Creepy Halloween Photography Exhibition

"Leg Up," by Veronika Schmude

When I asked some photographer friends of mine to participate in a “Creepy Halloween Photography” exhibition, I was surprised by the submissions. I thought MY work was creepy! I certainly expected some cemetery work, but half the entries are non-cemetery images – and they are downright frightening. A few of them (along with the artist’s name) are sprinkled throughout this article. Even the cemetery images are unusual, e.g. night scenes from Philadelphia's Laurel Hill Cemetery and Jonathan Klein's piece (below) -  a community mausoleum in Poland! I really am awestruck by the depth and breadth of people’s creativity.

"House of the Dead," by Jonathan Klein

I curate monthly photography exhibits at the Dawson Street Pub in Manayunk, PA (a Philadelphia neighborhood), and I thought the October show should have a spooky theme, what with Halloween and Day of the Dead looming. I set up the exhibit Saturday, October 4 (2014), and I must say, it is exactly what I hoped it would be!

"The Portender," by Marietta Dooley

I especially like this one by Marietta Dooley (at right) - I have no idea what it is, but it is downright ghoulish, in a Blair Witchy-kind of way. And Veronike Shmude's "Leg Up" image (at top) from New Orleans' St. Roch Cemetery chapel is just wonderful. It's odd how half the (lucky) thirteen images involved people (or some semblance of a person), while the other half were basically still lifes. My brother Tim Snyder's "G.I. Jerrys" is an eerie little piece - sixties-era G.I. Joes dressed as WWII German soldiers.

"G.I. Jerrys," by Tim Snyder

If you’ve ever seen the original version of any artwork, you know that it is always superior to a reproduced image. So please come out to the Dawson Street Pub and see these macabre images in person! You can stroll to the back room gallery any time the bar is open (every day from noon to 2 a.m.) or you can join us at the free reception on October 18. during the reception, most of the artists will be present so you can pick their brains about their work. There's always a story behind every photograph!

FREE Reception/Halloween Party!
Saturday, 2- 4 pm, Oct. 18, 2014
(in conjunction with award-winning Philly Blind Pig BBQ  event)

Dawson Street Pub, Manayunk, PA

"Concrete City, Thanksgiving Day," Patricia Kinsman

The stories behind some of the photographs are in some cases scarier that the images themselves. For my money, one of the best offerings might be Patricia Kinsman's "Thanksgiving Day, Concrete City" (at left). This subtle image has a wild story behind it. An actual all-concrete village of was built in 1911 in northeast Pennsylvania, then abandoned in 1924. It is so out in the woods, it is unnerving. Hats off to the intrepid explorers and abandoned site photographers who traverse these Texas Chainsaw-like woods to visit the ruins.

The “Creepy Halloween Photography" exhibit will be up from October 4, 2014 until the Day of the Dead – November 1, 2014. Free Opening Reception Oct. 18, 2 - 4 pm (in conjunction with award-winning Philly Blind Pig BBQ event, for which I suppose I should post an "excessive meat warning"). All the images are framed and available for immediate purchase.

Dawson Street Pub, Manayunk, PA (with the Philly Blind Pig)

Participating Artists:

 Veronika Schmude

 Frank Rausch

 Karen Schlecter

 Jonathan Klein

 Ed Snyder

 Patricia Kinsman

 Emma Stern

 Karen Schlecter

 David Swift

 Tim Snyder
 Marietta Dooley

 Maria Rose