Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Recorded November 18, 2020, during a conversation and celebration of the exhibition, Mathias J. Alten: An American Artist at the Turn of the Century. The program includes a video tour of the Dennos galleries with Executive Director, Craig Hadly, a presentation by Grand Valley State University Curator of Exhibitions, Joel Zwart, and a discussion with Zwart facilitated by Dennos Curator of Education, Jason Dake.
The German-born American artist, Mathias Joseph Alten (1871-1938) immigrated to the United States in 1889 at the age of seventeen. His family settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a premier furniture-manufacturing center and desired location for immigrants in the late-nineteenth century. Here, amidst a rapidly changing world, Alten went on to establish a family, home and studio for the entirety of his career. Grand Valley State University currently holds the largest public collection of Mathias J. Alten. All artwork and objects included in this exhibition are on loan from the GVSU Art Gallery and the GVSU Special Collections & University Archives, and searchable online at alten.gvsuartgallery.org.
Joel Zwart is an accomplished museum administrator and curator with a demonstrated history of leadership and service in the higher education and museum industry for over 20 years. He has extensive experience at a broad range of institutions and has organized more than 200 exhibitions, including “Mathias J. Alten: An American Artist at the Turn of the Century” currently on tour in Michigan over the next two years. Presently, he serves as Curator of Exhibitions at Grand Valley State University, where he manages exhibition development, design, and installation at all university galleries. He also assists with placement and installation of the permanent collection throughout all university buildings and outdoor spaces, and oversees special projects. Zwart joined the GVSU Art Gallery team in 2016 after serving for 14 years as the Director of Exhibitions at Calvin University. In that role, he oversaw the development and opening of the new Center Art Gallery, managed the (106) Gallery from 2006- 16, and led the re-organization of the university’s permanent collection of art. Zwart has an M.A. in Historical Administration from Eastern Illinois University and a B.A. with minors in Art and French from Calvin University, and continues to serve on various committees at museums and non-profit organizations.
Recorded November 18, 2020, during a conversation and celebration of the exhibition, Mathias J. Alten: An American Artist at the Turn of the Century. The program includes a video tour of the Dennos galleries with Executive Director, Craig Hadly, a presentation by Grand Valley State University Curator of Exhibitions, Joel Zwart, and a discussion with Zwart facilitated by Dennos Curator of Education, Jason Dake.
The German-born American artist, Mathias Joseph Alten (1871-1938) immigrated to the United States in 1889 at the age of seventeen. His family settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a premier furniture-manufacturing center and desired location for immigrants in the late-nineteenth century. Here, amidst a rapidly changing world, Alten went on to establish a family, home and studio for the entirety of his career. Grand Valley State University currently holds the largest public collection of Mathias J. Alten. All artwork and objects included in this exhibition are on loan from the GVSU Art Gallery and the GVSU Special Collections & University Archives, and searchable online at alten.gvsuartgallery.org.
Joel Zwart is an accomplished museum administrator and curator with a demonstrated history of leadership and service in the higher education and museum industry for over 20 years. He has extensive experience at a broad range of institutions and has organized more than 200 exhibitions, including “Mathias J. Alten: An American Artist at the Turn of the Century” currently on tour in Michigan over the next two years. Presently, he serves as Curator of Exhibitions at Grand Valley State University, where he manages exhibition development, design, and installation at all university galleries. He also assists with placement and installation of the permanent collection throughout all university buildings and outdoor spaces, and oversees special projects. Zwart joined the GVSU Art Gallery team in 2016 after serving for 14 years as the Director of Exhibitions at Calvin University. In that role, he oversaw the development and opening of the new Center Art Gallery, managed the (106) Gallery from 2006- 16, and led the re-organization of the university’s permanent collection of art. Zwart has an M.A. in Historical Administration from Eastern Illinois University and a B.A. with minors in Art and French from Calvin University, and continues to serve on various committees at museums and non-profit organizations.
