THE ARCHIVE OF SIGNIFICANT OBJECTS

A smiling woman with curly brown hair wearing large circular earrings and a light blue sleeveless blazer standing on a city sidewalk in front of a theater marquee with yellow signs.

This project is a fiscal year 2026 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

 

What do you carry with you? How long has it been yours?

Since 2023, I have been interviewing people about the objects they deem significant. The objects live on display in a temporary museum alongside their stories. Supported by the National Humanities Center and the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Archive of Significant Objects is a community-curated cabinet of curios.

Inspired by object performance, Object Oriented Ontology, Thing Theory, and American philosopher Dr. Jane Bennett, this project allows me to hold long conversations and make space for the lives of objects.

This archive is open for submissions. Email me to tell me about your significant object!

Photos by Nicole Neri

A large, handmade knitted blanket with a pattern of blue, white, and yellow, draped over a blue cloth on a display table.
A Boss DS-1 distortion guitar pedal, orange with black rubber foot switch, placed on a black cloth, with a handwritten note below it.
A Pennsylvania junior driver's license in a blue sleeve, accompanied by a handwritten note explaining it was found with a bag of smelly gym clothes and car thefts. The note describes the license as expired, no longer in use, and details the discovery
Display of a red board with various items related to a project, including a notebook with a handwritten drawing and the words 'Join Art Club,' a printed poem about a bed, a small container with yellow and blue objects, a crumpled piece of paper, a sm
Handmade blue fabric with two painted rocks, one with a copper color and the other with a pink and white ladybug drawing. Two handwritten notes on white paper tags describe the objects.
A silver belt buckle with a rabbit playing a flute, attached to a dark blue fabric background. A handwritten note explains that the buckle belonged to a collector's father, was a gift many years ago, and symbolizes connection and identity for the hol
A wooden cup with a Lakers game ticket inside, placed on a turquoise cloth on a beige surface. There are two handwritten notes beside the cup, one describing the relationship between the collector and a sibling, and the other about a bowl made by a f
A transparent glass sphere placed on a blue cloth, with blurred books and objects in the background.
A clear crystal ball is placed on a blue napkin, with a handwritten note underneath.
A wooden stamp and a handwritten note on red fabric with a white background. The note explains that the stamp is a piece of a late great stage at Macalaster College, given to the owner by a board member to symbolize a future in the arts and community
A small wooden blackboard with a black surface, placed on a red cloth with a white paper tag attached, surrounded by other cloths of different colors.
Ches's sweater
A small white ceramic house-shaped object with a blue spiral object on top, placed on a black cloth on a table. A handwritten note describes the object as an 'eco humidifier' made from a collection obtained from a friend.
A hand-painted spinning top toy resting on a blue cloth, with a handwritten note on a white tag.
A ceramic frog figurine with a red and yellow flower on its head, sitting on a purple cloth placemat. Next to it is a handwritten note on a white tag describing the frog and its symbolism, and a small white card with two colored dots, red and gray.
Ceramic elephant figurine with a red flower, positioned on a purple fabric-covered surface, next to a handwritten note describing the elephant as part of a collection of decorated ceramic pieces, with a small white label featuring red and blue dots.
A small display of vintage metal bells hanging from a string on a white wooden stand, placed on a blue cloth with a handwritten description card.
A small plush bear lying on a blue fabric square with a white handwritten note and a small white label with purple and blue dots.
A blue cloth with a small jar containing a tiny object, a taller cylindrical container, and a caterpillar-like object, alongside a handwritten note explaining that the items are part of a collection of vials with personal significance, including a ra
A clear glass with a drawing of a girl on a piece of tissue paper inside, placed on a gray cloth on a table.
Collection of hand-drawn comic strips on black presentation board featuring nature scenes, birds, trees, and a woman wearing glasses, with a handwritten description of the comic project attached at the bottom.
Two rocks from an unnumbered collection are displayed on a black cloth. A handwritten note explains the rocks' significance as ritual companions and their role in the collection, which is maintained by a collector.
A flyer features a blue-tinted, retro-style photo of a young person with short hair, touching their face, and wearing a hoodie. The flyer text reads: "The sunnier it gets, the worse I feel!" and "Could it be... Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder (R.
White molded sculpture of a puppet head placed on red fabric with a handwritten note explaining its significance.
A wooden box with Indigenous art carved into the top, a black smooth stone, a blue felt cloth, a handwritten note describing the items, and part of a dark fabric are displayed on a light-colored surface.
Various heart-shaped stones and rocks on a red surface, with a handwritten note and a color selection tag.
A black fabric background with three items: a white label with black text reading "a happening is happening," a white event details card, and a beige handwritten note on a paper tag discussing the significance of the event. There is also a small whit
A worn wristband from a carnival placed on a blue fabric surface with a handwritten note explaining its significance.
A crumpled piece of paper with handwritten text in purple ink, placed on a blue folder or workspace with a blurred handwritten note in front.
A large pine cone with a handwritten note on a white card, displayed on a blue cloth.
A large pine cone displayed on a dark blue background with a small description card nearby.
Decorative stone with a drawing of a young girl holding a bouquet of flowers, birthday details, and a written note on blue background.
A beige zip-up sweater with a circular logo on the left chest, displayed on a dark blue background, with a small handwritten note attached at the bottom.
A folded, striped, multicolored knitted blanket with fringe on a blue background and a small informational plaque at the bottom right.
A red display board containing a notebook with sketches, a printed poem, and handwritten notes about objects collected for an art project, labeled 'Corn Tortillas.'
Close-up of a silver brooch featuring the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, holding a trumpet, with a scroll in its hand.
A collection of four-leaf clovers displayed in a plastic sleeve, attached to a brown fabric background. A handwritten note explains that the collection is held dearly by its owner and mentions a partner's sincere attempt to find such clovers.
Display table with rocks, shells, a pine cone, and paper notes, with framed photos on the wall behind.