Art, Magic, Halloween
Cindy on October 21st, 2009
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before.— Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven
Like the perfect pumpkin waiting for a master carver, Halloween never fails to stir the imagination. Not surprisingly, it’s a favorite holiday among the creative souls in my family. Early in October, Doug and I start raiding attics and local thrift shops for the most outlandish outfits we can jumble together. And every year in September, we start work on a project or two to enter in the Anton Art Center’s annual Halloween art exhibition.
Running now through November 7, this year’s juried group exhibition is aptly titled MASKED. Both of us have two pieces in this show. Mine play on the theme of Victorian autumn carnivals — a theme that has haunted me ever since I first read Ray Bradbury’s atmospheric novel, Something Wicked This Way Comes.
Since I’ve worked as a writer for more than 25 years, it’s probably no surprise that books and writing-related themes have a hand in my artwork. Here’s a preview of my pieces in MASKED:
“Damn everything but the circus!” was inspired by an e.e. cummings poem of the same title. I’ve always loved the circus — yet find it a little scary, too. This altered children’s board book is embellished with antique circus ephemera, vintage costume jewelry, carnival tickets, stars, scraps, and feathers. While working on this piece, I recalled the time I interviewed a lion tamer from a traveling circus act — one of my first and favorite stories for a local newspaper.
“Victoria Fortune’s Magic Box” (top photo) is a mixed media assemblage crafted entirely of found objects, starting with a large jewelry box from a local thrift shop. I painted the box and trimmed it with old lace and trims, then added the odds and ends I’d been collecting for several months. The idea for this project was sparked by an old (non-copyrighted) photo of a sinister-looking group of Victorian sisters. I was intrigued by the mysterious ambiance of the photo, and imagined that the women were part of an autumn carnival act called “The Sisters of Fortune.” I created a story — and the box — around them. The woman wearing the black leather gloves in the center, Victoria Fortune, was a medium with a gift for prophesy. Her box contains items used for her magic acts and tarot readings at the carnival.
For a look at some of my other art pieces, you can link to my Facebook gallery: Altered Art: Found Objects and Curious Things. – CL
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:55 am
So very fascinating! Do you display your mixed media pieces in your home? If so, I can only imagine how fun it is for you and guests to “discover” them in the various rooms.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:25 am
Thanks, Elaine! I keep most of my finished pieces in my home office, which has a lot of shelves. Sometimes, I give small pieces as gifts to friends who express sincere interest in them. I usually make Christmas and birthday gifts now — which satisfies my urge to create things, but eliminates some clutter, too!
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Your creativity knows no end. If I lived locally, I would definitely check out the exhibit. I will check out your gallery on FB.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Cindy, you are so creative! Elaine, I’ve seen some of Cindy’s work at her house and at our local library, which has special display cases for local artists. (Cindy, I just had to give you a plug!)
And I think you’re far from alone in feeling ambivalent about circuses. I remember attending a seminar in which the facilitator mentioned that one of her sons was scared of clowns. And that topic was part of the lyrics in the oldie by Helen Reddy, “You and Me Against the World.”
So it’s perfect for Halloween.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:50 pm
That magic box is so evocative. It would make a great premise for a short story.
And I have mixed feelings about the circus, as well. The symbolism of clowns is a lot deeper than just happy-go-lucky.
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Gorgeous Cindy! These are amazing. I’m struggling with my Peter Pan costume!
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Intriguing pieces Cindy. I like the two extremes:
“Victoria Fortune’s Magic Box” – dark and mysterious.
“Damn everything but the circus!” – fun, laughter and excitement…
Awesome. Creative.
October 25th, 2009 at 8:36 am
I loved hearing where the first spark for your circus piece came from–and seeing your art again.
October 25th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Wow! You are a woman of many talents! Good luck in the exhibition. It looks wonderful.
xo