To see individual artwork information for the images above, click here.
Shaping the Collection
The Student-led Acquisitions project grew out of the Flaten Art Museum’s commitment to expanding its collection and increasing representation of historically underrepresented artists and perspectives. Launched in 2021, this project is a collaboration between the Art & Art History Department and the Flaten Art Museum that gives students an active role in bringing greater diversity to St. Olaf’s visual culture through new art acquisitions. These additions to the museum’s collection fulfill current collecting priorities that seek to address the historic underrepresentation of contemporary Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, AAPI, Latinx, Somali, and Hmong artists in the collection, and advance the project’s goal of fostering a greater sense of belonging and respect for marginalized students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors.
The project asks students to look closely at the art already present on campus and consider whose stories, identities, and experiences are represented—and whose may be missing. Students learn about contemporary art and critical issues in the field before applying that knowledge to the visual culture of their own community.
The acquisition process is intentionally student-centered. Students research artists and artworks, communicate with galleries and artists, investigate pricing and availability, and develop proposals for works they believe would enhance the Flaten’s collection. Not only is the artistic significance of a work considered, but also its relationship to the College’s collecting priorities and its potential impact on students, faculty, staff, and the greater community.
Following presentations and discussion, students vote to determine which works they recommend for acquisition. The selected works become part of the Flaten Art Museum’s permanent collection and have the potential to be displayed in the museum or in other locations across campus.
Learning Through the Acquisition Process
This project offers students a chance to experience the art world outside of the traditional classroom setting. Throughout the semester, students engage with artists, gallerists, curators, and other art professionals who guide them through practices that may be unfamiliar to them. Guest speakers and conversations are aimed to focus on a range of perspectives and critical issues in contemporary art, including the work of Indigenous artists, artists from immigrant and refugee communities, LGBTQIA+ artists, Asian American and Pacific Islander artists, and Black artists.
Students then draw on these conversations and their individual research to develop their acquisition proposals. This process ensures students are provided with practical, firsthand experience in communicating with art professionals and navigating all relevant considerations involved in acquiring artwork.
As part of their proposals, students are asked to think beyond the object itself. In this way, they are encouraged to consider where works might be installed on campus and how location can impact the way art is experienced. Factors such as foot traffic, lighting, sound, and nearby activities are all key aspects in thinking of not only which communities will most likely encounter a work, but how.
Through the Student-led Acquisitions project, students become active participants in the visual culture of their campus rather than simply observers of it.
The Student-Led Acquisitions project has been made possible through the generous support of donors and foundations, including the Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Brenda Berkman ’73, and the Glen H. and Shirley Beito Gronlund Fund for Art Acquisition.
For more information about Student-Led Acquisitions or the works acquired through this project, please contact the Flaten Art Museum.
You must be logged in to post a comment.