This Friday marks the 41st annual Village Halloween Parade here in Manhattan. Parade Director Jeanne Fleming was kind enough to let me come photograph the development of this year's famed Giant Puppet float at their Hudson River Valley barn workshop in Rokeby. A 16 year tradition for husband and wife design team Alex Kahan & Sophia Michahelles, this year's float is inspired by Heironymous Bosch's timeless altarpiece, 'Garden of Earthly Delights'. Here are some images from their development process and dress rehearsal over the last few weeks. Jeanne, Alex, Sophia and their merry band of volunteers are a wonderfully spirited group of people and the work is glorious. I hope you can make it out to see it in person.
Enjoy the photos.
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3. Heironymous Bosch's, 'Garden of Earthly Delights', posted beside sketches for the snake creature suit.
5. Co-Designer Alex Kahan providing instructions to volunteers on next steps for the snake suit construction.
9. Co-Designer Sophia Michahelles giving instructions to volunteers on constructing the paper mache blossoms.
16. Co-Designer Alex Kahn supervising his tree float centerpiece as it comes to life for the dress rehearsal.
17. Co-Designer Alex Kahn and volunteers attach one of three articulating tree branches to the float.