Adelaide Arcade will embrace the spirit of Halloween in 2024 with visualart creations and readings intent on both spooking and delighting shoppers.

To appear from tomorrow (Friday, 25th October) until Friday, 1st November, a trash art display named _Halloween __Eve_ looks at how Australia now embraces the traditionally American celebration.

Visual artist Stephnie Robertson, who works at Adelaide Comics Centre in Gay’s Arcade, when not working with mixed media sculpture, says the work reflects our growing appreciation for the October 31 day.

“Halloween didn’t happen in Australia when I was a kid,” says Stephnie. “Yet slowly and surely, Halloween is now an embraced tradition. This piece reflects my childhood view of Halloween and how now, as an adult, I can bring forward the art that I wanted to see.”

Stephnie often creates trash art, pieces created from recycled soft and single-use plastics that are then manipulated with heat and formed.

Along with the Halloween subject, the works also take reflection on the impact of litter and manufacture on the environment, with the sculptural pieces consisting of animal portraits and environmental scapes. Helping to take single-use plastic out of the environment, her work creates something creative in its place.

Stephnie has previously created installations for SALA Festival and Adelaide Arcade and will be joined by the Orchard Bookshop team in celebrating Halloween.

The formidable team of Nick and Kate will be dressed up on Thursday, 31st October and will have treats available in-store all day for those wanting a unique Halloween shopping experience. Nick will give a special Halloween reading of _The Raven_ by Edgar Allan Poe at Stephnie’s art display twice – at 12.30pm and 5.15pm.

Quoth the raven, Nevermore!