In the academic year 2017-18, Mary Thomas worked as research associate at the Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery, Cowell College, UCSC, where she curated three highly successful exhibitions:
Ever Curious: Maryjo Koch and the Art of Scientific Illustration showcased work by Maryjo Koch that combines a precise rendering of detail with elements of whimsy, speaking to a reverence and wonder for the natural world that is rooted in close observation.
Scenic Limited: An Incarceration Road Trip presented material that commented on the enduring significance of the forced relocation and incarceration of 110,000-120,000 Japanese American citizens from 1942-1946.
Emerging Visions: Creative Practice at the Nexus of Freedom and Justice featured artists who expand how freedom can be enacted by embedding that which is spectacular and radical into everyday life.
For more information see the web pages of the Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery for past exhibitions and current exhibitions.