Last Thursday on Alberta

Pumpkin Patch at Sauvie Island, Oregon.

Last Thursday in the Alberta Arts District has the potential to really suck this week. Why? Because, in their infinite wisdom, the cops decided a couple of months ago that artists can no longer set up canopies on the art walk. Meaning, here in rainy Oregon, we're supposed to sell our art outdoors at night with no shelter. The forecast for Thursday night is rain. Which makes you wonder why they don't just cancel the event entirely.

The best part of this is, the whole reason for the stupid new rule is that a bunch of drunks got out of control at the "clown house" (where they always had rowdy parties) a few months ago and it caused a big scene with cops in riot gear and everything. Well, those idiots who caused the trouble have nothing at all to do with the artists. Yet, the city's solution to punishing the drunks is apparently to make it impossible for artists to sell their work. A newspaper article recently said that the clown house would no longer exist after August, due to a lease expiring or something. In other words, the very people responsible for screwing everything up will be gone, but the artists who had nothing to do with the problems will continue to suffer the consequences. Go figure. . .

Anyway, our prints are available on Etsy or on our own fine art photography website.

The Race For the Cure

Selling this image yesterday helped us to contribute to a good cause

Yesterday was the "Race for the Cure" here in Portland, which raises money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a leader in the fight against breast cancer. The event route passed right by where we were selling our photography, so we saw the some 45,000 people who flooded downtown with the color pink! It was a pretty emotional sight, reading the participants' messages written on their race number cards; each said, "I'm racing for. . ." and then the participant wrote things like "My Mom" or "My Sister" or "In Memory of so and so". Think about it. . .everyone knows someone who has been affected by this disease.

We decided that we'd donate 10% of what we made yesterday to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. We didn't have the greatest day ever, but we nonetheless just sent out a check and, if you're reading this and have a few bucks to spare for a good cause, you should, too! Here's a link to the info you need: Komen for the Cure donation info.

As always, prints of our work are available here: Fine Art Photography
and here: Etsy

Where'd Summer Go?

Wow! Summer came and went and we didn't even notice it this year. This morning, it was so dreary and cold. As a form of personal protest, we've brought out these summery images of flower boxes filled with geraniums in full bloom and listed them on Etsy. There. That feels better.

Yvoire, France
Murten, Switzerland

Official Venting About Healthcare Post

We saw "Sicko" last night. We just love people like Moore who speak their mind and let the world know what they think. At least he has some guts, unlike those healthcare jerks and their puppet politicians, who do everything behind closed doors. This film is a sad testimony to how selfish our country (or, at least, those who run it) has become compared to others. And we're supposed to be the best country in the world? Actions speak louder than words.

P.S. The monkey on the bike is insured . . . he lives overseas!

Look at our images here

O.J. Blows His Own Horn

The fact that O.J. Simpson is back in the news reminded us of a fun O.J. costume that we photographed at the 1996 carnival in Basel, Switzerland. He was part of a "Guggemusik" band, which is why he's holding a trumpet. (Guggemusik bands play music that is intentionally out of tune). Notice the drummer in the back; all of the band's other musicians wore football uniforms.

The "cliques" in Basel's carnival take current events from around the world and satirize them.

Local artists create these terrific masks and costumes. Though we haven't been able to find out who created this one, whoever it was received an award from the carnival's committee, as indicated by the black and white ribbon on O.J.'s jacket.

Yvonne & Michael
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