'Gold' can be gained at State Museum's 'Leprechaun Search'
Artist cleverly hides nine 'wee folk' in murals

Photo by Susan Dugan / Courtesy S.C. State Museum. CAN YOU FIND HIM? - Guests who visit the South Carolina State Museum during March can have a lot of fun, and earn "leprechaun gold," by finding the locations of the "wee folk" hidden in several of the Museum's murals.

COLUMBIA - It's March, and just in time for St. Patrick's Day, it seems a touch of Irish folklore has sneaked into several exhibits at the South Carolina State Museum.

Guests of the State Museum - if they look very closely - may spot leprechauns hidden in the background murals of exhibits on the history, natural history and science floors - whether it's March or not!

The "wee folk" hidden in the paintings are the trademark of Kent Pendleton, an artist who created background murals for several of the museum's exhibits prior to its opening in October, 1988.

Though the mites are popular, Pendleton says it all came about by accident.

"I was painting two or three murals for the Denver Museum of Natural History and for some reason I got the idea of putting a little guy way back in the painting," said Pendleton, who lives and works in Colorado.

"No one could see him and no one was intended to. It was like a private joke.

"But one day one of the volunteers spotted it while I was working and said I should put one in another mural. So I did, but I didn't put one in every mural. Pretty soon the word got out."

Pendleton was astounded by the popularity of his little creations. When his contract with the State Museum was up, he returned to Colorado, where he did a couple more for the Denver Museum and in work for others. "The word spread and now I get requests for it. I feel almost obliged to do them, although I don't mind."

For museum goers looking for the unusual (in addition to the unusually high quality exhibits and programs the State Museum provides on a regular basis), the little people can be seen in permanent exhibits on the Museum's three upper floors.

There are nine of the little guys in all - six on the natural history floor, one on the science and technology floor and another two on the cultural history floor. Pendleton says he did more of them for the State Museum than for any other museum.

During March, the museum is cranking up the fun with a "Leprechaun Search." Guests can pick up a clue sheet to help them find the sprites sprinkled in the murals. By filling in the locations of the ones found and bringing the sheet to the museum store, the Cotton Mill Exchange, guests may earn pieces of "leprechaun gold," says Public Information and Marketing Assistant Karen Magradey. "A gold-foil-covered chocolate coin will be awarded for every correct leprechaun location. A perfect score will earn the searcher nine coins!"

In addition, guests can fill out a form to enter a drawing "for a bigger prize from the little people," Magradey says. That drawing will be held May 1.

Pendleton cleverly camouflaged his tiny creations in each painting. It takes hard looking to find them, but that's the idea with leprechauns, isn't it?

The mini-men can be found in all kinds of locations and situations, from a river-bottom swamp to the surface of the moon, says Magradey. They are engaged in a variety of activities as well, from gathering water from a waterfall to taking a nap.

"The figures are out in the open, even obvious if you know where to look, but it takes most people a while to find them," adds Director of Exhibits Mike Fey, who hired Pendleton. "But once they see them, they never forget where they are."

Guests often turn the search for the wee images into a competition, and often feel a sense of triumph when they find them, especially when they beat mom or dad, sister or brother in the discovery. And during March, they'll get an added sign of victory - leprechaun gold!

For more information on the South Carolina State Museum, visit its web site at www.southcarolina statemuseum.org.

Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 1-5 p.m. The museum will be open Monday, March 17, and Monday, March 24, for the "Leprechaun Search." Admission is $5 for adults; $4 for seniors 62 and up; $4 for military; $3 for children 3-12; children under 3 are free.