Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween Folks!

Love,
your brother in ink,
Catfish Heimer.

Autumn Society's Hallowed Halloween Exhibit 2010

Hallowed Halloween @ Proximity Art
October 1st thru 31st, 2010
 Reception: October 1st, 6 – 9 pm

Hallowed Halloween, October 2010 from David Diperstein on Vimeo.

A special thank-you to David Diperstein for the amazing video and to Matt Cavanaugh for the following words on the show.

"Hallowed Halloween Press Release (written by Matt Cavanaugh © 2010)

Once a year the summer sun passes on to make wave for the birth of the next season. From its passing the month of October welcomes many changes with the birth of the season of Autumn. Most know the presence of Autumn thanks to its calm breeze that soothes the sun scorned terrains of a past summer’s day and the prismatic changes that plant life decorates itself with. Others especially in the northern ends of the world know it marks the last harvest of the year.

Among these welcomed changes, Autumn also brings a yearly remembrance of all things dead or passed on to the next world. This is celebrated thanks to the traditions passed on from past generations, religions and cultures. From the celebration of the European, “All Saints Day,” to the Spanish, “Dia de Los Muertos” and to the contemporary worldly masquerade known as “Halloween” thanks to the Celtic festival of Samhain. The world continues to remember, celebrate, and to reflect on the spirits of past and present during the month of October.

The month of October in all its transformation from beauty and magic can sometimes be lost in the metropolitan corridors and urban jungles of a city like Philadelphia. However thanks to the ghostly whispers and cult like chants, the Autumn spirits from the streets of Philadelphia have cast their spells for a special celebration for October’s holiday of Halloween. The celebration is being welcomed and housed at the Proximity Art Gallery, which is Philadelphia’s premiere upcoming gallery for fresh new talent in the visual arts. Proximity will present “Hallowed Halloween,” an exhibition featuring 34 artists representing illustrative imagery and story telling in pictures. The event also celebrates the first collaborative collection of works presented by The Autumn Society and The Philadelphia Cartoonist Society who both call the city of Brotherly Love home.

The “Hallowed Halloween” art exhibition will feature multi-media based artwork exposing all the disguises that make the multicultural holiday known as Halloween so creepy, imaginative, and fun. This will include exposing its skeleton of folklore and diverse rituals. Thanks to The Proximity Gallery and the gathered artists this dissection and celebration will ignite the Autumn bonfires as we the living and dead celebrate Halloween, in all its magic and lore.

Come join the spirits and us this October1st-31st at the Proximity Gallery of Philadelphia."

Hallowed Halloween - Thank-yous & Apologies

Friends,

First and foremost, THANK YOU all so very much for Friday night. The turnout was great, all the art was fantastic, and the treat-table was scrumptious. I think the greatest thing about 'Hallowed Halloween' was the variety. Everybody's work was very different form the next, which is very refreshing and made for an amazingly diverse show. The fantastic pedigree of art between the PCS and ASOP folk was indistinguishable; our two groups hanging together was truly a match made in...uh...Hell. We managed to cover a lot of ground, from the cultural aspects, to the trademark ephemera, to the occult, to urban legend; all the nasty bits that make Halloween a great institution were present.
I'm sure in the near future I'll have the chance to set up another group show, and when that happens I'll be sure to invite all of you. Thank you once more for making this a great show.

Sorry I didn't get to speak to everybody, and sorry I didn't make much sense to those I did speak to; I'm fighting off a massive chest cold and had a head full of pills.

SEE SOME PHOTOS FROM THE OPENING HERE, taken by Ryan Studley. More photos as I get them, and a video soon to follow.

Also, because of the beer snafu, we might have a closing reception...with beer.

Best,
Sam Heimer
www.samheimer.com

OCTOBER IS UPON US! (October Art Shows)

Friends and Fiends of the Autumn Society,

The Autumn Society proudly presents two amazing art shows for this upcoming first Friday of October.

HALLOWED HALLOWEEN

Our main event will be Hallowed Halloween in collaboration with the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society. Sam Heimer, co-founder of the Autumn Society, has personally curated this show, and you DO NOT want to miss it! If you love the true spirit of Halloween and you're in Philly this one is for you! Only at PROXIMITY gallery! Some words from Sam & Info / Flyer Below...

SOME WORDS FROM SAM

"If you haven't heard already; this Friday, October 1st, is the opening reception of Hallowed Halloween. This show is the first official joint venture between The Autumn Society and The Philadelphia Cartoonist Society. The aforementioned groups have cohabited since AS's beginning, and since then the groups have shared members on and off, but never really worked together. Again, this is the first time both groups have collaborated and brought equal greatness to the table. It will be a coalition of awesomeness so lets pack the house & spread the word!"

Read FULL PRESS RELEASE HERE.

Poster Art & Design by Sam Heimer

VIDEO GAME GORE

And if that's not enough for you, how about some pop-culture / blood drenched illustrations of your favorite video game characters? The Autumn Society & Brave New Worlds Comics are teaming up for their last show of the year to bring the Video Game Gore Show. Only at Brave New Worlds Comics!!!

About Video Game Gore (By Paul Montgomery of the Philadelphia Weekly)

"Pixelated carnage has come a long way since Donkey Kong hurled his first barrel and that intrepid Jump Man, and the Autumn Society’s latest gallery showing chronicles that bloody, button-mashed history with Video Game Gore. Local artists re-imagine the grisliest, spine-busting finishers of their latch-key youths in a showcase celebrating first person shooters, arcade fighters and sidescrolling slobberknockers.  Whether you like your interactive atrocity rendered in 8, 16, 32, 64-bit or beyond, you’ll likely find a snapshot of virtual brutality vivid enough to transport you to those halcyon days of callused, Cheetos-powdered fingers, scrounging down to depths of your pockets for one more quarter.  Stock up on health packs, save your progress, and get ready to feel anemic."

6pm. Free. Brave New Worlds, 42 N. Second St. 215.925.6525. bravenewworldscomics.com

Poster Art & Design by Evan Lopez

Hallowed Halloween Piece!

burntobuild.blogspot.com

Hello All!
The Misfits are, and have always been, one of my favorite (creepy) bands. My love of their music becomes more prominent every Halloween season. So, for the Hallowed Halloween show, coming up, I decided to draw out all the elements of their most Halloween-centric of songs: Halloween. Total blast. Stoked to see all the other Halloween art!

Mary's Nightmare...

Mary's Nightmare Before Halloween

Oil on Board, 12" x 10"

Kyle Margiotta's eerie & amazing painting for the upcoming Autumn Society & Philadelphia Cartoonist Society show, Hallowed Halloween (curated by Sam Heimer).

More of Kyle's work here: kmfineart.blogspot.com

Hallowed Halloween by James Heimer

Check James Heimer's art piece / screenprint for the upcoming Autumn Society & Philadelphia Cartoonist Society show, Hallowed Halloween (curated by Sam Heimer).

More of James' work here: WWW.JAMESHEIMER.COM

Hallowed Halloween by Patch

PCS Frontline Member, Christian Patchell, shares his art piece / screenprint for the upcoming Autumn Society & Philadelphia Cartoonist Society show, Hallowed Halloween (curated by Sam Heimer).

Check out more of Christian Patchell's work here: WWW.ARTBYPATCH.COM

Battleguard Orc / Guardian of Souls

Hey guys, I've been working on my digital skills lately and I'm starting to build a portfolio of concept art work, this is the first that's in the new batch of portfolio pieces. Just thought I'd share it with all of you. I did this one in between other projects that I'll post once NDAs are lifted, but until then, I'm sure there will be more pieces like this one posted soon.

Also, this is my submission to the "Hallowed Halloween Art Exhibition" Hope to see you all at the opening!

"Guardian of Souls"

12x18" pencil and white charcoal on paper

Jack the Gentleman.

Late to the party as usual, I just cleaned up and resized the scan and figured I'd post it. Here's my piece for the "Hallowed Halloween" show. I'm so, so psyched about this show! Everyone's work looks so great!

I always loved the idea of the original Jack who carried the Devil's glowing ember around in a lantern (though I love pumpkins too much to not paint a pumpkin instead of a turnip), but over time, he turned into this Magritte / Sleepy Hollow abstract for me. As shown here. :)

Cheers!

Autumn is here (a new chapter)

Ladies & Gentlemen of the Autumn Society,

Autumn is officially here and it's time for a fresh look and for some recognitions & thank-you's.

It is my great pleasure to officially add a new Chapter to the group. You might have seen the logo above before, but just to clarify this different version of the Autumn Society logo represents Sam Heimer's Chapter of the group. For those who don't know, Sam is one of the original founders of the group and the one who came up with the name "The Autumn Society" we use today. The group has had a lot of history and it is very interesting to see where we started, where we are now, and where we are going. All in all we wouldn't be where we are today without Sam Heimer.

Sam is one of the most talented individuals I've ever met. He's got a lot of ideas, projects, and goals he wants to achieve with this group, so please welcome him with open arms. Recently, Sam curated the Autumn Society's Hallowed Halloween Show (in collaboration with Philadelphia Cartoonist Society), which will premiere next week at Proximity Gallery.

Another recognition & thank-you goes out to the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society, Jeffro Kilpatrick & Christian "Patch"ell for inspiring us in creating our own art group back in 2005. Other PCS members that have had a huge impact on our group are our very own Tom Whalen, Dave Perillo, Scott Derby, and Christine Larsen. I thank-you all for your support!

Viva la Autumn Society and here's to many prosperous autumns to come!

-Chogrin

P.S. To read more about the group's beginnings, please take a few minutes and read Sam's History Part I in the page sections below our blog banner.

Hallowed Halloween Show at Proximity Gallery - October 1

The Autumn Society and the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society are teaming up for a show atProximity Gallery on October 1, 2010. This will be a Halloween-themed show with over 30 artists displaying work. please click on the photos below to see closer details from some of the pieces from the drop off day.

Anthony Pedro's piece:

Partially finished sculpture by Sam Heimer:

James Heimer, myself, and Sam Heimer (the curator)

Here is a detail from my piece, entitled "7 Crows":

Please stop by Proximity on October 1 for the opening or some time during the month of October when the gallery is open. Proximity is located at 2434 East Dauphin Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125. For more information , please contact Janel Frey at 267.825.2949 or e-mail: janel@proximityart.com.

All Souls Day

Hello All,

Figured I'd post my piece for the Hallowed Halloween Show. Its an honor to take part in this show. From the looks of things, it looks like its gonna be bitchin.

"All Souls Day"

See you all there.
-R
StudleyPhotography.com

Hallowed Halloween

It has been way too long since i posted anything so i figured this was a relevant excuse. My piece for the Hallowed Halloween show, "Harvest Sacrifice."
hope you guys dig it!

The Swing (An Old Fashioned Necromance)

(click for a better view)

special thanks to the amazing Sam Heimer for allowing me to be a part of such an unbelievably awesome show centered around the greatest time of year

the pencils

and yes, i couldn't resist the urges to add some glow-in-the-dark flourishes on the tentacle suckers for extra fun spookiness...

PETERWONSOWSKI.BLOGSPOT.COM

My piece for the Halloween show!!!

Hey dudes! Here's my piece for the Halloween show at Proximity!

The Pit

A little step by step of my piece for the Autumn Society/PCS Hallowed Halloween Show...


Final Thumbnail


Pencil


Ink


Color

Show Info:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
This October 1st - 31st the Autumn Society of Illustration, the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society and Proximity Gallery present:
HALLOWED
HALLOWEEN
Opening Reception - October 1st, 2010
October 1st - October 31st
PROXIMITY Gallery
2434 East Dauphin Street
Philadelphia, PA 19125
267.825.2949

Participating Artists:

Melissa Lomax
James Heimer
Paul Palcko
Tim Durning
Timmy Smith
Christine Larsen
Alex Eckman-Lawn
Concetta Barbera
Jen Gin
Eric Braddock
Yis Goodwin
Ray Chase
Anthony Pedro
Sam Heimer
Ryan Studley
Peter Wonsowski
Jeffro Kilpatrick
Amy Houser
Marc Damicis
Andrew Hart
Matt Cavanaugh
Joseph Game
Kyle Margiotta
Matt Stewart
Gina Stewart
Justin Gray
Andrew Hoffman
Christian Patchell
Jay Bevenour
Eamon Dougherty
Jane Hay
Tim Grimmer
Ralph Giguere
Stephanie Struse
April McPhatter

I wish I understood color...

Detail of a work in progress for the 'Hallowed Halloween' Show opening October 1st at Proximity Gallery. I'm also carving this out of a piece of firewood, but the way it's looking, it won't be done for the show...

Hallowed Halloween Cont'd...

He is without a doubt gleefully watching
children trick-or-treat, while listening to
his father, Ronald Clarke O'Bryan, howl
and scream in Hell.

Rest in Peace Timmy.

HALLOWED HALLOWEEN - PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

This October 1st - 31st the Autumn Society of Illustration, the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society and Proximity Gallery present:

HALLOWED
HALLOWEEN
Opening Reception - October 1st, 2010
October 1st - October 31st

PROXIMITY Gallery
2434 East Dauphin Street
Philadelphia, PA 19125
267.825.2949


Once a year the summer sun passes on to make way for the birth of the next season. From it's passing, the month of October welcomes many changes with the coming of the season of Autumn. Most know the presence of Autumn thanks to the calm breeze that soothes the sun scorned fields of a past summer's day and the prismatic changes that trees decorate themselves with. Others, especially in the northern ends of the world, know it marks the last harvest of the year. The last harvest, the slaughtering of cattle, and stockpiling of grain are all in preparation for winter. These tasks largely decided Life and Death, and thus was a time to celebrate, mourn and call on the spirits of the season and the field, both good and evil.

A novelty now, viewed as children's games of years forgotten, the rites, practices and superstitions stemming from harvest holidays used to embody the fact that life is precious, delicate, and at a time, largely relied on the last harvest. What at one time was a potluck holiday, borrowing from most farming civilizations, Halloween has lost its edge, its lesson, its beauty. What was once a celebration of life and death, role-reversal and phantasmagoria, black and orange is now garish, commercialized and seemingly meaningless.

Fall is often a short reprieve; a flash of beauty between the sweltering summer and bone chilling winter, passed before it's noticed. However, thanks to rituals that do not invite publicity or the light of day, the practices, adornment and lore that were once Halloween will be celebrated by 35 nostalgic artists this October. For the first time, the Autumn Society and the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society have collaborated to bring you "Hallowed Halloween". This celebration will be welcomed and housed at Proximity Art Gallery, which is Philadelphia's premiere upcoming gallery for fresh, new talent in the visual arts.

The "Hallowed Halloween" art exhibition will feature multi-media based artwork exploring all the elements that make Halloween creepy, imaginative, and fun. This will include exposing its roots in folklore, diverse rituals, adornment and staple characters. Thanks to Proximity Gallery and the gathered artists this exhibition and celebration will ignite the Autumn bonfires as we, the living and the dead celebrate Halloween in all its magic and lore.

Come join the goblins, ghosts, witches and artists this October 1st for the opening reception of "Hallowed Halloween" at Proximity Gallery.