Child's Play: Explore the role of heroes in society at Walters Art Museum

From ancient times to present day, heroes and heroines have played vital cultural roles in society by defining trends, creating norms and shaping behavior.

This traveling exhibition features more than 100 artworks from European and North American museums. Statues, reliefs, vases, bronzes and jewelry are combined with literary quotes to illustrate the lives of heroes and heroines, including their tasks, adversaries, challenges, failures and private moments.

There is no easy answer to what makes a hero - either in ancient Greece or in modern times. But in general, before a person could be considered a hero two important characteristics had to be met.

"First, heroes had superhuman powers but were mortals who were believed to have lived and died, and second, becoming a hero in the Greek sense occurred only after death," stated Sabine Albersmeier, former Walters' associate curator of ancient art.

The Heroes exhibition is divided into three sections. The first, Heroes in Myth, presents the lifecycles of four major heroes - Achilles, Herakles, Odysseus and Helen - each with their own distinctive characteristics and unique tales. Visitors will learn about their parentage, birth, education, marriages and death. A major component focuses on the crucial moments of triumph as well as setbacks in their lives, revealing not only their vulnerability but also their ability to overcome obstacles. An interactive component will include a quiz linking a visitor's personality traits to those of eight Greek heroes, gods and monsters.

The second section, Heroes in Cult, is devoted to the worship of heroes.

After their death, heroes received sacrifices and offerings from worshippers in hope that their prayers would be heard. A large-scale reconstruction of a hero shrine within the exhibition will contain typical offerings and give visitors an immediate, tangible experience of such a place of worship. Focusing on warriors, athletes, musicians and women, the last section, Hero as Role Model, reveals not only the omnipresence of heroic representations and their reflection in portrayals of ordinary Greeks, but also how much warriors and athletes were admired.

Although they could not be heroes in the Greek sense while alive, they served as role models for society. Riders Competing in a Horse Race (ca. 500-480 BCE), for example, shows two young jockeys in the heat of the race. The focus is clearly on the rider on the left, whose horse occupies the composition's foreground, its head partially obscuring the other rider. The prominence of the horse and rider, captured at a decisive moment in the race, may signal the contest's victor. Also, in this section, visitors will be invited to add their own personal hero to the exhibition.

Heroes is a free special exhibition. General admission to the Walters also is free.

The Walters is at 600 N. Charles St. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. It will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Visit www.thewalters.org or call 410-547-9000 for information. If you are at the Walters on a weekend, don't miss out on special drop-in art activities. This month, heroes move from ancient Greece to Asia with "Heroes in Hackerman." Explore heroes and heroines found in the artwork of Japan, China and India.

Activities are available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Model Malas is the theme Nov. 21 and 22; Nature Armor is the focus Nov. 27 and 28.

Sing along with 'Kinderman' at CAC

The Chesapeake Arts Center's Family Concert Series continues on Nov. 21 with "Kinderman," a highly interactive family program that engages the audience with original chants, story songs and call-and-response.

The show runs from 4 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $10; $5 for children.

Audience members will learn a number of concepts including sign language, community building and fun learning games.

Three-time Emmy Award winner John "Kinderman" Taylor is nationally recognized for his innovations in educating, entertaining and inspiring the imaginations of children, teachers and parents. The show is brought to life by incorporating movement, dance, rhyme, song, adventure, learning games and visuals into an interactive experience.

Taylor is now the current host and producer of "The Kinderman Show," which airs on Baltimore's ABC Channel 2 at 6:30 and 7 on Saturday mornings. You can learn more about Taylor at www.kinderman.us.

The Chesapeake Arts Center is at 194 Hammonds Lane in Brooklyn Park. For tickets or information, call 410-636-6597 or visit www.chesapeakearts.org.

Gobble up fun at the library

Several local branches of the Anne Arundel County Public Library have special Thanksgiving activities on tap. Visit www.aacpl.net for information.

*Annapolis Branch - Turkey Trot Storytime, 10 a.m. Nov. 24. Stories, activities and seasonal crafts for age 2 to 5. 1410 West St. 410-222-1750.
*Eastport-Annapolis Neck Branch - Turkey Time, 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 23. Create your own Tom turkey. For children of all ages. 269 Hillsmere Drive, 410-222-1770.
*Edgewater Branch - Gobble, Gobble Crafts, during branch hours through Nov. 21. Make a fun Thanksgiving craft. For families. 25 Stepneys Lane. 410-222-1538.
*North County Branch - Talkin' Turkey, 10 a.m. Nov. 21. Stories, songs and a craft for ages 2 to 5. 1010 Eastway, Glen Burnie. 410-222-6270.

Hello hibernation!

Children ages 3 to 7 can learn about hibernating animals Nov. 21 at the Patuxent Research Refuge's Visitor Center, located on Powder Mill Road between the Baltimore Washington Parkway and Route 197 in Laurel.

The program for children ages 5 to 7 is from noon to 1:30 p.m. It will include songs and crafts.

For registration and information, visit patuxent.fws.gov or call 301-497-5887.

Go wild at Port Discovery

The special ticketed program "Wildlife Adventures" will be offered at 1 and 2 p.m. Nov. 22 at Port Discovery children's museum in Baltimore.

This fun-filled program is a combination of live animals, fun props and audience volunteers. Through hands-on experiments children will learn how an animal's features help it survive.

There is an additional $3 cost for this program. Children under age 2 are admitted free.

Port Discovery is at 35 Market Place in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. It will be closed on Thanksgiving day. Admission is $12.95 for ages 2 and up.

For info, visit www.portdiscovery.org or call 410-727-8120.