George Memorial Library to hold Maurice Sendak exhibit

Final drawing for Where the Wild Things Are, © 1963 by Maurice Sendak, all rights reserved.

The traveling exhibit "In a Nutshell: The Worlds of Maurice Sendak" will make a stop at George Memorial Library from March 8 to April 20. George Memorial is the only library in Texas to host the exhibit.

An opening reception will be held at 7 p.m. March 8 in the Bohachevsky Gallery at the library. Dr. David Brenner will speak.

Sendak is an illustrator of more than 100 children's picture books, including "Where the Wild Things Are." His artwork reflects a combination of his European background, American childhood and Jewish culture. The exhibition explores the push and pull of these influences.

“We are delighted to have been selected as a site for this exhibition,” said library Director Clara Russell in a press release. “A study of Sendak’s work proves that his illustrations and stories aren’t just for children. He explores immigration, urban life, nostalgia, the New World, even the legacy of the Holocaust, weaving these seemingly adult themes into his imaginative and playful illustrations. Our library is thrilled to host this exhibition and to present a more thorough look at the life of a talented author and illustrator beloved by fans young and old.”

The exhibit can be viewed during regular library hours. George Memorial Library is located at 1001 Golfview Drive in Richmond. For more information visit fortbend.lib.tx.us.

The exhibit, “In a Nutshell: The Worlds of Maurice Sendak,” was organized by the Rosenbach Museum & Library, Philadelphia, and developed by Nextbook Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Jewish literature, culture, and ideas, and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The national tour of the exhibit has been made possible by grants from the Charles H. Revson Foundation, the Righteous Persons Foundation, the David Berg Foundation, and an anonymous donor, with additional support from Tablet Magazine: A New Read on Jewish Life.