and the artistic achievements of all humanity.
Academic Year Hours
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Tuesday - Thursday
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Friday - Saturday
Closed Sunday - Monday
Summer Hours:
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesday
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Thursday - Saturday
Closed Sunday, Monday & Wednesday
Scheduled Closings
The Gallery is closed for all major U.S. holidays, fall break, Thanksgiving weekend, winter break, final exams week, January Term, spring break, Easter break, and in June for installation.
Groups wishing to schedule a visit may contact Gretchen Burau, Museum Director in advance of their visit.
The AMAA is on the second floor of the Anderson Student Center. at the University of St. Thomas.
Street parking is available in non-permit areas along Cretin Avenue and Summit Avenue. Guests are also welcome to park in the Anderson Parking Facility and the Morrison Parking Ramp.
Mr. Gerald D. Brennan, Chair
Mrs. Carole Boyum
Mrs. Gretchen Burau, Director & Curator
Mrs. Cheryl Cook
V. Rev. Tom Enneking, osc
Dr. Bernice Folz
Dr. Tom Harkcom
Ms. Phyllis Hischier
Fr. Kermit Holl, osc
Ms. Gretchen Holland
Mr. Joshua Irwandi
Ms. Ursula Konrad
Mr. David Kostik
Fr. Onesius Otenieli Daeli, osc
Fr. Virgil Petermeier, osc
Dr. Tom Powell Davies
Ms. Topsy Simonson
Dr. Nick Stanley
Mrs. Lori Wiese-Parks
Dr. Victoria Young
Mrs. Donna MacMillan, honorary member
Mrs. Suzanne Burke, College of Arts and Sciences staff
The AMAA’s collection of Asmat art is one of the largest in North American with nearly 3,000 works. It was originally formed by the American Crosier Father and Brothers, under the leadership of Bishop Sowada who used anthropological approaches to renew cultural traditions and encourage artistic production in Asmat. This Catholic religious Order first arrived in Asmat in 1958 and acquired objects through purchase, trade, and as gifts. In 2007, the collection was given to the University of St. Thomas to educate our community and the broader public about Asmat. The museum opened in 2012 and is on the second floor of the Anderson Student Center on the St. Paul campus.
Visit the American Museum of Asmat Art website for additional information.
The American Museum of Asmat Art at St. Thomas engages students and the global community through preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting the art of Asmat people, in order to expand human understanding and promote intercultural awareness.
The vision of the American Museum of Asmat Art at St. Thomas is to be a preeminent teaching collection, interdisciplinary in nature and programmatically diverse, that promotes global understanding of Asmat art and culture consistent with the mission and values of the University of St. Thomas.
The AMAA is divided into two sections. The objects on permanent display include Asmat ancestor poles (bis), a spirit canoe (wuramon), and other large-scale works such as shields and body masks. The rest of the gallery is dedicated to rotating exhibitions based on different aspects of Asmat art and culture.
The AMAA forms an integral part of the University’s broader commitment to foster respect and appreciation for cultural diversity and the artistic achievements of all humanity.
Academic Year Hours
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Tuesday - Thursday
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Friday - Saturday
Closed Sunday - Monday
Summer Hours:
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesday
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Thursday - Saturday
Closed Sunday, Monday & Wednesday
Scheduled Closings
The Gallery is closed for all major U.S. holidays, fall break, Thanksgiving weekend, winter break, final exams week, January Term, spring break, Easter break, and in June for installation.
Groups wishing to schedule a visit may contact Gretchen Burau, Museum Director in advance of their visit.
The AMAA is on the second floor of the Anderson Student Center. at the University of St. Thomas.
Street parking is available in non-permit areas along Cretin Avenue and Summit Avenue. Guests are also welcome to park in the Anderson Parking Facility and the Morrison Parking Ramp.
Mr. Gerald D. Brennan, Chair
Mrs. Carole Boyum
Mrs. Gretchen Burau, Director & Curator
Mrs. Cheryl Cook
V. Rev. Tom Enneking, osc
Dr. Bernice Folz
Dr. Tom Harkcom
Ms. Phyllis Hischier
Fr. Kermit Holl, osc
Ms. Gretchen Holland
Mr. Joshua Irwandi
Ms. Ursula Konrad
Mr. David Kostik
Fr. Onesius Otenieli Daeli, osc
Fr. Virgil Petermeier, osc
Dr. Tom Powell Davies
Ms. Topsy Simonson
Dr. Nick Stanley
Mrs. Lori Wiese-Parks
Dr. Victoria Young
Mrs. Donna MacMillan, honorary member
Mrs. Suzanne Burke, College of Arts and Sciences staff
The American Museum of Asmat Art at the University of St. Thomas presents Power and Presence: Water in Asmat, an exhibition exploring the many ways Asmat people engage with water. It considers how relationships between animals, humans, and the ancestors are formed around this natural resource and encourages museum visitors to consider their own connections with water.
Why is water important? Water is a force that shapes many aspects of physical and spiritual life. In the Asmat rainforest, water is omnipresent. It is collected for daily needs and sustains complex rivers systems that are essential for transportation, trade, and recreation. Water is a recurring element in ritual practices and figures prominently in myths that are essential for Asmat cosmology. Many of these practices are currently under threat due to social and environmental changes in the region. Visual culture on display at the American Museum of Asmat Art tells part of this story.
Image: Markus Tipin, Figure Carving, 2009, Asmat people, Safan region, Wood, paint, string, cassowary feathers, feathers, seeds (AMAA 2010.01.002). Purchased with 2009 Spirit of Solstice fundraiser contributions.
By providing both the campus community and the public with access to contemporary and historical art exhibitions, the gallery supports local and regional arts communities and bolsters a wider understanding of artistic engagement with societal issues.
For full exhibition and event information, visit the Department of Art History Gallery website.The Department of Art History Gallery is committed to providing an exhibition program that fosters dialogue centered around the issues of contemporary and historical art and architectural topics to encourage paths of inquiry and intercultural understanding to advance the common good.
Groups wishing to schedule a visit may contact Marria Thompson, Gallery Curator, in advance of their visit.
The Department of Art History Gallery is located on the first floor of the O'Shaughnessy Educational Center (OEC) in St. Paul.
Street parking is available in non-permit areas along Cleveland Avenue and Summit Avenue. Guests may also park in the Tommie East Parking Garage.
Who can submit a proposal?
We welcome artists to submit proposals to exhibit their work in our gallery. Scheduled two years in advance, our Art Exhibition Program presents two major displays during the academic year (September through December and February through May). We welcome all emerging and established artists, working in all mediums, to submit solo and/or group proposals.
Application Cycle and Timeline
Proposals for exhibitions in 2025 and beyond are now being accepted on a rolling basis.
Proposal Guidelines
To submit a digital proposal, please include the following:
Digital proposals only, please. Do not mail anything.
Send all questions and submissions to:
Marria Thompson
Department of Art History Gallery Curator
ArtHistoryGallery@stthomas.edu
The Department of Art History Gallery is committed to providing an exhibition program that fosters dialogue centered around the issues of contemporary and historical art and architectural topics to encourage paths of inquiry and intercultural understanding to advance the common good.
Groups wishing to schedule a visit may contact Marria Thompson, Gallery Curator, in advance of their visit.
The Department of Art History Gallery is located on the first floor of the O'Shaughnessy Educational Center (OEC) in St. Paul.
Street parking is available in non-permit areas along Cleveland Avenue and Summit Avenue. Guests may also park in the Tommie East Parking Garage.
Who can submit a proposal?
We welcome artists to submit proposals to exhibit their work in our gallery. Scheduled two years in advance, our Art Exhibition Program presents two major displays during the academic year (September through December and February through May). We welcome all emerging and established artists, working in all mediums, to submit solo and/or group proposals.
Application Cycle and Timeline
Proposals for exhibitions in 2025 and beyond are now being accepted on a rolling basis.
Proposal Guidelines
To submit a digital proposal, please include the following:
Digital proposals only, please. Do not mail anything.
Send all questions and submissions to:
Marria Thompson
Department of Art History Gallery Curator
ArtHistoryGallery@stthomas.edu
ARTISTS
Jaida Grey Eagle (she/her) is an Oglala Lakota artist, currently located in St. Paul, MN. A photojournalist, producer, beadwork artist, and writer, she is a member of the Women’s Photograph, Indigenous Photograph, and 400 Years Project. Grey Eagle is a Report for America Fellow with the Sahan Journal covering communities of color in the Twin Cities. She is also researching Indigenous photography at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts as an ongoing former Curatorial Fellow.
As a beadwork artist, Grey Eagle is inspired by her family's usage of color, passed down from a great grandmother’s star-quilt color-philosophy of using six colors or more in every piece. Jaida creates abstractions of her great grandmother's star quilts as fringed earrings with a blending of colors that are significant to her family's legacy as Lakota artists.
Grey Eagle is a co-producer of the Sisters Rising Documentary, which is the story of six Native American women reclaiming personal and tribal sovereignty in the face of ongoing sexual violence against Indigenous women in the United States. The documentary has recently received an Honorable Mention at the Big Sky Doc Festival. She is passionate about bringing awareness to indigenous issues, especially those which impact indigenous women.
She holds her Bachelor of Fine Arts, with an emphasis in Fine Art Photography, from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Mikayla Patton (she/her) is a visual artist born and raised on the Pine Ridge Reservation of so-called South Dakota. Patton is a dual citizen of the United States and an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Nation. In 2019, Patton obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a focus in Printmaking, from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Papermaking has become a prominent aspect of Patton’s practice, encouraged by her curiosity of how the paper’s surface texture can provide context to her work, both physically and symbolically. While the paper is pulped until it no longer resembles a document, traces of its history remain. Rarely does she make marks on the paper, but at times erases residue from burning or other treatments. The clean surface provides Patton with a sense of peace, a place to hide, a safe place. There is a sense of self embodiment in most of her work. When she uses the paper to make other forms, such as boxes, they feel as though they are made from a handmade membrane. A version of skin made from the seemingly endless stream of paper products flooding the landscape.
Patton is represented by the Chiaroscuro Contemporary Gallery in Santa Fe. She has exhibited at the Texas Tech School of Art (Lubbock); All My Relations Gallery (Minneapolis); and the Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans. Her work is included in private and public collections including the Denver Art Museum, Tia Collection, and Atka Lakota Museum. As of 2022, Patton has received the Artist in Business Leadership from First Peoples Fund; and LIFT: Early Career Support for Native Artists from Native Arts and Culture Foundation.
GUEST CURATOR
Alexandra Buffalohead (she/her) is a Bdewakantowan Dakota artist, curator, and musician. She is the Arts and Cultural Engagement Manager at the Native American Community Development Institute and All My Relations Arts Gallery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Buffalohead is a 2019 Emerging Curator Institute Fellow and has curated exhibitions for the Cedar Cultural Center, Highpoint Center for Printmakers, Artistry’s Inez Greenberg Gallery, and the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s Americas Gallery 261.
Buffalohead earned her Bachelor of Arts from Augsburg University, associate’s degree from the Art Institute International of Minnesota, and an Master of Arts from the University of St. Thomas.
ARTISTS
Jaida Grey Eagle (she/her) is an Oglala Lakota artist, currently located in St. Paul, MN. A photojournalist, producer, beadwork artist, and writer, she is a member of the Women’s Photograph, Indigenous Photograph, and 400 Years Project. Grey Eagle is a Report for America Fellow with the Sahan Journal covering communities of color in the Twin Cities. She is also researching Indigenous photography at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts as an ongoing former Curatorial Fellow.
As a beadwork artist, Grey Eagle is inspired by her family's usage of color, passed down from a great grandmother’s star-quilt color-philosophy of using six colors or more in every piece. Jaida creates abstractions of her great grandmother's star quilts as fringed earrings with a blending of colors that are significant to her family's legacy as Lakota artists.
Grey Eagle is a co-producer of the Sisters Rising Documentary, which is the story of six Native American women reclaiming personal and tribal sovereignty in the face of ongoing sexual violence against Indigenous women in the United States. The documentary has recently received an Honorable Mention at the Big Sky Doc Festival. She is passionate about bringing awareness to indigenous issues, especially those which impact indigenous women.
She holds her Bachelor of Fine Arts, with an emphasis in Fine Art Photography, from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Mikayla Patton (she/her) is a visual artist born and raised on the Pine Ridge Reservation of so-called South Dakota. Patton is a dual citizen of the United States and an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Nation. In 2019, Patton obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a focus in Printmaking, from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Papermaking has become a prominent aspect of Patton’s practice, encouraged by her curiosity of how the paper’s surface texture can provide context to her work, both physically and symbolically. While the paper is pulped until it no longer resembles a document, traces of its history remain. Rarely does she make marks on the paper, but at times erases residue from burning or other treatments. The clean surface provides Patton with a sense of peace, a place to hide, a safe place. There is a sense of self embodiment in most of her work. When she uses the paper to make other forms, such as boxes, they feel as though they are made from a handmade membrane. A version of skin made from the seemingly endless stream of paper products flooding the landscape.
Patton is represented by the Chiaroscuro Contemporary Gallery in Santa Fe. She has exhibited at the Texas Tech School of Art (Lubbock); All My Relations Gallery (Minneapolis); and the Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans. Her work is included in private and public collections including the Denver Art Museum, Tia Collection, and Atka Lakota Museum. As of 2022, Patton has received the Artist in Business Leadership from First Peoples Fund; and LIFT: Early Career Support for Native Artists from Native Arts and Culture Foundation.
GUEST CURATOR
Alexandra Buffalohead (she/her) is a Bdewakantowan Dakota artist, curator, and musician. She is the Arts and Cultural Engagement Manager at the Native American Community Development Institute and All My Relations Arts Gallery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Buffalohead is a 2019 Emerging Curator Institute Fellow and has curated exhibitions for the Cedar Cultural Center, Highpoint Center for Printmakers, Artistry’s Inez Greenberg Gallery, and the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s Americas Gallery 261.
Buffalohead earned her Bachelor of Arts from Augsburg University, associate’s degree from the Art Institute International of Minnesota, and an Master of Arts from the University of St. Thomas.
Oh Wonderful Mystery: images of creation
A contemplative journey though the metaphysical imagery of creation, inspired by holy scripture.
Kelly Kruse is a multidisciplinary artist and curator whose practice encompasses visual art, writing, and the performing arts. She creates work that illuminates the beauty and complexity of scripture, theology, and the human experience. Her artwork has been exhibited across the United States and is featured in collections around the world. She is curator of the Four Chapter Gallery in Kansas City, MO. In addition to her work in the visual arts, Kelly holds a master’s degree in vocal performance with an emphasis in opera studies from Indiana University. She has over thirteen years of classical teaching experience and is still an active voice teacher in Kansas City.
kellykrusecreative.com | Instagram: @kellykrusecreative | patreon.com/kellykruse
Presented by the Hoedeman Gallery of Sacred Art, the Office for Mission, and the Department of Art History
Curated by Marria Thompson
Oh Wonderful Mystery: images of creation
A contemplative journey though the metaphysical imagery of creation, inspired by holy scripture.
Kelly Kruse is a multidisciplinary artist and curator whose practice encompasses visual art, writing, and the performing arts. She creates work that illuminates the beauty and complexity of scripture, theology, and the human experience. Her artwork has been exhibited across the United States and is featured in collections around the world. She is curator of the Four Chapter Gallery in Kansas City, MO. In addition to her work in the visual arts, Kelly holds a master’s degree in vocal performance with an emphasis in opera studies from Indiana University. She has over thirteen years of classical teaching experience and is still an active voice teacher in Kansas City.
kellykrusecreative.com | Instagram: @kellykrusecreative | patreon.com/kellykruse
Presented by the Hoedeman Gallery of Sacred Art, the Office for Mission, and the Department of Art History
Curated by Marria Thompson
Artist Talk April 28 at 6:30pm | All are welcome. Masks encouraged. Additional details coming soon.
Questions? Please contact Marria Thompson (marria.thompson@stthomas.edu).
Artist Talk April 28 at 6:30pm | All are welcome. Masks encouraged. Additional details coming soon.
Questions? Please contact Marria Thompson (marria.thompson@stthomas.edu).
The St. Thomas Art Collection includes the many works of fine art and outdoor sculptures on view throughout campus, as well as numerous other artworks housed within the Department of Art History. The collection represents a variety of regions from around the world, in particular African and Midwestern art.
The University of St. Thomas Art Collection seeks to bring the visual arts to the university, providing an enriching and engaging experience for all students, scholars, and community members. Diverse in scope, the collection fosters critical thinking about global cultures and the material world.
With historical oil paintings, large scale outdoor sculptures, intricate African carvings and more, the University of St. Thomas Art Collection has over 1,500 works of art that you can search and explore.
During Fall 2019, students in Professor Vanessa Rousseau's Museum Studies: Collections (ARTH 250) explored the Greco-Roman coins from the University of St. Thomas Art Collection. This hands-on project allowed the students to work with objects, metadata, and digital exhibitions while creating an online database that serves as a valuable resource for the collection.
The University of St. Thomas Art Collection seeks to bring the visual arts to the university, providing an enriching and engaging experience for all students, scholars, and community members. Diverse in scope, the collection fosters critical thinking about global cultures and the material world.
With historical oil paintings, large scale outdoor sculptures, intricate African carvings and more, the University of St. Thomas Art Collection has over 1,500 works of art that you can search and explore.
During Fall 2019, students in Professor Vanessa Rousseau's Museum Studies: Collections (ARTH 250) explored the Greco-Roman coins from the University of St. Thomas Art Collection. This hands-on project allowed the students to work with objects, metadata, and digital exhibitions while creating an online database that serves as a valuable resource for the collection.
The Voorsanger Architects Archive holds the work of Voorsanger Architects PC, a New York-based architectural firm. The physical archive focuses on highlights of the design and creative process from initial sketches to final photos of the firm's various projects, as well as items relating to Principal and founder Bartholomew Voorsanger, FAIA.
A curated collection of 25 projects was selected as representative of the firm's work from the 1970s through the 2010s. Quick facts on these selected projects are showcased on the archive website, while the archive database offers more detailed information and documentation on each of the 25 selections.
American Museum of Asmat Art
Voorsanger Architects Archive