I walk past this small park on my way to work every day. It is on the south side of King Street East, number 115 to be exact. Since 1981, there has been a continuous display of contemporary sculpture.
This is the latest. “Bear Hunt” by Dean Drever.
According to the artist’s statement these “acid-orange beasts move in unison through a wall”.
Their “movement signifies change, migration, transition”.
Bear Hunt will be on display until April 1, 2010. Please stop and see it if you are in the neighbourhood.
I am a floral designer living in a tiny condo in downtown Toronto, Canada's largest city. But on the weekend, I am a gardener/frustrated architect trying to keep up with a 3/4 acre garden in Owen Sound, Ontario, a warm (to Canadians, Zone 5b, and a cold (to Americans, Zone 4b) garden.
Green Theatre 
Barbara said,
December 7, 2009 @ 7:41 AM
Those bears are amazingly….psychedelic? Wonder what mushrooms that artist was eating. Thanks for sharing them with us.
kilbournegrove said,
December 7, 2009 @ 6:49 PM
Barbara, aren’t they wild, It certainly is eye catching from the street.
fairegarden said,
December 7, 2009 @ 7:50 AM
Shockingly bright orange color, is the artist making a comment about hunters, who wear the bright orange gear? Or something else entirely. Public art adds so much to the civilization of human life, how wonderful for them to showcase it and lucky you to get to walk past it every day. 🙂
Frances
kilbournegrove said,
December 7, 2009 @ 6:52 PM
Frances, that is brilliant, I never connected the colour with hunting, but I bet that is what he had in mind. Public art is great, there is so much of it where I live downtown.
Joy said,
December 7, 2009 @ 8:13 AM
Deborah .. I have yet to see a bear of that colour ? LOL .. Actually I am an orange fan anyways so this is right up my ally ?
I like it .. for some reason it touches a cord some where in me .. and yes ! I think reasonable public art with a common thread (not too convoluted and “out there” ) is a GOOD thing for us to see !
Joy
kilbournegrove said,
December 7, 2009 @ 6:53 PM
Joy, I like it too. I hope people appreciate it, more public art would be a good thing.
miss m said,
December 7, 2009 @ 9:29 AM
Interesting to say the least ! I love the concept. Not sure about the colour, though.
kilbournegrove said,
December 7, 2009 @ 6:55 PM
The colour is certainly “eye catching” . I love the concept as well.
Anna said,
December 7, 2009 @ 6:53 PM
Mmmmm – not quite sure what to say but it’s definitely unique !
kilbournegrove said,
December 7, 2009 @ 6:58 PM
Anna, it is unique. I think that a lot of art is supposed to make you think!
The Garden Ms. S said,
December 8, 2009 @ 12:14 AM
I quite like it! I am a huge fan of public art. There’s a sculpture downtown here that looks to me like a cross between John A MacDonald (as portrayed on the ten dollar bill) and the snufalufagus. It always make me smile.
The orange colour is playful. Maybe it’s the mom in me, but these orange bears look like delightful characters from a children’s book doing something a little magical. Nice ivy covered wall, too!
Overall, very charming.
kilbournegrove said,
December 8, 2009 @ 6:30 AM
I don’t know why I keep thinking of Narnia when I look at this. I feel like if I jumped on ones back I would disappear into the wall as well.
catmint said,
December 8, 2009 @ 7:12 AM
love it – creative and fun.
kilbournegrove said,
December 8, 2009 @ 8:15 AM
Thanks Catmint, I thought they were very cool. Everyone likes the bears, the colour is not as positive. It will be interesting to see them in the snow.
james said,
December 8, 2009 @ 10:30 PM
I wouldn’t have known that they are bears until you have mentioned it.
Its a bit too sharp a colour tone for the enviornment don’t you think?
james said,
December 9, 2009 @ 1:45 AM
And also thanks for visiting my blog & comments!
kilbournegrove said,
December 9, 2009 @ 8:40 AM
It was a pleasure.
kilbournegrove said,
December 9, 2009 @ 8:40 AM
It is a very sharp colour, I think it will stand out even more when the snow arrives.
wendy said,
December 10, 2009 @ 2:54 PM
Love the bears! I love orange too – but not sure I’m crazy about the orange bears! Either way, I do support art in public places. Thanks for sharing!
kilbournegrove said,
December 10, 2009 @ 11:43 PM
You are so welcome Wendy. I wonder if the artist had some kind of hidden meaning in making them orange. Everyone seems to love the bears, but the orange is putting them off. Public art is great, always a source of debate.