Kruizenga Art Museum - Meet Mimi

When you walk into the Kruizenga Art Museum (KAM) you likely won’t feel the painstaking, extensive process that Mimi ’25 experienced in curating your visit.

Calling Tulsa, Okla., her hometown, Mimi is double majoring in art history and German. If that wasn’t enough, she has a religion minor as well. When she finds free time from her studies, Mimi has worked as a co-student curator for Hope College’s very own KAM.

“This summer I worked on the upcoming exhibition concerning saints of the Christian church and their syncretic manifestations across the world,” said Mimi, who is also a Hope Forward student. You can see “Saints and Syncretism” at the KAM through May 17, 2025.

Upon graduation, Mimi plans to earn her master’s degree in art history with a concentration in museum studies. She credits her firsthand experience in the KAM for a wonderful start. “The personal and exclusive opportunity provided by the KAM taught me organization skills, comprehensive research methods and a deep appreciation for the fine arts needed to create a well-rounded exhibition,” she said.

Mimi was able to continue this exploration with an advanced art history seminar instructed by Dr. Anne Heath and the KAM staff.

“Multiple times, I have worked directly with the pieces — handling, analyzing and measuring — to better inform my knowledge of the works,” explained Mimi. “There is truly nothing comparable to seeing the work in person and being able to touch and interact with it. Nowhere else have I had such an opportunity.”

Today, your gifts will turn these opportunities into realities. “There’s a lot of underfunding in the arts,” said Mimi. “Through your gifts, the KAM has been able to thrive and continue as an educational resource — not only for the college, but for the broader community.”

Mimi is thankful for the ripple effect of your gift on Day of Giving. “These gifts inspire me to contemplate the things that wouldn’t be possible without them,” she said. “It impresses upon the recipients to continue the goodwill.”