Zach Ciaschini, owner of Full Tilt Auto in Easthampton, will provide additional care to the artfully decorated bears installed throughout the downtown this summer during Bear Fest 2012 with UV sun protection and weather coating.

Ciaschini and his staff will paint and seal over 60 bears on May 12 and May 26, partially donating the service to Bear Fest Artists and Easthampton City Arts+, which organizes the event.

“When we were approached we of course wanted to either paint a bear or be a sponsor. But doing this is really cool, because we get to really be a huge part of the process,” says Matt Ciaschini, brother of Zach Ciaschini and employee at Full Tilt.

Painting the dozens of bears is a more complex undertaking for Ciaschini than the work he usually does at Full Tilt Auto. He and his brother Matt agree that the bears must be able to withstand the heat of the process, which rules out any flammable materials, although those could be added on after the bears are “sealed”.

The brothers are excited about having all the bears in one place for the first time before the unveiling.

“They’ll go into a booth, and we hope to line them up to fully display the bears and the process. It’s going to be a blast,” says Matt Ciaschini.

Full Tilt Auto offers painting, restoration, custom body, and collision repair for automobiles. Their commitment to the community is significant: they are sealing the bears for this city-wide community event.

Easthampton City Arts (ECA+) is excited to announce that the action-packed 2012 Bear Fest Unveiling Celebration will take place June 9 from 2 to 8 p.m.

Events for the day begin at 2 p.m. at the municipal parking lot on Cottage Street, where Mayor Michael Tautznik and state Rep. John Scibak will speak to kick off Bear Fest 2012, a public art event that will continue through September.

Following Tautznik and Scibak’s remarks, one of the 40 bears will be unveiled, and participants will have the first taste of the Official Bear Fest Ice Cream Flavor by Mount Tom’s Homemade Ice Cream. The Pioneer Valley’s very own Expandable Brass Band will lead the crowd in a sidewalk parade to the Easthampton Savings Bank lawn, behind the bank on Main Street, where festivities will continue until 8 p.m.

On the ESB green, a Teddy Bear Picnic featuring Bill Shontz will be held at 3:15 p.m. Kids crafts and activities will be available at Bearland, a Bear Fest Kids committee creation. The bands, FlavaEvolution and Bluegrass Co-op will play from 4:30 to 8 p.m., and food by Glory of India, Dino’s Pizza, SugarBakers, and beer by Opa Opa.

Other highlights of Bear Fest 2012’s opening day include the following:
• The barbershop singers, Shave and a Haircut, will perform throughout the city, starting at 2:45 p.m. at the Williston Park on Railroad and Union streets.
• Bear Fest artists will speak about their work throughout the day in front of their bears.
• Artwork by local artists will be on view in selected galleries and businesses from 5 to 8 p.m. for Art Walk Easthampton. See ArtWalkEasthampton.com for more information.
• Bear Fest 2012 commemorative merchandise will be on sale at the ribbon-cutting on Cottage Street, the Nash Gallery, Mt. Tom’s Homemade Ice Cream, and the ESB green.
• Table Top Bears created by school children in Easthampton, Westhampton, and Southampton and in Riverside Industry’s art classes will be on view throughout the city and available for bidding.

Pick up you the day’s program and a Bear Fest map many participating downtown Easthampton locations.

When passing by the Nashwannuck pond in Easthampton’s center, it’s not unusual to see a parent and child fishing together. That familiar visual will now take the form of bears in Bear Fest artist Deborah Burnham’s Fishing Bears named Pete and Re-Pete. From bait to hat these bears are decked out for some fishing fun. Deborah answers a few questions about how she came to create the design for her bears.

Name, community.
Deborah A. Burnham of Hadley.

Where is your studio? What is your usual artistic focus/genre when you aren’t working on a bear?
My studio, Designed for You, is in Hadley, and after the bears are complete, I’ll be pursuing a new art medium, which I am still developing.

How is the progress coming on your bear? Any problems you’ve had to work out?
I won two commissions for this year’s Easthampton Bear Fest. My entry was titled Fishing Bear, but there are two bears, named Pete and Re-Pete. They are a father and son out fishing. Most of my props came from my dad’s bait and tackle shop. He passed away two years ago, and I was in the process of selling off his store’s inventory when I was notified that I had won a commission. On his birthday, no less!

What is your typical genre when doing other projects?
Prior to painting the bears, I have owned my own business selling hand painted women’s fashions for the past 27 years.

Learn more about SteamPunk artist Lahri Bond in this exclusive Bear Fest interview.

Name, age, community.
Lahri Bond. I live in Lake Pleasant, Mass., a place few have heard of. As for age, my students tell me I’m “old school,” (which I believe means I prefer drawing and painting to using a computer, though I use that too).

Where is your studio? What is your usual artistic focus/genre, when you aren’t working on a bear?
My studio is in my home, or wherever I happen to be. All you really need in life is some paper and a sharp pencil. I am an illustrator and designer by trade. I am also an art teacher at Holyoke Community College. All three things mean that I am a storyteller. All artistic endeavors serve to tell stories to one another, about our lives, our visions, our dreams.

How is the progress coming on your bear? Any problems you’ve had to work out?
“Steamy” is coming along nicely. He has inhabited both my studio and our living room, when I want to watch videos as I work on him, for weeks now. My wife teaches art classes out of her studio, also in the house, and children and parents have been having fun seeing Steamy’s progress week to week. One kid even tried climbing on him, which inadvertently tested how strong my “add-ons” to the bear’s basic form are. He came through with flying colors.

What is the process you are using? What is the work involved and when are you finding time to do it?
Timing being everything in life, I got the bear just as Holyoke Community College was going on Spring break, so I had a whole week of uninterrupted time (rare and lovely) to work on him. First off was constructing his hat, which was made from a wire frame, hardware cloth, a hanging plant frame for the brim, and then bolted onto his head. (It always feels a little strange when I have to use power tools on him, but so far he hasn’t complained). The wire was covered in cloth, a thin layer of paper maché, and plaster strips and sealed. When dry it was given multiple coats of paint. I next built up what would be the tops of his Victorian boots and added on canvas strips for the lapels of his jacket. His basic colors were then painted on. This was all in the first week. Since then, I have been working on the complex patterns on his jacket (painted in metallic gold paint), making his goggles, and finding clockworks, gears, pressure valves, and other bits, which will eventually be cemented on.

What materials are you using and why did you choose them? How do they fit in with the theme for your bear?
Acrylic paint for color, and then an assortment of clockwork gears, pressure valves, piping, old sewing machine bits, copper and brass plating, plastic and glass. I have been to junk shops and flea markets all over the state looking for old clocks and such. I have been trying to disassemble clocks that no longer function or whose outer shell is too far damaged to repair. One clock I found, hummed back into life just as I was about to pull it apart and showed me it’s 100-year-old clockwork perfection. I haven’t had the heart to cannibalize it and will use it, intact, in another project.

What is your typical genre when doing other projects?
Primarily I’m a painter, though I use computers extensively to design magazines, books, posters and CD covers. When possible, I’d rather sit before a large canvas all day, than do much of anything else. (Old school, definitely old school).

What is the theme for your bear and what was the inspiration?
I have always loved the look of SteamPunk. It is a form of Victorian Futurism or Retro-Futurism, which envisions the world, had it evolved the way writers such as H.G. Wells and Jules Verne had thought. Had they been right, we would have computers made from fine wood and polished brass and glass, instead of plastic, we would be getting across the country in zeppelins, and our power plants would be steam-run. Alas. This was a great excuse to delve into the world of SteamPunk, which has been explored by many artists for over 20 years.

What are you loving about the project?
I love the idea of public art and the Bear Fest is certainly that, and I love being able to delve deeply into a sustained project for months. It means every day is a new adventure.

In what ways do you hope your bear will move the folks who view it?
First off, his main purpose is to make people smile. I am pleased to hear he will be on display this summer at the Eastworks Building. It’s industrial history, and, indeed, all of Easthampton’s, is part of what SteamPunk is all about. It celebrates human labor, exploration and innovation. In a time when we face increasing mechanization, it says the human mind and heart are still vital to the equation.

What else would you like to say about your project or the Bear Fest as a whole?
It is a great concept and a wonderfully run project, which supports both artists and the arts. In a time when art is being marginalized or even cut out completely from our schools, workplaces and public spaces, this celebrates the human drive to create, rather than merely follow. I can bear-ly contain my excitement!

In addition to featuring work by studio artists, the event will highlight 52 miniature bears decorated by students in Easthampton, Southampton and Westhampton, as well as participants in art classes at Riverside Industries and the Northeast Center for Youth and Families.

The 18-inch bears are replicas of the 3½-foot fiberglass bears created by local artist Amy Davis that will be on display during Bear Fest 2012 from June 9 to September 12. The baby bears will be on view and up for bid in artists’ studios at  Cottage Street Studios, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 19 and from noon to 5 p.m. on May 20 at 1 Cottage Street, Easthampton.

Following open studios, the table top bears will be displayed in Greater Easthampton-area businesses and will continue to be available for bidding until the Bear Fest auction on Sept. 20 at the Log Cabin. Funds from the auction will support art education, art organizations, and artists.

Also at the Open Studios, which kicks off a summer series of art programs in Easthampton, Bear Fest merchandise will be on sale. One Cottage Street artist Evelyn Snyder of Kaleidoscope Pottery is creating a limited edition Bear Fest plates that will be on display and for sale during the Open Studios and throughout Bear Fest. Ms. Snyder said, “I was really amazed by the number of people who came to Easthampton for the first time as a result of the first Bear Fest. It introduced people to the town in such a friendly way and focused in on what the arts do for this community.”

Additional merchandise such as the official Bear Fest Kids t-shirt created by Center School student Amelie Fisher will be for sale.

Join us for the April Networking at Night Event sponsored by the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce and hosted by Easthampton City Arts+. Bear Fest artists Deborah Burnham and Rosemary Barrett will be painting their bears and answering questions about their creative processes.

The evening will also include beer provided by High and Mighty Beer, hors d’ oeuvres by Riff’s Joint and a number of exciting door prizes including an original Bear Fest plate created by Kaleidoscope Pottery.

Event Cost: Chamber or ECA+ members: $5.00 – Future Members: $15.00
Walk-in always welcome

When: April 12, 2012 at 5- 8 p.m.

Where: Old Town Hall Easthampton, 43 Main Street Easthampton, MA 01027

After deliberating for over five hours on February 26, the Bear Fest jury selected the designs for the 2012 Bear Fest. 40 bears will be creatively transformed by the selected artists and then exhibited on the streets of Easthampton from June – September. Artists will receive an initial commission and a percentage of the final selling price of the bear sculpture. Easthampton City Arts+ and the Bear Fest Committee are proud to announce the 2012 Bear Fest artists and their designs:

From Ribbons to Thorns by Rosemary Barrett of Easthampton
SteamPunk Bear by Lahri Bond of Lake Pleasant
Fishing Bear by Deborah Ann Burnham of Hadley
Dia Del Oso Muerto (Day of the Dead Bear) by Lyell Castonguay and Carand Burnet of Easthampton
Rainbow Spot by Luke Cavagnac of Easthampton
Spirit Bear by Victoria Chapman of Greenfield
Beehive Beardo by Wade Clement of Florence
Bearly There by Rhys Davies of Amherst
Ursa Major by Michelle DeMarco of Three Rivers
Respect Your Mother by Jennifer Dorgan of Westfield
Teddy’s Bear Picnic by Mischa Epstein of Springfield
Artie Bear by Theodore Fijal of Chicopee
Viva Easthampton! by Keith Fisher of Easthampton
Bearing the Fruits of the Harvest by Amalia Fourhawks of Florence
Bear(ing) the HeART of Nature by Catherine Gamble of Amherst
Clown Bear by Gary Hallgren of Granby
Bearly Giggling by Lynn Hraba of West Springfield
Winter’s Lament by Natania Hume of Amherst
Steel Clad Bear by Matt Evald Johnson of Easthampton
The Artist by Juli Kirk of Easthampton
Barely There by John Krifka of Northampton
Whimsey Wilbear by Gary LaCroix of Easthampton
The Bear Truth by Evan Lareau of Northampton
On the Wall Bear by Sarah Lasky of Easthampton
Shakesbear by Jill Lewis of Easthampton
Old School Biker Bear by Terra Missildine of Haydenville
Pieces and Patches by Carol Ostberg of Florence
Fun & Games Bear by Kim Parkhurst of Winchendon
Stuart Bear by Sarah Platanitis of Feeding Hills
Klimt Bear by Samantha Pliska of Easthampton
A Bear in Sheep’s Clothing by Tess Poe of Easthampton and Julie Flahive of Northampton
Luminous Bear by Crystal Popko of Ludlow
Bear Crossing by Nancy Potvin of Easthampton
Gilda Bear by Amanda Quinby of Easthampton
Paisley Bear by Ruth Sanderson of Easthampton
Michaelangelo’s Long Lost Captive Bears by Mark Stein of Hatfield
Birch Bear by Phoebe Stier of Springfield
Bearly Clothed by Soren Mason Temple of Northampton
Go Figure! by Whitney Wood Rahm of East Longmeadow

Five jurors chose the designs through a blind selection process—names and biographical information were not included in the design presentation. The jury was comprised of:

Kristin Angel is a co-facilitator for Easthampton City Arts+ Coordinating Committee and Chair of the Easthampton Cultural Council. She is the Exhibitions Coordinator at the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst. She graduated from Hampshire College in Integrating the Arts into the Curriculum with a focus on integrating art and science. She can often be seen with a camera in-hand.

Mark Brown is an Easthampton artist that makes one-of-a-kind mixed media sculptures and clocks. Trained as a painter, Mark worked on canvas for 25 years before turning to his robot inspired character creations that incorporate collected materials from tag sales and flea markets, ensuring that each individual piece has its’ own identity. His work can be seen locally and nationally.

Becky George Since 2006 Becky George sees her role as whirling dervish in many and varied creative projects around Western Mass. She has a hand in managing aspects of the Green River Festival, Fibertwist, Cider Days and work on the Brick + Mortar International Video Art Festival and Double Take Theatre Fringe Festival in Franklin County. One of her current passions is raising the profile of the Arts and Creative Industries by coordinating the Creative Economy Summit 3, a 2 day Arts and Business Conference being held in March in Greenfield and inspired by the Fostering Art and Culture Partnership.

Marcia Morrison is the Dean of arts and Humanities at Holyoke Community College. She serves on the Easthampton City Arts+ Coordinating Committee and recently retired as a longstanding member of the Easthampton Cultural Council. She is an ardent supporter of local arts and her dedication knows no bounds.

Denise Riggs is a founding member for Easthampton and co-facilitator for City Arts+ Coordinating Committee. Graduating from Savannah College of Art and Design, Riggs is a photographer who’s solo exhibit Reflections will be opening at the Northampton Center for the Arts on March 6, 2012.

Designs were viewed by the public prior to the judging during the wildly successful Mardi Gras themed Naked Bear party. Also on view were t-shirt designs created by students from Maple Street, Center, Pepin and Norris Schools. Party goers were invited to vote for a Naked Bear design and a kid’s t-shirt design. The public choice award winner for bear design is SteamPunk bear by Lahri Bond. The kids t-shirt design winner is t-shirt design #1 by Amelie Fisher of Center School.

Bear Fest is a public art project created by Easthampton City Arts+. The first Bear Fest began in 2009 and raised over $60,000 for artists, art education, and local art organizations. Look for the 2012 unveiling of the table top bears, decorated by school kids of Easthampton, Westhampton, and Southampton at Cottage Street Open Studios on May 19 and 20, 2012. Mark your calendars for the official bear unveiling on June 9, 2012.

Following Bear Fest 2012’s Naked Bear Party kick-off event on Feb. 23, the ECA+ invites all children to attend Cub Crafts Day over winter break on Friday, Feb. 24 at Eastworks at 116 Pleasant St from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

At the cub party, participants can view and vote for T-shirt designs by the children. The winning design will be put on T-shirts available for purchase during Bear Fest 2012, from June to September. Other activities include crafting bear masks, coloring sheets, as well as a collaborative Bear Fest quilt that will later be auctioned for arts education.

Adult supervision for participating cubs is required. The event is free and open to the public.

The Easthampton Bear Fest is a public art project in which life-sized fiberglass bears are creatively transformed by locally- and nationally-known artists and will be highly visible throughout the downtown area of Easthampton from June to September 2012.

For more information, please email info@easthamptoncityarts.com.

Easthampton City Arts+ will expose Bear Fest 2012’s unpainted bears and artist designs at a Naked Bear Party on Thursday, Feb. 23 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The event will be held at Eastworks, 116 Pleasant St., and it’s expected to bring artists and friends of the community out of hibernation to kick off the second event of its kind in town.

ECA+ coordinator Burns Maxey, who is overseeing the largely volunteer-based fundraiser, hopes the festive Mardi Gras-themed event will “warm up our imaginations of a transformed downtown Easthampton for this upcoming summer’s festivities. With artists’ designs and the unpainted bear sculptures on view, we are extremely excited to share this preliminary kick-off to Bear Fest.”

The Easthampton Bear Fest is a public art project in which life-size fiberglass bears are creatively transformed by locally- and nationally-known artists and will be highly visible throughout the downtown area of Easthampton from June to September 2012. The 2009 Easthampton Bear Fest brought thousands of visitors to Easthampton and raised over $60,000 for artists, art education, and art organizations.

The Easthampton Bear Fest Committee and Easthampton City Arts+ brings the popular event back for another summer of activity. At the kick-off, offerings will include art, food from the Apollo Grill restaurant, Naked Bear Party merchandise for purchase, and New Orleans Jazz by Samirah Evans and her Handsome Devils. Party-goers can also vote for their favorite bear design.

Can’t bearly wait? Swing by ECA+ Gallery at 43 Main St., Easthampton to purchase a Mardi Gras mask/ticket to wear to kick-off (available February 1). Masks cost $15 and will serve as the ticket for the party. Tickets may also be purchased upon entry of the party.

Following the party, the unpainted bear sculptures will be on view at Eastworks through the month of February.

Easthampton City Arts+, formed in 2005, is working to enhance the collaborative efforts of the artist and business communities to increase economic opportunities for artists. Efforts are geared toward enhancing the opportunities of local artists to showcase and market their work and to provide the public with the opportunity to discover emerging and established artists. ECA has recently merged with the Easthampton Cultural Council and Art Walk Easthampton to form ECA+.