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Photos: John Carpenter tribute at SugarMynt

Currently at SugarMynt gallery in South Pasadena, Man is the Warmest Place is an exhibition of artwork celebrating the films of John Carpenter, including paintings, photographs, and mixed media inspired by Escape from New York, Christine, Big Trouble in Little China, and The Fog. Timed with the fortieth anniversary of Carpenter’s remake of The Thing, the group art show was originally conceived by curators Tavares and Erin Haggerty as a tribute to that film but expanded to include other examples the director’s 1980s output. Also on view are works inspired by Halloween (1978) and Village of the Damned (1995).

Several films are being screened conjunction with Man is the Warmest Place to Hide, including The Thing on July 9, Christine on July 10, Halloween IV on July 15, and Halloween 6 on July 16.

SugarMynt specializes in horror- and Halloween-themed art, so besides the current exhibition, there are collectibles, figures, and artwork based on Hocus Pocus, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Corpse Bride, and The Addams Family, among others.

Man is the Warmest Place to Hide runs through July 17. Gallery hours are 12-4pm Wednesday, 12-7pm Friday and Saturday, and 12-5pm Sunday. Admission to the exhibition is $10. SugarMynt is located at 810 Meridian Avenue in South Pasadena. For more information, call (626) 222 – 7257, or visit the official website: sugarmynt.com.

 

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Man is the Warmest Place to Hide
Man is the Warmest Place to Hide
Artwork inspired by John Carpenter’s The Thing

Man is the Warmest Place to Hide features work from numerous artists, depicting scenes predominantly from The Thing, although Carpenter’s other ’80s films are amply represented (except, unfortunately, for Prince of Darkness – which, fan consensus to the contrary – is the director’s best work).

Expect to pay $400-450 for paintings such as Chris Shary’s “Snake” (a closeup portrait of Pliskin from Escape from New York), Jimi Martinez’s “No Way Out of Here” (depicting MacReady from The Thing), and Allan Dellascio’s “Blake” (inspired by The Fog).

On the higher end are such works as Lori Herbst’s “Supercuts of the Damned” ($1,000) and Mark Tavares’ “I Want to Come Back Inside” ($2,500).

For those whose pocketbooks do no support the purchase or original artwork, there are numerous print reproductions available at reasonable prices, and visitors who pay the $10 entrance fee are welcome to take all the photographs and video they like.

More photos from Man is the Warmest Place to Hide…

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Halloween (1978) Display
Halloween Michael Myers installation
Moving figure of Michael Myers stabs his way through the closet door.

Off the main gallery is a room devoted largely to the 1978 Halloween, including a moving figure of Michael Myers stabbing his way through some wooden slats – a recreation of a famous scene in the film, when Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) is hiding in a closet. The walls are adorned with behind-the-scenes photographs and an autographed poster.

Most of this material is on view year-round, and there is an annual Haunted Haddonfield exhibition of art and photography related to the film, which starts in September this year. Not surprisingly, Carpenter’s Halloween is a favorite of the gallery owner, and appropriately enough SugarMynt is located behind the house where the opening exterior shot was filmed.

More photos of SugarMynt’s Halloween display…

 

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SugarMynt

Despite the emphasis on Halloween, SugarMynt is open all year long, showcasing a variety of horror-themed artwork, jewelry, postcards, decorations, and old-fashioned Halloween masks. In addition to the annual Haunted Haddonfield exhibition, other showings have been devoted to artwork inspired by Christmas, Hocus Pocus, and the films of Tim Burton. The gallery also screens films outdoors on many weekends throughout the year.

SugarMynt’s next exhibition will be Some Fun Now, a 40th anniversary celebration of Little Shop of Horrors, which is scheduled to run July 23 through August 13.

More photos of SugarMynt gallery…

Steve Biodrowski, Administrator

A graduate of USC film school, Steve Biodrowski has worked as a film critic, journalist, and editor at Movieline, Premiere, Le Cinephage, The Dark Side., Cinefantastique magazine, Fandom.com, and Cinescape Online. He is currently Managing Editor of Cinefantastique Online and owner-operator of Hollywood Gothique.