HILOBROW

“Definitely one of the remaining examples of
the rapidly diminishing ‘good Internet’ ice caps that
will some day be spoken of only in legend.” — THE AWL

PROJECT:OBJECT is a sequel to Josh Glenn and Rob Walker’s much-discussed SIGNIFICANT OBJECTS experiment.

Thanks to the generosity of our contributors, we have donated thousands of dollars to the American Civil Liberties Union.

LOST OBJECTS BOOK

In Spring 2022, the Los Angeles-based indie art-book publisher Hat & Beard Press “soft-launched” LOST OBJECTS, a print adaptation of Project:Object’s two-part series of that title. (The series was first published here at HILOBROW.) This gorgeous book, a sequel to Josh and Rob’s 2012 collection Significant Objects, will officially be published in January 2023. Here’s a round-up of all 2022 LOST OBJECTS publicity, press, events, etc.

The book is available RIGHT NOW direct from Hat & Beard Press. Order copies of the book, along with limited-edition LOST OBJECTS art prints, here.

Josh Glenn and Rob Walker are the book’s editors; and design/branding guru Debbie Millman (author most recently of Why Design Matters: Conversations with the World’s Most Creative People) contributed an introduction. The book’s gorgeous design is thanks to Leone Design Associates.

As mentioned above, Hat & Beard has commissioned several limited-edition LOST OBJECTS posters. We’re grateful to the talented folks at the agency FEATURE for producing these beauties.

2021

SEMIO OBJECTS

During 2Q2021 we published 25 nonfiction stories about objects of particular significance to Josh’s commercial semiotician colleagues from around the world. Here’s the lineup:

INTRODUCTION by Josh Glenn and Rob Walker

OBJECTIONABLE OBJECTS

During 4Q2021 we published 25 nonfiction stories about personal objects that sparked alarm, outrage, and bewilderment. The series was guest-edited by Adam McGovern. Here’s the lineup:

INTRODUCTION by Adam McGovern

2020

MOVIE OBJECTS

During 2Q2020 we published 25 nonfiction stories about movie objects — whether they’re used in stage business to establish or further develop character, or they’re MacGuffins moving the plot forward, or perhaps they’re unimportant props that captured a contributor’s imagination. Here’s the lineup:

INTRODUCTION by Josh Glenn and Rob Walker.

Ramona Lyons on EYE OF THE SERPENT (CONAN THE BARBARIAN) | Faythe Levine on BEDKNOB (BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS) | Gerald Peary on CUP OF COFFEE (THE BIG HEAT) | Christopher Orr on TOM’S HAT (MILLER’S CROSSING) | Lynn Peril on TRANSISTOR RADIO (DR. STRANGELOVE) | Whitney Bowers on DUCT TAPE (NOW AND THEN) | Kio Stark on CANDLE (DEBBIE DOES DALLAS) | Tom Roston on CALCULATOR WATCH (BREAKFAST CLUB) | Miranda Mellis on LIMOUSINE (MELANCHOLIA) | Carolina A. Miranda on HAUNTED ACCORDION (THE WIND JOURNEYS) | Vanessa Berry on FIBREGLASS MARLIN (LOVE SERENADE) | June Thomas on CERAMIC DUCKS (A TASTE OF HONEY) | Madeline Ashby on LETTERS OF TRANSIT (CASABLANCA) | Dave Walker on ETTINAUER 226-XL (REAL LIFE) | Jonathan Lethem on SINGLE-JACK HAMMER (EARTH ABIDES) | Guy Trebay on STAMPS (CHARADE) | Annie Nocenti on PASSPORT (THE PASSENGER) | Tony Arcabascio on SHEEPSKIN COAT (BEAT STREET) | Alix Lambert on TYPEWRITER (MARY AND MAX) | John Sellers on WHITEBOARD (A QUIET PLACE) | Carlo Rotella on POWDERING CONE (REIGN OF TERROR) | Laura Miller on SEVERED EAR (BLUE VELVET) | Josh Glenn on CASSETTE TAPE (BREATHLESS) | Vicente Lozano on NOTEBOOK (WHERE IS THE FRIEND’S HOME?) | Jeff Malmberg on SPAGHETTI SAUCE (THE GODFATHER).

2019

FETISHES

During 2Q2019, we published 25 nonfiction stories about objects with which we are obsessed, to which we are devoted, and from the influence of which we cannot escape. Here’s the lineup:

INTRODUCTION by Josh Glenn and Rob Walker.

Thanks, Chris Piascik, for the volume logo.

LOST OBJECTS (v. 2)

During 4Q2019, we published 25 nonfiction stories about lost significant objects. Each story is illustrated by a talented artist — who, in some cases, is also the story’s author. (Example above by Ben Katchor.)

INTRODUCTION by Josh Glenn and Rob Walker

Geoff Manaugh on MOROCCAN TRINKET (ill. Mariana Pita) | Joe Yonan on MACRAMÉ ART (ill. Theo Ellsworth) | Laura Lippman on LABYRINTH GAME (ill. Laura Didyk) | Ben Katchor on LUCITE CARRYING CASE | Neil LaBute on PICKLED OCTOPUS (ill. Disa Wallander) | Miranda Mellis on SEQUINED SCARF (ill. Adam Goldberg) | Chris Piascik on GENERAL HUSTLER BMX | Jenny Kroik on MISSING TOY PIECES | Anita Kunz on FLOWER NECKLACE | Debbie Millman on GLASS POODLE | Heather Kapplow on CERAMIC ARTWORK (ill. Matt Wuerker) | Lydia Millet on ROCKY HORROR NOVEL (ill. Berta Valló) | Ben Greenman on WARHOL CAN (ill. Clara Selina Bach) | Leah Hennessey on BATMAN RING (ill. Dean Haspiel) | Kathryn Davis on PRAYER CARD (ill. Dina Noto) | Mikita Brottman on PINK ELEPHANTS (ill. Sarah Williamson) | Nathaniel Rich on AUTOGRAPHED BASEBALL (ill. Ellen Rose) | Charles Glaubitz on TRACK SHOES | Seth on ENTERPRISE MODEL | Becky Stern on SKELETON SWEATER (ill. Monica Garwood) | Mark Dery on GRANDFATHER PHOTO (ill. Kelli Anderson) | Paola Antonelli on VINYL SKIRT (ill. Guillermo Meraz) | Sara Ryan on FINGER PUPPET (ill. Steve Lieber) | Alex Gerasev on KARMA PARKA | Margaret Wertheim on ECCENTRIC BOOK (ill. Armando Veve).

2018

FLAIR

During 2Q2018, we published 25 nonfiction stories about significant accoutrements, appurtenances, and regalia. Here’s the lineup:

INTRODUCTION by Josh Glenn and Rob Walker.

Thanks, Heather Kasunick, for the volume logo.

FOSSILS

During 4Q2018, we published 25 nonfiction stories about objects that evoke a vanished era for their owners. Here’s the lineup:

INTRODUCTION by Josh Glenn and Rob Walker.

Thanks, Mister Reusch, for the volume logo.

2017

POLITICAL OBJECTS

During 1Q2017 we published 25 nonfiction stories about objects of political significance. Here’s the lineup.

INTRODUCTION by Josh Glenn and Rob Walker.

Thanks, Rick Pinchera, for the volume logo.

TALISMANIC OBJECTS

During 2Q2017, we published 25 nonfiction stories about objects of talismanic significance. Here’s the lineup.

INTRODUCTION by Josh Glenn and Rob Walker

Thanks, Jacob Covey, for the volume logo.

ILLICIT OBJECTS

During 3Q2017, we published 25 nonfiction stories — including several audio stories! — about objects of illicit significance. Here’s the lineup.

INTRODUCTION by Josh Glenn and Rob Walker

Listen to ILLICIT OBJECTS audio stories — plus a Q&A with PROJECT:OBJECT’s Rob Walker — via Benjamen Walker’s terrific THEORY OF EVERYTHING podcast!

Thanks, Joe Alterio, for the volume logo.

LOST OBJECTS (v. 1)

During 4Q2017, we published 25 nonfiction stories about lost significant objects — and each story was illustrated by a talented artist. Here’s the lineup.

INTRODUCTION by Josh Glenn and Rob Walker

Kate Bernheimer on MULLET WIG (ill. Amy Evans) | Dan Piepenbring on COLOGNE (ill. Josh Neufeld) | Doug Dorst on STRATOCASTER (ill. John Holbo) | Paul Lukas on VANILLA BEAN (ill. Allison Bamcat) | Mimi Lipson on DODGE DART (ill. Mister Reusch) | Luc Sante on CLUB CHAIR (ill. Kate Bingaman-Burt) | Nina Katchadourian on FOUNTAIN PENS (ill. Lisa Congdon) | Matthew Sharpe on BAUBLE (ill. Glenn Jones) | Claire Lehmann on PEANUT-BUTTER CRACKERS (ill. Karen Kurycki) | Jessamyn West on ENGINEER RING (ill. Amanda Clarke) | Mandy Keifetz on ORGONE ACCUMULATOR (ill. Emory Allen) | Molly Sauter on DESKTOP DOG (ill. Shayna Piascik) | Amy Thielen on DOG-FUR SCARF (ill. Heather Kasunick) | Stephen O’Connor on HUNTING HAT (ill. Oliver Munday) | Alice Boone on COLLEGE NEWSPAPERS (ill. Rick Pinchera) | Dante Ramos on ROAD ATLAS (ill. Joe Alterio) | Alex Balk on SHOOTING GALLERY (ill. John Lowe) | Chelsey Johnson on NOTEBOOK (ill. Rubi McGrory) | Susannah Breslin on SILICONE VAGINA (ill. Jennifer Heuer) | Seth Mnookin on .22 REVOLVER (ill Alex Eben Meyer) | Dan Fox on CONKER (ill. Linzie Hunter) | Lisa Takeuchi Cullen on GLASS CLOCK (ill. Rose Wong) | Michael Tisserand on WALKING SHOES (ill. Jackie Roche) | Jeff Turrentine on BASEBALL MITT (ill. Andrew DeGraff) | Randy Kennedy on SNAKE RATTLES (ill. Max Temescu)

Thanks, Kate Bingaman-Burt, for the volume logo.

BYO #OBJECT

In September 2017, PROJECT:OBJECT’s Rob Walker co-hosted an installment in Bring Your Own — a live storytelling series that takes place in unconventional spaces within the New Orleans community. The participants each brought a significant object along, and told a story about what it means to them — hence the moniker BYO #OBJECT.

Bring Your Own impresario Laine Kaplan-Levenson is also a reporter for WWNO radio, which recorded the stories and has begun airing them on All Things New Orleans. More about the event, organized in collaboration with The Stacks book store at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans, here.

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SIGNIFICANT OBJECTS — ORIGINAL 100 STORIES

This is a work in progress — as of January 2020, we’ve cross-posted 60 of the 100 original stories from SIGNIFICANT OBJECTS to HILOBROW. We won’t finish up until 2025, at this rate.

In no particular order…

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Here’s a list of the 350+ writers who’ve contributed (some more than once) to our SIGNIFICANT OBJECTS and PROJECT:OBJECT endeavors. Last updated: April 2021.

And here’s a list of the 50+ illustrators who’ve contributed (some more than once) to our two LOST OBJECTS series, not to mention series logos. Last updated: October 2019.

We’re very grateful to these talented, generous writers and artists — many of whom asked us to donate their fee to the ACLU, 826 National, Girls Write Now, and other purpose-driven organizations.

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SIGNIFICANT OBJECTS at HILOBROW: PROJECT:OBJECT homepage | PROJECT:OBJECT newsletter | PROJECT:OBJECT objects (Threadless shop — all profits donated to the ACLU) | POLITICAL OBJECTS series (1Q2017) | TALISMANIC OBJECTS series (2Q2017) | ILLICIT OBJECTS series (3Q2017) | LOST OBJECTS vol. 1 series (4Q2017) | FLAIR series (2Q2018) | FOSSIL series (4Q2018). 12 DAYS OF SIGNIFICANCE | 12 MORE DAYS OF SIGNIFICANCE | 12 DAYS OF SIGNIFICANCE (AGAIN) | ANOTHER 12 DAYS OF SIGNIFICANCE . ALSO SEE: SIGNIFICANT OBJECTS website | SIGNIFICANT OBJECTS collection, ed. Rob Walker and Josh Glenn (Fantagraphics, 2012) | TAKING THINGS SERIOUSLY, ed. Josh Glenn (Princeton Architectural Press, 2007) | TAKING THINGS SERIOUSLY excerpts.

Thanks, Rick Pinchera, for the PROJECT:OBJECT logo.