Modern art meets holiday decor in Hyde Park

I could tell, from my apartment a block away, that John Frey‘s Christmas decor was worth a closer look. The light emanating from my Hyde Park neighbor didn’t fit the traditional Santa-and-his-reindeer or Jesus-in-the-manger kind of set-up.

Nope, Frey’s holiday cheer is packaged inside some old washing machines — bathed in red and green paint, draped with holiday lights and equipped with televisions showing holiday movies.

Historically, Frey hasn’t been so adventurous, simply decking his house on Campbell Street with garden-variety Christmas bulbs. But about a month ago he decided to amp up his annual display — and some lame-ass inflatable snowman didn’t fit his vision.

“I kind of laugh when I see how big and outrageous the Christmas yard decorations have become,” Frey says. “I tend to like modern interactive art pieces — big fan of Museum of Modern Art in NYC — and I wanted to kind of poke fun at the traditional idea of a Christmas yard decorations while still being holiday themed. The idea was to take items totally unrelated to Christmas and make them fit. Could have easily been a car on blocks painted green and red with televisions poking out the windows.”

Thus far, the reaction from neighbors has been positive, but Frey knows his lawn installation might not be appreciated elsewhere in the region.

“I don’t think this would be looked upon so favorably in the suburbs — or even be legal,” he says. “This is one of the many reasons living in Hyde Park and Midtown is so great.”