If the great Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti ever made a work specifically for the Midhurst Scarecrow/Scary Hallowe’en contest, it probably would have looked a lot like the sculpture Doug Washburn made for the front lawn of his Midhurst home.
The only discernible difference would have been the head — Giacometti would never have made a horrific screaming face with a mouth full of pointed teeth and evil eyes.
Made from black PVC pipe, the spooky, elongated figure’s skin is a mixture of shop towels and thin-set mortar.
Dubbed DeMummer, in honour of the ancient Newfoundland tradition of mummering (the practice of visiting several homes throughout an evening while dressed in a disguise), the creepy creature is the stuff of nightmares.
Standing upward of seven to eight feet tall, DeMummer is an imposing figure — contorted this way and that, his skin hangs from his skeleton and he is forever stuck between the living and the dead.
DeMummer is the latest in a long line of scary creatures the Washburns have made. Previous works look like they’ve been heavily influenced by classic films like Aliens or Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
“We’ve been doing creatures for 10 years,” Washburn said Tuesday morning during an interview outside of his Bridle Trail home to promote the Midhurst contest.
“We do it because we love the reactions of the people who walk by,” his wife Joanne said. “The little boys will prod it with a stick and the little girls will put flowers on it.
“The adults want to know who made it, what materials were used and how long it took to make,” she added.
Midhurst residents for the past 27 years, the Washburns started building DeMummer in August.
Most of the design came from Doug’s imagination. He said he takes inspiration from various internet posts and TV shows, but the final work is always an original one.
Joanne offers suggestions as the build progresses.
“We work on it together and it’s just so much fun,” Doug said.
Every year, Midhurst residents are encouraged to build a scarecrow on their front lawn, porch or deck and submit a photo to the community’s voting page.
Community members choose their favourite scarecrows and the top entries win a local prize. There are seven works entered into the competition this year and they can be found here.
Teamwork is a recurring theme for the contest.
Joe and Sofia Cozzupoli live on Holloway Lane. Their front yard is a mix of graveyard headstones, hanging ghosts and a huge skeleton pushing a wheelbarrow of skulls.
This is the couple’s second year decorating their yard for the contest.
“We’ve always loved Halloween, my wife is really big on it,” said Joe as he took a visitor on an early morning tour Tuesday. “She loves decorating for Halloween and Christmas. We do a lot of cool stuff for the holidays and for the kids.”
According to Joe, local children love to stop and take in the display. He said the smiles on their faces is the only compensation he needs.
“It takes us a few days to build — my wife is always thinking of new things to add — but it’s such a great feeling when we’re done,” he said. “It looks good and spooky at night."
They are not the only Cozzupolis to participate. A few streets to the north, on Belmont Crescent, Michael and Rachel Cozzupoli — son and daughter-in-law of Joe and Sofia — have their own scary display.
A witch hangs near the driveway, a cauldron of skulls her constant companion.
Carved and decorated pumpkins line the sidewalk to the couple’s front door.
“We’ve lived here for three years,” said Rachel. “This event spreads joy and keeps traditions alive. The contest is a plus."
Living just around the corner from Forest Hill Public School, Rachel said watching the children’s reaction when they pass by every morning makes building the display incredibly satisfying.
A soon-to-be-mom herself, Rachel said the neighbourhood kids love the spooky scene.
“Usually on their way to school, they’ll stop and point and laugh,” she said. “They love it and that’s what it’s all about.”
Voting for your favourite creation is easy.
All you have to do is visit the scarecrow website by clicking here, review the entries and cast your ballot.
Winners will be announced Sunday, Nov. 3.
