The Bears Have Returned to the Streets of Grants Pass!

pyrowngs (63)in #art • 7 years ago

The Bears Have Returned to the Streets of Grants Pass!

There are many cities/towns that have or have had public art programs where artists paint or embellish large fiberglass art sculptures. It all started with the "Cows on Parade" in Chicago. You can read all about it and some of the other various art programs that spun off from the first "Cows on Parade" program - at this link here. (really interesting article!)

In Grants Pass, the organization that is behind the "Bearfest" bears - is a bank - Evergreen Federal Bank. They put the bears out on display in the downtown area every summer. The bears are stored (during winter) at a warehouse called the "Bear Hotel" where people can go and take tours of the bears and other exhibits there. Tours are free to the public - by appointment.

Last summer I took photos of many of the bears. My daughter and her friend posed with many of the bears in these photos. This helps you get an idea of how large they are.

This year I got the amazing opportunity to work on one of the new bears!! There are 5 new bears this year, and they are all cubs (young bears - smaller). They will be "unveiled" to the public during the "Boatnik Parade" over the Memorial Day Weekend. However, the local newspaper already posted photos of them, and I was actually on the front page of the newspaper when they published that story! It was amazing!

The Five New Bears (I think I have the names right...(?):

"Club Cub" - in honor of the Boys & Girls Club

"Beary Tales Can Come True" - in honor of the Josephine County Libraries

"Super Hero Play Day" - in honor of the YMCA

"Graduation Bear" (Not sure if this one has a different name) - in honor of College Dreams/Josephine County Educational Fund

"Polar Peter Pumpkin Eater" - in honor of the Josephine County Food Bank & Raptor Creek Farm

I will be participating in the Boatnik Parade along with the bear sculpture I worked on. Some of the other artists will also be there, along with some of the people from the 5 local organizations that are represented by the bears (YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, Josephine County Libraries, Josephine County Food Bank & Raptor Creek Farm, and College Dreams/Josephine County Educational Fund). The bears will all be attached to a parade float for the parade. They will then be on display for this summer at the "Evergreen Federal Bank Park" next to the Taprock restaurant.

Here are my past posts showing the progress photos of creating the bear I worked on (from newest to oldest):