Large Fierce Mammal

Our next featured artist for 2012 has been a Dark Sentiments fixture since the beginning. Ray Villafane’s pumpkin carving and sand sculpture represent dark arts against which there is no defense.

To get the gist, watch Ray’s 2011 zombification of a couple record sized pumpkins for the New York Bontanical Gardens –

You can also read more about Ray’s NYBG exploits here.

Since we last looked in, Villafane Studios went whole hog as Ray has assembled a team of talented artists to aid him in his quest to keep the pumpkin guts and sand flying. They include Andy Bergholtz, Trevor Grove, Chris (AKA “Ninja Chris”) Vierra, Alfred Paredes, and Patrick Burke.

I’ll let their work speak for itself by turning you loose to drink in some real nasty eye candy. You’ll find The Pumpkins here, The Sand here, and the Toys by Ray over here.

Every year I come back to Villafane Studios I get more impressed, and clearly there’s no end in sight. This sure ain’t your Grandpa’s Jack-o’-lantern – it’s Art that transcends this earthly gourd!

I’ll close with a sneak peek of what’s in store for Hallowe’en 2012 at the New York Botanical Gardens, courtesy of the Villafane Studios facebook page with the caption, “If you are in the New York City area the weekend of Oct. 20th you should stop by the New York Botanical Garden to watch a pumpkin carving display like no other unfold before your eyes. A life size, free standing pumpkin zombie pulling others right out of the ground by their stems! Its going to be creepy:) Live teaser in Grand Central Terminal Oct. 19th but be sure to see the entire display rise from the earth in the Bronx. Zombies will be returning to NYC!”

Click the picture to enbiggen.