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Hyperallergic reported on its second annual Halloween party and costume contest, held October 28 at Oberon in Brooklyn. Nearly 200 members, readers, artists, supporters and friends attended, with costumes inspired by art history and judged by Claire Valdez, Jia Sung, Aruna D’Souza and Nicholas D. Lowery.
Hyperallergic’s second annual Halloween party brought nearly 200 readers, artists, members and supporters to Oberon in Brooklyn on October 28 for a costume contest drawing on art history. The publication reported that its guests arrived in costumes inspired by artists and artworks, with the contest judged by Claire Valdez, Jia Sung, Aruna D’Souza and Nicholas D. Lowery.
The party turned the Brooklyn venue into what Hyperallergic described as a gathering of artworks and art-historical references brought to life. The costumes included nods to a Dutch still life, Francisco Goya, the painting commonly known as “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” and Eva Hesse’s rope works. The publication also mentioned a costume referencing “Beast Jesus” and two Marina Abramović and Ulay references.
Hyperallergic said almost 200 people attended, including members, readers, artists, supporters and their friends. Zac Thompson photographed the event, and the publication directed readers to a collection of those images. The report presents the gathering as both a costume party and an occasion for readers to meet in person around shared interests in art and culture.
The costume contest was judged by Claire Valdez, Jia Sung, Aruna D’Souza and Nicholas D. Lowery, according to Hyperallergic. The newsletter also invited readers to become members, saying members could get free tickets to future events. It did not provide a list of contest winners or further details about the party’s program.
Art History Moves Into Costume
The event offered a public-facing way for an arts publication to bring its readership together beyond its articles and newsletters. By turning works, artists and visual references into costumes, the party made art history the subject of a shared social event, rather than only something encountered in galleries or on the page.
Its scale also gives readers a sense of the publication’s community: Hyperallergic reported that nearly 200 people attended. The membership invitation links that gathering to the publication’s future events, though the report does not give attendance figures for earlier parties or other details that would allow comparisons.
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A Second Annual Brooklyn Gathering
Hyperallergic identified the event as its second annual Halloween party and costume contest. It was held at Oberon in Brooklyn on Wednesday, October 28. The report’s framing centered on costumes that referenced art and artists, with examples spanning historical paintings, contemporary art and popular reinterpretations of religious imagery.
The Halloween item appeared in a newsletter that also covered other art-world developments, including a museum partnership involving the Museum of Modern Art, Centre Pompidou and M+, and the death of Oberlin College professor Pipo Nguyen-duy and his wife, Tran Thi Phong. Those stories are separate from the party report; the Halloween event was presented as a community and culture item, not as part of those news developments.
““almost 200 of our members, readers, artists, supporters, and their enthusiastic friends””
— Hyperallergic
Contest Results Were Not Listed
The report names the contest judges but does not identify winners or prize categories. It also does not specify how the costumes were judged, provide a full attendee count beyond “almost 200,” or say whether the event was open to the general public beyond the members, readers, artists, supporters and friends it describes.
Hyperallergic’s membership note says members can get free tickets to future events, but it does not announce dates, venues or ticket terms for another Halloween party. The report also offers no comparison with the first annual event, so it is not possible to tell from the published account how attendance or programming changed year to year.
Photos and Future Member Events
Readers can view Zac Thompson’s photographs of the party through Hyperallergic’s published photo feature. The newsletter also points readers toward future events and invites them to become members, which it says provides free tickets. No next event date or further Halloween plans were announced in the report.
Key Questions
When and where was Hyperallergic’s Halloween party?
Hyperallergic said its second annual party took place on October 28 at Oberon in Brooklyn.
How many people attended?
The publication reported that almost 200 people attended. It did not give an exact count.
What inspired the costumes?
Costumes drew on art and art history, including references to Goya, Eva Hesse, Dutch still life painting, “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” and Marina Abramović and Ulay.
Who judged the costume contest?
Hyperallergic named Claire Valdez, Jia Sung, Aruna D’Souza and Nicholas D. Lowery as judges.
Were contest winners announced?
The report does not list winners or prize categories. It directs readers to photographs by Zac Thompson but does not provide further contest results in the supplied account.
Source: hyperallergic.com
