“The Three Bears” Project Offers Summer Interactive Activities

From Studio B Art Gallery

Boyertown’s Studio B Art Gallery announces an opening weekend of activities and offerings from Friday, June 27, through Sunday, June 29, around the theme, “The Three Bears,” celebrating the 20th anniversary of Bear Fever, Boyertown’s popular community art project. The celebration features additional activities and offerings that will continue throughout July and August and is funded by the Berks County Community Foundation.

On Friday, June 27, Studio B Art Gallery will host a “The Three Bears” opening reception from 5-7 p.m., featuring a show of works in all mediums from area artists. The exhibit is free and open to the public and will run through Sunday, Aug. 24.

Artists were challenged to respond to the meanings of “bear” and “bare” as part of the gallery’s “The Three Bears” summer project. The word “bear” holds many meanings; the homonym “bare” holds many meanings as well. Artists were also encouraged to respond to the Bear Fever sculptures — perhaps the sponsor’s mission or details that the artist displayed on a sculpture. Another suggestion was to respond to an aspect or theme from the fairy tale “Goldilocks & the Three Bears,” like “everything in moderation,” “respecting others’ space,” or how actions may hurt others.

The art opening includes the release of a booklet titled “Bear Fever — It’s Catching: Bears of Boyertown Chapter #1,” created by Diane O’Sullivan with the assistance of Grace Gibbins, a 2025 BASH graduate, featuring 61 Bear Fever sculptures located within Boyertown.

The booklet will be for sale and include photographs and information about the community’s Bear Fever sculptures. “Folks have been interested in a book of the bears since we began,” noted Jane Stahl, Studio B’s Director of Community Relations and co-founder of the Bear Fever project with her husband, Paul, “but we didn’t want to invest in publishing one until the project ends and who knows when that will be! However, we can add to the booklet in future years, and we’ll have a great start toward a book of all of them if the ‘fever’ ever ends!”

In addition, the debut of a Bear Fever Facebook page, created by Grace Gibbins, will be announced at the opening. The Bear Fever Facebook page will allow photographs and information about newly installed bears to be added.

Selfies of Bear Fever fans with their favorite Bear Fever bears will be featured on a TV monitor in the window of Studio B, beginning Friday, June 27, and continuing throughout the summer. Stahl encourages folks to send photos to studiob@boyertownpa.org to share their love and be part of the “show!”

On Saturday, June 28, at 11 a.m., Colebrookdale Railroad invites children to StoryTime on the Train. Bear-themed stories will be read by Creative Minds Montessori School’s directors, Mandy Hunter Lobaugh and Judy Hunter. A visit from Boyertown’s lovable mascot, Bearianne, will welcome the children.

This is a ticketed event. Participation is limited to 25 children. Tickets for the event are available at Studio B Art Gallery, the Building a Better Boyertown office, and the ticket booth at Colebrookdale Railroad. Tickets must be presented in order to participate. Tickets are also good for one free single dip at Colebrookdale Creamery following StoryTime.

Following StoryTime, children are invited to join Destiny Bigler, art instructor at Studio B and Boyertown Area School District, from 2-4 p.m., to a Make and Take Art Activity at Studio B Art Gallery.

On Sunday, June 29, from 1-3 p.m., Studio B Art Gallery welcomes writers and the community to a Writers’ Reception. Local writers have submitted poetry and prose responding to the meanings of the words “bear” and “bare” or an aspect of a Bear Fever bear or the fairy tale “Goldilocks & the Three Bears.” Their poetry and prose will be published in The Boyertown Area Expression digital news site beginning Monday, June 30. (boyertownareaexpression.town.news)

Studio B Art Gallery’s “The Three Bears” project includes efforts to engage community members in the theme-of-the-year. The project, funded by a grant from the Berks County Community Foundation, includes a variety of activities, organized by businesses and other non-profits in the community in collaboration with Studio B.

Twenty years ago, Bear Fever debuted over 30 bear sculptures at Boyertown High School’s annual Arts Expo. During the summer of 2005, those 30+ bear sculptures appeared throughout the community. Today, the original sculptures are joined by dozens more — over 90 at last count — and more are “in the works.” 

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Source: bctv