Projects for the 2009-10 Academic Year

Time and Tide Exhibition Video

The AMAA @ UST collaborated with the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and UST Web & Media Services to produce a video about the 2009 exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA) Time and Tide: the Changing Art of the Asmat of New Guinea. This 5:24 video features interviews with Dean Marisa Kelly, College of Arts and Sciences, Molly Huber, Assistant Curator, MIA, and Roxy Ballard, Exhibition Designer MIA.

Asmat Gallery Preparations

Construction on the new Anderson Athletic & Recreational Complex is moving forward at impressive rate and AMAA @ UST  staff are reminded work on the Anderson Student Center, the site for the Asmat gallery, will most likely move forward at a similar impressive pace. The new student center may be completed as early as 2011. Although 2011 may seem a long way off, AMAA @ UST staff have a lot of work to complete for the inaugural exhibition.

The working title for the exhibition is "Sacred Presence: Asmat Art at the University of St. Thomas."  As objects are selected for the exhibition and the theme is developed further the title may change. Preparing for this exhibition provides opportunities for addressing some of the collection needs. This year AMAA @ UST staff will be creating new mounts for several of the large fiber masks in the collection. Better supports mean the weight of the masks is more evenly distributed and all of the supporting materials meet preservation standards.  

AMAA @ UST staff will also be busy checking measurements and generating the data needed to design modular exhibition supports so that as many objects in our collection can be displayed as professionally and efficiently as possible.

On-Going Efforts

Monitoring Environment - Climate Control in Exhibition and Storage Facilities

Our efforts to provide the best possible environment for the fragile wood, fiber and bone objects continue. The plastic window insulation is in place and the humidifiers are up and running. The dehumidifiers needed during Minnesota's humid summer months are now stored away. Our abilities to care for the collection and monitor climate received a significant boost. Last month the AMAA @ UST learned the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) will support its Preservation Assistance Grant for Smaller Institutions grant application. Visit the AMAA @ UST News page for more information.