No bother the summer-like heat, artspace in downtown Shreveport is preparing for Halloween and bone-chilling artscare events with a new exhibition featuring the return home of Dr. Blood.
The handiwork of Shreveport native Drew Hunter, Dr. Blood debuted at the Louisiana State Fair in 1975 as the host of a haunted house that had a 10-year run at the fair.
“Most of the people who went to those shows probably are grandparents now,” Hunter said, from his office in Jacksonville, Fla. “The kids in town probably won’t know who Dr. Blood is, but they’ll learn.”
Hunter grew up fond of all things creepy. He made haunted houses in his grandparents’ attic in Shreveport. After a decade of designing elaborate haunted houses at the Louisiana State Fair, Hunter says, Dr. Blood relocated to Dallas where he was an attraction at the Palace of Wax and Six Flags Over Texas.
“Since about 1997, Dr. Blood has been on ice, as it were. We’re thawing him out now for artspace and for SRAC,” Hunter said.
The Shreveport Regional Arts Council, or SRAC, is hosting Hunter and Dr. Blood for an exhibition called “Library Macabre: A Vision of Literary Fright.” Teams of Shreveport artists have helped Hunter create scenes from terrifying literary works.
“You’ll see famous works like Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula,’ Stephen King’s ‘It,’ Anne Rice’s ‘Interview With the Vampire.’ Each ‘scream team’ is creating a display, an installation, based on and inspired by their particular literary work,” Hunter said.
Hunter is the head of creative services for Sally Corp. The Jacksonville firm specializes in animatronics and creates haunted theme rides around the world.
Hunter will discuss his work at an artist talk beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday at artspace.
The opening reception for “Library Macabre” and his solo exhibition of paintings, “Spectrum,” is Sept. 12 at artspace. Fittingly, the exhibitions run through Oct. 31.
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