Almost every time I see a drawing, photo or carving of a bear, my heart goes soft and my eyes get wider. I think it all started while organizing an exhibition on Inuit art and culture; amongst all the artefacts stood the carving of a dancing bear, looking happy and a little drunk…

It also happened during another exhibition, this time from Michel Saulnier. We hosted his pieces for a month and it made me a happy girl to look at his strange mix of schematized, sexualized and playful bears.

Prends-moi la nuit and Anatomia ursus, Michel Saulnier

I’m talking bear today because I spotted one last week from Jennifer Davis (on SF Girl by Bay) that really got to me and it reminded me of another one from Camilla Engman that did quite an impression as well. I like their association bear/human, their mix of ferociousness/softness and the story that they both tell. Do you ask yourself what is going to happen to that chocolate finger?

Bear, Jennifer Davis                           Chocolate finger, Camilla Engman

I encountered a real bear once and it was not very pleasant. Lucky for me, it was more scared than I was, thanks to Mouffy, my friend’s dog, that had managed to hide behind my back and bark furiously at the same time.

My bears look harmless, not unlike the one I have encountered in the woods…

My friends Marc and Chantal have two beautiful bears made by Monsieur Réjean Pipon, an artist living in Gaspésie. I am very jealous.

Photo: courtesy of Marc Girard

Photo: courtesy of Marc Girard

In addition to the bears, they have many beautiful art pieces. In the picture above: another carving brought back from Gaspesie and a painting from Sarah Rooney (Montreal).

Monsieur and Madame Pipon, photo courtesy of Chantal F

More on Monsieur Réjean Pipon (in French):
http://artpopulaire.com/artisans/repertoire-des-gosseux/sculpteurs-a-a-z/item/rejean-pipon.html
http://likeanacidtrip.blogspot.com/2010/07/rejean-pipon-sculpteur.html

Is there a bear that you would like to add to that list?

Have a good weekend!