PEMcast

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Conversations and stories for the culturally curious co-hosted by Dinah Cardin and Chip Van Dyke. This is the official podcast of the Peabody Essex Museum

Peabody Essex Museum


    • Mar 11, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 22m AVG DURATION
    • 43 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from PEMcast

    PEMcast 038 - Oh, wünderkammer, my wünderkammer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025 14:19


    PEMcast 037 - Conjuring the Spirit World

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 14:31


    PEMcast 037 - The Book Arts of Moby Dick

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2024 29:54


    Join us on this salty episode of the PEMcast, as we feature a 24-hour reading of the book at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, exhibition curator Dan Lipcan and Moby Dick expert, author Nathaniel Philbrick.

    moby dick nathaniel philbrick book arts new bedford whaling museum
    PEMcast 035, Part 2 - William Bentley as Curious Collector and Consultant

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024 36:40


    In Part 2 of this episode about William Bentley, join curators and experts as we continue looking at the remarkable and storied life this popular polymath, collector, and diarist. Bentley was a consultant on the founding of the Peabody Essex Museum and an influencer, shaping Salem to be the city it is today.

    PEMcast 035 - The Curious Life of Reverend William Bentley

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2024 39:29


    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, place and the mind of a total polymath.

    PEMcast 034 - Hanging with Bats

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2023 34:10


    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 episode takes us foraging for plants in Salem, looking for bats in California and under a night sky in Maine.

    PEMcast 033 - Time Traveling with Curious Objects

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2023 81:12


    PEMcast 032 - Restoring Justice after the Salem Witch Trials

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2023 24:01


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2023 23:19


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2023 28:04


    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, we're hosting the Moth Story Slam. The theme? You got it...hair.   

    029 - Tsherin Sherpa and Robert Beer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2023 39:29


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2022 36:25


    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 on Morse, who led PEM in the 19th century, and where the museum is headed today. Shelagh Keeley: Drawn to Place is on view through November 26, 2023.   

    PEMcast 027, Part 2 - Love and Loss

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2022 32:55


    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 November 6, 2022.

    PEMcast 027 - Love and Loss

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2022 28:29


    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 fashion forever. These groundbreaking designs are on view at PEM through November 6, 2022.

    PEMcast 026 - The Current Climate

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2022 31:18


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2022 27:44


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2021 24:38


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2021 25:10


    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 small cities.

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2021 23:44


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2021 21:02


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

    PEMcast 021 - The Sea Shanty Craze

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2021 22:42


    PEMcast 020 - Breath

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2021 20:11


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2020 24:54


    PEMcast 018 - Alterations

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2020 13:18


    PEMcast 017- Life at Sea

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2020 10:27


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2020 16:49


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2020 12:45


    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)

    music struggle pem blue dot sessions cc by nc
    PEMcast 014 - Be Here Now

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2019 10:00


    PEMcast 013 - #newPEM

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2019 9:34


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2018 7:31


    Episode 3 of 3 on immersive art

    011 - IMMERSIVE 02

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2017 16:31


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2017 15:51


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2016 8:50


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

    008.3 – The Crushers

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2016 11:56


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2016 16:20


    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-episode-008-2/

    008.1 - Historic House Crush

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2016 14:36


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2016 12:29


    006 - Getting Outside

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2016 16:57


    005 - Epic American

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2015 16:25


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

    004 - Good as Gould

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2015 12:54


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

    003 – Growing Up Curious

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2015 18:02


    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-003-growing-up-curious/ Music by Charles Chaussinand (exclusive punk cover of "Proliferate") and Podington Bear ("Inspiring" Collection / CC BY-NC 3.0: freemusicarchive.org/music/Podingto…dofpicture.com)

    002 - Makers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2014 31:04


    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 - Theo Jansen's tiny Strandbeest. (Some assembly required) If you want to watch Adam Savage's complete keynote speech at Maker Faire 2014, you can find it at Tested.com

    001 - Music

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2014 22:28


    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.  

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