Get ready for...Bloomsburg Halloween Windows, 2014!

 Every Halloween Bloomsburg high school and middle school students paint the store windows along Main Street, and every year I go out to take pictures of them. I can't post them all, but try to post a dozen or so of my favorites every year. I favor those with solid bcckgrounds and vivid colors or those that use the window displays as part of their composition because they photograph well, but plenty of other paintings work well in place, so you really gotta be there! If you're in Bloomsburg, take a walk down Main Street for a treat (or trick) ...Quick! Before it rains!

My favorites this year begin with three wicked women, and first place has to go to the above Frida-Kahlo-esque  beauty in the skeletal corset at Remit. (Wow! How does Remit always get such great windows?!)   She's the work of Kayla and Markar. The Italian restaurant, La Fontaine at the corner of Market & Main has this delicious Broadway witch (below left) labeled "Wicked," of course... courtesy of Sydney Gronka and Lindsay Carl.

This wonderfully evil lady (ala "Maleficent") resides at Sunset Holding Co.



















For sheer creativity, check out this button-eyed monster creeping out from an open shirt (torso only!) at PNC Bank . I also enjoyed the way the background display (advertising the PA Lottery!) at the Cigarette Store collected an assortment of anime creatures with their own agenda....

The demented clown on the door at the Capitol Restaurant (below) has wonderful color and surface texture. And he's happy, not too scary.(He's the work of  MC Kayla, Kelsey V and someone named Mareck? or Mariah? )

The Tim Burton-Style has become synonymous with Halloween, as this plump dancing ghost at Fog & Flame (by Cameron Gregory, Shayla Dillon, and Megg Mrozek) and the Frog-face ghost  creature in pinstripes at The Country Store (with Burtonesque wave in the background) illustrate.

And then there's the (truly massive) full moon with gnarled tree at Steph's Subs, below.

There's another lovely moon, this one a quarter slice, at Chrysalis Salon. Had to include it as the work is lovely, though it doesn't photograph well because the background display makes it difficult to get a good shot (my limitations, I'm afraid). Go see it in person. (signed only with initials, AH? ST and BG.)

I'll end this year's windows posting with three hilarious animals. Why pink has become a favorite Halloween color, I can't say, but it works for this black cat on fuchsia (below) the work of Karia Sosnowsi, Rebecca Lowe, and Tristan Wright.

 And (to give dogs equal time) check out  this terrified pink dog who has conjured the genie of the pumpkin (love those 3-fingered paws and bristly muzzle!) Signed, but can't read it, Danielle something?

Well, ok, one more cat....this one on the small center window as Hess' Tavern seems to be all puffed up and clawing out his own carved pumpkin (hope he's not about to use it as a box!) Seriously, I love this agitated fur for a feeling of "real" cartoon cat, thanks to Damon Shemory and Raven Houtz(?)