Way back in the “dark ages” when I was a kid in the Verona school system, around Halloween time, students were allowed to paint the windows of designated local merchants with Halloween and autumnal scenes. It was something I always wanted to do, but because I am not much of an artist, I never did. I’ve long regretted that I didn’t try.
It’s a wonderful tradition that continues to this day and I love driving down Bloomfield Avenue the day after the painting has been done and seeing the painted windows. I have to admit, knowing that my son is an artist at heart, I couldn’t wait for when he would be old enough to participate.
This year was the year. When the notice came from school, I knew, even before asking what his answer would be. The biggest challenge was finding friends who had the time to partner up. (Apparently Halloween painting was in direct competition with a Boy Scout weekend). Nonetheless, one of his best friends wanted to do both and with some creative parenting, we were able to pull it off.
We all waited anxiously to see where my son and his friends would be assigned. Then, once we had our window, we needed to make sure that we had all our supplies. Paint would be handed out at central locations, but we still needed items such as drop clothes, paint brushes, water and cups for cleaning brushes, painters tape, paper towels and newspapers to make sure that no drips got in the areas that were not designated for painting and of course large trash bags. (Leave no trash behind!) I never realized how much thought has to go into this process.
Saturday morning dawned, clear and COLD. We got our paint and headed off to our location. The area was busy! Our town has many budding artists and only so many windows with willing merchants to go around. Squeezing three boys into a small space to draw a scene proved to be a challenge. But by taking turns, each boy had his chance to paint a portion. (It also gave them a chance to run inside the store to warm up! It may have been a sunny day, but we were on the wrong side of the street and in the shade. It was pretty cold!) They worked together and I quickly saw how what looks easy isn’t necessarily so. Paint runs (and needs to be wiped off). Carefully handwritten letters that say “Happy Halloween” easily fade (and need to be repainted more than once.) Seeing all the work that went into their one window made me appreciate the art work that goes up and down Bloomfield Avenue all the more.
There was a spirit of comradery among everyone who was involved. Parents shared supplies. (That extra paint that the boy did not need did not go to waste and our “neighbor’s” drop cloth was large enough to cover their space as well as ours.) Put a bunch of kids together of different ages and you might expect problems, but there wasn’t any–at least not in our patch of storefronts. Our group of boys might have been a bit spirited, but nothing out of the ordinary. They worked together quickly (remember, it was pretty cold) and got the job done in just over an hour. After proudly posing in front of their work, we all–boys and parents–cleaned up the area and headed off to warmer spaces. (Confession: I turned up the heat when I got home and STILL had cold feet for the rest of the day).
Halloween window painting is a wonderful tradition in our town. After 30+ years, I’m glad I finally had a chance to participate, even if it was just as a chaperone and proud parent. To all those volunteers who made it happen this year as well in years past, thank you. And to all who drive down the avenue (or even better, walk), why not take it a little slower and check out these wonderfully painted windows. They’re sure to put you in the Halloween mood.
