St. Thomas is home to two regularly rotating art galleries, an exhibit in the first floor of the O’Shaughnessey Education Center and the American Museum of Asmat Art located on the second floor of the Anderson Student Center.

Art history professor Michelle Nordtorp-Madson is part of the committee that chooses the theme for the OEC art exhibit. The committee chose the current botanical theme because of sophomore artist Anna Rosenthal.

“We got to know (Rosenthal) and realized that could be a really nice exhibit, especially if it were to begin somewhere in January when you kind of need that,” Nordtorp-Madson said. “Then we used our own contacts we knew and then asked, just asked around about people who do this kind of art.”

Once the committee finds the artists that fit the theme, an extensive process begins. Nordtorp-Madson explained the committee begins by searching for artists that fit the theme, then contacts and interviews each artist to put together statements, plans the layout within the space and collects the artists’ pieces for display.

“We try to make it all in one day because we have no place to store things,” Nordtorp-Madson said.

The American Museum of Asmat Art has a slightly different process when changing out the exhibits. All of the art in the gallery comes from the university’s collection, and students help put the exhibit together.

“They have around 1,500 objects or 2,000 objects to pick from. So they go for a theme that, for one thing, allows students to work very closely as curators,” Nordtorp-Madson said.

The Botanical exhibit in OEC is set to change May 24 to an annual exhibit of art from the Child Developement Center for the children’s graduation. The American Museum of Asmat Art exhibit, American Crosiers in Asmat and the Spirit of Vatican II, is open April 1 to Dec. 19.

Morgan Neu can be reached at neu92585@stthomas.edu