Do you have an object you would never give up? Something that lives on your wall, your mantle, or buried in the corner of your dresser drawer? Something that evokes a time in your life, a place you miss, or something you hope for? Bring it to the Portland Art Museum. They won’t appraise it (this isn’t Antiques Roadshow) but they do want to hear your story of provenance. You’ll sit in a video booth, where local oral historians and a theater group will draw the story out of you and videotape it – along with the object of your affection – to include in the museum’s latest installation, Object Stories. (To be shown in the gallery and online.)
Chances are no Portlander will turn up with an ancient otter pipe from 200 BC, like the one British Museum director Neil MacGregor was able to feature in his popular exhibition and book: A History of the World in 100 Objects. But you never know. And who’s to say an old pair of Doc Martens isn’t as important or interesting? What if they scuffed their way through the first Elliott Smith show?
