George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum's plaster cast collection.
On Aug. 25 at 1 p.m., the Greek gods will come alive in the sculpture hall of the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum at the Quadrangle.
Volunteer docent educator Dave Carlson, an architect by profession, will lead the half hour mini-tour, "Greek Gods as Storytellers."
"Anyone can go to the mini-tours we have and if you're interested, you can learn so much. It's wonderful. Instead of a sit-down lecture, everyone is going to walk around so people can ask questions and give answers when they know them," said Carlson, a docent for the past five years.
The art museum is one of the few museums in the country with a permanent display of plaster casts. Its statues are cast from the original, and tells stories based on religious or mythological beliefs.
Carlson will begin his talk by Zeus, the king of the Greek gods whose imposing bust stands out among the Greek statues. The tour will continue on to Athena, the daughter of Zeus.
"My favorite statue is Athena because she was the goddess of wisdom and war. Hers is a fascinating story because she was born from her father's head. Zeus had a splitting headache, and asked Hephaestus, the blacksmith, to split it open. Athena she came out fully grown and fully armed," Carlson said.
Athena's cast is tall and graceful, with a sword and shield. Her helmet and the snakes around her feet are meant to call attention to her knowledge.
"Athena was her father's helper and patron of heroes. She wasn't like her brother, Aries, who we will also see and talk about. He really liked to kill, but she would take a different approach about problems that came up," Carlson said.
Tour participants will learn about Dionysus, the god of wine who is known to the Romans as Bacchus. His cast is crowned with a grapevine, and he holds a tray in his hand, a stance that invites questions.
"If you're just looking at the plaster casts, that's just what they are, plaster casts. But every one of them tells a story and they are fascinating when you decide to look at them a little more," Carlson said.
Listeners will hear about the "Boy with Thorn," a young runner withdrawing a barb from the sole of his foot, and Discobolus, the discus thrower.
Participants may recognize Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and Hermes, the messenger between the gods and the humans. Both are popular stop on Carlson's "Ancient Cultures" tour for schoolchildren.
"Hermes brought the dead down to Hades, has the symbol of the medical profession with the cross and snake, and wings on ankle and head. Still, the children always ask where his clothes are," Carlson said with a laugh.
"I tell them they didn't have Lycra and Velcro back then, so when they were doing the Olympics they couldn't wear their usual clothes."
Carlson, who lives in Springfield, trained to give tours with the Springfield Museums' school programs.
The sculpture gallery opened to the public in July 1899, with funds from the estate of Horace Smith, co-founder of Smith & Wesson.
The museum's collection of 48 plaster casts of Classical and Renaissance masterpieces are made from molds, taken directly from the originals.
Mini-tours feature a wide variety of topics from history to the fine and decorative arts and are free with museum admission. Visit the Museums' website, www.springfieldmuseums.org, or with the Welcome Center staff for an updated schedule.
"The docents have complete freedom in the topic they choose to discuss. There is a genuine passion that comes through when they are speaking and people enjoy listening to that excitement in their presentations," said Laura Cienciwa, art and history docent coordinator for the museums.
General admission for the Springfield Museums is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students, $8 for children ages 3 to 17, and free for children under 3 and museum members. Springfield residents receive free general admission with proof of address. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free onsite parking is available.
The museums are located on the Quadrangle at 21 Edwards St. in downtown Springfield. For more information, call (413) 263-6800.