Peacock Debut in MyNaramata!

Thanks to Craig Henderson for using "Pearl and Co." to promote the upcoming Naramata Artisan Faire at the Heritage Inn & Spa on December 5th. Also, a big congratulations to Craig for being nominated Naramata Citizen of the year! Well deserved, my friend!

Here is the article in it's original form on MyNaramata (Click here) or you can read it below.

27th November 2010

Naramata’s Peafowl Make Fair Debut

Editor

~ CRAFT FAIR DECEMBER 5th ~
A local artist has whimsically captured the spirit of the village’s extended peafowl family, and her art will make its debut at the Naramata Christmas Craft Fair, Sunday, December 5th.

Melanie Mehrer uses a process called gouache, a watercolor-like medium. Mehrer’s blog site posted her latest piece a few days ago. It tells the story of the peahen and her three chicks being captured and taken away to a petting zoo in Keremeos.

“This part is a painful story for some village goers who really loved the peacocks. I loved the peacocks too, as Naramata is a magical little place and it just seemed fitting that peacocks should roam the village. But, maybe not an army of peacocks. I can understand the panic of some villagers who were suffering damage to their vehicles because the peacocks had a penchant for roosting on the tops of cars. Anyway, regardless of where anyone stands on the peacock issue, the peacocks are now imbedded in the history of this little village. I decided to create a painting celebrating the Peacock family of Naramata as it was last intact. As some villagers had named the female peahen ‘Pearl’ the title of this painting is ‘Pearl and Company,’” says Mehrer.

The fair goes from 11 to 4 at the Naramata Heritage Inn. The winebar and spa will be open too.

Artists and artisans from Naramata and the surrounding area will be showcasing their works and products for your shopping pleasure. Take time to get in out of the cold and find some unique and useful gift ideas while supporting the local economy. The Artisan Faire runs from 11am to 4pm on Sunday, December 5th. Contact Heather Mehrer for more information at 250-496-5486.

http://creativecaravan.blogspot.com/2010/11/introducing-peacock-family-of-naramata.html

http://www.mynaramata.com/cgi-bin/show_articles.cgi?ID=470&TOPIC=0

Thanks again, Craig! Pearl would be proud!

xxMelanie

Introducing, the Peacock Family of Naramata!

Remember that the most beautiful things in the world are the most useless; peacocks and lilies, for example.

-John Ruskin

"Pearl and Company" watercolour, 11x14, November 2010

A few years ago, a pair full grown peacocks showed up in Naramata. No one knew where they came from, and many residents didn't care. The peacocks made themselves at home in Naramata and were a common sight for those out taking walks around the village.

Teenage boy peacock with moulting white feathers

And then there were two babies that grew up to be two males. From the last photos I took of them, they had grown into teenagers, losing their white baby feathers and beginning to grow their long peacock tales. So then the village peacocks were four.

Pearl the Mama Peahen

And then this spring, three more baby peacocks were born. But someone had had enough of the peacock poop and called a trapper, and the female and the three babies were taken to a petting zoo in Keremeos. This part is a painful story for some village goers who really loved the peacocks. I loved the peacocks too, as Naramata is a magical little place and it just seemed fitting that peacocks should roam the village. But maybe not an army of peacocks. I can understand the panic of some villagers who were suffering damage to their vehicles because the peacocks had a penchant for roosting on the tops of cars. (You try to fly into a tree with such a heavy tail!)

The babies and their big bro.

Anyway, regardless of where anyone stands on the peacock issue, the peacocks are now imbedded in the history of this little village. I decided to create a painting celebrating the Peacock family of Naramata as it was last intact. As some villagers had named the female peahen "Pearl" the title of this painting is "Pearl and Company" and will have it's first public viewing at the Naramata Artisan's Faire at the Heritage Inn on December 5th.

See you there!

xx Melanie