The new art exhibit on campus, “The Vision Changes: The Eye Remembers,” showcases six photographers with St. Thomas ties.

The latest exhibit displayed in the O’Shaughnessy Educational Center lobby gallery opened the first week of March and will be on display until May 23.

The exhibition focused on the six photographers’ national and international journeys. Many of the photographs were taken during the photographers’ trips abroad.

Senior Kaitlyn Joyce said she enjoyed Zachary Dolinaj’s photograph “The Garden.” The photographs depicts a building overrun by vegetation.

“I think it’s interesting,” Joyce said. “It shows nature overtaking man.”

Joyce also commented on the theme of the exhibit.

“It’s a reminder of how fortunate we are,” she said.

Shelly Nordtorp-Madson, chief curator and clinical faculty, said the art history department highlights up-and-coming artists in the Twin Cities area.

“They are all really phenomenal photographers,” Nordtorp-Madson said.

Dolinaj, Amanda Herman, Olga Ivanova, Hernan Navarrete, Julie Risser and Laura Thayer have photographs in the exhibit. The exhibit is offered in conjunction with the Sacred Arts Festival 2011 – Sacred Water.

“It is the annual festival that celebrates all art forms in a thematic concept,” Nordtorp-Madson said, noting that water was this year’s theme.

“Most of our photographers were able to incorporate water in their photography,” she said.

The Sacred Arts Festival presents various artistic forms including music, drama, poetry, dance, painting and film. The festival is open to St. Thomas and the greater metropolitan area.

“We are in the middle of our first participation in an interfaith festival,” Nordtrop-Madson said.

The exhibition marks the university’s first collaboration with Interfaith Art pARTners, a Twin Cities festival that promotes ecumenical dialogue and partnership through art.

“We are trying to establish a bridge to religious institutions, educational and fine arts throughout the Twin Cities,” Nordtorp-Madson said.

Interfaith Art pARTners includes the Hennepin History Museum, the Basilica of St. Mary, Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council and Eckankar, among others.

“We are trying to make it as inclusive as possible,” Nordtrop-Madson said. “This is one of our efforts to make sure that we understand each other as much as possible.”

Gina Dolski can be reached at grdolski@stthomas.edu.