Pumpkin Caper 2008
Pumpkin Decoration Contest
We were delighted with the three dozen pumpkins which local children decorated for this occasion, a very great many following the Socety's suggestion to make them resemble one of the presidents of the United States of America.
We were delighted with the three dozen pumpkins which local children decorated for this occasion, a very great many following the Socety's suggestion to make them resemble one of the presidents of the United States of America.
Other contest entrants stuck with more traditional themes and came up with fine designs as well, as shown at the right.
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Closer to the original ambitions to which we aspired are the designs at the right, which embraced a variety of political themes, including the current presidential race, and a seeming nostalgia for monarchism.
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We leave as an exercise to the reader the determination of which president each of the pumpkins at the right resembles. (Among them find Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy.) Note that because none of the pumpkins as photographed on this page are lit from within by candlelight, sadly, the proper illusion achievable by designs exploiting the shaving and carving technique described The Pumpkin Lady (q.v.) is not visibly manifested here.
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The white powdered wigs featured by the presidential designs here mark all of them as from among the "founders" of the republic. At least two pumpkins unambiguously represent the most famous of these, George Washington.
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Hands down, the favorite design was that of Abraham Lincoln, whose diverse representations are shown at right. One can debate the origin of such popularity. Among the possibilities are the stature of Lincoln in history, his striking appearance, the advent of his bicentennial next year and his key role in the Disney Hall of Presidents video to which we linked on our design aids page.
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Costume Contest
The imagination and industry of the students (and one expects some of their parents) at Buchanan Elementary School resulted in many fine costumes, only some of which appear below. It should not surprise readers that among our favorites is the design which embraced this year's US presidents theme, by using Mount Rushmore to create headgear!
Click on the thumbnail images below to pop up full-size photos in a new window.
The imagination and industry of the students (and one expects some of their parents) at Buchanan Elementary School resulted in many fine costumes, only some of which appear below. It should not surprise readers that among our favorites is the design which embraced this year's US presidents theme, by using Mount Rushmore to create headgear!
Click on the thumbnail images below to pop up full-size photos in a new window.
