No month is spookier than October, and what a perfect month to explore the spooky and scary art in the Peace Region.
This issue of The Article is celebrating the darker, more frightening art, and those who create it.
The walls of my office are lined with what you could call spooky art. I have an image of a witch by a fire by Hannah Jenkins, better known as Countess Creates. When Aleisha Hendry pitched a story on Jenkins, I was excited to learn more about the artist. When I went to Jenkins’ home to photograph them, I felt bad that their photos looked so spooky, even though they were such a kind and thoughtful person. Read more about Jenkins on Page 7.
Shauna-Lee Billwiller’s work at Svelte Rabbitry creates so much emotion and wonder.
I had no idea what to expect when I arrived to photograph her; I was met by another kind person with a couch laid out with skulls of various animals, and two giant rabbits ready for their close-ups.
Her work truly makes people think and feel many emotions as you look at animals in a very unique way.
Be sure to read about her art journey in Susan V.H. Thompson’s latest piece on Page 10.
Carolyn Gerk’s work has always fascinated me. Gerk’s work has been on my office walls since the first time I saw it at a market.
Her prints of Lazlo and Nadja from the television show What We Do in the Shadows look down on me from a shelf; Black Philip, the goat from The Witch, peeks out from behind trinkets; and a screaming Laura Palmer from Twin Peaks greets me when I enter the office.
Getting to speak with her at her studio was a great experience.
We talked about our love for modern horror movies, including the work of filmmaker Robert Eggers. She even asked if I knew The Lighthouse, one of my all-time favourite films.
We talked about monsters, myths, and folklore, and could probably have continued for hours.
Read about Gerk’s art on Page 20.
This edition of The Article may be exploring the dark and spooky, but one thing that stands out is that the creators of this work couldn’t be more friendly and lovely.
I think it’s the people who love monsters and the spooky who are so open to realizing it’s not the monster who is often the villain, but fear itself.
“People are frightened by what they don’t understand,” is what John Merrick says in The Elephant Man.
I think that rings true today and in our everyday life, yet art lets us explore those fears from a safe space.
Happy Halloween, and I hope you have a fun and spooky month this October!
If you are hoping for a little fright and a unique film experience, I hope to see you at The Article’s Cinema Club on October 13, where we will show a short film by The Article’s own Marc Boily, followed by David Lynch’s first film, Eraserhead. It will be a special night, and if you’ve never experienced Eraserhead with an audience, I hope you take this opportunity!
P.S. A huge thank you to everyone who submitted an art piece to our community art page! If you would like us to continue this feature, please let us know!
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