Robin Held, Frye Art Museum Deputy Director, Exhibitions and Collections, met with author, culture critic, and music writer Greil Marcus for an intimate conversation in the award-winning exhibition The Old, Weird America: Folk Themes in Contemporary Art.

Marcus’s most recent book is A New Literary History of America. The exhibition title is barrowed from Marcus’ third book The Old, Weird America: Bob Dylan’s Basement Tapes and was a starting point for exhibition curator Toby Kamps’ exploration of folk imagery and vivid American lore that inspired the contemporary artists featured in the exhibition.

In the five videos below, Held and Marcus discuss different artworks that are on view in The Old, Weird America.



Dario Robleto. Lion or Lamb, 2007-2008. Colored paper, cardboard, ribbon, Foamcore, glue. 87 1/2 x 84 1/2 x 6 5/8 inches. Private collection; courtesy Inman Gallery, Houston.



Matthew Day Jackson. Garden of Earthly Delights (Spiritual America), 2008. Posters, needlepoint, glass and steel vitrine. 180 x 180 in. Courtesy of Peter Blum Gallery, New York.



Margaret Kilgallen. Main Drag, 2001. Mixed media installation. Dimensions variable. Courtesy the Estate of Margaret Kilgallen. © Rick Gardner Photography.



Cynthia Norton. Dancing Squared, 2004. Aluminum, hardware, electric motors, dresses, wire. 90 x 180 x 180 inches. Courtesy the artist. © Rick Gardner Photography.



Jeremy Blake. Winchester, 2002. DVD: color, sound, 18 minutes (continuous loop). Courtesy Kinz, Tillou + Feigen, New York.