We’ve been thinking a lot about heroes lately because of our participation in an exhibition currently on view at Towson Arts Collective’s EBC Art Center.  Many of our artists are represented in  HEROES: Everyday Heroes to Super Heroes, Beyond the Call of Duty,on view from October 1st through 25th, with a reception this Saturday, October 11th from 6 – 8 pm.

In honor of the show’s opening, some of our artists discussed their work in the show, along with what a hero is to them.

Gary writes about his work in the HEROES show:

“In general, heroes stand up to bad guys and protect the innocent. Some of them, like Mickey Mouse, for example, have magical powers and use those powers for good rather than evil.”

To Gary Schmedes, a hero is a good guy who does what is right.  The good guys stand up to the bad guys by “punching them in the face.”  Some of Gary’s favorite heroes are Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, Fred Flintstone, Homer Simpson, and SpongeBob.  All of these characters are funny (and Gary appreciates good humor) and do what is right (even Homer Simpson, most of the time).  In his everyday life, Gary sees his older sister Mary as a hero because “she helps me a lot and is understanding.” 

Margie sees a hero a bit differently from Gary.  Margie says about her work:

“A hero can be big and brave, but he or she can also be a person who does something small and considerate for others.”

Margie Smeller thinks it is good to recognize all the different kinds of heroes out there in the world, from the superheroes to the everyday heroes.  In fact, Margie believes everyday heroes are especially relevant in our lives.  For Margie, being brave, as well as having empathy and compassion for others, are important parts of being an everyday hero.

Jeanne Hannon recognizes the super in the everyday hero.  She writes about her work in the show, which is about some of her favorite presidents and her favorite baseball team:

“The Presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter worked very hard for all of the states throughout the country. They had to swear an oath on the Bible to do their job well, and they are part of a long history.”

For Jeanne a lot of presidents are heroes.  She wants us to remember how all the presidents have brought together the United States of America, which in her mind may not be as united if it weren’t for them.  Plus being president is a tough job!  Besides presidents, Jeanne considers Governor O’Malley a hero.  She is also a big O’s fan and sees the Orioles as her heroes, too.  She is very excited with how the O’s have been doing in the play offs and she hopes they make it all the way to the world series. Jeanne has everyday heroes too.  Her family are her heroes, especially Jimmy who is in the Marines.

Tony Labate also shared his thoughts on heroes.  He writes:

“They are not faster than a speeding bullet or more powerful than a locomotive but they are always ready to help anyone who is in trouble or needs help.”

As his artwork shows, Tony is often inspired by St. Elizabeth School which became his home away from home after his grandmother passed away.  The people at St. Elizabeth’s school are some of Tony’s heroes.  They were always nice and polite to him and made him feel comfortable. He recognizes that there are superheroes who are in comic books, but to Tony a hero does not have to be super or have superpowers, especially since that is all fantasy or science fiction, anyway.  Tony sees a hero as an everyday person who goes beyond the usual scope to help people, like saving someone from drowning or a burning building.

Make sure to stop by the Towson Arts Collective’s EBC Art Center to see all the wonderful artwork in the HEROES show.  And don’t forget to think about and thank the heroes in your life.