Rather than sit idly by and watch a couple of fall favorites in the region fall short of everyone’s expectations, the Krasl Art Center and the Coastline Children’s Film Festival have combined forces this fall for what they have dubbed ‘Flick-or-Treat.’
Coming on Halloween day, October 31st, from 6:30 – 9:30 pm, the community is invited to participate in a pumpkin walk and enjoy projected silent films with a live piano accompaniment from Dr. Larry Shanker on the Krasl Art Center’s grounds. A $2 suggested donation will support both the Coastline Children’s Film Festival and the Krasl. Guests will be required to adhere to Social Distancing requirements and wear a mask that covers their mouth and nose when they are not seated. Lawn space is limited and only blankets will be allowed on the lawn. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be postponed to November 1st and that alert will be shared at krasl.org and on both organizations’ Facebook pages.
If you fancy yourself as a pumpkin artist, you are invited to be a part of the event and showcase your carved or decorated pumpkin at the Community Pumpkin Walk on view October 31st through November 2nd. Simply take your decorated pumpkin(s) to the Krasl Art Center for a contactless drop-off on Friday, October 30th between 9 am & 5 pm, and they’ll take care of the rest. The display will be illuminated from 6 – 9:30 pm. and all participants may pick-up their pumpkins on November 2nd before 5 pm, if desired.
Guests will start the film screenings with 9 classic silent short films accompanied by an improvisational piano performance by Dr. Larry Shanker, Executive Director and Music Specialist for the Brookview Montessori School.
Films include:
- The Black Imp/Le Diable Noir, 1905, France, 4 min.
- Charley Bowers—There it Is. 1928, USA, 19 min.
- Felix the Cat Switches Witches (1927, USA, 7 min)
- The Haunted Castle (1896, France, 3 min.)
- Mickey Mouse-The Haunted House (1929, USA, 6.5 min.)
- Mickey Mouse-The Mad Doctor (1933, USA, 6.5 min.)
- Mickey Mouse – The Skeleton Dance (1929, USA, 5.5 min.)
- The Portrait (1915, Russia, 8 min. Ages 10 and up)
For full film descriptions, visit this link: http://krasl.org/events/flick-or-treat
The Feature film of the evening is Filibus: The Mysterious Air Pirate (1915, Italy, 71 min. Ages 10 and up). Directed by Mario Roncoroni and scripted by future science fiction author Giovanni Bertinetti, Filibus is the most exciting, witty, feminist, steampunk, cross-dressing aviatrix thriller you will ever see. Previously seen in a badly subtitled, imperfect version, Filibus was recently remastered by the Eye Film museum, restoring the film’s marvelous range of Desmet tinting and toning in the original nitrate material. The famed Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra and Donald Sosin have created two new stunning scores. Silent-era filmmakers produced masterpieces that can seem breathtakingly modern. It is through these early films that the world first came to love movies and learned how to appreciate them as art.
Red Arrow Roasters will be on site offering delicious hot chocolate and coffee.
If you are looking for a pumpkin, on a first-come-first-served basis, the community can pick up paint and miniature pumpkins on October 11th & 12th from 11 am – 5 pm as part of the Krasl’s Family Day & Night Fundles. Or you can visit local farms and pumpkin patches to pick up your perfect orange canvas.
Flick or Treat 2020 is underwritten by 1st Source Bank and the Virginia & Harvey Kimmel Family Foundation. This activity is supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs Minigrant Program administered by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.
The photos accompanying this story on Moody on the Market are courtesy of the Krasl Art Center in St. Joseph.
