The Milford bear invasion
By Mary Caraballo
MILFORD — Eight bear sightings along Broad Street and five bear sightings along Harford Street all in just one day, but no need to contact animal control this time. These bears are the masterpieces created by local artists all in preparation for Milford's annual Black Bear Film Festival.
The 'Rauschenbear'
The "Rauschenbear" was created by Phil Rachelson, a local Milford artist whose shop, The Forge has been in town for three years. The artist shared that his favorite, famous artist Robert Rauschenburg was the inspiration for the design of the bear.
Walking along the streets of Manhattan, his home town, Rauschenburg found a stuffed angora goat. He took the goat home and tinkered until he finished the 1955-59 sculpture titled "Monogram" which later influenced and helped bridge abstract expressionism and the pop art movement. "Monogram" is now a part of the permanent collection of Manhattan's Museum of Modern Art.
"Rauschenbear" was not Rachelson's first bear design. Last year's bear was based on another favorite, famous artist, Jasper John and his target paintings. "Figuring I did something for Jasper, it was only fair I do something for Bob," said Rachelson.
If asked again Rachelson would love to dream up another bear. Rachelson managed to complete "Rauschenbear" while working on other projects in just one month. He used acrylic paints, glue, mop heads to represent wool,a used tire, scraps of plywood, a canvas stretcher, a tennis ball, and marine quality varnish to protect the bear from Mother Nature. Rachelson's loves are carving stone, painting, mixing the two, and assemblage.
'Barely Balancing Betty'
Gary S. Todd has given life to "Barely Balancing Betty." Todd was a circus goer as a child. The circus trained bears were the inspiration that fathered Betty — a colorful, playful piece that brightens Broad Street.
'Yogi Bear-Bear of Enlightenment'
"Yogi Bear-Bear of Enlightenment" by Tricia Kaylor was inspired by her husband's form of relaxation — yoga. Included in the design were three of Kaylor's art students: Bridgid Donion, Jenna Murphy and Karilyn Klag.
“No particular inspiration, done from my head based on the Precarious Rex theme, breaking through a frame, kicking a golden egg, the aspect of likely chaos was thought of immediately”
'The Bear in the China Shop'
Alan Wood created “The Bear in the China Shop! Precarious Rex.” He likes monochromatic applications and gold so he used a very rich, Washington State source of gold gesso to perfect the bear. The bear took one month for Wood to complete, allowing time for drying.
He said the bear undecorated was good looking and “would scare off predators in a vegetable garden.”