S5 | Episode 6 | Memory, Materials, and the Museum: Research Reflections

Written By Amber Manning

Photograph by Christopher Tyler, 2025 

In our final episode, artist John Wind returns for a conversation about the vital role research plays in the creative process. We’re joined by Elizabeth Fuller, librarian at the Rosenbach Museum and Library, who brings insight into the lives and legacies of John Frederick Lewis and Belle da Costa Greene—two towering figures in the world of rare books and collecting, whose stories are woven into the fabric of the DEAR JOHN installation. Together, we explore how deep dives into archives can uncover forgotten stories, inspire new artworks, and bridge past and present in meaningful ways.

From Greene’s pioneering work as a woman at the highest levels of the rare book world to Lewis’s foundational impact on the Rosenbach, this episode highlights how the stories behind the collections are as powerful as the objects themselves.

Art begins with questions, and often, the answers lie in the archives.

Amber Manning

I founded AmberCo. when I was five years old. Over the years, it has offered a variety of services from house cleaning, babysitting, car washing, travel planning, interior design and more. After college, I serendipitously fell into working for a web development company and I never looked back. I am happy that AmberCo. has finally settled on a mission that helps people in a meaningful way. I am also happy that some of the original services AmberCo. offered (cleaning and organizing) have carried through into its current iteration. I have been lucky enough to work for significant nonprofits such as the Sierra Club and the International Committee of the Red Cross and small local companies such as Hinkel Equipment Rental and Indars Stairs. My favorite part of working in technology is finding creative solutions for people and making their day to day work easier.

https://amberco.co
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S5 | Episode 5 | Timeless Traditions: The Transformation of Judaica in Contemporary Art