Caliopode – [Fearsome Critter]

Description

• About this critter: a Jolly creature, when The springtime arrives it takes in a deep breath through its top knot and lets out a strange sounding melody: All manner of creature begin to sing along In chorus & in an ode to the spring! The number of fingers vary between Caliopode’s and they sound different, it plays a trumpeting tune!

• History: Yet another fearsome critter from Art Childs, 1922-1925s “Yarns of the big woods” – his article goes as follows:

  “.When it’s Spring in the North Woods and things begin to awaken from their long Winter’s sleep. The woods and marshes change completely. Everything is full of life and movement; the woods resound with songs and calls of every description, many of which seem strange and weird.
It is at this time that the old woodsmen bring out their story of the caliopode. “Listen to him making his music ring through the woods,” one of them will say. “He’s a jolly creature, he is. Many’s the time I’ve seen him a-playing. He breathes in through a hollow topknot in his head and breathes out through his long trumpetlike nose. Then he plays tunes with his fingers on two rows of holes on his chest. He has about six or seven fingers on each hand. The number changes. I’ve noticed, with different caliopodes.”

— its name is obviously derived from a “calliope” which is a musical instrument commonly seen at circuses and fairs, (so I coloured him similarly to one and made him feel like hes performing.) In a mythological sense the name for the instrument “calliope” is actually derived from that of a greek goddess who’s known for her harmonious voice. The “ode” part is likely just as it sounds, an ode to chorus of spring! There are a lot of fearsome critters that have “trumpets” incorporated to their designs, my guess is that its just a funny/iconic shape. perhaps its also another example of an ‘auditory’ monster, used as a way to explain strange noises: theres quite a few more like this.

• see also: Treesqueak, Accordianteater, audio phenomena

Sticker Art by @Samkalensky (yo, thats me!) – Part of my Fearsome Critters sticker collection, weather resistant 4″ Glossy sticker. Check my shop & follow @samkalensky for many more!