Adventure at Saturday Market...

Portland Saturday Market.

An icon of the city.

In operation since 1974, it is one of the largest tourist attractions in the state.

It is a non-stop party every weekend.

It is the source of many full-time artists income.

It is one of my favorite places to visit in my city.

I remember attending Saturday Market while I was still in High School.

A series of tents set up under the Burnside Bridge in old town.

Every tent housed an artist selling their creations. Every creation handmade.

I would spend hours watching and talking to the artists.

I took photograph after photograph - on my 35 mm SLR camera, shooting on real black and white film which I later developed in a dark room.

Many of those shots gained me great grades in my photography class.

I even took second place with one of pictures in a local photography contest - I didn't win anything except bragging rights. Which was enough for me.

I listened to all sorts of street musicians.

I watched jugglers and performers.

I remember watching one performer juggle and do a comic routine who later went on to star in a long-running television sitcom.

When I visited the market in my late teens, I felt like I was home.

Fast forward to 2012.

I went on a field trip to the Saturday Market recently.

It is now a favorite destination of my almost grown children.

It has expanded in recent years.

The artists have changed. The styles have changed - some.The location has even changed just a bit - it has moved across the street to accomodate more people. It's now on Sundays as well as Saturdays.

But it remains the same - the same energy, the same types of performers, the same yummy elephant ears and other delicacies, the same great handmade art, the same quirkiness and eccentricities, the same people watching that just can't be beat. . .

A perfect place to be inspired and after all these years -

I still feel as if I am "home".



Setting up where ever possible.



A little music



Found object art - do you just love the light fixture made out of the old bedsprings?



Walkers, riders . . .stay tuned to see how this photo of the bridge will be turned into something special soon.



Traditional old Portland light fixtures



Great architectural designs in old town

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If you come to visit Portland between now and Christmas Eve - be sure and include a trip to the market on your agenda. You'll be glad you did!