Orpheus and The Awkward Foot

I'm a huge fan of Greek Mythology. Somewhere around the age of 11 I got a little obsessed, when we started going over the Pantheon and which god was responsible for which cool attribute. I felt like they were divvying up superpowers. Over the years I've read about it, taken extra college courses about it, and started a comic about it. I still get a little thrill every time I see a reference to it in the real world. (Which, in the Western world, is all the time). So a couple weeks ago, when my family and I set out to Fort McHenry for some good ol' fashioned history-learnin', I was pleasantly surprised to see a giant sculpture on the front lawn of one of my old friends:

This particular one is Orpheus, son of Calliope, famed for his mastery of music and poetry (superior to all mankind). I like Orpheus, I don't know much about him except for what he's famous for - his death (beautifully reference in The Sandman comics by Neil Gaiman). So it was funny to see him plunked down in the middle of a historical site, and then even funnier once I read his name - "Orpheus With The Awkward Foot".

Haha.

Immediately I identified with the sculpture. Not only does it appeal to my greek myth nerdiness, but with the name, and the stance of the figure itself, I instantly formed a connection. Awkwardness is embedded in my daily life. I'm not sure why, but it's there. My limbs are so all over the place, it's hard to keep track. Besides that, I often stand a little pigeon-toed, and on skates it's much much worse (which is not good). I usually only get self-inflicted bruises, from banging my way around through the world. And here is this stunning, majestic, imposing figure, sculpted to signify pride and creativity in our country and its founding .... aaaand he's just a bit awkward.

Love.

Orpheus and The Awkward Foot

I'm a huge fan of Greek Mythology. Somewhere around the age of 11 I got a little obsessed, when we started going over the Pantheon and which god was responsible for which cool attribute. I felt like they were divvying up superpowers. Over the years I've read about it, taken extra college courses about it, and started a comic about it. I still get a little thrill every time I see a reference to it in the real world. (Which, in the Western world, is all the time). So a couple weeks ago, when my family and I set out to Fort McHenry for some good ol' fashioned history-learnin', I was pleasantly surprised to see a giant sculpture on the front lawn of one of my old friends:

This particular one is Orpheus, son of Calliope, famed for his mastery of music and poetry (superior to all mankind). I like Orpheus, I don't know much about him except for what he's famous for - his death (beautifully reference in The Sandman comics by Neil Gaiman). So it was funny to see him plunked down in the middle of a historical site, and then even funnier once I read his name - "Orpheus With The Awkward Foot".

Haha.

Immediately I identified with the sculpture. Not only does it appeal to my greek myth nerdiness, but with the name, and the stance of the figure itself, I instantly formed a connection. Awkwardness is embedded in my daily life. I'm not sure why, but it's there. My limbs are so all over the place, it's hard to keep track. Besides that, I often stand a little pigeon-toed, and on skates it's much much worse (which is not good). I usually only get self-inflicted bruises, from banging my way around through the world. And here is this stunning, majestic, imposing figure, sculpted to signify pride and creativity in our country and its founding .... aaaand he's just a bit awkward.

Love.