A celebration of art, music, imagination and all things faerie July 21-22
EUGENE, Ore. — Resplendent in their finest magical attire, faerie lovers of all ages from as far away as England, Japan, Hawaii and Australia are gathering at The Secret House Winery outside of Eugene on July 21-22 for Faerieworlds, a celebration of art, music, imagination and all things faerie. This year’s event promises to break all previous attendance records, with guests expected to top 6,000, and is fast becoming one of the most popular outdoor festivals on the West Coast.
Begun six years ago by event producers Robert Gould and Emilio & Kelly Miller-Lopez, Faerieworlds is inspired by the art of Brian Froud, international best-selling faerie artist and author. Froud is the co-creator of the fantasy book classic, FAERIES with Tolkien artist Alan Lee, and was conceptual designer for the landmark Jim Henson fantasy films, THE DARK CRYSTAL and LABYRINTH.
Called “mythically magical… a one-of-a-kind otherworldly event,” Faerieworlds features a diverse Faerie Marketplace filled with faerie books, art, fashion and handcrafts. Fans can meet and get books signed by bestselling artists and authors: this year’s special guests include faerie artists, Brian Froud, Wendy Froud, Amy Brown, Jessica Galbreth, J. Corsentino. the bestselling author of THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES, Holly Black and multiple World Fantasy Awarding winning author Patricia McKillip. During the day, walk around performers and storytellers weave throughout the crowd, while multiple stages feature world-class musical and theatrical groups. At night, the site is transformed into a luminous faerie kingdom, featuring fully produced music concerts and a dazzling Faerie Light Show featuring the art of Brian Froud.
“The book FAERIES really started the modern faerie phenomenon in 1977,” says Faerieworlds co-producer, Robert Gould. “Baby boomers loved the book and shared it with their children and created a mutual bond. They in turn, explored the worlds of faerie on their own and shared it with their friends,”
But why are faeries so popular? “In a world where we are bombarded daily with so much information, young people, especially girls, want to believe there is more to the world than they see and that maybe they are magical. This is at the core of Harry Potter’s appeal: an ordinary boy who discovers he is a magician,” says co-producer Emilio Miller-Lopez. “This is why faerie believers wear wings: they are symbols of flight, freedom, and beauty and declarations of identity: ‘I am more than what you see: I walk in two worlds’.”
“Faerie is more than a book category for these fans; it’s a lifestyle, with it’s own unique philosophy and iconography. And it’s so family friendly: it has positive, affirming values, it’s arts centered, it’s non-violent, ecological and cross generational,” says Gould. “That’s why families love to come to Faerieworlds.”
And they come by the thousands. Some have worked on their costumes for months, often discussing design ideas in Faerie Forums with their friends across world. Wings are de rigeur and they are everywhere: fluttering, sparkling rainbows on the backs of almost every guest – no matter their age or gender – and for sale at a number of booths.
And these days faeries are big business, generating multi-millions of dollars in every media category and showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, it is events like FAERIEWORLDS that offer fans a magical venue to actually “be a faerie” that are exploding it’s popularity. This Fall, Robert, Emilio & Kelly will produce their first East Coast event, FAERIE CON International in Philadelphia on October 12-14 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. It will be the largest gathering of faerie artists in the world. Expected attendance: 8,000 to 10,000. They plan to add more US events and expand to the UK and Europe in 2008 and 2009.
The Modern Master of Faerie, Brian Froud sums it up best: “To deal with faeries is not a retreat into fantasy, but a re-engagement with life. To dress as a faerie, donning wings, is to actively join in the dance, to be connected to creative spirit.
Graceful or ecstatic dance; the radiant, rhythmic heartbeat; friendship; music; all these move easily across the boundaries, transcending language, race, and time. Such activities extend a joyful hand across the threshold. At Faerieworlds, we ring the bells of faerie invitation. The people come. More importantly, the faeries come too.”
For more information about Faerieworlds, please visit: http://www.faerieworlds.com
[tags]Faerieworlds festival, The Secret House Winery, Robert Gould, Emilio and Kelly Miller-Lopez, Modern Master of Faerie, artist Brian Froud, FAERIE CON International, Oregon events[/tags]
