Artist Statement
When Mike Natiello earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Syracuse University, he never imagined that his “art” would be carving intricate designs into orange gourds. Yet 15 years later, Natiello has mastered the art of the jack o’ lantern.
It all started in 2005, when Natiello was approached by Historic Hudson Valley to help create a new Halloween event that would feature thousands of hand-carved jack o’ lanterns. The job boosted pumpkin carving from a fond childhood memory to a full-time job. Today, Natiello serves as creative director and “head carver” of the event, now known as
the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze.
Educational Background
