Bears go on parade in Anchorage

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Tyler Nordin removes the tarp that protected the Welcome Bear in the transportation to the stage in Townsquare for the Bear on Parade art debut on Friday, August 5, 2016. The Welcome Bear will be supervised all day until it is relocated at 9 p.m. Friday night, as it is not bolted into the stage. (Sarah Bell / Alaska Dispatch News)

The first of Anchorage's "Bears on Parade" statues went on display on Friday. The full-size fiberglass forms, painted in vivid colors and designs, are part of a project similar to the city's "Wild Salmon on Parade" of previous years and Chicago's "Cows on Parade," sponsored by the Anchorage Downtown Partnership and the Anchorage Bear Education Committee.Some are indoors, like "Bearnice" (or "Bear-nice," get it?), situated inside the Alaska Public Lands Information Center in the old Federal Building on Fourth Avenue, and "Ursus Diversity" in the lobby of Anchorage City Hall. Others are displayed outside.

"Big Scoop," painted by Gregory Solomon, is positioned outside Bear-ly Enough Ice Cream, at Fourth Avenue and E Street; the artist added a long tongue so the bear appears to be licking his lips. Dawn Geraty's "Forage," at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center near Portage, is actually in the enclosure with real brown bears.

Some of the bears have been painted by novices; Camp Fire kids painted "Bearnice" and Mountain View youth painted "Ursus Diversity." Others 'bear' the hand of experienced artists.

Annie Brace of Corso Graphic did the statue for the Great Land Trust seen at 715 L St. and named "This Land is Made for You and Me." It almost looks like a bear in a hallucinogenic jogging suit. Jean Shadrach led the team that painted the plant-themed "Ursus Botanicus" at the Alaska Botanical Garden, on Campbell Airstrip Road off Tudor Road.

Some are easy to spot. "Welcome Bear," created by a team at the Anchorage Artist Co-op, is right in the middle of Town Square Park. Others – not just those inside buildings – may take a little searching to find.

"Iqniq Tangaagim" ("Fire Bear") by Danielle Larsen, lurks on the stairs that connect Third and Second avenues at Christensen Drive. The steep hill is has a good deal of brush, and basically hides the big bear until pedestrians are almost upon it.

The fiberglass forms arrived in Anchorage from a Nebraska manufacturer in June and were delivered to artists to be transformed. Some are still awaiting completion. On Friday night, artist Katie Martin was finishing "Aurora Bearealis" – yes, the design features the Northern Lights – inside Salmonberry Tours, 515 W. Fourth Ave.

Counting Martin's bear, organizers expected 11 to be in position by Friday evening. But rainy weather and other issues contributed to delays. At least four more bears await completion before they're installed at the Alaska Zoo, McGinley's Pub, All About You Spa and Visit Anchorage at Old City Hall. The full sloth (group of bears) should be on permanent display by Sept. 2.

Maps showing the locations of "Bears on Parade" statues are available at the Visit Anchorage Information Center at Fourth Avenue and F Street.

BEARS ON PARADE LOCATIONS as of Friday:

"This Land was Made for You and Me," 715 L St.

"Iqniq Tangaagim" ("Fire Bear"), 250 H St.

"Bearnice," National Parks Service – Alaska Public Lands Information Center

"Oso," Anchorage Artist Co-op, Fifth Avenue and F Street

"Ursus Diversitas," Anchorage City Hall

"Aurora Bearealis," Salmonberry Tours, 515 W. Fourth Ave.

"Big Scoop," Fourth Avenue and E Street

"Welcoming Bear," Town Square

"Ursus Botanicus," Alaska Botanical Garden

"One with the Land," Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

"Forage," Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center