The Oregon Country Faire has come and gone once again, and I count myself lucky to have soaked in a full day of all the visual, auditory and all around experiential art I could possibly absorb. To call our community of artists vibrant barely does it justice. The earthen pathways through the forests along the banks of the Long Tom River were lined with booths overflowing with beautiful wares, crowds of people in various forms of costume, performers moving through the masses on stilts, mouth-watering smells wafting from the food booth kitchens, and ensembles of musicians played their songs that would fade into the background as you walked into the range of the next path-side band. Everywhere, people were kicking up their heels and dancing, including this tiny, wizened, white-haired woman getting her groove on to an old time string band. Inspiration was flowing freely and abundantly.
Each year, the costumes of wandering paraders and stilt walkers get updated and improved. I had not run across this flower crowned forest spirit with ram horns before. It’s always fun making new friends at the faire.
My favorite art piece of the day was this metal sculpture of a rooster with forks for legs proclaiming his love to the elusive damsel of his dreams. Although she was perpetually running away from him, he was doing his darnedest to let out the most convincing cock-a-doodle-doo any rooster ever made.
And back to the costumes…
I loved seeing what the kids came up with for their faire fashion. My daughter and her girl posse had quite the array from dark fairy, to woods nymph, to 1920’s flapper. Her best friend even practiced creeping around to add a performance art aspect to her attire.
I attended as the Goddess of Chocolate. I found a costume at a local vintage and up-cyled fashion store in town, and added some handmade embellishments of chocolate alchemical symbols in copper paint on leather medallions. I finished the look with a crown of cocoa beans, a brown tulle cape, and some more chocolate alchemical symbols done in body paint and glitter.
I handed out some of my handmade Madagascar chocolate molded in peaches, cameos, and little fish. People were very excited to see me everywhere I went!
Some folks decided to fore go costumes and come as they were, offering their contributions in other ways, such as this gentleman giving out free hugs. I love seeing what people come up with
The main thing that I am reminded of every year when the Oregon Country Faire comes around is that one is never, ever too old to play. We are never too old to play dress up. We are never too old to give out free hugs indiscriminately. We are never too old to get delighted and giddy about the sights and sounds around us. We are never too old to express ourselves in whatever artistic fashion we choose.
And, we are never too old to kick up our heels.
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