Storage is big business in the United States. Institutions, museums, historical societies, even individuals, often have more items in storage than are on display. The paradox affects institutions and individuals alike: we can’t get rid of the stuff – but we don’t know what to do with it either. 

This exhibition explores the stories that can be told with these relegated objects – ones that are kept but relegated to attics, basements, or backrooms.  What is known about these objects? What sorts of stories can they tell? What questions do they raise about the past? What questions do they raise about present values and concerns?  Why do we keep them?