January 2, 2015 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 7A
Childhood interest lures artist to fairy realm
Grant recipient
Peter Greaver
creates fairy
houses for
gallery show
By Erick Bengel
Cannon Beach Gazette
Peter Greaver, the 2013-14
recipient of Cannon Beach’s
Individual Artist Grant,
doesn’t know if he believes
in fairies, but he certainly be-
lieves in what they represent:
the magic and majesty of the
natural world.
For all the fantasy found
in fairy lore — traditional and
contemporary — there is an
often overlooked spiritual ele-
ment that more people should
tap into, he said.
Our culture is losing its
“mystical, romantic relation-
ship with nature,” Greaver
added. “It’s being replaced
with technology.”
With his current exhibition
(funded by the $3,000 grant)
at the Cannon Beach Gallery,
Greaver seeks to elicit the
same sense of enchantment
he experienced while reading
large, elaborately illustrated
children’s books that depict
fairies and the worlds they in-
habit.
The untitled show, which
opened Dec. 20, and runs
through Jan. 25, is a joint exhi-
bition that includes the work of
Carl Annala, a Portland-based
painter. The gallery will host
an artist reception from 5 to 7
p.m. Jan. 3.
Greaver’s half of the show
consists of nine dramatically
diverse miniature houses that
could serve as plausible dwell-
ings for adult fairies roughly 7
inches tall.
Composed of salvaged
twigs and branches; wood
glue; bamboo; cotton; copper,
aluminum, silver plated and
gold plated wire; hemp; jute;
glass; stones; acrylic; glitter;
varnish; and other materials,
the fairy houses are largely in-
spired by images from vintage
children’s books and Victorian
fairy paintings, he said.
Greaver wanted the struc-
ERICK BENGEL PHOTO
Peter Greaver strokes a crabapple tree he is nursing back to
life in the Greaver Gallery garden. He is the 2013-14 recipi-
ent of Cannon Beach’s Individual Artist Grant.
tures to seem “realistic and
functional.” Most of the
houses are shingled, some
with pine cone scales. Sever-
al houses are square-shaped,
others are round. Some even
have chimneys.
For the past year, he
worked on all of them simulta-
neously. “Realistically, I could
continue to work on them for
another year because I see
all these ways in which they
could be enhanced,” he said.
“Greaver’s work surpasses
all expectation,” said Andrea
Mace, executive director of
the gallery. “It is truly the de¿-
nition of exquisite — ¿nely
detailed and executed with
a highly developed sense of
craftsmanship.”
Fairy worlds
As a child, a trip to the li-
brary was an adventure, said
Greaver, who was raised in
Maine and Michigan.
For him and his two young-
er siblings, picture books —
like Jane Werner’s The Giant
Golden Book of Elves and
Fairies (1951), illustrated by
Garth Williams (who also il-
lustrated “Stuart Little” and
“Charlotte’s Web”) — “had a
lot of importance in our little
lives,” he said.
Greaver’s favorite stories
were about fairies, and be-
fore long he started drawing
them. Back then, his work
was “quite primitive, as you
might expect,” he said. But,
as he matured, his art shifted
away from fairies, “which is
a normal part of growing up,”
he said.
A 2004 visit to Faer-
ieworlds, the annual festival
held in Oregon that celebrates
all things fairy, drew him back
into the fairy realm, which he
had begun to miss, he said.
Until then, he had visual-
ized fairies in only a two-di-
mensional space. “It wasn’t
real physical depth because
paintings are Àat. It was more
like psychological or emotion-
al depth.”
Suddenly, though, he was
surrounded by people, includ-
ing some cosplayers (“cos-
tume players”), who took
their enthusiasm for fairies to
a different level through their
arts-and-crafts work. That was
the genesis of his ideas for
three-dimensional fairy art, he
said.
“The tricky thing about
fairies is, that word means a
lot of different things to a lot
of different people,” he said.
YouTube users can watch
fairies that range from glisten-
ing Japanese anime creations
to “computer generated Bar-
bie Dolls with wings, from gi-
ant entertainment corporations
that talk like girls at the mall,”
he said. “A lot of it is very far
removed from the original
source material.”
Greaver identi¿es two ba-
sic kinds of fairies: the pretty,
romantic “girlie girl” fairies
with gossamer wings, and the
wingless creatures of ancient
folklore that tend to be danger-
ous and unpredictable. He has
studied both kinds and blends
the two in his artwork, he said.
ERICK BENGEL PHOTO
Peter Greaver’s “Daydream House,” in the foreground, and “Amber House” are two of the
nine fairy houses on display at the Cannon Beach Gallery. Both are priced at $1,200.
Sense of wonder
Greaver, a part-time Can-
non Beach resident who
spends most of his time liv-
ing in Portland, has been
“drawing and painting since
I could hold a crayon or a
paintbrush,” he said. “But, I
think, growing up in a fam-
ily of artists, I stayed with it
more than the average kid.”
His parents, Hanne and
Harry Greaver, own the
Greaver Gallery on South
Hemlock Street, where Peter
Greaver sells his artwork.
Though “Fairy Houses” is
an all-sculpture show, Peter
Greaver de¿nes himself pri-
marily as a painter. He pro-
duces a great deal of tradi-
tional pieces for the general
market — landscapes, Àow-
ers, cats, abstract decorative
art, etc. — and does custom
portraits of people and pets.
From his late teens to
early 20s, Peter Greaver at-
tended the Kalamazoo Insti-
tute of Arts in Kalamazoo,
Mich., then Pratt Institute
in Brooklyn. He earned his
bachelor of ¿ne arts de-
gree in Chinese landscape
painting at the Museum Art
School (now the Northwest
College of Art) in Portland.
His work is featured in the
Portland Art Museum’s
Rental Sales Gallery.
ERICK BENGEL PHOTO
Peter Greaver, recipient of Cannon Beach’s 2013-14 Indi-
vidual Artist Grant, fashioned nine fairy cottages for his
grant project. He is having a joint exhibition with painter
Carl Annala at the Cannon Beach Gallery through Jan. 25.
Greaver, who also makes
jewelry, grew up playing
electric guitar, his rock mu-
sic ranging from “very soft
to very hard,” he said, add-
ing that he’s barely picked
up his guitar in the last year
since “the fairy houses kind
of took over my life.”
The sculptures don’t just
express his personal inter-
est in fairies but a desire to
share the sense of wonder he
has always felt for the earth
and the magic that may re-
side in it. If fewer people
took nature for granted, “I
think that would be a good
thing,” he said.
ERICK BENGEL PHOTO
“Spiderweb Summer House,”
a mixed-media fairy house
created by Peter Greaver, is
selling for $2,000 at the Can-
non Beach Gallery.
Coast Happenings Calendar
YOUR GUIDE TO MUSIC, ART, COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL EVENTS UP AND DOWN THE COAST
Friday, Jan. 2
Monday, Jan. 5
January Jazz
Burgers & Jam
7 p.m., Cannon Beach History Cen-
ter, 1387 S. Spruce St., Cannon Beach,
503-436-9301,
www.cbhistory.org,
$10 adults, $2 children. World-re-
nowned jazz guitarist John Stowell
will ring in the New Year with his
introspective jazz music and some
holiday classics. Seating is limited and
complimentary refreshments will be
provided.
6 p.m., American Legion Post 168, 1216
S. Hemlock St., Cannon Beach, 503-
436-2973. The legion offers burgers and
music every Monday.
Saturday, Jan. 3
“Red Riding Hood”
Noon, Astor Street Opry Company, 129
W. Bond St., Astoria, 503-791-6259, www.
astorstreetoprycompany.com, $35, 6 to 13.
The Astor Street Opry Company will cast
for its Children’s Winter Theater produc-
tion of “The Real Story of Little Red Riding
Hood.” This full-length musical includes
parts for up to 20 children in grades one to
six. Scholarships are available. Rehearsals
begin Jan. 5.
Artist Reception
5 p.m., Cannon Beach Gallery, 1064 S.
Hemlock St., Cannon Beach, 503-436-
0744, www.cannonbeacharts.org. The
Cannon Beach Gallery will host an artist
reception for Peter Greaver, winner of the
2014 Individual Artist Grant. Greaver will
exhibit his yearlong project of “Fairy Hous-
es,” mixed media and three-dimensional
work. Painter Carl Annala will also exhibit
a series of forest paintings to accompany
Greavers’ work.
Sunday, Jan. 4
Brad Griswold
6 p.m., Sweet Basil’s Café, 271 N.
Hemlock St., Cannon Beach, 503-
436-1539, www.cafesweetbasils.com,
no cover, 21 and older. Every Sunday,
Brad Griswold offers a night of folk
and bluegrass on banjo, guitar and
mandolin.
Evensong
6 p.m., Cannon Beach Commu-
nity Church, 132 E. Washington
St., Cannon Beach, 503-436-1222.
Evensong features Jennifer Gooden-
berger (piano) and Wes Wahrmund
(guitar, flute and clarinet), medi-
tative songs, Psalms, readings and
quiet reflection.
Tuesday, Jan. 6
ENCORE Lunch Bunch
12:30 p.m., South Jetty Dining Room
& Bar, 1015 Pacific Drive, Hammond,
50 and older. This month’s topic will be
Western Zodiac. Guests are welcome to
attend and learn about ENCORE. For in-
formation about ENCORE, call Lynne at
503-738-3044 or Reta at 503-717-2297.
City Council Meeting
7 p.m., Cannon Beach City Hall, 163
E. Gower St., Cannon Beach, 503-436-
1581, www.ci.cannon-beach.or.us.
operators meet every Thursday. Ven-
ues change on the first Thursday of the
month, call for information.
Dallas Williams
6 p.m., Sweet Basil’s Café, 271 N. Hem-
lock St., Cannon Beach, 503-436-1539,
www.thewinebarcannonbeach.com, no
cover, 21 and older. Dallas Williams
plays folk music and Americana every
Thursday.
Floating Glass Balls
7 p.m., Bill’s Tavern, 188 N. Hemlock
St., Cannon Beach, 503-436-2202,
www.billstavernandbrewhouse.com,
no cover. Every Thursday, the Floating
Glass Balls plays a blend of bluegrass,
Caribbean, folk, swing, contemporary
and country.
Friday, Jan. 9
Pacific Rim Games
Wednesday, Jan. 7
Learn Everything French
6 p.m., Seaside Public Library, 1131
Broadway, 503-338-2402, www.clatsop-
cc.edu/community-education, $75. Pia
Shepherd will engage beginning and in-
termediate French students to mental-
ly visualize and explore the sights and
sounds of French culture. This class is
taught on Wednesdays to March 11.
The Coconuts
6 p.m., Sweet Basil’s Café, 271 N. Hem-
lock St., Cannon Beach, 503-436-1539,
www.thewinebarcannonbeach.com, no
cover, 21 and older. Bill Hayes, Dave
Quinton and Gary Keiski play swing,
jazz, country, bluegrass and folk every
Wednesday.
Belly Dance Class
6:30 p.m., Encore Dance Studios, 3631 N.
Hwy. 101, Gearhart, 503-717-1637, www.
getyoudancing.com, $49/month for one
class, $75/month for both classes. This
all-level, 45-minute class gives students the
understanding of basic belly dance tech-
niques, posturing, language, move execu-
tion and strengthening.
Thursday, Jan. 8
Ham Radio Breakfast
8 a.m., Finn’s Fish House, 227 Broad-
way, Seaside, 503-738-9692. Ham radio
3 p.m., Seaside High School, 1901 N.
Holladay Drive, Seaside, 503-738-5586,
www.cowapaleague.org. Join Seaside
High School and support the varsity
wrestling team as it takes on 11 teams
at the Pacific Rim Varsity Wrestling In-
vitational Championships.
CULPA Episode 2
7 p.m., Hoffman Center, 594 Laneda
Ave., Manzanita, 503-368-3846, www.
culpa-online.com. Arch Cape Studios
presents the second episode of the web
series CULPA with the premiere of
“Edgar,” featuring the Hoffman Center’s
former Life Drawing Skeleton and a
cast of locals. Go online to see a trail-
er of “Edgar” or watch Episode 1 “The
Pilot.”
Saturday, Jan. 10
Anne Weiss
Haystack Lectures
7 p.m., Hoffman Center, 594 Laneda
Ave., Manzanita, 503-368-3846, www.
hoffmanblog.org, $12 to $20. Anne
Weiss will perform contemporary folk,
blues, acoustic funk, gospel and a few
smatterings of classical phrasing and
Latin rhythms.
7 p.m., Cannon Beach Library, 131 N.
Hemlock St., Cannon Beach, 503-436-
1391,
www.cannonbeachlibrary.org,
free. Charlie Plybon of the Surfrider
Foundation will give a presentation on
“A Rising Tide: Coping with a Changing
Coast.”
Sunday, Jan. 11
Thursday, Jan. 15
NAMI Meeting
Ham Radio Breakfast
2 p.m., Seaside Public Library, 1131
Broadway, Seaside, www.nami.org. The
National Alliance on Mental Illness
welcomes anyone who has a friend or
family member that suffers from a men-
tal illness. NAMI membership is not re-
quired to attend. For information, call
Myra Kero at 503-738-6165.
8 a.m., Finn’s Fish House, 227 Broad-
way, Seaside, 503-738-9692.
Brad Griswold
Writers at Work
6 p.m., Sweet Basil’s Café, 271 N. Hem-
lock St., Cannon Beach, 503-436-1539,
www.cafesweetbasils.com, no cover, 21
and older.
Monday, Jan. 12
Burgers & Jam
6 p.m., Sweet Basil’s Café, 271 N. Hem-
lock St., Cannon Beach, 503-436-1539,
www.thewinebarcannonbeach.com, no
cover, 21 and older.
6 p.m., Seaside Public Library, 1131
Broadway, Seaside, 503-738-6742,
www.seasidelibrary.org. This group
meets every third Thursday of the
month and is designed for writers to
meet and share ideas with some of the
area’s authors.
Floating Glass Balls
6 p.m., American Legion Post 168, 1216
S. Hemlock St., Cannon Beach, 503-
436-2973.
7 p.m., Bill’s Tavern, 188 N. Hemlock
St., Cannon Beach, 503-436-2202,
www.billstavernandbrewhouse.com, no
cover.
Tuesday, Jan. 13
Jorjett Strumme Talk
Alzheimer’s Support
2 p.m., 2002 S.E. Chokeberry Ave.,
Warrenton. Support groups provide
loved ones an opportunity to share with
others, receive support and learn about
the different characteristics of Alzhei-
mer’s disease. For information, call
Grace Bruseth at 503-738-6412.
Pacific Rim Games
City Council
10 a.m., Seaside High School, 1901 N.
Holladay Drive, Seaside, 503-738-5586,
www.cowapaleague.org.
5:30 p.m., Cannon Beach City Hall, 163
E. Gower St., Cannon Beach, 503-436-
1581, www.ci.cannon-beach.or.us. This
is a work session.
Northwest Author Series
2 p.m., Cannon Beach Library, 131 N.
Hemlock St., Cannon Beach, 503-436-
1391,
www.cannonbeachlibrary.org,
free. Oregon coast author Matt Love
will discuss his newest published book,
Rose City Heist, a true crime tale that
almost wasn’t. A Q&A session and book
signing will follow.
Dallas Williams
Wednesday, Jan. 14
The Coconuts
6 p.m., Sweet Basil’s Café, 271 N. Hem-
lock St., Cannon Beach, 503-436-1539,
www.thewinebarcannonbeach.com, no
cover, 21 and older.
7 p.m., Seaside Public Library, 1131
Broadway, Seaside, 503-738-6742,
www.seasidelibrary.org, free. Jorjett
Strumme will give a talk about her
move from Seaside to Hollywood and
back and her experiences working as a
fashion designer for the stars.
Friday, Jan. 16
Golf Tourney
Noon shotgun start, Gearhart Golf
Links, 1157 N. Marion Ave., Gear-
hart, 503-738-3538, www.gearhart-
golflinks.com, $45 to $55, $15 cart
rental, 21 and older. Find a partner
and start the year with a two-player
scramble while tasting and learning
about some of the new winter warm-
ers from the McMenamins distilleries
during the “Spirits Tour” golf tourna-
ment. There will be samples stationed
on the course for tastings.