For the past two decades, Josh Glenn and Rob Walker have investigated what objects mean — and how they mean what they mean — via fun, engaging story telling projects.

GIVE IT UP is a sequel of sorts to the 2009–10 SIGNIFICANT OBJECTS fiction experiment; it’s also a place-based, interactive evolution of Josh and Rob’s 2017–2021 nonfiction endeavor PROJECT:OBJECT.

Eventually, versions of GIVE IT UP may be staged in multiple cities and towns. The debut effort will take place in August and September 2025 — in Kingston, NY.

For more info, see the project’s ABOUT page. For updates and behind the scenes info, please subscribe to the free GIVE IT UP newsletter.

Josh and Rob are grateful to Drew Broussard, Karlie Flood, and Bridget Badore for advice and assistance, and to Susan Roe for project-management support.

Books chronicling Josh and Rob’s material-culture investigations include: Josh and Rob’s LOST OBJECTS (2022) | Rob’s THE ART OF NOTICING (2019) | Josh and Rob’s SIGNIFICANT OBJECTS (2012) | Rob’s BUYING IN (2008) | Josh’s TAKING THINGS SERIOUSLY (2007).