Baird brings to life a menagerie of folklore creatures in his First Friday exhibit

A "creepy" exhibit designed to put viewers in a Halloween frame of mind will be presented by local artist Michael Baird at the First Friday reception at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri.

Baird's exhibit, "Folklore," is his vision of "monsters" such as the famed Loch Ness Monster and the ubiquitous "bogeyman" that are noted in folklore around the world.

The monsters featured in Baird's exhibit will be presented in three-dimensional puppet form, with a display of masks that were inspired by the folklore of gnomes, goblins and pixies.

"Monsters and puppets have been an obsession of mine since I was little," Baird said. "I grew up with Jim Henson's Muppets, and I was always interested in learning about one monster or another. Being able to put on an exhibit that combines monsters and puppets seemed like a comfortable fit."

The exhibit at the Arts Council isn't about standard monsters from Hollywood such as Frankenstein's monster or the Wolfman, Baird said.

"What I'm presenting is my interpretation of monsters that are somewhat undefinable in folklore," he said. "For instance, there's no real concrete description of the bogeyman, even though parents sometimes tell their children that if they aren't good, the bogeyman will get them. My puppet version of him is really creepy with bony features and a tail."

Baird said expressing his monsters in puppet form is a better way for children to understand them.

"I believe that puppets are more accepted by children than are realistic models," he said. "They're able to grasp the idea better. I've found that realistic models are not as helpful."

Baird, an art instructor at Southeast Missouri State University, said the idea for his exhibit was hatched while he was instructing at Southeast's Art Academy workshops last summer.

"A fellow instructor who knew about my monster creations suggested that I put my works together for an exhibit," he said. "The Arts Council accepted the idea, and we're having it in October so that it can align with Halloween."

One of Michael Baird’s “Folklore” puppet creations. The exhibit is designed for the Halloween season. (Laura Simon)

Murielle Gaither, executive director of the Arts Council, said Baird's exhibit was perfect for October. "It's going to be very eerie around here," she said. "We're trying to present a creepy theme."

According to Gaither, Baird's art pieces can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

"The monsters that Michael has created are splendid," she said. "They're geared for a younger audience, but adults will be able to appreciate them from the artistic standpoint. Michael has the skill to seemingly bring the monsters to life. They're phenomenal."

While children are encouraged to visit the exhibit at the Arts Council, Gaither said parents should exercise discretion.

"Some kids may be more sensitive about the exhibit's monster theme than others," she said. "I think that it's something for children 8 and older."

The First Friday reception for Michael Baird's "Folklore" exhibit will be from 5 to 9 p.m. in the Arts Council's Lorimier Gallery and Gallery 100.

For more information about the exhibit, call Gaither at 334-9233.

klewis@semissourian

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