A surprising sport has emerged as the crowd favorite at this summer’s Olympics. Beating out even basketball in the ratings game, the once niche sport of
archery has seen a spike in interest, thanks to
its appearance in three recent theatrical releases:
Brave,
The Avengers, and, of course,
The Hunger Games. Looking ahead, expect to see new archery-themed entertainment, archery classes, and even archery-inspired design all hitting the bullseye.
Arrow: Smallville fans who are still mourning the show’s end should be pleased this October when The CW debuts another DC Comics adaptation. Based on
Green Arrow,
Arrow offers a timely riff on the bow-and-arrow choreography for which audiences are expressing an appetite unseen since the vampire trend first exploded. The show, which stars Stephen Arnell (
Heartland,
Hung) as a billionaire playboy living a double life as a vigilante archer, recently received the ultimate seal of approval:
applause at a Comic-Con screening. Of course, with a lead whose
abs are showcased as if they were a set piece, comic book geeks won’t be the only ones tuning in.
Archery Camp: Braided hair isn’t the only movement that
Hunger Games heroine Katniss Everdeen set off. Not content to stop at plaited locks when it comes to emulating their favorite dystopian fighter, tween girls are also tracing their fictional idol by
flocking in droves to archery camps this summer. From
Washington, DC to
Los Angeles, archery is experiencing a surge in interest that many anticipate will endure into the school year. (Indeed, we wouldn’t be surprised to see backyard archery sets topping holiday wish lists come winter.) And it’s not just The Disney Channel set that’s drawing their bows; older adults, too, are
hitting the lanes to find their inner warrior.
Archery Decor: Art/design team
Fredericks and Mae crafts gorgeous handmade home design accents, many of which have a playground-meets-summer camp vibe. Among their collection of
star-spangled balsa gliders,
striped clay marbles, and
pressed flower kites is an ongoing series of
exquisitely painted arrows that evoke a sunny afternoon of taking aim at a primary colored target on the lawn. Each one is unique, with varying colorways of striped bands encircling the feather-studded wooden sticks. These are strictly luxe design
objet, however—gold and silver are even listed in the materials used—so they’re best left displayed on a mantle or gathered in a vase.
