Maurice Sendak’s ‘Wild Things’

at the Denver Art Museum

This holiday season, immerse yourself in the dynamic, theatrical world of Maurice Sendak at the Denver Art Museum in Wild Things. Organized in cooperation with the Columbus Art Museum, where a sibling exhibition was presented two years ago, Wild Things celebrates the characters that have accompanied millions during story time since the mid-20th century.

‘The Magic Flute’ (1980), poster, 24 x 17 1/2 inches

The author and illustrator of perennial classics like In the Night Kitchen(1970), Outside Over There (1981), and, of course, Where the Wild Things Are (1963), Sendak was born in Brooklyn in 1928 and began illustrating children’s titles in 1947. He was largely self-taught, illustrated hundreds of books during his six-decade career.

‘Where the Wild Things Are’ (1963), watercolor, ink, and graphite on paper, 9 3/4 x 11 inches.

‘Pierre’ (1961-2), ink on paper, 4 1/4 x 3 1/2 inches.

Sendak produced an astounding array of drawings, paintings, mockups, and set designs and costumes for his books, along with their adaptations to stage and screen. He was also an avid collector of other renowned illustrators’ works, and viewers can see pieces from Sendak’s personal collection by William Blake, Beatrix Potter, Walt Disney, and more.

Wild Things continues through February 17. Plan your visit on the Denver Art Museum’s website.

Helper

Experts at Tanzania-based nonprofit APOPO have recruited African giant pouched rats and their impressive noses to sniff out landmines, disease and survivors trapped beneath rubble after natural disasters.

Now, the nonprofit is also using the cat-size rodents to smell their way through the crafty disguises employed by wildlife traffickers looking to smuggle ivory, pangolin scales and rhino horns. Sometimes, traffickers stain ivory to look like wood or coat it in chocolate to make it through inspections.

But the trainable rats have an acute sense of smell. During a study, the rodents found 83% of the items and used their paws to pull on a little ballattached to custom vests (above) to trigger a beeping sound, indicating they found something.