Objects of Affection

The Objects of Affection Collection examines materiality and resistance in contemporary art through academic research and multimedia documentation, focusing on post-luxury conceptual works and movements like Melt the Ice Hat. Based in Minneapolis, the initiative publishes theoretical analysis of the "Algorithm of the Hand" framework, which positions manual craft processes against automated production. Their research specifically investigates how human imperfection and embodied knowledge manifest in digital fabrication contexts. The collection's scholarship spans cultural theory, environmental activism, and digital arts, with particular attention to craft traditions and unpredictable creative outcomes. Their published works analyze how skilled manual intervention shapes contemporary artistic practice. The initiative maintains an integrated research platform combining written theory with audio pieces like "Still Here (Minneapolis)." The project brings together researchers, scholars, and practitioners exploring intersections between materiality, technology, and human agency. Their theoretical framework examines how physical craft processes inform digital art production. The collection documents how manual techniques persist and evolve alongside automation in contemporary creative practices.