Museum and Fine Arts Collections

The Luther Seminary Archives program includes responsibility for a 3,800 item museum collection called the Mission Heritage Collection. These artifacts represent missionary gifts from China, Japan, Hong Kong, Madagascar, South Africa and Tanzania. The collection also includes early 20^th century Inuit materials from Alaska. 

At any given time approximately 20 percent of the collection is on view in cases around the Luther Seminary campus. The artifact collections are supported by large photographic holdings in the ELCA Region 3 Archives global mission files.

Along side the Mission Heritage Collection is Luther Seminary’s permanent collection of fine art pieces. At present, more than paintings, sculptures, textile items and photographs constitute this growing collection, including the approximately 250 piece Prodigal Son Collection, gifted by Jerry Evenrud. 

Pieces from the permanent collection rotate on a regular basis through public areas on campus. Archivist and curator Paul Daniels and the seminary Fine Arts Committee have responsibility for this collection.

Click to enlarge.

The Last Supper Sadao Watanabe Japanese Artist born in 1913, died in 1996 Linocut Print 1973 – multiples made of this print but it is stamped by the artist. Dimensions:  7 inches by 8 inches In 1976, Watanabe was invited to teach his print technique and exhibit his work at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN.  During that same visit, he made presentations at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, and at the University of Minnesota at the Presbyterian Center (UMHE) and Luther Hall.  His prints are in the collections at United Theological Seminary, Luther Seminary, Central Lutheran Church, Hennepin Avenue Methodist, Westminster Presbyterian, and in many private collections. The Last Supper, a favorite theme of many of his prints, shows the disciples in colorful, intricately designed kimonos.  The Christ figure is obvious at the end of the table and in the middle of the table is a large fish, the centerpiece for Japanese meals.  Are the round shapes bowls of rice or are they bread?  Is it wine or saki?  What do you think? Go Back   Next Image