HOULTON, Maine — The small gymnasium of Houlton High School was transformed into Halloween paradise last week as students in Bonnie Tidd’s art class showed off their jack-o-lanterns.
“It’s a very hectic time because the pumpkins begin to break down and spoil the minute we clean them and start the carvings,” Tidd said. “It’s very challenging to keep them fresh and viable until the day of the show.”
The students worked on the show for about two weeks, Tidd explained. The process began with students putting hand-drawn patterns on the their pumpkins the week of Oct. 21. Some cleaned their pumpkins out on Friday, Oct. 25, but the shaving and cutting of the images didn’t start until Monday, Oct. 28.
Storage is also an issue, Tidd said.
“Trying to find a place to store 60 or more pumpkins out of the elements and out of the heat is a challenge itself,” she said. “Luckily the music department allowed us to store them in their trailer out back, and the janitors have a little storage trailer they allowed us to use as well.”
The students worked on the jack-o-lanterns during their class times, in study halls and after school throughout the week to get them ready for the exhibit.
“I was very proud of them and all their hard work,” Tidd said. “I think they did a great job. It’s nice be able to do the show in the small gym too. Mr. Nason and Mr. Willard were very generous in allowing me to use their gym for a couple days. I like the show in the gym because it’s a lot more room than my classroom and allows for a large number of viewers at once.”
Houlton Southside School bussed middle school students to the high school to see the show, which was also filmed by the high school’s “Beacon” television station.
“The show is one of the most exciting ones of the year,” Tidd added. “Teachers ask every year if we are going to do it. It’s a lot of work but the students love to do it and they work very, very hard to pull it off.”
