How would you like to decorate a 4-foot wide, 4-foot long white fiberglass bear which will be on display throughout the Boyertown area?

Well, Bear Fever wants you to consider being part of a unique community art project. And I do, too, because I personally know you have great creative and artistic talents.

You may already be familiar with New York’s and Chicago’s Cow Parades. You may have heard about the Parade Animals—the donkeys and elephants in Washington, D.C.

Bear Fever wants to have 40-60 “funky”bears around the area, sponsored by businesses, civic organizations, schools, or individuals. And we want our community’s bears to be professionally rendered sculptures. That’s where you come in.

Why, you ask? Well, it’s not about money.

The project is designed to help build a better Boyertown--and have some fun too. The Bear Fever project is about promoting the arts, featuring artistic talent, fostering community pride, spirit and cohesiveness, and allowing our young people to learn from us by having them work side-by-side with artists, business owners, community leaders, volunteers, and civic groups.

A small stipend of $300 is offered for time and materials. We know that’s not much.

Two bears, currently being decorated by school district personnel and students to serve as prototypes for the project, will be unveiled at Boyertown High School’s Arts Expo, scheduled for May 1, 2004.

Please come to the Arts Expo: meet the bears, possible sponsors for bears looking for artists to “do”their bear, the students and staff of Boyertown School District, and other artists. And we hope to secure your participation in our project at that time.

The project has been enthusiastically received by the community. Without any active soliciting, the committee has reservations for 20 bears at this time from assorted businesses and organizations. This response suggests that ultimately your participation in the project will benefit the entire community and you as well in marketing your art.

The plan is to order the bears in December 2004. The artists would then have until mid-April to complete their sculptures which would then be displayed at the 2005 BASH Arts Expo. At that time you will be invited along with the students to show off your bear, display your portfolio, and sell other pieces of your work.

A good time is planned for all! Please join us!

Feel free to call me or e-mail me—Gretchen Lea--at my home numbers 610-367-6773 or glea316@ceinetworks.com.

Thank You
Artists:

• Joey Adams Lettering.
• Linda Austerberry and members of Sparks Soccer Team.
• Debra Benfield Burkert and members of the Arts Expo 2005 Committee.
• Lesta Bertoia.
• Val Bertoia,
• Kylene Bertoia-Hart.
• Christine Burnley.
• Ken Burton.
• Amanda Cappelletti.
• Martha Cawley.
• Doreen Cechak and students and staff of Washington Elementary School.
• Mary Chisak.
• Arline Christ.
• Kelly Coughlin.
• Thomas Dareneau and students of Boyertown
  Senior High School.
• Diane and Chris Dietz.
• Doug Davidheiser.
• Chris D’Antonio.
• Katie DiStefano,
• Paula Stackonis,
• James Rogge,
• Pam White and students and staff of Boyertown Elementary School.
• Amanda Drewicz.
• Steve Fegely.
• Gail Fronheiser.
• Steve Garrison.
• Alice Gerhart.
• Dennis Graber.
• Jeff Graber.
• Daniel Guest.
• Candi Haas-Simmons.
• Mike Hale.
• Jaci Hardgrove.
• Chris Harley.
• Harry’s Tattooing and members of the Boyertown community.
• Janelle Heckman.
• Joe Hoover.
• Maribeth Huber,
• Joanne Santoliquito and students and staff of Gilbertsville Elementary School.
• Jess Kemp,
• Valerie King,
• Nancy Klock.
• Julie Longacre.
• Molly Lorenz and students and staff of Pine Forge Elementary School.
• Ed Luterio.
• Alan MacBain.
• Bob McGee.
• Diana McKee,
• Patti Milam.
• Josie Moore.
• Grace Pirog.
• Dave Plum.
• Kristin Quigley.
• Colleen Quigney and students and staff of Colebrookdale Elementary School.
• Christine Quinlin.
• Geoffrey Quinter.
• Barbara Strawser.
• Melissa Strawser.
• Jarod Strouse.
• Taylor Backes and Tibitu Glass.
• Sam Terkowski.
• Erin Wade.
• Elizabeth Wagner.
• Sue Weller.
• Bob Williams.
• Shanea Wisler.
• Sandra Wood.
• Jenn Yates.
• Karen Youse and members of The Center at Spring Street.