"Here's Stephen!" Little Art Gallery in North Canton pays homage to Stephen King
Benjamin Duer
NORTH CANTON – Elizabeth Blakemore used to play in her cousin's cornfield in her youth.
That was until she saw "Children of the Corn," the American horror film based on legendary author Stephen King's short story.
"I was forever changed," she said.
Now through Oct. 31, you can be scared by the master of horror and suspense at the North Canton Public Library and the Little Art Gallery where they are paying homage to King's works.
It's free to the public — and slightly creepy.
The many film adaptations of his work — "Children of the Corn," "Misery," "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Pet Sematary" — are featured in the gallery with posters and props, said curator Blakemore.
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The Instagram-ready props include animal masks, a cornfield and an electric chair that Blakemore built. She said she recreated the "Old Sparky" electric chair at Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield.
Best-selling author Stephen King
King has published 63 novels, some under a pen name, and sold more than 350 million copies. His works include horror, suspense, supernatural, crime, science fiction and fantasy. Many of his books have been adapted into movies, TV shows and comic books.
"The Little Art Gallery, established in 1930, has always been part of the North Canton Public Library and is often integrated in library programs," said Christina Weyrick, community relations manager.
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Weyrick said the library and gallery have frequently dedicated a month of programming to specific subject matters. For example, the works of William Shakespeare were featured in April.
"Having a theme like this allow us to streamline marketing and reach a group of people who are drawn to a specific author or genre, in this case, the worlds created by Stephen King," Weyrick said.
And, of course, October has Halloween.
Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com
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