"Horrorwood" pays tribute to slasher classics
Halloween is still only just around the corner, but artists are already celebrating all things horror. This past week, the WWA Gallery in Culver City premiered their latest exhibit. "Horrorwood," an art exhibit featuring over 55 independent artists, presents several different works that pay homage to classic Halloween movies like "The Exorcist," and "Psycho."
Artists had complete artistic freedom in both choice of film and style of art. The end results were frighteningly creative. Artists drew eerie sketches, created creepy models, bloody paintings and 3-D installations that re-enacted obscene scenes straight out of the flicks.
Paul Torres, one of the contributing artists, painted a carefree portrait of Frankenstein riding on a Harley through an empty desert. When asked what he wanted people to feel when gazing at his creation, Torres, in his charming Chilean accent, responded, "Freedom. Freedom of being judged, of being rejected, of everything." Torres then went on to share the story behind his love for Frankie and motorcycles, claiming that Frankenstein was "misunderstood," and hated of the things he's done because he was given the "wrong brain." Torres depicted him riding off in modern biker clothes to represent his escape and desire to start a new life, aside from hatred and death.
Chris Roth, another featured artist, chose to concentrate on the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" franchise and used oil paint to create a spooky-looking Leatherface. Roth said his love for horror movies began in his childhood, but his all-time favorite film involved a chainsaw-wielding villain. "I'm passionate about ‘Chainsaw' and it was definitely my first choice to work on." Painting since he was a kid, Roth wanted to look for ways to find himself, and strange, haunted-like inspired art came naturally to him. Roth hopes to write sci-fi thrillers and direct animated features in the future.
Other displays included a young Dracula, Mermaidman suffocating a woman, a Werewolf in a ‘60s style haircut, a headless woman in a jar, and other such bizarre pieces. "Horrorwood" will be open and running to the public for free until December 4.