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PRESS RELEASE: Download file (Word Document)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Judy White/Publicity Committee/Black Bear Film Festival
Phone: (570) 409-0909; (570) 686-1200
Email: judywhite@blackbearfilm.com
BEAR IN MIND THE BLACK BEAR FILM FESTIVAL BEARS
For the past six years Milford residents have witnessed the annual migration of the painted bear sculptures for the Black Bear Film Festival, and it’s time once again for the unveiling of the bears before they are scattered throughout the town. The celebration starts on Saturday, August 6 at 11am at the Old Lumberyard on Seventh Street in Milford, Pennsylvania, with your chance to see all of the painted bear sculptures together before they are relocated around Milford later that day. This year, a free "Teddy Bear Picnic" will add to the festivities, with brownies, iced tea and lemonade for everyone - whether you're a kid or just young at heart.
The highly anticipated Artistic Bears Project is an integral and cherished part of the independent film festival, which takes place this year October 13-16. A map of the painted bear locations will be given out at the Saturday unveiling festivities, and will be available for download on the Festival's website, www.blackbearfilm.com. Families have made a summer tradition of using the map as a treasure hunt with their kids to find all the bears.
The life-sized bear sculptures begin as 3-D fiberglass hunting targets, either standing or on all fours, which are then transformed from black templates into masterpieces by area artists. The finished products, ranging from humorous to darling to absolutely beautiful, are displayed around the town of Milford for nearly three months (thanks to the generosity of local sponsoring businesses), after which the bears are auctioned in October at the film festival. This hotly competitive silent auction, a source of many thousands of dollars, is a prime fundraiser for the festival and its community-based projects.
"The artists are incredibly creative with the original bear figure," says Festival Executive Director Nancy Pitcher. "They can paint it, cut it up, rearrange the pieces, add all sorts of imaginative and alternative materials – it just has to be waterproof and impermeable to the outdoor elements. They've proven that the sky's the limit."
A total of twelve bears have been selected to honor this year’s festivities. Seven artists return from creating bear sculptures for past festivals, along with ten other artists who are designing bears for the first time. Six of the artists are working as solo acts, but the others have joined forces to create combined visions.
Appropriate to the recreation that the Delaware River and other local waterways provide, veteran artist Carol Ann Buchanan brings her "Kayak Bear" to the 2005 lineup. Last year Buchanan crafted the wonderfully inventive "Napoleon Bearnaparte." "Kayak Bear" is sponsored by Vannatta Realty and will be on display there at 204 East Harford Street, Milford.
For the second consecutive year, Dr. Ralph and Carol Bowman of Milford have constructed a painted bear sculpture. Their 2004 creation was "Theda Beara As Cleopatra." With another film theme, the two bring "Victor, Victoria" to this year’s festival, which will be sponsored by and stationed at The Muir House Inn and Restaurant at 102 Route 2001.
Another veteran at bear sculpting, Dale Giambra-Currie, has been with the festival for the past three years. Her previous entries, "Roamin Bear" (2002), "Lions, Tigers, and Bears, Oh My" (2004), and "Amelia Bearhart" (2004) have led up to this year’s "Faberge Bear." Giambra-Currie is a Sussex County resident with a degree in fine arts from Upsala College. "Faberge Bear" is sponsored by and will be displayed at Pike County Licensing at 115 West Harford Street.
John Kirslis holds the record for the number of years participating as a bear sculptor; prior bears include "Man and Bear" (2001), "Tabula Rasa" (2002), "Bear of Glass" (2003), and last year’s "Bear That Broke All Records." As a noted jewelry designer (formerly with Kenneth Jay Lane) and resident of Dingmans Ferry, his widely admired inventive use of alternative materials in creating bear sculptures continues with "Bearly There," sponsored by and to be located at Biondo Investment Advisors at 544 Route 6 and 209.
Ten new artists encompass the 2005 Black Bear Film Festival painted bear sculptors.
Experienced as a set decorator for film and TV in New York City for thirty years, Robert Carpenter applies his skill to his bear, "Bearnice," which he calls his "recycling diva." Carpenter is a California native with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa and post grad work at Parsons School of Design in New York City. Carpenter spent two years as a graphic and scenic designer for summer stock and as a graphic and interior designer in Puerto Rico for sixteen years. His experience has yielded the environmentally-conscious "Bearnice, the Recycling Diva," which is sponsored by Century 21/Roy Hull at 205 East Harford Street.
The son of the now four-time bear sculptor Dale Giambra-Currie, Robert Currie joins his mother’s tradition this year. Currie, who recently was graduated from college with a degree in graphic arts, brings the festival "Out There Bear." His entry is sponsored by and will be placed in front of Dawny’s Soup Creations & More at 311 West Harford Street.
Local Native American heritage is highlighted in Amy Hammer’s "Lenape Bear." The Lenape lived around the Delaware River, the lower Hudson River, and western Long Island Sound when Europeans first settled in the new world. Amy Hammer is a self-taught artist who has shown a strong interest in art her entire life. "Lenape Bear" is sponsored by Davis R. Chant Realtors, and will appear in front of their office at 106 East Harford Street.
Mother and daughter Tracy Maricone and Allie Carbone have teamed up to produce "Lolita." Milford resident Maricone has been decorative painting for five years and has always wanted to paint a bear for the festival. Her daughter paints with her often and assisted with the creation of "Lolita," which will be positioned at S & M Management (Jess Oil) at 522 Route 6 and 209.
Another dually-created bear has been designed by JoAnn Sadowski and her sister Lisa Hermann. Sadowski is the owner of Choc-o-lat, a Milford-based chocolate company. Hermann, a graduate of Hunter College and Bank Street College of Education with a Master of Science degree, is an administrator of a high school art department. Their bear takes the name of Sadowski’s business; the luscious "Choc-o-lat" is sponsored by and will be situated at Cliff Park Inn at 155 Cliff Park Road.
Owner of Tyme Bomb Studios in Milford (past the Upper Mill on 2001), Geniffer Shadler brings her artistic talents to the festival with "Rock a Bear Billy." Shadler is an oil painter who uses her skills to create extraordinary body art. She applies her abilities to "Rock a Bear Billy," which is sponsored by Community Building Projects, LLC., and will be on display at the Old Lumberyard at 115 Seventh Street.
Another highly anticipated newcomer team pits the collaborative efforts of Dori Tighe and Cathy Neri. Tighe has roots in Milford going back for generations. A labor and delivery nurse in New York City, she indulges her inner artist with needlework, painting, sewing, and gardening, though her forte is fiber arts. Milford resident Neri also has a strong interest in quilting. Her award-winning work has been exhibited at many national and regional shows and galleries. The pair’s bear, called "Ursa Minor," is sponsored by Wilkins & Associates Real Estate, Inc., and will be located outside their new offices at the Hyde Park Building at 310 West Harford Street. Black Bear is also delighted to welcome Wilkins & Associates as a major new festival sponsor.
The last bear, however, will remain a perpetual part of the festival instead of being auctioned off. "Celebrity Bear" is slated to be carted around to fairs and other local events to continually promote the Black Bear Film Festival. This excellent idea was dreamed up by Painted Bear Coordinator Carol Baker of Dingmans Ferry. In the past, artist Baker created the Native American-inspired "Zuni Bear" in 2003 and "Picasso Bear" in 2004. She has teamed up this year with another former entrant, Rosemarie DeVries, to produce the festival-promoting bruin on all fours called "Celebrity Bear." DeVries created the "Biker Bear" in 2004 after discovering the Black Bear Film Festival when her husband Michael (owner of "Signs on Anything" in Branchville, NJ) designed the filmstrip ironwork that hangs outside the festival’s office. "Celebrity Bear" is sponsored by the Hotel Fauchere and will appear next door to it at 403 Broad Street.
The concept of painted sculptures being placed around town and city streets originated in Zurich with painted cows in 1998. In 2000, painted bear sculptures decorated the streets of Milford for the first ever Black Bear Film Festival. Many other painted animals adorn cities around the world; dolphins appear in Key West, ponies in New Mexico, huge fish in New Orleans, alligators in Miami, moose in Toronto, and pigs in Cincinnati, among countless other themes.
The bears are all part of the sixth annual Black Bear Film Festival, which takes place Thursday, October 13 through Sunday, October 16, 2005 in celebration of independent film and filmmaking, with many free films and lectures by industry insiders. All-encompassing Gold Passes and tickets for the Main Theatre go on sale on a first-come, first served basis in mid-September.
As a community-run event that attracts over 3000 attendees, the festival is always looking for sponsors and volunteers. Sponsorship opportunities this year start at as little as $100. For more information and breaking news, visit the Black Bear Film Festival website at www.blackbearfilm.com, or call the Festival Office at (570) 409-0909. The next volunteer meeting will be on Saturday, August 27 at 10:30am at the Ingeborg A. Biondo Building Community Room, 221 Broad Street, Milford. All are welcome to attend and help make the sixth Black Bear Film Festival another fabulous, exciting success.
Bear Locations (all in Milford, PA):
Bearly There – Biondo Investment Advisors, 544 Route 6 and 209
Bearnice, the Recycling Diva – Century 21/Roy Hull, 205 East Harford Street
Celebrity Bear – Hotel Fauchere, LLC., 403 Broad Street
Choc-o-lat – Cliff Park Inn, 155 Cliff Park Road
Faberge Bear – Pike County Licensing, 115 West Harford Street
Kayak Bear – Vannatta Realty, 204 East Harford Street
Lenape Bear – Davis R. Chant Realtors, 106 East Harford Street
Lolita – S & M Management (Jess Oil), 522 Route 6 and 209
Out There Bear – Dawny’s Soup Creations & More, 311 West Harford Street
Rock a Bear Billy – Community Building Projects, LLC., Old Lumberyard, 115 Seventh Street
Ursa Minor – Wilkins & Associates Real Estate, Inc., 310 West Harford Street
Victor, Victoria – The Muir House Inn and Restaurant, 102 Route 2001
Captions for pictures available:
bbffbearnapoleon.jpg = Artist Carol Ann Buchanan with her "Napoleon Bearnaparte" sculpture from last year's Black Bear Film Festival. This year, she has created "Kayak Bear," to be unveiled with 11 other bears on Saturday, August 6 at the Old Lumberyard at 11am.
bbffbearamelia.jpg = A four-time veteran of creating artist bears for the Black Bear Film Festival, Dale Giambra-Currie (with last year's "Amelia Bearhart") is not only preparing "Faberge Bear" for 2005, but has recruited her graphic artist son, Robert, to try his hand with "Out There Bear." Both sculptures (and 10 others) will be on display Saturday, August 6, at the Old Lumberyard, 11am, before being placed around town until the October film festival.
bbffbearpicasso.jpg = Black Bear Film Festival Artist Bear Coordinator, Carol Baker, with her "Picasso Bear" from 2004, has designed "Celebrity Bear" for 2005 along with another veteran artist, Rosemarie DeVries. A "Teddy Bear Picnic" with brownies and lemonade for all will make even more fun at the 11am Saturday, August 6 bear unveiling, The Old Lumberyard, Milford.
bbffbearstheatre2004.jpg = The Painted Bear Sculptures at the 2004 Black Bear Film Festival. After their unveiling on Saturday, August 6, 11am at The Old Lumberyard, the bears are scattered around town for 3 months until the October 13-16th film festival. A bear map is available on the festival's website at www.blackbearfilm.com
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