2024 Artful Bears

We have a special focus on conservation this year at the 25th Anniversary Black Bear Film Festival!

Bear designs related to nature and conservation would be highly appreciated!

The Artful Bear tradition is a favorite in Milford as well with the festival-goers!

It’s hard not to love the Artful Bears - so much care, creativity and work go into them! Each Artful Bear is lovingly crafted from a foam hunting target into a piece of original artwork to be enjoyed around town for the weeks leading up to the festival. The Artful Bears are a cherished part of the Black Bear Film Festival’s legacy.

Artful Bears are created by all levels of ability and skill sets. Professional artists down to art-lovers and novices have all created bears.

We’re so thankful to all the amazing artists who support Black Bear Film Festival by creating an Artful Bear!

Ursa Eos by Frank L. Dattolo

Frank L. Dattolo designed the 2023 Black Bear Film Festival poster. This year he is featuring Ursa Eos, a goddess bear symbolizing dawn and the festival’s 25th Silver Anniversary, the artwork includes 25 flowers shaped like hands representing "I love you" in American Sign Language. As a member of the Deaf community, Frank uses his piece to celebrate the festival's legacy and the universal language of cinema.

Chief Tamany (Chief of the Turtle Clan by Kim Glodek)

Chief Tamany  (Chief of the Turtle Clan”) by Kim Glodek was inspired by the Lenni Lenape Indians who inhabited this area. “I was gifted a recycled standing bear, which came to me covered in pink ribbons and women’s photos.  As I scraped them off, it became emotional.  I thought about my own mother, who died from breast cancer at 42 when I was 15. I feel this Bear came to me for a reason. I’ve included a pink ribbon on this bear in memory of my mom, Kay, and all of the women’s photos that I removed, with honor to all. I’ve participated in many community art projects, including my first time in the 2023 Black Bear Film Festival with the “Bearoness”.

The Tree of Us by Nancee Schaub

I love to paint, draw, knit, and craft. In addition to art as a hobby, within my professional life as a School Counselor and Special educator, I have worked on many artistic projects with my students.  Currently, I am a stay-at-home mother to my 2 children, and their main teacher as we cyber – home school.

The bear wears a tree and sunshine and beautiful blue skies and was created to represent the many layers that make up the human experience; all of the diversity and beauty that is within us. The leaves of his tree represent all the different “communities” human beings belong to. Creating a bear for BBFF is an honor and such a great experience for me.  Since my children were very little, they have looked forward, each fall, to our “bear hunt” through Milford to find and learn about all the cool decorated bears.  We are so happy to have ours included in this year’s bears.

2024 Artful Bear Designs

Millie from the Borough by Reggie Maher

‘Millie from the Borough’ has been painted to show some of our local burrowing and lake wildlife. My design was inspired by the conservation theme to conserve natural habitats in our forests and lakes.

Mira by Liz Steen

Mira, Liz Steen's Artful Bear, is adorned with a mosaic of tiny mirror tiles to create a Mirror Ball effect.  The artist, who has created 2 other mosaic bears for past festivals, wanted to celebrate the Silver Anniversary of the Black Bear Film Festival and loved the idea of the many mirrors reflecting on all the people, places, films, conversations and connections of the annual event.  Mira's name means "look!" in Spanish and she invites everyone to come see what this year’s festival has to offer.

Minisink Maxkw by Ali McMenamin

“Max" abbreviation for Bear (Maxkw) from the local Lenape People, was created just outside Milford in my studio in the Traces of Lattimore Community in Dingmans Ferry. Inspiration came from our beautiful lake, forest and many acres of preserved land that surround us and where awesome wildlife abounds. I chose the design from the Minisink (a Lenape Clan) who lived on the land and celebrated nature in this pristine area long before us. The designs reflect what we are still fortunate enough to experience here in the mountains!

Topo Teddy by Sara Neral of PEEC Director of Education

The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is a non-profit organization with the mission of advancing environmental education, sustainable living, and appreciation for nature through hands-on learning. Located in Dingmans Ferry within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, PEEC has been a place of exploration, learning, and fun for over 50 years! This bear is a visual representation of what makes this region of the Delaware River watershed so special to all who live and visit here. PEEC’s work focuses on providing educational programming and events that connect students, families, and our local communities to the region’s natural resources. Visit PEEC’s website www.PEEC.org to learn more and join in on exciting upcoming programs.

Alliance “Alli” by Robyn Oakes, Jesse Valle & Gretchen Pollack

Alli wears the progress pride flag on one side, and the ally pride flag on her other. Her flags are surrounded by the handprints of some of Pike county’s local lgbtqia+ community and their fierce allies. Our artists are mother bears themselves, who channeled their pride into this project. Alli was inspired by all the amazing youth that bring diversity and progress to our town, and the allies who walk with them.

Ursa by Brian and Carter Oldham

Father and son artists, Brian and Carter Oldham wanted to embrace both of the themes for this year, 25 years of film and nature conservation. Inspired by finding new ways to create together, we challenged ourselves to take on the Artful Bear Project.  It was a memorable journey for us both from initial design to finished piece.  We are proud to present this bear to the Black Bear Film Festival as they celebrate their 25th Anniversary.