Almost 100 Pumpkins Illuminated Pocket Park

Over 200 Water Vallians created almost 100 pumpkins to generate a community art installation in the Pocket Park. Groups and individuals walked through the installation viewing and conversing about the pumpkins as if they were  on display in a contemporary arts museum.  

Many personal stories surrounded these pumpkins. Company logo pumpkins from True Value, The North Mississippi Herald, State Farm, and Piggly Wiggly were sitting side-by-side with student and family created pumpkins. 

Eight high school juniors and seniors wished to be part of the Illumination so badly they begged their English teacher to deliver their pumpkins while they participated in an away football game. One young lady who considered pumpkin carving a lonely process solved her dilemma by holding a cocktail and carving party on her front porch. This party produced eight creative pumpkins—including one that unfortunately smashed as she was setting it up. 

Pumpkins were as diverse as their carvers. An Ole Miss fan showed his support with a “fins up” placed next to an Alabama fan’s pumpkin proudly displaying a crown, an old Rolling Stone fan showed her age with the classic lips logo, WVHS ball players were identified by their Numbers 73 and 10, a seamstress represented her art with a Singer sewing machine carving, deeply felt religious beliefs were represented with a shining cross; and witches, goblins, pirates, owls, deers, tigers, and bears. Each of the pumpkins told the story of the individual carver and while together told our town’s story.

A grand entrance was made by Water Valley Royalty Snooky and Mary Lou Williams and beautiful Vampire Mistress of Ceremonies Anna Koshe-nina. Children carved pumpkins on the new lawn with their friends, then huddled around the podium listening to the storytellers and squealed with delight when they heard gory passages from poems including When the Hearse Goes By and The Spider and The Fly. The audience in unison howled like the wind while listening to The Night Wind and laughed uproariously to the Cremation of Sam McGee. 

Storytellers for the evening were Anna Koshe-nina, Elizabeth Kountz, Mickey Howley, Justin Geurin, Clifford Shore, Linda Scott, Terri and CT Hands, Mary Lou Williams, Annette Trefzer, Doni Burt, Jackson Koshenina, and Jamie Scott. And, Laurie Stiratt and Tyler Keith of Rip It Up made it possible to hear the storytellers with a rocking sound system.

As the Zediker, Van Winkle, and Tear Drop City bands played, a proud papa pulled little kids around the park in a wagon, little children spun and danced to the music and Annette and Mickey danced in the street to the strains of a Tear Drop City song. Sully ran around hugging all the little kids and Max of the Wild Things rolled on stage “scaring” the big kids, all this mixed with the smell of pit barbecue wafting across the park. Many sat on their porches listening to the music echoing down Main Street and across our Valley as the evening gently wore on. 

Making this evening a success were all the pumpkin carvers and all who attended the Illumination. The night’s events were made possible by the generous contributions of the The Water Valley Main Street Association, The Water Valley Rotary Club, and the Water Valley Arts Council and event music producer Brad Van Winkle. The event logistics were managed by the Set-up and Take Down Crews: Van Winkle Construction, The Koshe-nina family, Jerry Weed and the Blue Devils Brandon Smith, Courtney Isbell, Jamie Ramirez, and Carley Washington. A special thanks is extended to the Water Valley Arts Council Director Ramona Bernard for providing the opportunity and support for individuals to fulfill their artistic dreams and to event coordinators Jamie and Linda Scott.

As Linus van Pelt said, “The great pumpkin will only come to the patch that is most worthy.” This year we were worthy and the Great Pumpkin Illuminated our patch. We can only hope that if we are sincere, the great pumpkin will rise again in 2016.