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Grizzlies gather in Cody
By Laurel Eatherly
This document was published online on Tuesday, June 24, 2008
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| Haley Register (right) of Clarksville, Tenn., touches a sculpted bee on the nose of “Thunderbear” while Elaine Wright of Cody watches during the public showing of “A Gathering of Grizzlies,” on the lawn of the Park County Complex on Saturday. “Thunderbear” was painted by Mary Ringer and Dorci Newman Tremblay of Montana. (Photo by Ken Blackbird) |
The 25 fiberglass grizzlies created by area artists made their debut Saturday afternoon during a reception at Park County Complex.
Immediately after the event, attended by more than 400 people, the grizzlies were transported to various Cody locations for display. Even before all the grizzlies were in place Saturday night, passersby of all ages were stopping to marvel at the larger-than-life art.
“I didn't realize it was going to be so huge,” said Dagmar Rohde when she saw the grizzly seated in front of Yellowstone Gift Shop.
Some had a clear favorite while others found it difficult to choose just one.
Joani and Dr. Travis Graham of Cody pulled their three children in a wagon and took time to stop and examine each bear.
“I like the one in front of Sunlight Sports,” Joani said, referring to “Southpaw's Barely Visible” by Bonnie Capron-Decker, painted with the scenes of the four seasons.
But once they continued farther down Sheridan Avenue they changed their minds.
“We have a new favorite,” Joani said later. Their new pick was “This is Grizzly Country” by Ty Barhaug displayed at Big Horn Galleries and painted with scenes of a campfire.
“You can almost feel the fire,” she added.
Carol Peterson of Powell was impressed with “Head in the Clouds Over Yellowstone” by Tom McCoy, seated in front of Reindeer Ranch.
“What a cool and beautiful idea,” Peterson said. “Instead of the bear being in the landscape, the bear is the landscape.”
Sarah Growney and Jeannie Stuart of Cody admired “Bear Bones” by Lana Perrotti and Erika Tenjack on display near La Comida.
“This is one of the more different bears,” Growney said.
She speculated the symbolism of the skeletal bear surrounded with wildflowers as grizzly bears come off the endangered species list.
“They could have gone extinct but they didn't because we nurtured them,” she said.
Growney and Stuart were most excited about what the bear fundraiser means for the youth sections of the three county libraries. The bears will be auctioned during library grand opening activities Oct. 4.
“We moms need a place to take our kids,” Growney added.
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