Why’d They Put That In A Museum?
Show Notes
Artist: Crystal Z. Campbell (American, 1980)
Item (above): “Yo-Yo,” 2024;
Details: handmade abaca paper, manila envelopes, manila rope, abaca fiber, and mixed-media; framed: 42 x 27 inches; Courtesy of the artist 2024.340; © Crystal Z Campbell
Item (right):The Comet (after W.E.B. DuBois), 2024
Details: blown amber glass; 31 x 19 x 19 inches; Courtesy of the artist 2024.335; © Crystal Z Campbell
“Currents 124” by Crystal Z. Campbell
The first episode of Season 2 of the podcast Why’d They Put That in a Museum discusses an exhibit by Crystal Z. Campbell at the St. Louis Art Museum. Host Beth Bacon wanders through the exhibit while speaking to museum curator Sarah Lee. They talk about Campbell’s diverse artistic works, including manila paper artworks, glass apothecary jars, and a video installation. Key themes explored include healing, transformation, and the artist’s Filipino heritage, touching on U.S. colonialism and personal history. The episode emphasizes the importance of dialogue and in-depth exploration to truly appreciate and understand art.
Podcast Time Code
00:00 Welcome to Season Two
01:19 Exploring Crystal Z. Campbell’s Exhibition
04:55 The Significance of Manila Paper
09:15 Healing and Colonialism in Campbell’s Art
12:57 The Apothecary Jars and Their Meanings
20:43 Connecting the Dots: Themes in Campbell’s Work
21:25 The Importance of Discussing Art
26:11 Conclusion and Call to Action
Item (left)
Item: Nakakagamot, 2024
Details: blown jade and plum glass; 35 x 12 x 12 inches; Courtesy of the artist 2024.328; © Crystal Z Campbell
Contact Us
Say helloAbout the Podcasters
Sarah Lees
Sarah is a museum curator and researcher who has worked in organizations both large and small, and who remembers her first assignment for an art history class – to look into Rembrandt’s eyes and describe what she saw there. She believes everyone can find those kinds of connections to some form of creative expression, whether it’s a painting, a grandmother’s quilt, or a perfectly formed pen-stroke in a manuscript.
Beth Bacon
In addition to being an avid museum-goer, Beth Bacon is an author for young readers. Her books empower today’s kids to learn about themselves and the world through reading. She is also a teacher and branding consultant and a volunteer at the Missouri History Museum. Beth holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, an MA in Communication Arts from NYU, and a BA in Literature from Harvard University.
Music Credit
The music you hear in the intro and outro was composed by Edward Whelan. We appreciate his contribution to our podcast.