Show-Me State Times

The Saint Louis University Museum of Art (SLUMA) is launching two new exhibitions this fall. The first, “From War to Classroom: The Bosnian Student Project,” documents the efforts to support students from Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 1992-1995 war in the Balkans. The conflict led to widespread violence, displacement, and interrupted education for many young people.

The Bosnian Student Project was created by the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) as a way to help over 160 Bosnian students from different backgrounds continue their studies in the United States. Some of these students were placed at universities across the country, including Saint Louis University.

Patrick McCarthy, associate dean of libraries and director of SLU’s Medical Center Library, was instrumental in bringing the project to SLU in 1994 after learning about it through the American Association of Colleges and Universities. He organized a letter-writing campaign addressed to then-University President Lawrence Biondi, asking faculty and staff to show support for sponsoring a student.

“Governments weren’t doing enough and people wanted to do something to help,” McCarthy said. “This was an emergency effort to get academically qualified young people out of harm’s way so they could finish their education.”

McCarthy also referenced SLU’s Jesuit mission during his appeal, suggesting that supporting students affected by religious conflict would reflect core values. One student was admitted with sponsorship initially attributed to an anonymous donor; later it became known that the university itself had provided support.

The exhibit presents an overview of the Bosnian Student Project before focusing on individual stories. It was developed with assistance from the Center for Bosnian Studies, which has recently moved its operations to Saint Louis University.

An opening reception for “From War to Classroom: The Bosnian Student Project” will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 19 at SLUMA. Admission is free and open to all visitors, with parking available at Canisius lot at Spring Ave and Lindell Blvd.

A second exhibition titled “Intersections: Memory, Identity, and Place” opens Friday, Sept. 12 and will run through May 31, 2026. This exhibit explores how contemporary Aboriginal and non-Indigenous Australian artists engage with themes such as memory and identity within their work. It encourages viewers to question established narratives related to contemporary Australian art.

Audio narration accompanies this exhibition; visitors are encouraged to bring headphones for access.

The featured artworks were donated by Gerald and Mary Reid Brunstrom in 2024. Between 1988 and 2000, Austral Gallery—founded by Mary Reid Brunstrom—played a role in introducing significant Australian artists’ works in St. Louis and raising awareness about Aboriginal art in North America.

Brunstrom’s donation added substantially both to SLUMA’s collection as well as that of the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art (MOCRA).

The opening reception for “Intersections: Memory, Identity, and Place” will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 12 at SLUMA; admission is free with parking available nearby.