American Museum of Asmat Art facts for kids
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| Established | 2007 |
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| Location | Anderson Student Center, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Type | Art museum, anthropology museum |
| Collections | Asmat art |
The American Museum of Asmat Art is a unique museum located at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. It shows off the amazing art and culture of the Asmat people. The Asmat are a group of people who live in southwestern Papua, Indonesia.
This museum has more than 2,200 objects. This makes it one of the biggest collections of Asmat art in the United States.
Contents
What is Asmat Art?
Asmat art is known for being very expressive and powerful. It includes things like ancestor poles (called bis) and canoes. Even though the Asmat region is hard to reach, their art became very popular. After WWII, many people went on trips to collect these special artworks.
The museum has a permanent display of these important Asmat pieces. It also has changing exhibits that focus on different parts of Asmat art and culture. You can even see much of the collection online through the museum's website.
How the Museum Started
The museum was started by Bishop Alphonse Sowada. He was from Minnesota and worked with the Asmat people for many years. He started his work there in 1958.
Bishop Sowada studied cultural anthropology. He wrote books about Asmat art and culture. He also collected hundreds of art pieces. These pieces later became the main part of the museum's collection.
Helping the Asmat Community
Bishop Sowada also helped create the Asmat Museum of Culture and Progress. This museum opened in Agats, Indonesia, in 1973. It was made for the local people to enjoy their own culture.
He also started an annual woodcarving competition and auction. This event began in 1981. It helps recognize the best woodcarvers in Agats.
Bringing the Collection to Minnesota
After Bishop Sowada retired, he brought his collection back to the United States. He kept it in different places before donating it to the University of St. Thomas in 2007. The current museum opened its doors in 2012.
