CAF Carves Pumpkin Art

It’s that time of year when pumpkins get to grin from ear to ear, filling young and old with awe and fear. Here to prove there’s an art to it, the Contemporary Arts Forum (653 Paseo Nuevo, 966-5373, sbcaf.org) will be presenting Scorpio Rising: Pumpkin Carving Contest and Fall-Themed Wine Tasting on Friday, October 30, from 5-7 p.m. “Epicure.sb was presented to us as a widespread, community event, and CAF jumped at the chance to participate,” said Executive Director Miki Garcia. “Harnessing its creative resources, CAF has organized a free event that invites artists of all ages to submit a carved pumpkin and enjoy quality refreshments.” Kunin Wines will be on hand, pouring their terrific syrahs and other varietals, and prizes for the best (ranging from scariest to most artistic) carvings will include gifts from gourmet chocolatier Patchi (patchi.us). If you want to be part of the contest, get your jack o’ lantern in between noon on October 29 and noon on the 30th, so judges DJ Matt Stone of Kruz 97.5, CAF board president Ian Smith, and UCSB prof and photographer Richard Ross have time to pick the most horror-ible. Oh, and if you spotted the Kenneth Anger allusion in the event’s title, don’t go expecting his film, just plenty of pumpkin magic.