PEMcast

PEMcast 035 - The Curious Life of Reverend William Bentley

This episode of the PEMcast looks at the life and legacy of Reverend William Bentley who chronicled his busy days as a clergyman from 1784 to 1819 with an unmatched dedication and flourish. We know so much about Salem, Massachusetts and its quirky history in part because of this meticulous diary keeping. We explore Bentley's living quarters and his vast collection of objects, as well as the more grand home next door and a piece of its dark history. Come with us on this romp through time, pl...

PEMcast 034 - Hanging with Bats

Bats have an interesting association with Salem, a place that celebrates Halloween pretty much year round. We’re used to seeing multiple versions of Dracula around town. But a small colony of live Egyptian fruit bats living in a specially designed enclosure at the Peabody Essex Museum...that's something new. In this episode, we give much respect and appreciation to bats as vital living beings on the planet. Join host DInah Cardin, curator Jane Winchell and local artist Maia Mattson. The epis...

PEMcast 033 - Time Traveling with Curious Objects

PEMcast 032 - Restoring Justice after the Salem Witch Trials

In this epsisode of the PEMcast we go behind the scenes of PEM's latest Salem Witch Trials exhibition. We examine objects that belonged to the Salem Puritans and attempts to restore justice from the 17th century to today. 

PEMcast 031 - Queerness and Creativity

As we anticipate the return of Pride to Salem, artists Bill Crisafi and Hogan McLaughlin are the featured guests on the PEMcast. They share with us their day-to-day creative collaborations and their compelling story of love.

PEMcast 030 - Following the Thread

In episode 30 of the PEMcast, we follow the thread of a story all about hair. We look at why artist Gu Wenda used human hair to create 188 flags from around the world, currently on view at PEM. We explore our own collection of mourning jewelry with the snipped locks of a loved one. Then we chat with Gio Swaby, whose exhibition Fresh Up is coming to PEM this summer. In her textile portraits, hair reveals the personal creative expression of her subjects. We also share the news that this August...

PEMcast 029 - Tsherin Sherpa and Robert Beer

In Episode 29 of the PEMcast, we delve into the hearts and minds of two artists, separated by geography and time, but inextricably linked in their curiosity, their exploration of Tibetan Buddhist spirituality and a traditional art form. We discover what each learned about themselves and their own cultures by traveling to the opposite side of the world. Spirits: Tsherin Sherpa with Robert Beer is on view at PEM through May 29, 2023.

PEMcast 028 - Drawn to Place

This episode of the PEMcast looks at what makes some places magnetic. Libraries, museums, certain cultural experiences. Why are we drawn to them? We talk with Canadian artist Shelagh Keeley about her current exhibition at PEM, as well as PEM Curators Trevor Smith and Karina Corrigan. We also look at our Japanese collection, which partly inspired a massive wall drawing by Keeley, and the collector who started it, Edward Sylvestor Morse. PEM's Director Lynda Roscoe Hartigan shares her thoughts...

PEMcast 027, Part 2 - Love and Loss

The second part of PEMcast Episode 27 looks at the brief creative life of Patrick Kelly. This queer, Black fashion designer pushed for racial equality and forever changed fashion before his untimely death at the age of 35. Along with curators and Kelly's former partner, come celebrate the 1980's, as well as Kelly's designs and his meteoric rise from the Jim Crow South to the runways of Paris. Organized by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Patrick Kelly: Runway of Love is on view at PEM through...

PEMcast 027 - Love and Loss

The pandemic, war, mass shootings, changing laws about our bodies. In Episode 27 of the PEMcast, we explore themes of love and loss while also celebrating PRIDE. Listeners meet Canadian artist Zachari Logan, whose provocative drawings of flowers in various states of transformation speak to the power of loss and a flicker of hope. Remembrance is on view through May 7, 2023. Part 2 of the episode will look at the brief creative life of Patrick Kelly, who fought for racial equality and changed ...

PEMcast 026 - The Current Climate

Episode 26 of the PEMcast features artists and activists who are inspiring climate action this spring at PEM. Every day is Earth Day around here with Jane Goodall, Wes Bruce, Konstantin Dimopoulos, Stephen Gorman, Edward Koren, Silvia Lopez Chavez and more. Learn why museums play an important role in sparking action to do something about the climate crisis.

PEMcast Ep 25

In this PEMcast episode, we feature Bernie Krause, the soundscape ecologist behind The Great American Orchestra, an exhibition which immerses us in the sound universe of animals. Matt Clark of United Visual Artists chats about working on this extraordinary audio-visual experience. We also share our plan to be more inclusive by mitigating sensory overload, work that is underway thanks to PEM's Neuroscience Researcher.

PEMcast 025 - Tidying Our Sonic Realm

In this PEMcast episode, we feature Bernie Krause, the soundscape ecologist behind The Great American Orchestra, an exhibition which immerses us in the sound universe of animals. Matt Clark of United Visual Artists chats about working on this extraordinary audio-visual experience. We also share our plan to be more inclusive by mitigating sensory overload, work that is underway thanks to PEM's Neuroscience Researcher.

PEMcast 024 - A Fresh Lens on the Salem Witch Trials

In this PEMcast episode, we look at the exhibition The Salem Witch Trials: Reckoning and Reclaiming, which pairs historic trial documents and personal objects with the response of two contemporary artists who have ancestral ties to the Salem witch trials. Fashion designer Alexander McQueen and photographer Frances F. Denny are still inspired by the events of 1692. 

PEMcast 023 - Postcard from Crystal Bridges

Join host Dinah Cardin as she heads home for a visit to the Ozarks and to Crystal Bridges of American Art, PEM's co-organizer for the exhibition In American Waters. This episode features a tour of the grounds, including Crystal Spring that the museum is named after, as well as an exploration of some of the key paintings from Crystal Bridges that are in this exhibition. Crystal Bridges Chief Curator Austen Barron Bailly, former Curator of American Art at PEM, compares these two big museums in...

PEMcast 022 - Thank you, Mr. Peabody, father of philanthropy

Join host Dinah Cardin in this episode of the PEMcast as she dives into the history of George Peabody, the father of philanthropy in America, and how this relates to the museum and the new PEM Prize.

PEMcast 021, Part 2 - Sea Shanties and the Environment

Host Dinah Cardin explores the PEM’s new climate + environment initiative and its two related maritime exhibitions.

PEMcast 021 - The Sea Shanty Craze

Part one of this two part series looks at the recent sea shanty craze across social media channels. Host Dinah Cardin visits PEM's collection of sea shanty books and sheet music and talks with maritime music experts. You'll be singing along.

PEMcast 020 - Breath

Explore the transformative power of breath with featured artist Zarah Hussain. From our new mediation gallery, we delve into PEM's Being Well initiative and what it could mean for a community seeking health and healing during the pandemic.

019 - The Legacy of Salem's Witch Trials

PEMcast 019 - The Legacy of Salem's Witch Trials

PEMcast 018 - Alterations

PEMcast 017- Life at Sea

Our series on creative constraints continues with maritime curator Dan Finamore's story of life at sea for a 19th century mariner. Learn how close quarters in a vast open seascape led to the popular marine art form known as scrimshaw.

PEMcast 016 - Creative Constraint

When the museum closed on Friday, March 13, 2020, PEM staff needed to find new ways to come together as a community. It was in that moment that Siddhartha Shah, our Curator of Indian and South Asian Art, began to make a series of videos in order to guide his colleagues in daily meditation. In this episode of the PEMcast, we hear from Siddhartha and Dinah reports from the streets of Salem, MA to show how COVID-19 has altered our city. Music - "Trampled" by PC III [CC BY 4.0]

PEMcast 015 - The Struggle

Shortly after Jacob Lawrence: The American Struggle opened at PEM, comments in the guest book for the exhibition sparked a conversation about how we do things here at the museum.   Music by Blue Dot Sessions (CC BY-NC 4.0)

PEMcast 014 - Be Here Now

PEMcast 013 - #newPEM

The PEMcast returns with an episode all about change. The Peabody Essex Museum has just opened a new 40,000-square-foot wing. A new director has just taken the helm for the first time in 26 years. Many are asking, "what's next?". It's a scene-setting moment for one of the oldest and fastest-growing museums in the country. PEMcast hosts, Dinah Cardin and Chip Van Dyke, are asking questions and want to hear your thoughts, too. Follow along on social using #newPEM

012 - IMMERSIVE 03

Episode 3 of 3 on immersive art

011 - IMMERSIVE 02

Tune into the most recent installment of the PEMcast -- conversations and stories for the culturally curious -- as we explore the immersive experience.

010 - IMMERSIVE 01

Episode 10 of the PEMcast brings you something a little different - a mix of voices talking about immersion in art! This is the first in a series of episodes centered on immersion.

009 - The Winter Caretaker

An interview with Alex de Steiguer about her work as a photographer and as the winter caretaker of Star Island.

008.3 – The Crushers

This episode of the PEMcast finishes our three part Historic House Crush series. It features a story about historic house crusher, Karina Waters . Karina is one crusher whose great vision for an crumbling chateau in the French Pyrenees has taken her love of historic architecture to the next level. Check out the Chateau du Gudanes Instagram page for some incredible photos www.instagram.com/chateaugudanes/?hl=en Additional music: @andrewsacco "IA 08" (CC BY 4.0)

008.2 - Building Stories

The second of three episodes in promotion of our #historichousecrush campaign! In this episode, we talk with people who are pushing the envelope — to use a building term — on presenting historic houses to the public. They’re changing the way these houses are run and the way we experience them. Music for this episode: John Luc Heffernan “Discovery” [CC by NC 3.0] David Szesztay “The Dance” [CC by NC 3.0] Please leave your comments in the show notes! http://connected.pem.org/pemcast-e...

008.1 - Historic House Crush

50 years ago, Salem was saved from the wrecking ball thanks to one woman and her mighty pen. Please leave your comments in the show notes! http://connected.pem.org/pemcast-episode-008-1/  

007 - Blue and White Magic

006 - Getting Outside

005 - Epic American

Examining the life of one of America's most famous 20th century painters who you may not know.

004 - Good as Gould

On this episode of the PEMcast, we discover the hidden legacy of Salem funiture maker Nathaniel Gould.

003 – Growing Up Curious

Are you, or were you a curious kid? Do museums fuel your curiosity? In this episode, Chip and Dinah talk with a 3-year-old who visits PEM daily. Then, the founder of Kids in Museums in the UK explains how her organization helps make museums more family friendly. Finally, PEM's own Paula Richter recalls her summer of living history at Sturbridge Village and how that set her on a career path for the culturally curious. Please leave your comments in the show notes! connected.pem.org/pemcast-...

002 - Makers

Adam Savage and the and his 10 Commandments for Makers, PEM's Maker Lounge, Strandbeests! Are you a Maker? Do you know what a Maker is? On this episode, Dinah and Chip discuss Adam Savage's "Rules of Making" with Edie Schimel, who heads up the PEM Maker Lounge. Then, PEM's Curator of the Present Tense, Trevor Smith, talks about PEM's upcoming exhibition featuring Maker-extraordinaire Theo Jansen and his Strandbeests. Music - "Understand That This is a Dream" by Forrest James Photo - T...

001 - Music

Music and PEM. We will look at the story of the most famous musician in Greek myth, Orpheus. Composer Matt Aucoin, in his 3rd concert at PEM, explores the myth of Orpheus and his fateful journey to the underworld. From there we head to France to explore Jean Cocteau's Orphic trilogy and then back to Salem for some of PEM's most memorable audio moments.