The University of St. Thomas

Graduate Student Research

Graduate Student Research

Publications 

Erika Holmquist-Wall. "Studie zu Improvisation 5: Die andere Seite der Geschichte." Wassily Kandinsky: Portrait eines Bildes. Zwei Reiter und liegende Gestalt, Munich: Galerie und Edition Raimund Thomas (2005).

Angela McKinley. "In the Presence of a Presence": Frank Lloyd Wright's Beth Shalom Synagogue and the Search for Success in Architectural Symbolism." Athanor XXI, Florida State University (2003): 75-83.

Kelly T. Denzer. "Eliel G. Saarinen, Finnish Architect and Designer in America." Journal of American and Comparative Cultures 25, no. 1 & 2 (2002): 43-46.

Book Reviews

Melissa Aho, Review of Shelagh Vainker, Chinese Silk: A Cultural History, Art History Journal, February 2008, Vol. 31, Issue 1, pg. 133-136.

Melissa Aho, Review of Virginia G. Drachman, Enterprising Women: 250 Years of American Business (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2005) in PAST: Pioneer American Society Transactions, Vol. 30, 2007, pg. 77-79.

Melissa Aho, Minnesota: Land of 10,000 Different Stories, Library Journal, March 15, 2006, Vol. 131, No. 5, pg. 112-112, 1p, 1c.

Melissa Aho, Review of Thomas K. Seligman and Kristyne Loughran, Editors, Art of Being Tuareg: Sahara Nomads in a Modern World. MultiCultural Review, Winter 2006, Vol. 15, No. 4, pg. 55-56.

Melissa Aho, Review of Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie (illus.), Aya. Library Journal - LJXpress Review, December 19, 2006. Electronic document, http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6401099.html.

Melissa Aho, Review of Michael Balter, The Goddess and the Bull: Catalhoyuk: An Archaeological Journey to the Dawn of Civilization. Anthropology Review Database, November 27, 2006, Electronic document, http://wings.buffalo.edu/ARD/cgi/showme.cgi?keycode+2718.

Melissa Aho, Review of Frank Pope, Dragon Sea: A True Tale of Treasure, Archaeology, and Greed off the Coast of Vietnam, Library Journal, November 15, 2006, Vol. 131, No. 19, pg. 79.

Kelly Denzer, Review of Nancy Siegel, Along the Juniata: Thomas Cole and the Dissemination of American Landscape Imagery (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2003) in PAST: Pioneer American Society Transactions, Vol. 30, 2007, pg. 96-98.

Jarrett Hardester, Review of William J. Mitchell, Placing Words: Symbols, Space, and the City (Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2005) in Material Culture: The Journal of the Pioneer America Society, Vol. 28, 2007, pg. 41-43.

Sue Erickson Nieland, Review of John F. Scott, Latin American Art (Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 1999) in Material Culture: The Journal of the Pioneer America Society. (Forthcoming)

Jason Onerheim, Review of Robert Scott, The Gothic Enterprise: A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral (Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2003) in Material Culture: The Journal of the Pioneer America Society, Spring 2007 issue, Vol. 39, No. 1, pg. 89-91.

Conference Presentations

Abstracts for some of the following conference presentations are available and can be accessed by clicking on the underlined titles.

2007-2008
Melissa Aho, "Hill Stations to Houseboats: Victorian House Hunting in India," Victorian Home Symposium, University of St. Thomas, April 2008.

Joanna Reiling Lindell, "Walter Crane and the Victorian Home: Progressivism and Design in 'Toy-Books,' Calling Cards, Wallpapers, and Home Decor," Victorian Home Symposium, University of St. Thomas, April 2008.

Mary Springer, "Pulling Back the Covers: A Study of the Middle-Class Master Bedroom in Victorian England," Victorian Home Symposium, University of St. Thomas, April 2008.

Nicole Watson, "Marion Alice Parker: Pioneering Woman Architect and the Progressive Prairie School," Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians Works In Progress Session 2007, Christ Church Lutheran, Minneapolis, November 2007.

Amy Fry, "High Fidelity Design: Purcell and Elmslie's Edison Shops and Prairie School Architecture," Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians second annual student symposium on the built environment, Twin Cities, September 2007.

Nicole Watson, "Marion Alice Parker: Pioneering Woman Architect and the Progressive Prairie School," Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians second annual student symposium on the built environment, Twin Cities, September 2007.

Laura Thayer, "Progress Through Precedence: George W. Maher's Winona National Bank," Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians second annual student symposium on the built environment, Twin Cities, September 2007.

Jenny Maki, "Images of Fantasy, Fear and Desire: Tourist Voodoo in New Orleans, Louisiana," Things that Move: The Material Worlds of Tourism and Travel Conference, Leeds, UK, July 2007.

2006-2007
Laura Thayer, "A Portrait of the Winter King and Queen in Pieter Saenredam's 'Interior of St. Bavo, Haarlem'," Midwest Art History Society Annual Conference, Indianapolis, March 2007.

Sara Witty, "Illustrative Text: Transformed Words and the Language of Comics," Hawaii International Conference of Arts and Humanities, Honolulu, HI, January 2007.

Kate McCreight, "Tennis in the Parlor and Ice Skating on the Lawn: Children's Space at the Alexander Ramsey House, 1881-1900," Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians first annual student symposium on the built environment, Twin Cities, September 2006.

Jennifer Curry, "Building the American Dream: The Role of the Architects' Small House and Service Bureau in Twentieth-Century Domestic Architecture," Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians first annual student symposium on the built environment, Twin Cities, September 2006.

Nicole Watson, "A Home Fit for a Hamburger: White Castle Building No. 8 and the Early Architectural History of America's First Fast-Food Restaurant Chain," Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians first annual student symposium on the built environment, Twin Cities, September 2006.

Emily Koller, "Capturing Extremes in Middle America: Art Deco Architecture in Minneapolis and St. Paul," Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians first annual student symposium on the built environment, Twin Cities, September 2006.

2005-2006
Sarah Campbell, "Building on Faith: St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Minneapolis, MN," Verge Art Series Conference, Trinity Western, Langley, BC, May 2006.

Christine Dent, "The Art of Magical Birds: From Pagan Literature to Christian Decoration," Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study, 96th Annual Meeting, Oxford, MS, May 2006.

Rebecca Davis, "Creative Acts of Survival, Conscious Acts of Subversion: Textile Pictures by the Peruvian Women of the Pamplona Alta," Art History Association Conference, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, April 2006.

Nicole Watson, "The Nature of Kinetic Architecture: How Human, Plant and Animal Physiology Provide Functional and Aesthetic Inspiration for the Design of Movable Structures," 59th Annual Meeting of the Society of Architectural Historians, Savannah, GA, April 2006.

Emily Koller, "An Architectural Cocktail: Art Deco Architecture in the Cosmopolitan Midwestern Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul," Elements of Architecture: History, Theory and Criticism Conference, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, March 2006.

Heather Pollock, "Escaping the Niche: Donatello's Crozier for Saint Louis of Toulouse," Midwest Art History Society (MAHS) 33rd Annual Conference, Dallas, TX, March 2006.

Sarah Campbell, "Building on Faith: St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral," Works In Progress Session of the Minnesota Society of Architectural Historians, St. Paul, MN, December 2005.

Rebecca Davis, "Creating Art, Constructing Change: Textile Pictures by the Peruvian Women of the Pamplona Alta. A Case Study Inspired by Faith." Art, Faith, and Social Justice Conference, Milwaukee, WI, November 2005.

Amy Pence Brown, "Architecture of the American Funeral Home: The Albin Chapels of Minneapolis," American Studies Association Annual Conference, Washington, DC, November 2005.

Emily Koller, "Tom Town: Military Barracks and Starter Homes on the Postwar American Campus," SESAH (Southeast Society of Architectural Historians, Fort Worth, TX, October 2005.

Kathryn McCreight, "Making of the Modern House: Overlook and William LeBaron Jenney," Salve Regina University Conference on Cultural Heritage Preservation, Newport, RI, September 2005

2004-2005
Amy Pence Brown, "Following the Fashions of the Female Flow: Dress, Gender and the Menstrual Culture of Ancient Greece," Sixth Annual Graduate Symposium on Women's and Gender History, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, March 2005.

Sarah Campbell, "Building Moveable Bridges," Architecture in Motion: Building the Impossible Student Symposium, University of St. Thomas, March 2005.

Nicole Watson, "The Nature of Kinetic Architecture: How Human and Plant Physiology provide Mechanical and Aesthetic Inspiration for the Design of Moveable Structures," Architecture in Motion: Building the Impossible Student Symposium, University of St. Thomas, March 2005.

Kara ZumBahlen, "Building with Bytes: The Impact of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) on Kinetic Architecture," Architecture in Motion: Building the Impossible Student Symposium, University of St. Thomas, March 2005.

Amy Pence Brown, "Architecture of the American Funeral Home: Albin Chapels Case Study," Works in Progress Session of the Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians, St. Paul, MN, November 2004.

2003-2004
Angela McKinley, "Frank Lloyd Wright's Beth Sholom Synagogue: Discussions on Religion and Mid-century Modernism," Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservatory Conference, San Francisco, CA, September 2003.

Angela McKinley, "Toward the Birth of a Style: American Postwar Synagogue Architecture," Works in Progress Session of the Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians, Minneapolis, MN, December 2003.

Sue Erickson Nieland, "The Dating Game: Issues of Nationalism, Race, and Gender in Hand-Painted Loter a Games from the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries," Midwest Popular Culture Conference, Minneapolis, MN, October 2003.

Amy Pence Brown, "Six Feet Under Minneapolis: Life, Death, and Architecture in the Albinson Family Funeral Homes," Midwest Popular Culture Conference, Minneapolis, MN, October 2003.

Angela McKinley, "Toward the Birth of a Style: American Postwar Synagogue Architecture," Works in Progress Session of the Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians, Minneapolis, MN, Dec. 2003.

Farrah Wicklund, "Narrative Cubism: David Hockney's Development of Innovative Memory Art and Picasso's Cubist Idiosyncrasy in "Pearblossom Highway"", Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Honolulu, HI, January 2004.

Noreen Waters, "Hierarchical Status in the Decorations of the Church of the Archconfraternity of Santa Maria dell'Orto," Renaissance Society of America Conference, New York, NY, April 2004.

2002-2003
Cathy Ostrom Peters, "Silk Road, Other Roads," Textile Society of America, 8th Biennial Symposium, Smith College, Nothampton, MA, September 2002.

Susan Harstad, "Exploring Finnish Culture and Values through the Eyes of Late 19th Century Finnish Women Artists," Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study, Minneapolis, MN, May 2003.

MaryAnn Goldstein, "The Demise of Harold: Arrow in the Eye Imagery in the Main Register and Borders of the Bayeux 'Tapestry'," International Medieval Congress, Kalamazoo, MI, May 2003.

Rose Mack, "Of Muse and Mankind: Portraits by Malvina Hoffman," American Cultural Association Conference, New Orleans, LA, April 2003.

Danielle Nunn-Weinberg, "Clothing and Status in Select 15th-Century English Wills," International Medieval Congress at the University of Leeds, Leeds, England, July 2003.

2001-2002
Kelly Denzer, "Eliel G. Saarinen: Finnish Architect and Designer in America, 1922-50," American Culture Association Conference (American Architecture Section), Toronto, Ontario, March 13-16, 2002.

Kelly Denzer, "Swedish modern Art: The Influence of the Academie Matisse," SASS, The Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2-4, 2002.

Sue Harstad, "The Tapestry of Helene Schjerfbeck: Evidence for a Hidden Self-Portrait," SASS, The Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2-4, 2002.

Beverly Hedin, "Marriage of Art and State: The Concurrent Births of Swedish Functionalism and Socialism," SASS, The Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian
Study, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2-4, 2002

Barbara Horlbeck , "Voices from the Walls: Contextualization of Hispano-Moroccan Calligraphic Inscriptions," Midwest Art History Society Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, April 18-19, 2002.

Angie McKinley, "In the Presence of a Presence:" Frank Lloyd Wright's Beth Sholom Synagogue," Florida State University Art History conference (20th Annual Symposium for Graduate Students in the History of Art), Tallahassee, Florida, February 8-9, 2002.

Angie McKinley, "Frank Lloyd Wright's Beth Sholom Synagogue: The Search for Success in Symbolism," Midwest Art History Society Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, April 18-19, 2002.

Laura Miller, "Tracks and Travelers: The Visual Culture of Tourism and the National Parks," Midwest Art History Society Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, April 18-19, 2002.

Sue Nieland, "Bodies in Motion: Revisiting the Iconography of the Penitente Death Cart," The Fifth Congress of the Americas Conference, Pueblo, Mexico, October 2002.

Danielle Nunn-Weinberg, "Baubles, Bangles, and Bedys: Jewelry and Accessory References in Selected Sixteenth-Century English Wills and Inventories," International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, Michigan, May 1-5, 2002.

Marilyn Olson, "The Foreign and the Familiar: Place and Identity in the Art of Natalia Goncharova," Midwest Art History Society Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, April 18-19, 2002.
2000-2001
Kelly Denzer: "Adornment: The Construction of a Cistercian Community in Sweden," Midwest Art History Society (MAHS) Conference, Minneapolis, April 2001.

Kelly Denzer: "America Reacts: Max Weber Paintings, 1908-1920," American Culture Association Conference, Philadelphia, April 2001.

Kelly Denzer: "The Collaboration Between Art and Industry in Swedish Decorative Arts: Edward Hald, From 'Academie Matisse' to Orrefors Glassworks," Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study (SASS) Conference, Chicago, April 2001.

Laura Miller: "Barbara Bloom's Room:" Looking Back to the Museum of the Nineteenth Century," Midwest Art History Society (MAHS) Conference, Minneapolis, April 2001.

Marilyn Olson: "Artistic Holdouts: Pre-Christian Imagery in Christian Church Art of Medieval Scandinavia," Midwest Art History Society (MAHS) Conference, Minneapolis, April 2001.

Cathy Ostrom Peters: "Sacred Arts: Breaking Down Barriers," 13th Annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum, Decorah, IA, March 2001.

Cathy Ostrom Peters: "From Birka to the Silk Road: Following the Textile Trail," Midwest Art History Society (MAHS) Conference, Minneapolis, April 2001.

Cathy Ostrom Peters: "Unsolved Mysteries: Birka's Eastern Costume," Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study (SASS) Conference, Chicago, April 2001.

Cathy Ostrom Peters: "The Skeletons in Birka's Closet: The Kaftan Enigma," International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, MI, May 2001.

Cathy Ostrom Peters: "Merchants, Mercenaries, or Mariners: Who Wore the Male Costume at Birka?" Ars Textrina, Decorah, IA, June 2001.

Vanessa Rousseau: "Painter as Narrator: Medea in Ancient Greek Vase Painting," Midwest Art History Society (MAHS) Conference Minneapolis, April 2001.

Vanessa Rousseau: "Emblem of an Empire: The Development of the Byzantine Crown," International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, MI, May 2001.

Vanessa Rousseau: "Emblem of an Empire: The Development of the Byzantine Crown," Medieval Studies Congress, Leeds, England, July 2001.

1999-2000
Kelly Denzer: "Ben Shahn and John Steuart Curry: Urban and Rural Imagery of American Life in the Art of the 1930s," Midwest Art History Society, Tulsa, OK, April 8, 2000.

Kelly Gage: "What is She Wearing? Costume of the Virgin of the Rosary in Eighteenth-Century Peru," Symposium on Religious Rituals in Europe and the Americas, The American Bible Society, NY, April 7, 2000.

Kelly Gage: "Butterflies, Horns and Hennins: The Influence of Trade and Crusades on the Development of Aristocratic Women's Headdresses in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries in France," Ars Textrina Conference, Leeds, UK, June 2000.

Laura Miller: "Garden Images in the Fifteenth-Century," International Society for Phenomenology, Harvard Divinity School, Boston, May 13, 2000.

Cathy Ostrom Peters: "Medieval Metallurgy: The Eastern Bridge to Birka?," Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison, May 5, 2000.

Vanessa Rousseau: "Foreign Influence on Byzantine Crowns," Midwest Art History Society, Tulsa, OK, April 8, 2000.

1998-1999
MaryAnn Goldstein: "The 'Outsider' in the Bayeaux Tapestry: Implication of Unique Costume Depiction," Ars Textrina, Minneapolis, June 1999.

Kelly Gage: "Nell Blaine: The Context in Which She Painted Through 1960," Midwest Art History Society annual meeting, Detroit, March 18-20, 1999.

Marilyn Olson: "Miniature Landscapes: Pattern Similarities in Islamic Book Illustration," Midwest Art History Society annual meeting, Detroit, March 18-20, 1999.

Cathy Ostrom Peters: "The China Connection at Birka--A Study of Silk," The Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study national annual meeting, Seattle, April 18-May 1, 1999.