The Faces of Horror: The Gallery

                                  

Photo by Dale Hummel

One…two, Freddie’s coming for you. Three…four, better lock your door. You look at the glove. If you close your eyes can almost feel the intense heat of the dark boiler room and the terrifying deep laugh of the predator preparing for his next kill. Then you look around and sigh, you’re still in the South Santiam Hall. Yes, Freddie’s glove is there as well as some of the most famous and infamous horror movie villains of our time.

Photo by Dale Hummel

In the South Santiam Hall Gallery there are drawings of the faces we either hate to love or love to hate. Kevin Perry is a former graphics, student at LBCC. He uses different pencils and charcoal for these images. They are done extremely well. The image of Frankenstein’s monster and Pinhead, From “Hellraiser”, are done so well that they seem to be black and white photography.

Photo by Dale Hummel

Perry claims the tools of his trade are compressed charcoal, white and kneadable erasers, and soft, medium and hard charcoal pencils. However, an old t-shirt and his fingers are perhaps his best tools. According to the posting in the gallery hall Perry says, “I often refer to charcoal as finger painting for adults”. His way with the mixture of shades seems to rival any professional artist.

Perry claims his goal is to make himself and the viewer connect emotionally to these characters. “Horror fans are a rare breed and die-hards when it comes to their love of the genre. The power of a great character, whether hero or villain is immeasurable, and I try to capture that power with my drawings”, Perry said.

Photo by Dale Hummel

A visit to the South Santiam Hall Gallery will, perhaps, reacquaint you with an “old friend”. Among the pieces you will find the likeness of actor Vincent Price(1911-1993), Dr. Hannibal Lector from “Silence of the Lambs”, Freddy Krueger from the “A Nightmare on Elm Street” series, Michal Myers, form the “Halloween” series, the dijnn from “Wishmaster” among others.

Photo by Dale Hummel

Each drawing done to near perfection and nearly mesmerizing. Maybe even good enough for a story line for a horror movie.

Any movie fan, horror or not, would thoroughly enjoy the images of the characters who have made us scream in the theatres and have haunted our dreams.

 To visit your favorite bad guy, go to the South Santiam Hall Gallery, The exhibit goes from Febuary 12 to March 9 and is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5pm. Don’t forget to make a comment in the note book…if your dare!