In Your Community MAIN STREET PROGRAMS
BOYERTOWN Bear Fever in Boyertown By Ellen Martignetti, Main Street Manager, Building a Better Boyertown
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oyertown loves its bears. The school district’s mascot is a bear. Bear statues are everywhere in downtown Boyertown. The bear statues are part of a public art installation called The Bear Fever Project. The project is the vision of Jane Stahl, a retired Boyertown Area Senior High English teacher, and her husband, Paul, a graphic designer. “We wanted to bring the community together through participation in a community art project that was inspired by Chicago’s 1999 art installation featuring over three hundred life-size fiberglass cows and Washington, D.C.’s art exhibition of 2002 entitled ‘Party Animals.’ ‘Party Animals’ consisted of 100 elephants and 100 donkeys that had been customized in various whimsical ways by some of the region’s artists,” said Jane.
Twenty years later the collection features over 90 bears created by more than 40 artists. These colorful, fun, large fiberglass bears are prominently displayed in front of businesses that sponsored a bear as well as in private residences. Each bear has a special theme. To celebrate 20 years of Bear Fever, the Stahls have planned some unique events. Studio B Art Gallery will feature “Artists of the Bears,” a special exhibit highlighting artwork by the artists who painted the bears. The opening reception is Friday, May 2, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The show will run until Tuesday, June 24. For more information visit www.studioBBB.org. I n a d d i t i o n t o S t u d i o B ’s e x h i b i t , there will be several bear-themed activities around Boyertown throughout June, July and August. Visit www.bearfever.org for more information. Join us in Boyertown and catch Bear Fever! CQ Photo by Muzo Media Productions Paul and Jane Stahl and their dog, Ginger, in front of the Bear Fever-themed bear.
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