home

The James R. Smail Natural History and Science Gallery was established in honor of James Smail, a beloved Biology professor and department chair, who died in 1993.  The mission of the Gallery is to communicate science in a primarily visual format.   All exhibits must meet three criteria.  The content must involve science, natural history, or mathematics.  The exhibit must have a strong educational component .  And, the exhibit must be visually striking.

Each year, a Department in the Science Division organizes an exhibit, which is mounted in the gallery for the entire academic year.  In many cases, the artist is invited and participates in the opening of an exhibit.  The gallery was created during the renovation of Macalester’s Science building during the mid-1990s.  With the generous help from alumni, friends, and family, a Smail Gallery endowment was created, which pays for the costs associated with the exhibits.

Imagination and the Cosmos: 

Visions of the Universe

David Aguilar

David Aguilar is the Director of Public Affairs and Science Information at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.  An astronomer, author, and artist, Aguilar's expertise is in communicating the wonders of the universe, particularly through his space art.  Created on the computer, Aguilar's works provide a visual illustration of current scientific understanding of the cosmos.  This exhibit presented a number of Aguilar's creations.   Curator:  Mark Davis, Biology.

Macalester College · 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105  USA · 651-696-6000
Comments and questions to Mark Davis davis@macalester.edu