Halloween Art Show

A tavern is not where you would expect to see a carefully planned art show, but that is where senior art major, Cassandra Day, is having her Halloween-themed art show.

The show will be held at McClellan’s Grill and Brewing Co. in Canon City from Oct. 29 to Nov. 19 and features the art work of CSU-Pueblo students as well as other local artists.

The particular location was chosen because it is a new brewery that offers lots of wall space, Day said. The building has a domed, circular ceiling with sky lights and brick walls. It gives off a good mood for a Halloween-themed art show.

A track system was hung from the walls to prepare for more art shows there and Day said that the owner Joe McClellan, arranged everything and that he was “totally supportive.” Then she had to begin “rounding people up” for the show.

In an art class, Day said she could do a project where you gave an art show, so she gathered some students with similar ideas and she decided the Halloween show would be perfect.

The name of the show is Pith of the Abyss and is about the fall a time when you think about death, Halloween, when trees lose their leaves, Day said.

When the show first began, she said she tried to have all the pieces be fall colors with a Halloween theme and most are appropriate for Halloween, with a spooky side-focused on death and darkness. The pieces are mostly 2-D paintings because the show is taking place in a bar, there is a greater risk of bigger pieces getting broken, Day said.

Emily Karnes, junior, art major, did a Halloween-themed painting of a face splitting away from itself, Day said; Dustin Boulet, senior, art major, did a painting of a skeleton.

Tammy Hockman, senior, art major, did a Zombie print on linoleum; Daniel Day, Cassandra’s brother, did a large skeleton drawing.
Tricia Runyon “Exno” did a zombie-themed claymation movie that will play at the show, Day said.

A member of the tavern’s wait staff is even involved with the art show; Layla Reding put two pieces in, Day said.

It has taken more than a month to put this show together and Day did most of the work by herself. She had help getting the materials from McClellan and Lynn Barski, contractor, set up the track system.

Day’s brother helped her hang the paintings once she had collected them all. It took two to three days to get them all hung, “long, long days,” Day said.

“Artists really need the support of the community,” Day said.
McClellan’s Grill and Brewing Co. is located at 413 Main Street in Canon City, Colo., and if you have any questions about the art show call Cassandra Day at
719-429-0180.

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