While many people across the world have to pay occasionally expensive fees to get into art museums, Gustavus students have an advantage over the rest: free entrance to an exquisite museum, right here on campus.

The Hillstrom Museum of Art, located in the lower level of the campus center, boasts various exhibitions throughout the year, and the fall exhibit opens this weekend.

After opening its doors in 2000, the Hillstrom Museum has previously been recognized by the Star Tribune in their annual ‘Best of Minnesota’ section and draws visitors from all over the state.

The opening of reception for “Contemporary American Painting [1945]” will take place at 7:00 p.m. on September 18, in the Hillstrom Museum.

“Art is important because it can help give us insight to different perspectives.” — Jenn Sorvick

This series runs runs through Nov. 5, 2017 and the various selections on display are from our Hillstrom Museum of Art and the Perlman Teaching Museum, Carleton College.

Viewers are encouraged to focus on Reginald Marsh’s Manhattan Towers. Across campus artists-or-not, students are getting excited to see what the Hillstrom has in store this year.

Besides the opening reception, there will be a Nobel Conference Reception on October 3 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. A perk of going to a Liberal Arts school is being surround by those who study the impact of the arts, as one student explained.

“Art is important because it can help give us insight to different perspectives,” First-year Jenn Sorvick said.

“In art there can be a lot of cultural pieces so you can learn more about different cultures, and all the different cultures within the Gustavus community are important.”

This year’s collection of art is notable due to its special connection with Reverend Hillstrom’s original goal of collecting American pieces.

Hillstrom is a 1938 graduate of Gustavus and a passionate art collector.

“It is fitting that this collection reflects his love of art and his perspicacity in acquiring works by significant American artists,” Director Donald Myers wrote on the Gustavus webpage.

“It is equally appropriate that the museum bear his name.”

Donald Myers (’83) is the Director and Senior Curator of the Museum and has held the position since the museum opened its doors.

The influence of art on the campus does not go unnoticed by Gustavus students.

“Art can spark conversation about different views from different cultures and different walks of life,” Sorvick said.

There will be three other exhibitions In Hillstrom this year. Late fall (November 20 – February 2) will show Stuart Klipper: The World In a Few States and Jerome Myers: The Ash Can Artist of the Lower East Side.

“It is fitting that this collection reflects his love of art and his perspicacity in acquiring works by significant American artists.” — Donald Myers

In Spring (February 19 – April 22) the works of Georges Rouault: Cirque de L’Etoile Filante and Scharftopia: The Far-Out World of Kenny Scharf will be available for viewing.

Finally, in late Spring (May 5 – June 2) the Senior Studio Art Majors Exhibition will open, showcasing the immense talent that develops right here at Gustavus.

With such an impressive and renowned museum on campus, every student should stop by and admire the art.