The Minnesota Marine Art Museum under construction in 2006.

Happy Birthday MMAM! On this date in 2006, the Museum opened its doors to the public for the first time. Since opening, 341,646 people have visited MMAM for educational programs and exhibitions that explore the ongoing and historic relationship with water.

I visited Winona for the first time in the spring of 2006 to interview for the position as Curator of Exhibitions and Collections at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. Immediately after my interview, I was offered the position, which I gladly accepted. At the time I was working and studying in the graduate school Nautical Archaeology program at Texas A&M University, and was thrilled to have the opportunity to live and work in Minnesota again. As a Duluth native with degrees in Fine Art and the History of Art, I was excited to be part of this new marine art museum. On my first day in May of 2006, I hit the ground running and to this day, continue to love my job, and am profoundly grateful for being part of this exceptional organization.

Installation of the building’s cornerstone time capsule.

When I started in 2006, the building was still under construction and it was purposely designed and built to store, protect, and exhibit art. We were scheduled to open in the fall of 2006, but we opened ahead of schedule. Our initial exhibitions and educational programs featured works from the Museum’s collection of Leo and Marilyn Smith folk art, images from 19th century US Corps of Engineers photographer and draftsman Henry Peter Bosse, and European and American marine art on loan from a private collection. In 2009, I brought in the first outside exhibition featuring Great Lakes photographs by Christopher Winters. Since then, I have curated, created, and hosted more than 140 temporary exhibitions and have been very fortunate to work with so many great artists, galleries, museums, collectors, exhibition services, staff members past and present, and more to make these exhibitions possible. A few of my personal favorite past exhibitions are Christian Vizl: Silent Kingdom (2020-21), Seth Casteel: Underwater Dogs (2019-2020), Minnesota Illustrated: The Prints of Adam Turman (2016-2017), and Ink & Water: Sailors’ Tattoos (2016). See more previous exhibitions at www.mmam.org/exhibitions.

Also in 2009, the first of three building expansions included the addition of the Shirley and Will Oberton Education Room and a new 2500 square foot gallery that houses 20th century American art. In 2013, the Stephen and Barbara Slaggie Family Foundation funded a new 2000 square foot gallery to exhibit the museum’s growing European art collection. MMAM’s largest expansion was made possible in 2014 by Richard and Jane Manoogian, and includes a 3600 square foot gallery featuring an extraordinary collection of water themed works by 19th century Hudson River school and other American artists. Everyday when I walk through the galleries, I do not take for granted our facility and the exceptional quality and variety of art housed within it.

Jon Swanson, Curator of Collections & Exhibitions, on opening day, July 27, 2006.

Since 2007, Curator of Education Heather Casper and Assistant Curator of Education and Exhibitions Dave Casey, starting in 2011, have created hundreds of educational programs, adult lectures, school tours, Toddler Tuesdays, Family Festivals, Second and Seasonal Saturday programs, videos, and many more educational opportunities for people to engage with and learn about our collections and temporary exhibitions.

From the inception of the museum to the present day, we could not and cannot function without our volunteers and docents, collecting partners, donors, sponsors, artists, community partners, and our hard-working and dedicated staff. Through my position as Curator I have met thousands of people, made hundreds of friends, and made a home in this community. I love where I live, and I love what I do.”

-Jon Swanson

Curator of Collections and Exhibitions

Minnesota Marine Art Museum

A Reflection on 15 Years of MMAM

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