A Hershey’s Kiss is almost universally recognizable, which is precisely why it works so well as a memory object.
The shape, wrapper, and familiar chocolate are tied to celebrations and small rewards across generations.
But American Material Memory isn’t really about the candy. It is about the moment around it—the hand that offered it, the holiday where it appeared, the candy dish on a family table, or the simple excitement of getting one as a child.
Sometimes the smallest objects carry the biggest emotional associations.
From the Artist:
Hershey's Kisses were a major part of my childhood memories from the holidays growing up on the St. Clair River in Algonac, Michigan.
Every year, my Grandma Carter would have a bowl of these on one of their end tables. The bowl was magic, because no matter how many you ate, it seemed to always be filled.
If you were lucky enough to sit on the couch next to one of these magic bowls, you could reach over and sneak one or two Hershey's Kisses without Mom or Dad catching you.
Well, at least Dad pretended not to notice until he wanted you to share one with him when Mom wasn’t looking.
A Hershey’s Kiss is almost universally recognizable, which is precisely why it works so well as a memory object.
The shape, wrapper, and familiar chocolate are tied to celebrations and small rewards across generations.
But American Material Memory isn’t really about the candy. It is about the moment around it—the hand that offered it, the holiday where it appeared, the candy dish on a family table, or the simple excitement of getting one as a child.
Sometimes the smallest objects carry the biggest emotional associations.
From the Artist:
Hershey's Kisses were a major part of my childhood memories from the holidays growing up on the St. Clair River in Algonac, Michigan.
Every year, my Grandma Carter would have a bowl of these on one of their end tables. The bowl was magic, because no matter how many you ate, it seemed to always be filled.
If you were lucky enough to sit on the couch next to one of these magic bowls, you could reach over and sneak one or two Hershey's Kisses without Mom or Dad catching you.
Well, at least Dad pretended not to notice until he wanted you to share one with him when Mom wasn’t looking.
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