July is Artown. Yay!!! 31 days of Art, Music and Dance. I’ve covered this annual event every year since 2015. I used to look forward to this event, but it’s pretty much lost it’s luster for me. I didn’t get into the event venue because the line to get in was three blocks long. Not to mention the traffic jam in the adjacent streets leading into the park area. And not because of the hoards of people wanting to see the headliner, but because of the incessant need for security checkpoints, just to give concert goers that false sense of security. A choke point. The need to check bags. Check for what? The venue is an open outdoor venue. And to make things worse, they wanted everybody to wear a wristband. Another choke point. Why? It’s a free concert. Why can’t we go to concerts, or any event for that matter, unencumbered? Not treated like potential criminals. And there’s no consistency. If the past is any indication, the upcoming concerts held here in the next few weeks won’t have this level of security.

Actually I’m glad I didn’t go inside. As a photographer at events like this, I tend to want to move around to get different perspectives on the event. Not possible with this level of chaos.

Anyway, these images of the introductions of corporate donors and eventually the band, were shot from just outside of the fenced in area, on a hill facing the stage. You know, the perfect spot for that potential criminal they so desperately are looking for.