For two decades, Marblehead architect Thomas Saltsman has transformed the area outside his Pleasant Street home into a Halloween spectacle, drawing crowds with towering creatures, elaborate machinery and larger-than-life displays.
On June 24, as part of the Festival of Arts, Saltsman pulled back the curtain on his creative process during a 90-minute presentation, “Dream Big and Build It,” at the Unitarian Universalist Church.
According to Jim Murphy, vice president of the Festival of Arts, the two had been working since November to bring the event together.
“I love Tom’s creativity,” Murphy said. “It is an integration of movement and light. Who wouldn’t love it?”
About 150 people attended the event, with another 112 on the wait list, Murphy said.
Greeting attendees at the front of the room was a robot — one of Saltsman’s creations from a previous Halloween display.
“Tonight’s guest is someone very familiar,” Murphy told the audience. “His sculptures have become landmarks, and his imagination has left unforgettable marks on the community.”
Saltsman launched into his story with a slideshow tracing his artistic and professional journey.
He studied theater arts at the California Institute of the Arts and environmental design at Parsons School of Design before earning a master’s degree in architecture from Harvard University.
An architect by day, Saltsman begins planning each Halloween installation in August.
The tradition began in the early 2000s when he was asked to create a haunted house at the Coffin School, where his now-grown daughter was a student.
“It’s an opportunity to try different things,” he said. “I pushed the boundaries of what you are allowed to do.”
In 2015, he began creating installations inside his garage, a move that paved the way for increasingly ambitious projects.
Over the years, neighbors and visitors have marveled at creations that included a spaceship, a giant troll and a 22-foot-tall gorilla. One of his most talked-about works was a smoke-breathing dragon in 2018.
Saltsman shared sketches, behind-the-scenes photographs and videos illustrating how he designs and builds his creations. He also described frequent trips to the town Transfer Station, where he scavenges materials to incorporate into his projects.
He revealed one secret behind a fan-favorite installation: He modeled his wife Brooke Saltsman’s head in clay to create a figure for his ghost ship display.
“I created my own techniques for everything to make it stand out,” Saltsman said.
The audience remained engaged throughout the presentation, applauding frequently and lining up with questions afterward.
Reflecting on 20 years of creating life-size installations, Saltsman said the greatest reward is knowing the displays become lasting memories for those who experience them.
He closed with advice for aspiring artists and makers.
“You have to try something you may not be good at. Do it, fail, do it again and learn,” Saltsman advised.
Check out the Arts Festival schedule HERE.
