On Saturday, the winners of Kick Ass Oregon History’s annual Oregon history diorama contest were announced at a birthday party for Oregon, at Astoria’s Merry Time Bar. Kick Ass Oregon History’s got the blow-by-blow on their blog, but here’s the winner, this artful gem by Heather Arndt Anderson: It’s a depiction of the Roseburg Blast that a) fits into a suitcase, and b) features elegant grayscale cutouts—a delicate container for one of Oregon history’s fiery explosions:
- Kick Ass Oregon History
But this diorama caught my attention, not for the obvious reason that that whale’s about to explode, but on account of an interesting stowaway. Dead-center, glasses, contrarian posture—why, you know that face. It’s Francine, of “You’re Wrong About That” fame/controversy:
- Kick Ass Oregon History
Yet another controversial Oregonian, and more diorama news after the jump.
For reasons that may be obvious, this one was my favorite:
- Kick Ass Oregon History
Other dioramas featured the 1984 Rajneeshi bioterrorism food-poisoning attack, the heyday of Portland’s Erickson’s Saloon, and what’s beneath the surface of the Columbia. You can see ’em all here. It’s fun to learn!