Zombies in hats doggie-style
John Rankine
10/25/2012
Flashback to 1968 – I was thirteen, and several friends and I were taking in a Saturday matinee of Night of the Living Dead, the now classic black and white Zombie flick by director George A. Romero. Sitting in that darkened theatre, none of us was quite prepared for the flesh-eating images assaulting our young and impressionable psyches. This went way beyond Frankenstein, the Wolfman and Dracula. I slept with the light on for several weeks, maybe months, after.
Flash ahead to 1982 – Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The biggest selling album and most watched video of all time made a whole other generation of kids pay attention to the walking, and now dancing, dead.
It appears Zombies are a cultural phenomena that is here to stay – hence, the Eureka Springs Zombie Invasion that starts Halloween night at the GEM, continues Nov. 1 with a Zombie–themed variety show and screening of Romero’s film classic at the Sacred Earth Gallery on 62 W, and ends Friday Nov. 2 with a Zombie-inspired art exhibit at the Space. Seventeen local artists, myself included, will have new works on view. It’s right after the Zombie Crawl parade down Spring St. It should be loads of gory fun, and is also a benefit to stock the Flint St. Food Bank. See eurekaspringszombies.com for more info.
The annual Eureka Springs School of the Arts Mad Hatter Ball is this Friday. It’s the non-profit’s biggest fundraiser of the year where you don a hat, fork out 50 bucks, bid on art work, wait in line for the pasta buffet and spend $5 for a glass of wine in a plastic cup – all for a very good cause. It’s at the Crescent Hotel starting at 6:30. It’s nice to see Ms. Peggy back at the helm.
“Thriftshop Queen” is a term to describe a person like me who only buys clothes at thrift and second-hand stores. Thrifting is really more of a lifestyle, based on much more than mere economics. It’s about recycling, finding that one-of-a-kind piece of clothing, supporting your local charities and never having to set foot in a TJ Maxx or The Gap.
Coming up is the annual Doggie- Style Show, and yours truly was invited to be one of the models for their runway show. A big thanks to my friend Quinn Withey, who boosted my fashion chi by donating a vintage tux and a killer Issey Miyake, circa 1988, trench coat. Unfortunately, I ripped the ass out of the tuxedo pants and am desperately looking for a pair of anything that could work before the November 3 event. Where’s Tim Gunn when you need him?
The Doggie Style show is the Good Shepherd Humane Society’s main fundraiser. It’s at the Eureka Springs High School gym across from the Inn of the Ozarks, Friday, Nov. 3 starting at 5:30. Don’t forget your checkbook.
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