Click the tiny map at right to find all the bears online!
or, Download the map for printing (PDF file)
BEAR In MIND The BLACK BEAR FILM FESTIVAL BEARS
For the past six years Milford residents have witnessed the annual migration of the painted bear sculptures for the Black Bear Film Festival, and it’s time once again for the unveiling of the bears!
| The 2004 Painted Bear Sculptures during the Black Bear Film Festival |
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The highly anticipated Artistic Bears Project is an integral and cherished part of the independent film festival, which takes place this year October 14-16. A map of the painted bear locations is available for download. Families have made a summer tradition of using the map as a treasure hunt with their kids to find all the bears.
The life-sized bear sculptures begin as 3-D fiberglass hunting targets, either standing or on all fours, which are then transformed from black templates into masterpieces by area artists. The finished products, ranging from humorous to darling to absolutely beautiful, are displayed around the town of Milford for nearly three months (thanks to the generosity of local sponsoring businesses), after which the bears are auctioned in October at the film festival. This hotly competitive silent auction, a source of many thousands of dollars, is a prime fundraiser for the festival and its community-based projects.
"The artists are incredibly creative with the original bear figure," says Festival Executive Director Nancy Pitcher. "They can paint it, cut it up, rearrange the pieces, add all sorts of imaginative and alternative materials – it just has to be waterproof and impermeable to the outdoor elements. They've proven that the sky's the limit."
A total of twelve bears have been selected to honor this year’s festivities. Nine artists return from creating bear sculptures for past festivals, along with ten other artists who are designing bears for the first time. Four of the artists are working as solo acts, but the others have joined forces to create combined visions.
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Carol Ann Buchanan with last year's "Napolean Bearnaparte." This year she is creating "Kayak Bear". |
Appropriate to the recreation that the Delaware River and other local waterways provide, veteran artist Carol Ann Buchanan brings her "Kayak Bear" to the 2005 lineup. Last year Buchanan crafted the wonderfully inventive "Napoleon Bearnaparte." "Kayak Bear" is sponsored by Vannatta Realty and will be on display there at 204 East Harford Street, Milford.
For the second consecutive year, Dr. Ralph and Carol Bowman of Milford have constructed a painted bear sculpture. Their 2004 creation was "Theda Beara As Cleopatra." With another film theme, the two bring "Victor, Victoria" to this year’s festival, which is sponsored by and stationed at The Muir House Inn and Restaurant at 102 Route 2001.
Another veteran at bear sculpting, Dale Giambra-Currie, has been with the festival for the past three years. Her previous entries, "Roamin Bear" (2002), "Lions, Tigers, and Bears, Oh My" (2004), and "Amelia Bearhart" (2004) have led up to this year’s "Fabearge Bear." Giambra-Currie is a Sussex County resident with a degree in fine arts from Upsala College. "Fabearge Bear" is sponsored by and displayed at Pike County Licensing at 115 West Harford Street.
Painted Bear Project Coordinator Carol Baker of Dingmans Ferry returns this year with the simple yet charming "Pole-R Bear," complete with fishing pole and fish. Last year, Carol created "Picasso Bear" in modernist mode and had a Native American theme with her lovely fetish-inspired "Zuni Bear" in 2003. When the scheduled bear for this slot was unexpectedly not completed, Carol jumped in to quickly create "Pole-R Bear" in a heroic effort for the Festival!
| Veteran artist Giambra -Currie with her "Amelia Bearhart" from last year. For 2005, she has crafted "Fabearge Bear." Her son, artist Robert Currie, will also be unveiling his first bear this year. |
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John Kirslis holds the record for the number of years participating as a bear sculptor; prior bears include "Man and Bear" (2001), "Tabula Rasa" (2002), "Bear of Glass" (2003), and last year’s "Bear That Broke All Records." As a noted jewelry designer (formerly with Kenneth Jay Lane) and resident of Dingmans Ferry, his widely admired inventive use of alternative materials in creating bear sculptures continues with "Bearly There," sponsored by and to be located at Biondo Investment Advisors at 544 Route 6 and 209.
Eight new artists encompass the 2005 Black Bear Film Festival painted bear sculptors.
Experienced as a set decorator for film and TV in New York City for thirty years, Robert Carpenter applies his skill to his bear, "Bearnice," which he calls his "recycling diva." Carpenter is a California native with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa and post grad work at Parsons School of Design in New York City. Carpenter spent two years as a graphic and scenic designer for summer stock and as a graphic and interior designer in Puerto Rico for sixteen years. His experience has yielded the environmentally-conscious "Bearnice, the Recycling Diva," which is sponsored by Century 21/Roy Hull at 205 East Harford Street.
The son of the now four-time bear sculptor Giambra-Currie, Robert Currie joins his mother’s tradition this year. Currie, who recently was graduated from college as a visual artist, brings the festival "Out There Bear." His entry is sponsored by is in front of Dawny’s Soup Creations & More at 311 West Harford Street.
Mother and daughter Tracy Maricone and Allie Carbone have teamed up to produce a darling bear on all fours called "Lolita." Milford resident Maricone has been decorative painting for five years and has always wanted to paint a bear for the festival. Her daughter paints with her often and assisted with the creation of "Lolita," sponsored by and positioned at S & M Management (Jess Oil) at 522 Route 6 and 209.
Another dually-created bear has been designed by JoAnn Sadowski and her sister Lisa Hermann. Sadowski is the owner of Choc-o-lat, a Milford-based chocolate company. Hermann, a graduate of Hunter College and Bank Street College of Education with a Master of Science degree, is an administrator of a high school art department. Their bear takes the name of Sadowski’s business; the luscious "Choc-o-lat" is sponsored by and sits on the porch at Cliff Park Inn at 155 Cliff Park Road.
Another highly anticipated newcomer team pits the collaborative efforts of Dori Tighe and Cathy Neri. Tighe has roots in Milford going back for generations. A labor and delivery nurse in New York City, she indulges her inner artist with needlework, painting, sewing, and gardening, though her forte is fiber arts. Milford resident Neri also has a strong interest in quilting. Her award-winning work has been exhibited at many national and regional shows and galleries. The pair’s bear, called "Ursa Minor," is sponsored by Wilkins & Associates Real Estate, Inc., and is located outside their new offices at the Hyde Park Building at 310 West Harford Street. Black Bear is also delighted to welcome Wilkins & Associates as a major new festival sponsor.
Reprising a visit from the 2002 Festival is "Great Spirit Bear" by Judy Peters, an artist who is half Native American Indian, and resides in Milford, PA. "Great Spirit Bear" has a headdress of feathers, a necklace, moccasins, and a drum. On the drum is painted a fish that represents the Delaware River which in return represents the food for the Black Bear and the American Bald Eagle, which flies over the Black Bear's head. This represents the American Bald Eagles that live along the Delaware River. As a return guest, "Great Spirit Bear" will not be reauctioned this year.
The last bear, however, will remain a perpetual part of the festival instead of being auctioned off. "Celebrity Bear" is slated to be carted around to fairs and other local events to continually promote the Black Bear Film Festival. This excellent idea was dreamed up by Painted Bear Coordinator Carol Baker of Dingmans Ferry, who also made this year's "Pole-R Bear". She has teamed up this year with another former entrant, Rosemarie DeVries, to produce the festival-promoting bruin on all fours called "Celebrity Bear." DeVries created the "Biker Bear" in 2004 after discovering the Black Bear Film Festival when her husband Michael (owner of "Signs on Anything" in Branchville, NJ) designed the filmstrip ironwork that hangs outside the festival’s office. "Celebrity Bear" is sponsored by the Hotel Fauchere appears next door to it at 403 Broad Street.
The concept of painted sculptures being placed around town and city streets originated in Zurich with painted cows in 1998. In 2000, painted bear sculptures decorated the streets of Milford for the first ever Black Bear Film Festival. Many other painted animals adorn cities around the world; dolphins appear in Key West, ponies in New Mexico, huge fish in New Orleans, alligators in Miami, moose in Toronto, and pigs in Cincinnati, among countless other themes.
The bears are all part of the sixth annual Black Bear Film Festival, which takes place Thursday, October 13 through Sunday, October 16, 2005 in celebration of independent film and filmmaking, with many free films and lectures by industry insiders. All-encompassing Gold Passes and tickets for the Main Theatre go on sale on a first-come, first served basis in mid-September.
As a community-run event that attracts over 3000 attendees, the festival is always looking for sponsors and volunteers. Sponsorship opportunities this year start at as little as $100. For more information and breaking news, visit the Black Bear Film Festival website at www.blackbearfilm.com, or call the Festival Office at (570) 409-0909. The next volunteer meeting will be on Saturday, August 27 at 10:30am at the Ingeborg A. Biondo Building Community Room, 221 Broad Street, Milford. All are welcome to attend and help make the sixth Black Bear Film Festival another fabulous, exciting success.
Bear Locations & Sponsors (all in Milford, PA):
Bearly There – Biondo Investment Advisors, 544 Route 6 and 209
Bearnice, the Recycling Diva – Century 21/Roy Hull, 205 East Harford Street
Celebrity Bear – Hotel Fauchere, LLC., 403 Broad Street
Choc-o-lat – Cliff Park Inn, 155 Cliff Park Road
Fabearge Bear – Pike County Licensing, 115 West Harford Street
Kayak Bear – Vannatta Realty, 204 East Harford Street
Great Spirit Bear – Davis R. Chant Realtors, 106 East Harford Street
Lolita – S & M Management (Jess Oil), 522 Route 6 and 209
Out There Bear – Dawny’s Soup Creations & More, 311 West Harford Street
Pole-R Bear – Community Building Projects, LLC., Old Lumberyard, 115 Seventh Street
Ursa Minor – Wilkins & Associates Real Estate, Inc., 310 West Harford Street
Victor, Victoria – The Muir House Inn and Restaurant, 102 Route 2001
Click the tiny map to see all the bears online!
or, Download the map for printing (PDF file)
Bears from past years:
See all the 2004 Bears online on a clickable map.
See the 2003 Painted Bears
See the 2002 Painted Bears
