The Object

It is easily the most familiar painting in all of the Americas—Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Virgin Mary in a shawl of stars, against a blazing sunburst. As seen on candles, keychains, sugar skulls, even skateboards. And every year, millions of believers come to see the original, in Mexico City. But what is the story behind this literally iconic image, a story still unfolding some 500 years after conquest, faith, and miracles collided in the mountains of Mexico, forever changing the world?

You can see an incredible version of Our Lady of Guadalupe, recently acquired by the Minneapolis Institute of Art, here.

BIG NEWS: Our next FREE live taping of The Object podcast will be Sunday, November 15, at 2 p.m. in the historic Pillsbury Auditorium of the Minneapolis Institute of Art with special musical guest Chastity Brown! Featuring 'Wait Wait Don't Tell Me'-style quizzes and prizes, curator conversation, music, and of course storytelling, all about the artists and writers of the Harlem Renaissance on roughly its 100th anniversary. Free tickets will be available beginning October 15 on the Tickets page at the Minneapolis Institute of Art: "The Object LIVE! The Renaissance Blues!"

When Frida Kahlo dies, in 1954, she is soon forgotten. And then, suddenly, she is everywhere: on magnets, puzzles, underwear, flip-flops. How did this remarkable artist become an international icon, an emoji, a figure of fervid devotion? And what does she mean to those who believe?

You can see Yasumasa Morimura's "An Inner Dialogue with Frida Kahlo," mentioned in the show, here in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Have you heard Frida Kahlo talk? Neither has anyone else—not since she died, in 1954. Unless it turns out that this is actually her on a recording surfaced a couple years ago by the National Sound Library of Mexico.

(This episode first aired May 10, 2021.)

BIG NEWS: Our next FREE live taping of The Object podcast will be Sunday, November 15, at 2 p.m. in the historic Pillsbury Auditorium of the Minneapolis Institute of Art with special musical guest Chastity Brown! Featuring quizzes and prizes, curator conversation, music, and of course storytelling, all about the artists of the Harlem Renaissance on roughly its 100th anniversary. Explore the electric, empowering, dare we say better renaissance of the Jazz Age at "The Object LIVE! The Renaissance Blues!"

Tickets are free but you do need to have them. Get tickets starting October 15 at 9 a.m. on the Tickets page at artsmia.org. Learn more about this free taping here, 

This episode: A mysterious stone sculpture, supposedly found in Mexico, finds its way to the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art and is hailed as a Chac Mool, the iconic Mayan vessel of human sacrifice. It tours Europe as a masterpiece of ancient Mesoamerican art. It's featured in magazines and books and poems.

But a surprising discovery suddenly begs the question: What is it really? See the Chac Mool for yourself here.

Every year, thousands of artists compete to get their work in front of millions of hot, bothered, blood-sugar-spiked visitors at the Minnesota State Fair. It's a tradition that goes back almost to the very beginning of the fair—and the Minneapolis Institute of Art, whose influence permeates the Fine Arts Building like the scent of so many Pronto Pups. Here, how the unnatural marriage of art and gluttony came to be, and what it says about our great egalitarian get-together.

You can see the best of the fair's popular seed-art display at the Minneapolis Institute of Art in "Cream of the Crop: The Second Harvest," starting September 19. 

You'll can see art of the fair in the museum's collection online or in person by appointment in its Photography Study Room.

Also, SAVE THE DATE! Our next live taping of The Object podcast will be November 15 at 2 p.m. in the historic Pillsbury Auditorium of the Minneapolis Institute of Art with special musical guest Chastity Brown! Featuring quizzes, curator conversation, music, and storytelling all about the women artists and writers of the Harlem Renaissance on its 100th anniversary.

Back when The Odyssey was written down, some 2,700 years ago, the greatest thing you could do in life was to die. A glorious death in battle was the path to immortality for, well, mortals. An idea that resurfaces throughout history until fairly recently—when it meets its match in a war of many deaths and little glory. Whether you've seen the new Odyssey film with Matt Damon or not, this episode will give a sense of the central conflict—to seek glory abroad or comfort at home.

You can see the "Kiss of Victory" sculpture that kicks off the episode, and launched the career of Sir Alfred Gilbert, here in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. 

Also, SAVE THE DATE: Our next live taping of The Object podcast will be November 15 at 2 p.m. in the historic Pillsbury Auditorium of the Minneapolis Institute of Art with special musical guest Chastity Brown! Featuring quizzes, curator conversation, music, and storytelling all about the women artists and writers of the Harlem Renaissance on its 100th anniversary. 

Learn more about The Object LIVE!, our series of live podcast tapings here.