Knights!

September 2014 – November 2016

More info: Reinstallation of the Medieval Galleries and FAQ

Knights! reveals the fascinating place of arms and armor in the broader context of history, storytelling, and art. Only three months after the closing of Worcester's Higgins Armory Museum, this exhibition marks the first step in the long-term integration of arms and armor into the collection of the Worcester Art Museum. This process ensures that a treasure of national importance remains in Worcester and continues to delight future generations of museumgoers from within the city and across the region.
 
“Integrating the Higgins collection allows us to build on our creative programming and community engagement and is an incredible opportunity to develop a new approach to presenting these beautiful works of art," said WAM Director Matthias Waschek.
 
By showcasing arms and armor in the context of its encyclopedic collections, the Museum creates a new framework for exploring this material. Breaking from the traditional forms of installation, Knights! encourages visitors to appreciate armor for its aesthetic and social purposes, as much as its martial one. The pieces included in Knights! are largely from Medieval and Renaissance Europe, with additional cultures and periods represented as well. The exhibition's five separate sections—Courtly Pursuits, The Dance of Love and War, Knights of the Round Table, Triumphal Arch, and The Corridor of Good + Evil—illustrate in detail the historical context in which these works were made and used.
 
Within the final room of the exhibition, viewers can compare and contrast wars of the past with those of the present, drawing on information about real-time conflicts as seen through the lens of photojournalism. In Veiled Aleppo, Milan-based photojournalist Franco Pagetti documents the transformation of this ancient city's streetscapes as a result of the ongoing Syrian civil war.

Intoducing Helmutt

Knights! invites family participation and provides new ways to see arms and armor for all ages. The adventures of the Higgins' mascot, a dog suited in armor named Helmutt, is a family-friendly element of the show. Throughout the exhibition, Helmutt engages children through illustrated signage and interactive iPad stations that encourage fun exploration of the featured objects. In addition, Helmutt's House, a special interactive area within the exhibition, lets our youngest visitors explore the theme of knights in a fun, hands-on way.

In partnership with

Media sponsor: WGBH

Print sponsors: Worcester Telegram and Gazette / The Boston Globe

Sponsored in part by Cole Contracting, Inc., Reliant Medical Group and Unum

The Collection

One of the most significant collections of arms and armor outside of Europe, with approximately 2,000 pieces, these treasured objects will be fully incorporated into the Worcester Art Museum in a second phase installation by 2020. For more information on this long term vision, visit our frequently asked questions page.

Click here to see some Higgins Collection Highlights

Significant funding for the Higgins Armory Collection Integration has been provided by The George I. Alden Trust,Fred Harris Daniels Foundation, Inc., The Fletcher Foundation, The George F. and Sybil H. Fuller Foundation, The Stoddard Charitable Trust, and The Manton Foundation. Additional support has been provided by the Hoche-Schofield Foundation, the Rockwell Foundation, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Press

Print
A Look at the Worcester Art Museum's New Interactive Exhibit - Boston Common Magazine
Jeffrey Forgeng new curator of arms and armor and medieval art... - The Daily Herd
WAM's new collection combines history and art in a family-friendly way. - Baystate Parent
Worcester Art Museum's show of armor shines, surprises - The Boston Globe
Chivalric and deadly, 'Knights!' have arrived at WAM - The Herald News
Critic's picks: Museum exhibits - The Boston Globe
Worcester Art Museum hires Higgins Armory curator - The Boston Globe
Batman movie suit to be displayed at Worcester Art Museum Knights! exhibit - Mass Live
"Knights!" Exhibition Breathes New Life into Higgins Armory Collection - Worcester Magazine
What Comes Next, After the Troops Are Dismissed - New York Times
A Bell Tolls for the Higgins, a Quirky Armor Museum - New York Times

Audio / Video
Dressed to Kill: Armor Collection Moves to Worcester Art Museum - WCVB TV Chronicle
Knight in shining armor... on a pink horse? - NECN
Worcester Art Museum Relives Medieval Times With 'Knights!' - WGBH
Two on the Aisle: Knights! - WCUW FM 91.3
Worcester Art Museum Bringing New Life to the Higgins Armory - Destination Worcester
Worcester Art Museum's Knights Exhibit - CharterTV3
WAM Knights Exhibit Preview - CharterTV3
GO! Knights! at WAM - Worcester Telegram and Gazette
Little Engines That Can - Chronicle WCVB Channel 5 Boston

Helmutt the Dog

Hi I'm Helmutt and I can't wait to meet you in Helmutt's House in the Knights! Exhibition. On View in Helmutt's House Emily the Strange by Rob Reger View original paintings of beloved character Emily the Strange by artist/illustrator Rob Reger. Get to know her four cats: Mystery, Miles, NeeChee, and Sabbath. Part of the exhibition Meow. Click to learn more about Helmutt!

More Information

A Renaissance for the Higgins at WAM

The integration of the Higgins Armory collection into the Worcester Art Museum is transformative. As we embrace the spirit of the Higgins collection, WAM is re-imagining the way we communicate the story of our collections to create more meaningful connections for you with the works of art in our care... Read more, see FAQs and view a timeline of events

Poster

Download: 11x17 pdf poster
(Right click and choose Save-As)