carnaval

Over the past few years, I've been planning for a Carnaval exhibit, set to open at the Burke Museum on September 24. It's been an exciting and enjoyable project and I can hardly wait until the show opens, but now that the real "characters" of Carnaval are here, I admit I'm a little creeped out. Carnaval is all about celebration, but with a macabre humor. There's nothing that gives me the heebee jeebees quite like unpacking elaborately dressed, but faceless mannequins from their traveling crates -- it feels like removing bodies from their coffins (wait, did that one move?).

For me 8:00am is the witching hour. I open the exhibit gallery before the museum is open to the public. No other staff are around. The overhead lights are dim. The howling wolves soundtrack from the adjacent exhibit hall whines quietly in the background. And I'm all alone with these guys...

Bauta and Plague Doctor (Italy)

El Catrin (Mexico)

Moco Jumbi and Robber Child (Trinidad and Tobago)