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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Artsy / Music Into the Clown's Mouth: Portraits of Portland Juggalos

Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 7:12 AM

_MG_7078_1.jpg

Thanks to the poor play of Santonio Holmes, my fantasy football team (The Dillon Panthers, "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose") was defeated in a head-to-head match against a team managed by Mercury freelancer, Hannah Carlen. The punishment for my inept fantasy football skills? A night with the Juggalos.

Actually, it wasn't so bad. The music was horrific, but that night made for some of the greatest/scariest people watching I have ever experienced. But while I pat myself on the back for my faux Juggaloness, Matt O'Brien is the true hero here. The local photographer went deep into the clown's mouth and risked death by Faygo—or stabbing—by setting up a photobooth outside of the Roseland during the Insane Clown Posse set. The results are both hilarious and oddly hypnotic, photo after glorious photo of Portland's thriving Juggalo scene.

End Hits: We're down with the clown.

 

Comments (26) RSS

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1
At first I sincerely hoped that this clown thing was done with a large amount of humor....but now I'm not so sure these gangster clowns are joking. I guess its like going to a midnight screening of Rock Horror Picture Show in drag, only you get to wear a mask to hide your identity.
Posted by zombiesai on September 29, 2009 at 7:33 AM · Report
2
I hope Faygo starts adding a secret birth control ingredient soon. Too late for the unfortunate future child of this classy lady:

http://www.mattophoto.com/ClientFolders/ic…
Posted by ElGordo on September 29, 2009 at 8:17 AM · Report
3
What's your email Ezra, allow me to email you pictures of a van parked out in front of my house last month...
Posted by DLS 3.0 on September 29, 2009 at 9:06 AM · Report
4
Looks like El Gordo beat me to the punch on this one: http://www.mattophoto.com/ClientFolders/ic…
Posted by Graham on September 29, 2009 at 9:08 AM · Report
5
Check out the video of ICP's summer festival...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V-4jbto2C8
Posted by DLS 3.0 on September 29, 2009 at 9:14 AM · Report
6
Behold my favorite.

http://www.mattophoto.com/ClientFolders/ic…
Posted by Matt Davis on September 29, 2009 at 9:25 AM · Report
7
This link is going out to all my single girlfriends. And they say there are no good men left in this town...
Posted by Joneser on September 29, 2009 at 9:48 AM · Report
8
I hope that lady with the cigarette is just fat and not pregnant.
Posted by jjjj on September 29, 2009 at 10:02 AM · Report
9
no, she's probably pregnant. If you watch the video link that was posted above, you'll see a girl proudly exclaim she's 6 month pregnant before taking a drag. It's this kind of behavior that pretty much guarantees a future (de)generation of juggalos. Starting em off on the right foot.
Posted by jeff on September 29, 2009 at 10:12 AM · Report
10
I am the photographer of this series of ICP photos. That woman is in fact 8 months pregnant. The lighting on this photo is not how I envisioned it, but I felt it had to be posted despite that fact.
Posted by Mattophoto on September 29, 2009 at 10:57 AM · Report
11
Soon to be featured on

http://whythefuckdoyouhaveakid.com
Posted by Patrick A. Coleman on September 29, 2009 at 11:32 AM · Report
12
I look forward to meeting all these healthy and hearty young people. While they pump my gas.
Posted by Williams, Jay on September 29, 2009 at 11:35 AM · Report
13
Good on ya, Matt. This one really resonates with me for some reason: http://www.mattophoto.com/ClientFolders/ic…

Are the Cheetohs a Thing with them?
Posted by TWSS on September 29, 2009 at 11:37 AM · Report
14
Not Cheetos per say, but tons of candy and Faygo (a generic soda from what I can tell). There are a lot of people in these photos with rotten, black teeth. One of the earlier logos for the ICP was a clown with a lot of teeth missing. I am hoping that they are not motivated to personally re-create this mouth, but I fear it is so.
Posted by Mattophoto on September 29, 2009 at 11:51 AM · Report
15
You're right about them being hypnotic. For some reason, I can't stop staring at this girl:

http://www.mattophoto.com/ClientFolders/ic…
Posted by s.mirk on September 29, 2009 at 1:33 PM · Report
16
what's with "w" and "c"?
Posted by rainperimeter on September 29, 2009 at 1:57 PM · Report
17
pretty sure it is for West Coast, which many of the kids hilariously got backwards.
Posted by Mattophoto on September 29, 2009 at 2:24 PM · Report
18
Page three, number four looks like a Ron English painting waiting to happen:
http://www.mattophoto.com/ClientFolders/ic…
Posted by rich23 on September 29, 2009 at 2:41 PM · Report
19
The only possible explanation I can fathom for this level of self-abasement is total parental neglect from birth.
Posted by rico on September 29, 2009 at 2:43 PM · Report
20
oh, fucking duh. west coast. i was trying to make it into some ICP-centric thing. i knew a couple juggalos a few years ago who were really nice kids. they were constantly trying to get me to "just listen to this fuckin' song" all the time. ugh, such shit! Alf's comment up there sums up the way i always viewed their future, kind of a bummer. i don't get the white trash, suburban pride that scene embraces (consciously or not, or maybe sometimes both)...
Posted by rainperimeter on September 29, 2009 at 3:08 PM · Report
21
Amazing photos. Whoever came up with this strange little subculture really found something that resonates with some people.
Posted by atomic on September 29, 2009 at 3:11 PM · Report
22
If you want to go down the rabbit hole do a search for Juggalo Holocaust.

http://www.google.com/search?q=Juggalo+Hol…
Posted by Abusive on September 29, 2009 at 6:34 PM · Report
23
Faygo is a brand of pop from Detroit, home of ICP. Rock & Rye is delicious.
Posted by jjjj on September 30, 2009 at 2:44 PM · Report
24
Hey in this pic is me my mama and my girl jade. were juggaletts and the W & C is not for west coast. its WICKED CLOWN and You may think that the lives of a juggalo would be pumping your gas but you cant judge all by one or two peoples life decisions. Yes Faygo is a generic soda but oh sooo good with natural flavoring, Being a juggalo or juggalette is all about the out casts finding a place to fit in and have a family.
JUGGALO FAMILY WHOOP WHOOP!
MUCH CLOWN LOVE!!!!
Posted by Jenbob688 on August 17, 2010 at 4:14 PM · Report
25
Hey guys....it's the cheetos girl :D can't say that was my proudest moment, or the best picture taken that night...that part came later. ;) But, I just wanted to say thank you to Matt for braving our insanity for the night and posting these awesome mementos of my friends. I know it's something not many people can understand, but for those keeping an open mind, I thank you. :) I can assure you that for every crazy ass weirdo in our crowd, there are 3 really cool,suprisingly normal people...Well, maybe not normal, they probably all want to sell you drugs...Or buy your drugs....do you have drugs? XD I my self work at a large department store selling cosmetics. Not that you could tell from my crappy face paint, right? I’m also a single, working, nursing mother. I’m a vegetarian,sober since BEFORE I was pregnant and I support my daughter and myself independently; as organic and safely as possible. Before you judge, explore. You never know how much fun you could have until you party with the juggalos… : D Party on Portland , MMFCL!!!!




P.S. Cheetos are only a thing for fat kids :) FAT KID LOVE!
Posted by KarmaKarnival on February 11, 2011 at 6:35 AM · Report
26
BTW,Matt if I remember correctly you took a few other pictures of me that night too...so why only one with the fat kid pose?!?! hehe
Posted by KarmaKarnival on February 11, 2011 at 8:59 AM · Report

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