The good folks who produced the Mythic Journeys conferences asked me to post the following information:
Mythic
Imagination Sponsors First Faerie Escape
|
Mythic Journeys guests Charles Vess, Ari Berk, Honora Foah, Kristen McDermott,
Bill Bridges and
others plan to reunite August 14 - 15, 2010 in Atlanta for the first Faerie Escape in
the United States. The faerie-themed convention brings together
conversations on faeries, fairy
tales and their psychological and ecological themes. It also
includes workshops on costuming, writing, faerie house construction and
more; children's programming; and celebrations of all things
faerie-related.
"Faeries symbolize far more than just the mischievous, irrepressible side of human nature. Fairy tales have always taught lessons of importance to all people, be it respect for our environment, secrets of our psyches, or even not to travel alone into dark woods," said Andrew Greenberg, director of Faerie Escape: Atlanta and co-director of Mythic Journeys. "The lessons apply as well now as they did 1000 years ago."
The Escape's theme, "Into the Woods, into the Alleys," reflects both traditional thoughts on faeries as well as more modern interpretations presented in Vess's work in "Stardust" and Berk's in "Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Letters." It also examines how ideas about faeries and fairy tales now encompass both rural and urban settings. More information can be found at www.faeatlanta.com. |
It sounds terrific, doesn't it? I won't be there myself, alas. My only trip to the U.S. this year is for the Sirens conference, where I'm a Guest of Honor along with Holly Black and Marie Brennan, and where the focus is on faeries in fantasy literature. Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman have promised to come along too. Sirens takes place in Vail, Colorado in October. Perhaps I'll see some of you there?
The art at the top of the post is one of my favorite paintings by Golden Age illustrator Arthur Rackham. The little bird critters are by Alan Lee, and come from Faeries, the now-classic volume by Alan and Brian Froud.
