The most memorable art is art that manages to find its way within the day-to-day lives of its viewers. This may take the form of an inspirational painting or perhaps a majestic fountain. Unfortunately, unless one is an art aficionado, one seldom encounters such art in one's daily life.
Enter the Spirit Bears.
Standing seven feet tall, these statues are life-size canvases shaped in the form of BC's own Kermode bear. They were created as a charity project that would not only raise funds for disabled children, but would also raise cultural awareness and promote BC art in the Vancouver community. Springing from the brushes of multiple artists, each bear captured a different style and theme. Some were comic, such as "Darth Bear", the bear in the Darth Vader outfit. Others, such as "Nazzy Bear"or "Winning Gold" captured BC pride by giving tribute to hockey greats. To the right is "Fable Bear." "Fable Bear" is not only a work of art, but it can also be said to be a literary piece because it holds the familiar bedtime story of "The Butcher, The Baker and The Candlestick Maker". This bear is unique because it is the only bear that manages to please the eye and tell a story at the same time.
Some of the most artistic bears were those that depicted the beauty of BC's natural scenery. The bear on the left is one such piece, and is entitled "Peace and Harmony." This title bears strong resemblance to the themes in "The Two Sisters" by Pauline Johnson, which are Peace and Brotherhood. Both works are based on Aboriginal legends, and while they may be completely different art forms, they both manage to express the same theme. In "The Two Sisters", the story of two sisters inviting a warring clan to feast with them does indeed show Peace and Brotherhood. "Peace and Harmony" in the meanwhile promotes these themes through the images in its art. Peace is shown through differing black and white bears joining together to form a whole. Harmony is expressed within the balance of the mountains, the trees, humans and the animals.While most of these bears are no longer on display, some bears, as well as their predecessors, the Orcas, are still standing tall in the streets of Vancouver. If you ever stop by, try to find one. These bears are not only pleasing to the eye, they have a tale to tell. And not only that, they too have found a place within the stories of many Vancouverites. To some, they may have only provided a few minutes of amusement, but to others they have provided inspiration and through the charities they have affected lives. This is art not forgotten.
