SLUG Queen
Encyclopedia
The SLUG Queen, slug queen, or S.L.U.G. Queen (an acronym for the "Society for the Legitimization of the Ubiquitous Gastropod"), is a humorous concept and popular event, an alternative festival
, which takes place annually in Eugene, Oregon
, United States
. The queen is regarded as the reigning "monarch" of festivities, and the unofficial ambassador of the city of Eugene, where a new Slug Queen is crowned (usually) in the first week of September. The queen is named "slug" in order to suggest images of the Willamette Valley
region's lush leafy gardens full of snail
s and slug
s and as a humorous play on other local queens often selected for beauty, as opposed to wit and audacity.
The annual coronation process somewhat resembles a formal beauty pageant, but with a campy
spin. The slug
-themed pageant started in 1983, and Eugene celebrated the SLUG Queen coronation's 25th year with a Silver Jubilee in August 2007. The Silver Jubilee Queen is (now) Old Queen Glorious Gastropause, also known as comedienne Leigh Anne Jashaway. To date there are 28 Slug Queens, the latest being "Raining" Queen Slugasana, aka Jerril Nilson.
The Slug Queen was first conceived in 1983. Cynthia Wooten, a city council
woman, was discussing the idea of the very first Eugene Celebration with then City Manager Mike Gleason who wanted to name the city festival simply the 'Eugene Celebration'. Wooten, along with Karl Eysenbach and Paul Ollswang argued for the name 'Slugfest', but this was turned down by the rest of the City Council. Alana Probst organized the first Slugfest as an alternative to (and parody of) other cities' beauty pageants in her own backyard where the first Slug Queen was elected. The rebel group then enter a parade float in the first Eugene Celebration Parade shaped like a giant Slug with the first Slug Queen, a man named Bruce Gordon, riding in drag on it. This movement was in direct opposition to the wishes of the rest of the city council but was instantly popular with the crowds.
The Slug Queen Competition and Coronation grew to be an annual event. Rather than perpetuating typical beauty queen
standards, the originators chose as their emblem a lifeform more in keeping with the Pacific Northwest
's soggy climate
and Eugene's iconoclastic spirit: the humble slug.
The new SLUG Queen is now selected annually (usually) on the first Friday evening in September provided the Eugene Celebration is scheduled after that (the date was set for August 13 in 2010 due to the Eugene Celebration's move to August in 2010), in a three part competition that involves the judging of one's costume
(based on campy appeal and overall sluggishness), a three-minute on-stage talent performance, and a single question designed to test the quick wit of each contestant. The SLUG Queen is chosen by a collection of past queens officially referred to as "old," not "former" queens as one of their mottos is "once a Queen--always a Queen". The judges base their assessments on three factors: originality, creativity, and a flamboyant outgoing personality.
One important aspect that sets the SLUG Queen pageant apart from others is that bribery
is accepted and encouraged and the judging is done by a panel of Old Queens. The moment a new queen is crowned, the old queens are open to bribery.
Creative bribes curry the most favor with the old queens. They annually remind budding hopefuls to "Bribe early and bribe often". Since SLUG Queens retain the title of queen for life, and the power to crown new queens, they remain a vibrant, visible and vocal part of the community in their royal character. They use this visibility to raise awareness and funds for local causes and charities and host events in character.
The new SLUG Queen presides over the parade at the Eugene Celebration
, on a roving date in September, where the queen meets the public for her first official duty. She is also expected to open the Mayor's Art Show, and the Salon de Refuse, a pun on Salon des Refusés
, deliver a benediction at the [Maude Kerns Art Gallery's Jello Art Show in April]http://www.mkartcenter.org/2009_jello.htm, hold a charitable ball for the charity of her choice and "rain" over the coronation for the following year's SLUG Queen. She may choose to make other appearances throughout the year including: [The Oregon Country Fair]http://www.oregoncountryfair.org/, [Da Vinci Days]http://www.davinci-days.org/, ribbon cuttings and openings, fashion shows, [Art in the Park]http://www.artandthevineyard.org/, etc...
The Slug Queens pride themselves on representing the diversity of the City of Eugene. Anyone over the age of 21 is electable, provided they are able to impress the Old Queens. Of the 28 Slug Queens to date, six have been men, including one with cerebral palsy and the 2009 Queen Anislugsia, actor Mark Van Beever. One female Queen, Queen "Frank Slugnatra" 2005, takes on a male persona for her appearances. 1993 Queen "Bananita" uses a thick Russian accent for her Slug Queen character. 2006 Queen "Slugretha Latifah Uleafa Gastropodia Jackson", an Office Manager at the University of Oregon
's Department of Philosophy and the only black queen so far, won by singing her version of Aretha Franklin
's R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Queen Slugrethea was photographed with the reigning Miss Oregon
2006 shortly after her coronation.
Slug queens never lose their prestigious titles: they (female or male) are subsequently known forever as "Old Queens" or later on, "Very Old Queens", and finally "Exquisitely Old Queens".
2008's Queen "Marie Slugtoinette," famously appeared as a hedcut
drawing on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122203411663760967.html Slugtoinette's alter ego, Designer Constance Van Flandern, is also known for her work coining the term "Alpha Mom" for the cable network of the same name.
Since 1991, the Slug Queen coronation has been organized by Kim Still, who is the manager of the Eugene Saturday Market
.
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
, which takes place annually in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The queen is regarded as the reigning "monarch" of festivities, and the unofficial ambassador of the city of Eugene, where a new Slug Queen is crowned (usually) in the first week of September. The queen is named "slug" in order to suggest images of the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
region's lush leafy gardens full of snail
Snail
Snail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...
s and slug
Slug
Slug is a common name that is normally applied to any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell, or has a small internal shell...
s and as a humorous play on other local queens often selected for beauty, as opposed to wit and audacity.
The annual coronation process somewhat resembles a formal beauty pageant, but with a campy
Camp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
spin. The slug
Slug
Slug is a common name that is normally applied to any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell, or has a small internal shell...
-themed pageant started in 1983, and Eugene celebrated the SLUG Queen coronation's 25th year with a Silver Jubilee in August 2007. The Silver Jubilee Queen is (now) Old Queen Glorious Gastropause, also known as comedienne Leigh Anne Jashaway. To date there are 28 Slug Queens, the latest being "Raining" Queen Slugasana, aka Jerril Nilson.
The Slug Queen was first conceived in 1983. Cynthia Wooten, a city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
woman, was discussing the idea of the very first Eugene Celebration with then City Manager Mike Gleason who wanted to name the city festival simply the 'Eugene Celebration'. Wooten, along with Karl Eysenbach and Paul Ollswang argued for the name 'Slugfest', but this was turned down by the rest of the City Council. Alana Probst organized the first Slugfest as an alternative to (and parody of) other cities' beauty pageants in her own backyard where the first Slug Queen was elected. The rebel group then enter a parade float in the first Eugene Celebration Parade shaped like a giant Slug with the first Slug Queen, a man named Bruce Gordon, riding in drag on it. This movement was in direct opposition to the wishes of the rest of the city council but was instantly popular with the crowds.
The Slug Queen Competition and Coronation grew to be an annual event. Rather than perpetuating typical beauty queen
Beauty Queen
"Beauty Queen" is the second song from Roxy Music's second album, For Your Pleasure. The lyrics refer to Ferry's girlfriend, Valerie Leon, one-time UK beauty queen, B-movie actress and model working in the Newcastle area, circa 1973.-Musicians:...
standards, the originators chose as their emblem a lifeform more in keeping with the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
's soggy climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
and Eugene's iconoclastic spirit: the humble slug.
The new SLUG Queen is now selected annually (usually) on the first Friday evening in September provided the Eugene Celebration is scheduled after that (the date was set for August 13 in 2010 due to the Eugene Celebration's move to August in 2010), in a three part competition that involves the judging of one's costume
Costume
The term costume can refer to wardrobe and dress in general, or to the distinctive style of dress of a particular people, class, or period. Costume may also refer to the artistic arrangement of accessories in a picture, statue, poem, or play, appropriate to the time, place, or other circumstances...
(based on campy appeal and overall sluggishness), a three-minute on-stage talent performance, and a single question designed to test the quick wit of each contestant. The SLUG Queen is chosen by a collection of past queens officially referred to as "old," not "former" queens as one of their mottos is "once a Queen--always a Queen". The judges base their assessments on three factors: originality, creativity, and a flamboyant outgoing personality.
One important aspect that sets the SLUG Queen pageant apart from others is that bribery
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
is accepted and encouraged and the judging is done by a panel of Old Queens. The moment a new queen is crowned, the old queens are open to bribery.
Creative bribes curry the most favor with the old queens. They annually remind budding hopefuls to "Bribe early and bribe often". Since SLUG Queens retain the title of queen for life, and the power to crown new queens, they remain a vibrant, visible and vocal part of the community in their royal character. They use this visibility to raise awareness and funds for local causes and charities and host events in character.
The new SLUG Queen presides over the parade at the Eugene Celebration
Eugene Celebration
The Eugene Celebration is an annual community celebration and civic event held in downtown Eugene, Oregon, United States. Featuring bands and performers from throughout the Pacific Northwest, the three-day festival is held in early September and attracts more than 40,000 attendees each year...
, on a roving date in September, where the queen meets the public for her first official duty. She is also expected to open the Mayor's Art Show, and the Salon de Refuse, a pun on Salon des Refusés
Salon des Refusés
The Salon des Refusés, French for “exhibition of rejects” , is generally an exhibition of works rejected by the jury of the official Paris Salon, but the term is most famously used to refer to the Salon des Refusés of 1863.-Background:...
, deliver a benediction at the [Maude Kerns Art Gallery's Jello Art Show in April]http://www.mkartcenter.org/2009_jello.htm, hold a charitable ball for the charity of her choice and "rain" over the coronation for the following year's SLUG Queen. She may choose to make other appearances throughout the year including: [The Oregon Country Fair]http://www.oregoncountryfair.org/, [Da Vinci Days]http://www.davinci-days.org/, ribbon cuttings and openings, fashion shows, [Art in the Park]http://www.artandthevineyard.org/, etc...
The Slug Queens pride themselves on representing the diversity of the City of Eugene. Anyone over the age of 21 is electable, provided they are able to impress the Old Queens. Of the 28 Slug Queens to date, six have been men, including one with cerebral palsy and the 2009 Queen Anislugsia, actor Mark Van Beever. One female Queen, Queen "Frank Slugnatra" 2005, takes on a male persona for her appearances. 1993 Queen "Bananita" uses a thick Russian accent for her Slug Queen character. 2006 Queen "Slugretha Latifah Uleafa Gastropodia Jackson", an Office Manager at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
's Department of Philosophy and the only black queen so far, won by singing her version of Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
's R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Queen Slugrethea was photographed with the reigning Miss Oregon
Miss Oregon
The Miss Oregon competition is a regional scholarship competition and beauty pageant that selects the representative for the U.S. state of Oregon in the Miss America pageant...
2006 shortly after her coronation.
Slug queens never lose their prestigious titles: they (female or male) are subsequently known forever as "Old Queens" or later on, "Very Old Queens", and finally "Exquisitely Old Queens".
2008's Queen "Marie Slugtoinette," famously appeared as a hedcut
Hedcut
Hedcut is a term referring to a style of drawing, associated with The Wall Street Journal half-column portrait illustrations. They use the stipple method of many small dots and the hatching method of small lines to create an image, and are designed to emulate the look of woodcuts from old-style...
drawing on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122203411663760967.html Slugtoinette's alter ego, Designer Constance Van Flandern, is also known for her work coining the term "Alpha Mom" for the cable network of the same name.
Since 1991, the Slug Queen coronation has been organized by Kim Still, who is the manager of the Eugene Saturday Market
Eugene Saturday Market
The Eugene Saturday Market is an outdoor craft market in Eugene, Oregon. It is the oldest weekly open-air crafts market in the United States. It has a festival atmosphere that includes live performers as well craft booths and food vendors. Between 3,000 and 5,000 people visit the market every...
.
External links
- SLUG Queen Eugene Site
- http://www.greensiren.com/SLUG/Queens.html
- http://www.eugeneweekly.com/2007/08/16/news.html#1
- http://www.greensiren.com/Slugretha/
- http://www.greensiren.com/SLUG/SLUGSilverJubilee.pdf
- http://www.maddogproductions.com/ds_slugs.htm
- http://www.eugeneweekly.com/2005/09/29/coverstory.html
- http://rgweb.registerguard.com/news/2006/08/26/d1.cr.slugqueen.0826.p1.php?section=cityregion
- http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_go1635/is_200409/ai_n6440016
- http://oregonprogress.oregonstate.edu/story.php?S_No=89&storyType=oap&page=1
- http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2002/10/30/UndefinedSection/Horror.Stories-1978628.shtml