Outcasts and Innocents

Book excerpt: Continually occupied by its indigenous peoples, as well as a siren to waves of pioneers, the Northwest has long fostered a sense of isolation and opportunity. Alice Wheeler's subjects embody both. Internationally known for her photographs of Nirvana, Bikini Kill, and the punk-feminist bands of Riot Grrl, Wheeler is drawn to people and landscapes that possess unique strength and beauty. Hers are the lesser-seen realities of Seattle's history over the last three decades: not the incessant rain and coffeehouse earnestness represented in films and sitcoms, but the glory of the drag scene; the devastation of AIDS; the freedom of choice celebrated at Hempfest and protest rallies; brilliant sunsets and radiant clouds; and a music scene that for decades has captivated devotees internationally. This is her first monograph.