On the DL

Out and About Sendak

by Meaghan Dorff

Wed., June 25, 6-7 p.m., free with admission, RSVP required, Rosenbach Museum & Library, 2008-2010 Delancey Place, 215-732-1600, rosenbach.org

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From Where the Wild Things Are to Pierre to Outside Over There, author and illustrator Maurice Sendak's books share a common theme: main characters as outsiders. Whether vexed by curious creatures or perplexed by fellow humans, protagonists often grapple with isolation or find themselves immersed in foreign settings. According to Bill Adair, the Rosenbach's Hirsig Family Director of Education, this stems in part from Sendak's experiences as a gay man coming of age in the 20th century.

As a part of the Rosenbach Museum & Library's yearlong tribute, "There's a Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak," Adair will deliver a lecture titled "Out and About Sendak," which will center on the Caldecott-winning octogenarian's sexuality as a shaping force in his tales and illustrations. A fan of Sendak's work since childhood, Adair has also fostered a bond with the author, who keeps in close touch with the museum. "He's the best storyteller I've ever met," says Adair. "Great stories are his life."