'Strange Magic' of filmmaker Tim Burton showcased at Canton art show
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
CANTON − Batman. Edward Scissorhands. Beetlejuice. Pee-wee Herman. Ed Wood.
Tim Burton's filmography evokes vivid color, beautiful weirdness and a palpable richness of life as maybe we wish it were.
Exploring that world through artwork and inspired painting has led former Canton Repository entertainment writer and editor Dan Kane to curate a Burton-themed exhibition from 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday at The Hub Art Factory at 336 Sixth St. NW in downtown Canton in conjunction with First Friday festivities.
There will also be a second showing of "Strange Magic: A Tim Burton Tribute Art Show" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 18.
'It seemed perfect, especially for Halloween'
The show follows Kane's curatorial debut at The Hub in April 2021 with a David Bowie-themed exhibition.
"I was itching to do a sequel, and Tim Carmany, gallery director of The Hub, was game," Kane said. "I wanted to do something movie-themed, and was thinking of directors to build a show around, like maybe David Lynch (or) Quentin Tarantino."
More: 'Very strange even by my standards.' Canton artists paint quirky images at Condado Tacos
Carmany suggested Burton, "and it seemed perfect, especially for Halloween," Kane said.
"Burton's films are filled with strange magic and playfully macabre elements," he said. "Many of the artists from the Bowie show are returning, along with some new ones," including, he added, "a lot of heavy hitters from the area art scene."
More:Canton art show to unveil David Bowie-inspired work at 'Turn and Face the Strange'
More than 20 artists featured
Artists have created pieces in various styles and media inspired by the aforementioned Burton films, as well as "The Nightmare Before Christmas," "Corpse Bride," "Big Fish" and "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children."
Participating artists are Clare Murray Adams, Todd Bergert, Carmany, Jorge Cervantez, Marti Jones Dixon, Tim Eakin, Steve Ehret, Heidi Fawver, Kat Francis, Rochelle Haas, Erika Katherine, Sam Lilenfield, Billy Ludwig, Jake Mensinger, Alex Minturn, Amanda Morena, Erin Mulligan, Emily Orsich, Scot Phillips, David Sherrill and Zoemarie Strickland.
More:Stark artist Heidi Fawver ready to share 'most authentic self' at solo Canton exhibit
Fawver learned of Burton's film work through her father, who was a fan of whimsical movies.
She created a pair of art pieces based on the film, "Corpse Bride."
"'Batman' and 'Nightmare Before Christmas' were the big ones for me," Fawver recalled. "But the older I got, the more I appreciated 'Corpse Bride' the most. It teaches the art of letting go."
More:Making art for a Kardashian: Canton sculptor Erika Kathrine gets celebrity commission
Katherine said she loves the world of Burton's cinematography.
"I've always been intrigued by all the details and the fantasy elements," she said. "Plus, I have a Johnny Depp obsession."
She's created a sculpture of Zero, the dog from "The Nightmare Before Christmas."
"I always loved (Burton's) stop-motion (film work)," Katherine said. "That's what really inspired me. It looks like the art I make."
Reach Ed 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com. On Twitter: @ebalintREP.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Batman, Pee-wee, Beetlejuice inspires artwork at downtown Canton show