Ghouls-A-Go-Go at the Majestic Cafe

Mike Kelley

What is it about the 10/31 (haunted) holiday that you truly love and what are you trying to "say" through your art?
I can't say I've been a huge horror fan all my life, but I've always had an affinity for Halloween. I see it as giving us the opportunity to embrace our fears, death, and the unknown -- which are all natural parts of life, but too often buried in our subconscious in an unhealthy way. Halloween is a healthy outlet where we can embrace the unavoidable darkness that is part of us all, and it makes it fun! Modern horror movies and the Goth movement have sort of taken the fun out of Halloween and horror, and turned it into one big bucket of blood and multiple piercings.

To me, the aesthetic of the cheesy horror films/ghoul rock of the ‘50s/’60s perfectly captures the spirit of Halloween that I embraced as a child, thus the groovy title of the show "Ghouls-A-Go-Go." Although none of the artists in the show have a particular ‘50s/’60s slant to their style, I did seek out artists who in addition to having a sense of the macabre, infuse their art with healthy doses of humor, childlike innocence, and bright colors. You know, scary art that is fun! Is that so wrong?

For more Mike please visit:http://www.mikekelley.com

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