The Faces of Halloween

June

October ushers in one of the most celebrated of Autumn holidays, Halloween - that historical mash-up of Celtic culture, popular culture, Christianity, pagan folk-lore, superstition, and Horror.  In the Brooklyn Collection we have photographers that have captured the many aspects of this holiday, from the humorous to the mysterious, and from the gory, to the adorable.

Lev Dodin 

Lev Dodin's work is distinguished by his composition and use of vibrant saturated colors.  His demonic hobgoblins contrast vividly with the green and blue background, and his group of pink-haired witches are more fabulous than frightening.

 

Our Streets Our Stories

These photographs submitted through OSOS were taken in a Bay Ridge park.  One marvels at the ingenuity and inventiveness needed to create this ghastly photo-shoot, which is at once, hilarious, off-beat, and gruesome.  The Verrazano Bridge in the background lends a touch of local color to this macabre picnic.

Larry Racioppo

Through the lens of Larry Racioppo ( who currently has an exhibition in the Brooklyn Collection), Halloween takes on a darker tone.  These photographs published in 1980 and shot in black & white are made all the more disturbing by the fact of the children's small size - think "Children of the Corn" on steroids.  Pair that with his darkly lit composition and you get images that are sinister and menacing.

 

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The retro images from the late 1940's and early 50's depict innocence and fun, with a bit of cultural appropriation thrown in.  Featuring cardboard box robots, pirates, Indians and ghosts in classic mid-century costuming, these photographs harken back to a bygone era.

Halloween 2018 will undoubtedly feature new and inventive ways of celebration, as well as tried and true scary tropes.  The next generation of photographers will be there to capture the ways in which Halloween and Brooklyn have evolved.



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