The new creations for Haunted Graves are plywood boards designed to depict various haunting scenes that visitors can use for photo shoots or selfie opportunities. Scenes include ghostly cowboys, a mummified model and twisted takes on classic works of art.
The initial idea was to get students to develop an added attraction for the month-long Halloween events in Mayfield. Dairyman’s Supply provided the plywood sheets to use as the canvases and, along with Mayfield Hardware and Lumber, also donated additional 2x4s to help with the project.
According to Mayfield-Graves County Area Technology Center (ATC) carpentry instructor Kevin Hutchens, 24 students from Graves County, Mayfield Independent and Carlisle County sanded the boards and used the extra wood to make the framing. Some of the students then devised a hinged brace to keep the boards upright and fold for easy transport and storage. After the art classes finished their designs, the boards went back to the carpentry class to have face holes cut out for the final presentation.
Mayfield High School art teacher Brian Parks commended the work between his art students and ATC. "This was definitely a group effort from the carpentry class building the structure to the graphic design class producing the imagery,” he said. Mayfield High School’s piece is on display at Cartwright Grove with a western theme of “Ghost Riders in the Sky.”
“Students decided what design to go with and what colors to use. Some blocked in the larger areas while others focused on the more tedious detail work,” Parks added of the nine MHS students who worked on the art. “They all took pride in the final product."
Graves County High School’s art club designed three pieces with a nod to classic paintings, such as Grant Wood’s “American Gothic” depicting Frankenstein’s monster and bride of Frankenstein, and Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” with Dracula. They also created an original design with a posing mummy model reclined on a couch.
These designs will be on display at the Graves County Public Library, Mayfield-Graves County YMCA, and Awardmasters on Paris Road.
The Mayfield/Graves County Art Guild also provided two boards and painted the traditional version of Munch’s “The Scream” work and a “Peanuts” scene with Charlie Brown and the gang in the Great
Pumpkin’s patch. Both will be featured at the art guild’s studio on Paris Road.
The goal is for additional photo op boards to be designed and placed around the community next year with more local students getting involved.
Story provided by:
ERIC WALKER
Community Education Director
Mayfield Independent and Graves County Schools