JOURNEY TO
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE!
Maurice Sendak: The Memorial Exhibition
50 Years – 50 Works – 50 Reasons Comes to Columbus
April 13th – May 25th
Columbus Public Library
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity awaits you and your family this spring at the Columbus Public Library.
Maurice Sendak: The Memorial Exhibition – 50 Years – 50 Works – 50 Reasons presents original drawings by the legendary author and illustrator of Where the Wild Things Are along with tributes from some of his most famous fans.
Accompanying the exhibit will be tours, programs, and special events for children, teens and grown-ups, culminating in a WILD RUMPUS on May 11th that will have you and your friends giddy with excitement. Guided school and group tours will be available.
Max, the Wild Things, and all of Maurice Sendak’s marvelous creations await you from April 13 to May 25.
The Exhibit
“An exhibit for the ages.” Orange County Register
Organized to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the publication of his Where the Wild Things Are, this exhibit features Sendak’s original illustrations for the book which won the Caldecott Medal for Pictorial Excellence in 1964 as well as drawings and sketches for other works.
The exhibition includes variety of media and offers a survey of the highlights of Sendak’s career and the diverse art forms in which he was renowned. From children’s literature to Broadway and the opera, from animated film to young adult textbooks – Sendak remained an iconic American illustrator and author, acclaimed around the world for his genius and insights.
The pieces range from some of his earliest (a 10th grade sketch for Macbeth done as a homework project) through conceptual notes and drawings of sets and costumes for the opera version of Where the Wild Things Are and sketches for other famous works like In the Night Kitchen and Little Bear. Also included are drawings done for fun, such as Mickey & Me, his self-portrait with Mickey Mouse.
The Grand Reading Room of the Columbus Public Library will be transformed into the imaginary world of Max’s wilderness in Where The Wild Things Are to host the exhibit, and life-sized elements from the book will await your discovery.
Maurice Sendak: The Memorial Exhibition – 50 Years – 50 Works – 50 Reasons has been touring the country since 2013, and Columbus marks the final stop on its remarkable voyage.
Exhibit Hours
April 13 – May 25
Hours
Monday-Thursday 10:00am – 8:00pm
Friday-Saturday 10:00am – 6:00pm
Sunday 1:30pm – 6:00pm
Take a sneak peek at some of the works that will be seen in April and May.
Maurice Sendak
Maurice Sendak (1928-2012) has illustrated more than a hundred picture books throughout his 60-year career. Some of his best known books include Chicken Soup with Rice, Where the Wild Things Are, and In the Night Kitchen.
Born in Brooklyn in 1928 to Jewish immigrant parents from northern Poland, Sendak grew up idolizing the storytelling abilities of his father, Philip, and his big brother, Jack — as a child he illustrated his first stories on shirt cardboard provided by his tailor-father.
Aside from a few night classes in art after graduating high school, Sendak is a largely self-taught artist. Throughout his career, he has taken characters, stories, and inspirations from his among his own neighbors, family, pop culture, historical sources, and long-held childhood memories.
Sendak began a second career as a costume and stage designer in the late 1970s, designing operas by Mozart, Prokofiev, Ravel, and Tchaikovsky, among others. He has won numerous awards as both an artist and illustrator, including a Caldecott Award, a Newberry Medal, the international Hans Christian Andersen Award, a National Book Award, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, and a National Medal of Arts. His books continue to be read by millions of children and adults and have been translated into dozens of languages and enjoyed all over the world.
Public Tours
We have planned a series of tours for both families and grown-ups that will take you into the magical world of Maurice Sendak. Advanced reservations are not needed for these sessions!
Family Tours
More info
Join us for this family-friendly look at the remarkable Maurice Sendak: The Memorial Exhibition – 50 Years, 50 Works, 50 Reasons exhibit. The tour will include a brief film introduction, a read-aloud of Where the Wild Things Are, a tour of the exhibit and a fun craft to remember your journey. Tour will last about 75-90 minutes.
Tues. April 16, 23, 30 @ 6:30pm
Tues. May 7, 14, 21 @ 6:30pm
Sat. April 20, 27 @ 11:00am and 1:00pm
Sat. May 4, 18 @ 11:00am and 1:00pm
Meet in the Columbus Public Library Rotunda by the “Wild Things Tours” sign
Tours for Grown-ups
more info
Especially for older teens and adults, this tour of Maurice Sendak: The Memorial Exhibition – 50 Years, 50 Works, 50 Reasons will discuss Sendak’s life, how his Eastern European heritage influenced his work, and his many curious “obsessions.” The tour will begin with a showing of Spike Jonze’s 2009 documentary Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak (TV-14 recommended). Tour will last about 75-90 minutes.
Thur. April 18, 25 @ 6:15pm
Thur. May 2, 9, 16, 23 @ 6:15pm
Sat. April 20, 27 @ 2:00pm
Sat. May 4, 18 @ 2:00pm
Meet in the Columbus Public Library Rotunda by the “Wild Things Tours” sign
School & Group Tours
We can’t wait to take your School or Group on a tour of Sendak’s Magical World!
Schools
We have specially tailored programs for all school aged groups (from Kindergarten through 12th Grade). Up to 125 students plus teachers can be accommodated for each 90-minute session.
Each Tour includes:
- Short Introductory Film about Maurice Sendak
- Read-aloud of Where the Wild Things Are
- Tour of the exhibit
- Grade-appropriate art activity that students can take home
Tours are available Mondays through Fridays from April 16 – May 24 at 9:00am, 10:30am, 12noon and 1:30pm.
LUNCH:
We have locations inside and outside the library where you can enjoy a picnic lunch with your class. Just let us know when you book the tour and we’ll hold the space for you.
For more information or to sign up your school group for a tour contact the Columbus Public Library Sendak Exhibit Hotline at 706.243.2701.
Group Tours
GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE WHO WOULD LIKE A GUIDED TOUR OF THE EXHIBIT CAN CALL THE SENDAK EXHIBIT HOTLINE AT 706.243.2701.
Each Tour includes:
- BACKGROUND ON THE LIFE AND WORK OF MAURICE SENDAK
- 30 MINUTE TOUR OF THE EXHIBIT
TOURS ARE AVAILABLE SUNDAY – FRIDAY DURING NORMAL LIBRARY HOURS (NO GROUP TOURS ARE AVAILABLE ON SATURDAYS OR TUESDAY/THURSDAY EVENINGS BUT GROUPS MAY JOIN THE SCHEDULED PUBLIC TOURS ON THESE DATES).
Curriculum Guidelines
Perfect for teachers and homeschool parents, our curriculum guides will give you a greater appreciation into why so many consider Maurice Sendak one of the essential American authors and illustrators.
Groups that book tours will receive copies of the guides for their staff. See here for more information on school tours.
Downloadable Curriculum Guidelines
Middle-High School coming soon…
The Wild Rumpus
Join us at the Columbus Public Library on Saturday May 11 from 10am-4pm, with the Wild Rumpus happening at 1:00pm!
It’s a mighty, grand, spectacular celebration as only Maurice Sendak could have imagined.
Young and Old, Fierce and Friendly, one and ALL are invited to the Columbus Wild Rumpus!
This fantastic day of entertainers, illustrators, crafts, games, drawings, food, merry mayhem and more will help us celebrate the incredible Maurice Sendak and will help everyone kick off the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries’ annual Summer Reading Style in Wild Style
You’ll eat it up, you’ll love it so!
Sally and John Walden
Franklin J. Star, M.D.
Marnie Salter
Suzanne & Ed Burdeshaw
Tidal Wave Auto Spa
Mr. & Mrs. Robert
C. Wilson, IV
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth
E. Evans, Jr.
Teresa and Trip
Tomlinson
Mrs. Dorothy Walton
Sally and John Walden
Franklin J. Star, M.D.
Marnie Salter
Suzanne & Ed Burdeshaw
Tidal Wave Auto Spa
Mr. & Mrs. Robert
C. Wilson, IV
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth
E. Evans, Jr.
Teresa and Trip
Tomlinson
Mrs. Dorothy Walton