Uploaded February 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In February 1971, Smith cooked a Hubbard squash for a dinner party with friends. She was inspired by the beauty of its rind to create a religion. She initiated "disciples" into the squash's mysteries and invited others to preserve it as a holy relic. Over eight days, followers built a mold out of foam rubber and silver tape, which they used to cast the squash in resin. Once finished, they baptized the 150-pound relic in a fountain. After the ritual, Smith placed a notice in a Los Angeles legal newspaper declaring the squash an authentic religion.
This video is part of the Barbara T. Smith papers at the Getty Research Institute. View the finding aid for Smith's archive: https://primo.getty.edu/permalink/f/19q6gmb/GETTY_ALMA21155149520001551
Barbara T. Smith: The Way to Be is on view at the Getty Research Institute from February 28, 2023 through July 16, 2023. Learn more: https://www.getty.edu/research/exhibitions_events/exhibitions/barbara_t_smith/index.html
In February 1971, Smith cooked a Hubbard squash for a dinner party with friends. She was inspired by the beauty of its rind to create a religion. She initiated "disciples" into the squash's mysteries and invited others to preserve it as a holy relic. Over eight days, followers built a mold out of foam rubber and silver tape, which they used to cast the squash in resin. Once finished, they baptized the 150-pound relic in a fountain. After the ritual, Smith placed a notice in a Los Angeles legal newspaper declaring the squash an authentic religion.
This video is part of the Barbara T. Smith papers at the Getty Research Institute. View the finding aid for Smith's archive: https://primo.getty.edu/permalink/f/19q6gmb/GETTY_ALMA21155149520001551
Barbara T. Smith: The Way to Be is on view at the Getty Research Institute from February 28, 2023 through July 16, 2023. Learn more: https://www.getty.edu/research/exhibitions_events/exhibitions/barbara_t_smith/index.html
