On May 6, 2021, at 6:30 p.m., Esopus editor Tod Lippy joined Michelle Elligott, Chief of Archives, Library, and Research Collections at MoMA, for an in-depth Zoom conversation about the acclaimed 2020 Esopus Books publication Modern Artifacts. 

May 6th was not an arbitrary choice: it was exactly one year after the originally scheduled launch date at the MoMA Archives. Covid-19 scotched that plan (and so many others). Still, it was a pleasure to finally gather—albeit virtually—to celebrate the book’s release and its resoundingly enthusiastic critical reception, which included spots on a number of “Best of 2020” lists, including those of The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Brooklyn Rail and New York magazine, whose critic Jerry Saltz called it “Incredible...a new scriptorium of art.” 

During the presentation, Lippy and Elligott discussed the origins of the original “Modern Artifacts” series in Esopus and the decision to create the book, and they shared a number of images from the volume as well as those related to its execution and production. The presentation was followed by a lively discussion with attendees.