McMinnville is a great little city in Oregon, not far from Portland... and I guess the weird has worn off on them. The story goes that a couple living not far from the center of town saw a flying saucer hovering overhead and photographed it. It's veracity has been questioned but never confirmed. But why should that stand in the way of celebrating? The UFO festival has been going on for years. It runs throughout the weekend, with lectures and movies and so on. But the big draw is the parade. It's one of the few times people don't mind having their photo taken. I asked a lot of the people if I could take their picture. Others, I just zoomed through the crowd. As many photos as I have posted here, there were many more...
The alien on the left struck me as doing an imitation
of comedian, Richard Lewis.
This alien's make-up and adornments reminded me
a little of a self-portrait by Cindy Sherman.
This couple don't look to be from another planet.
I caught them unaware, then asked and took another
picture of them. I prefer this one.
This camera-packing young woman was walking down the
middle of 3rd Street when I saw her and asked if I could take
her picture. She struck an attitudinal pose.
I said it seemed she had posed for photos before.
Her smile widened imperceptibly.
This young woman was part of a parade contingent.
The men in the group had black hammer heads covering
their heads. The women were wearing either a pilgrim
or witches hat, green T's, a peppermint stick skirt
and yellow sash. It's intergalactic significance was lost on me.
Just as a writer cannot completely conceal their
influences, inspiration and education, neither can a
painter or photographer ignore what they know and
have seen. Usually, the revelatory connection is discovered
after taking the photograph. Minor White called
this informing a photograph. All of which
is to say, the photo on the left reminded me of
Ralph Meatyard and Diane Arbus. I imagine the aliens that
flashed the peace sign came to earth bearing no ill will.
I'm not sure if she's flashing a peace sign or something else.
The smirk and look in her eyes is what got me.
I saw this couple, in what may have been a Steam Punk
throwback look, on a side street above the parade.
The woman looks to me like she is used to being
above it all. They were later in the parade.
I'm not sure who the Grand Marshal of the parade was, nor do
I know who was wearing the suit and tie.
Is it me or does the dude with the cone-head look
a little like Dan Ackroyd?
Alien with out of this world smile.
Two dancers with Love Bomb Go-Go Marching Band,
from Portland
Tied-dyed aliens at the pet costume contest.
The Foggy Mountain UFO Bluegrass Band.
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