Welcome to Accession. Today we’re at the Denver Art Museum in Denver, Colorado. Try not to get swept up as you enter the loby of the very pointy Hamilton building. Once inside, head up to the second floor and go to the right, away from the special exhibit space. Once through the glass doors, you’ll be give three options. Straight ahead of you is pictures of the American West, and one of my favorite paintings of Colorado, and to the left is the fashion illustrations of Jim Howard. But imidiately to your right is a gallery title that should read “Ganesha: The Playful Protector.” As you continue looking right from that, you’re going to see a small statue of a man’s body with an elephant head on top. And this is Ganesha, the subject of our episode, and a picece brought to the DAM specifically for this exhibit because it is touchable.

Yes. You heard me right. In this instance and this instance only, we are going to get to touch the sculpture on the pedestal. But! Uhn uhn uhhh. I see you reaching out to touch it with your snapchats and your instagrams ready. You don’t even know why we can touch it yet, or why we should touch it!?

Patience. To your left is a small room with a number of images of Ganesha. As as you walk around it, we're going to tell you a few stories about Ganesha, and some of his history, and then as you walk out, only then can you touch it, deal? Alright then. Everytime you see a new image, I want you to reflect on both the image you see infront of you and the story and information told to you. Lets begin.