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A group of women smile while looking at scarecrows in a public garden.

Scarecrows Give Off That 1990s Vibe

Bill Cullina, F. Otto Haas Executive Director
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Bill Cullina

“You go girl,” “Talk to the Hand,” “Sup,” “You’ve got mail,” cell phones, Supersize It, hip hop, and grunge. The 1990s seem at once vaguely modern and nostalgically remote in our collective consciousness. In celebration of our 90th anniversary, Morris Arboretum & Gardens’ 16th Annual Scarecrow Contest opened this past weekend. Themed “the 1990s,” it is a fun (and sometimes a bit scary) time-machine trip back to the late 20th century that the whole family will enjoy.  

The show starts with, of course, the Simpsons, but in this case a clever five-headed monster version of the iconic family.  Later in the show, Marge herself appears in a striking golden outfit and glowing blue hair.

A scarecrow designed to look like The Simpsons.
A scarecrow designed to look like Marge Simpson.

 

 

 

There are several other animated characters everyone will recognize, including a cleverly constructed straw-bale SpongeBob complete with tiny little legs, and a lovingly hand-stitched riff on the Pokémon character Pikachu titled “Pika-boo.”  You will also find the Rugrats, Super Mario, and some more obscure 90s references like represented on the grounds.

A scarecrow made to look like Pikachu.
A scarecrow designed as SpongeBob SquarePants.

Movie references abound, including a startling Jim Carrey as The Mask, Forrest Gump, Hermione Granger from Harry Potter, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Kenan Thompson as Dexter Reed in the 1997 comedy Goodburger.

A scarecrow designed to look like Jim Carrey in The Mask.
A scarecrow designed to look like Dexter Reed from the movie Goodburger.

 

Music is also well represented this year, and what would 90s pop music be without Britney Spears. Highlighted this year are two Britneys—the happy-go-lucky pop star and her nightmare-on-dance-street twin.

A scarecrow designed to look like Britney Spears.
A scarecrow designed to look like Britney Spears.

Hip-hop pioneers MC Hammer and Flavor Flav are here too, replete with boom-box jewelry and customs grills.

A scarecrow designed to look like MC Hammer.
A scarecrow designed to look like Flava Flav.

Some artists took a more spine-chilling approach. Two of the most shocking are a downright ghoulish Madonna and a thoroughly frightening Beanie Baby bear.

A scarecrow designed to look like Madonna.
A scarecrow designed to look like a bloody Beanie Baby bear.

All in all, it is a great display and my hat is off to all the creators who contributed their time and talent to make this trip down memory lane (or, in some cases, alley!) such a success. Come and enjoy the scarecrows, along with our new Morris Pumpkin Cottage, this October!