A third set of Bear Fever coasters featuring four different Bear Fever bears that are installed at private residences is now available at Dancing Tree Creations Artisans Gallery and Studio, 220 South Reading Avenue, Boyertown, and Studio B Fine Art Gallery, 39A East Philadelphia Avenue, Boyertown.
Also available are additional first sets of coasters, since the first set had been sold out.
“While we endeavored to debut these bears during a community festival when they were first created, many folks may have missed their debut,” said Jane Stahl, co-coordinator of the project. “I think this set will be especially popular among our Bear Fever collectors.”
The third set features three bears that were sponsored by Jody and Loren Hulber of Macungie. Hul-bear celebrates the couple’s 25th wedding anniversary and was painted by Eric Claypoole. Eric Claypoole, of Lenhartsville, has been painting hex signs and barn stars since he was a child when he helped his father, Johnny Claypoole. His father learned the art from Johnny Ott, a well-known Pennsylvania Dutch artist in the Berks-Lehigh County area.
Flora became the second bear in the Hulbers’ collection and was painted by Joe Hoover. Flora is covered in flower images – one of Hoover’s favorite themes – and serves as a testament to Jody’s love of her home Fieldstone Farm. Rod, Duh Hot Rod Bear was painted by renowned pinstripe artist Alan AJ Johnson. Loren is a car enthusiast.
Chloe is the fourth in this set, sponsored by Diane Reinwalt and painted by Robert L. Williams. Chloe presents the “school marm” of Reinwalt’s home that once was a schoolhouse. Williams painted two murals in Boyertown – one of Dave Larson’s painting “A Special Kind of Place” on South Reading Avenue. Williams’ second mural enhances a wall of The State Theatre. Wooden coaster holders engraved with “Bear Fever” that hold a set of four coasters are also available.
The first set of coasters that were available in November 2015 included Gra-bear, the project’s logo bear, designed by Paul Stahl and sponsored and decorated by Jeff Graber of Graber Letterin’; GI Joe, a community-sponsored bear led by BASH student Scarlett Kulp and decorated by Kylene Bertoia-Hart; Box, sponsored by Body Borneman Insurance and fashioned by Doug Davidheiser; and Townie, one of the project’s prototype bears, funded by a grant secured by Boyertown Area School District and decorated by BASH students under the direction of Sandy Wood, former long-time art instructor, and art instructor Debra Burkert.
The second set features The Barrister, sponsored by five local law offices and decorated by Boyertown Area High School (BASH) art students under the direction of art instructor Thomas Dareneau; Bear-gon, sponsored by Drug Plastics and Glass Co., Inc. and decorated by Gail Fronheiser; Mary Beary, the Distelbear, decorated by Candi Haas-Simmons and sponsored by National Penn Bank; and Spirit sponsored by a collection of Reading Avenue businesses and decorated by Arline Christ.
The coaster collection, a project initiated by Beth and Lyn Camella-Rich and Deb Hetrick, co-owners of Dancing Tree Creations Artisans Gallery and Studio, began as a fundraising opportunity in support of Studio B Fine Art Gallery. Jill Wentzel, of Jill Elizabeth Photography, was enlisted to photograph each of the bears.
Bear Fever, Boyertown’s beloved public art project, features more than 70 life-sized fiberglass bear sculptures decorated by local artists and sponsored by local businesses, individuals and organizations. The project, begun in 2003, debuted 35 bears at Boyertown High School’s annual Arts Expo in May 2005. Since then, the collection has doubled, and residents and visitors to the area continue their love affair with the bear statues.
“I knew folks would like our bears, seeing art on the street, learning more about art and artists, participating in the project, meeting the business people and community members who sponsored the bears, but I had no idea how much they would love the project,” said Jane Stahl, former BASH teacher and co-founder of the project with her husband Paul, marketing consultant and graphic artist. “Paul figured the community could support the project of 40 to 60 bears; even he is surprised at how well received the project has been in the community after all these years. There seems to be no cure for Bear Fever.”
Further information about the project can be found at www.bearfever.org.
