Mythic Creatures Interpreter (Special Exhibit)

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The world is full of stories about brave heroes, magical events, and fantastic beings. For thousands of years, humans everywhere-inspired by living animals or even fossils-have brought mythic creatures to life in stories, songs, and works of art. Today these creatures, from the powerful dragon to the soaring phoenix, continue to thrill, terrify, entertain, and inspire us. We seem to catch glimpses of these creatures all around us: hiding beneath the ocean waves, running silently through the forest, and soaring among the clouds. Mythic creatures give shape to humankind's greatest hopes, fears, and most passionate dreams. The exhibition has four main messages:

1. Many mythic creatures reflect attempts to describe the natural world.

2. Mythic creatures take shape through human imagination.

3. Mythic creatures can teach us about cultures from around the world and are a medium of cultural interaction.

4. Cultures keep mythic creatures alive through art and literature.

Volunteers in Mythic Creatures will work with visitors in a number of ways to explore the natural history of mythic creatures. The final set of volunteer activities is still being created, but will connect to the four main themes of the exhibition. Activities could include:

1. Exploring how fossils or skeletons inspired different myths in different times and locations

2. Working with visitors to create mythic creatures with sewing machines

3. Help visitors create original shadow puppet mythic creatures and use them to tell their origin story