Art Curator

Biography / Administrative History

The Graduate Theological Union library was envisioned as a public use facility that would regularly display art, sculpture, rare books and historical material.

When the library building first opened in 1981, only the first level was available for display. The exhibits tended to be small and usually featured paintings and prints that were for sale. With the completion of the rest of the building in 1987, which added the second floor wall space and a rotunda of exhibit cases, more extensive displays could be shown.

Over the years the exhibits showcased a number of artists and topics, ranging from local and unknown artists to famous figures in the art world, such as Christo and Richard Meier. While usually featuring a single artist, occasionally exhibits were based on a Bay Area collector or a religious theme (such as Evil). Besides Western artists, several rxhibits featured the work of Japanese artists, for example Keiko Nelson and Kazuaki Tanahashi.

The Trustees Aesthetics Committee oversaw selection of the artist or theme for display. Among the members were professors in art and religion at the GTU: Jane Dillenberger, Doug Adams and Michael Morris. Often, the exhibit would coincide with a specific class. In addition, Peter Selz, founder of the University Art Museum, later joined the committee. Terrence Dempsey, a GTU graduate and director of the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art in St Louis, was also involved in determining (and curating) some of the exhibits.

Primarily a venue for exhibiting art, the library has also displayed rare and special books, faculty publications, staff collections, architectural displays, and GTU-focused exhibits.

Chronology