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 2017–2023 nonfiction endeavor PROJECT:OBJECT.

Eventually, versions of GIVE IT UP may be staged in multiple cities and towns. The debut effort will take place this August and September in… Kingston, New York!

Below, please find info about GIVE IT UP’s debut plan. 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.

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Josh and Rob have invited 10 talented and fascinating people hailing from in and around Kingston (NY) to select an object they own that they’d like to give up… but can’t. Why not? Because the object is significant to them….

This August, these 10 objects will be put on display in 10 Kingston venues. This distributed exhibit will feature essays by the project’s contributors, explaining each object’s unexpected significance. And there will be an interactive component too, via which YOU can attempt to persuade these folks to give up their objects!

Thanks, Karlie Flood, for designing the project logo!

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Here’s the GIVE IT UP (Kingston 2025) contributor lineup:


    Karlie’s barrette

  • Writer, Lit Hub podcaster, and bookstore manager Drew Broussard will give up… WOODEN SCIMITAR
  • Writer and artist Karlie Flood will give up… BARRETTE
  • Author and music critic Will Hermes will give up… “ANCORA IMPARO” PLAQUE


    • Halimah’s bicycle

  • Midtown Kingston Arts District (MKAD) Board of Directors president Maggie Inge will give up… ANTIQUE HANDBAG
  • Writer and editor Halimah Marcus will give up… BICYCLE


    • Adam’s Protectograph

  • Musician and author Adam Snyder will give up… PROTECTOGRAPH
  • Rondout Valley Middle School librarian and author Emma Tourtelot will give up… MARRIAGE DISH
  • Writer and photographer Julian Richards will give up… ROLL OF FILM
  • Camp Kingston founder Sam Shapiro will give up… TBD.

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On September 10th, all 10 objects will be gathered in a single venue — the popular bar / cafe / gallery / hangout space Camp Kingston — for a gallery exhibit and party/reading.

At this final event, the contributors will read their essays, and the winning responses will be announced. At which point, the contributors will bid a fond, if somewhat painful farewell to their significant objects. Forever!

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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).