A Visit to Bear Icons

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3/6/2000 - BOSTON

Bear Icons: Art and Artifacts opened today at Mount Ida College in Newton, MA. This art exhibit, co-sponsored by the Bear History Project, is a sequel to one held last year in New York City. Like its predecessor, Bear Icons was conceived as a visual companion to The Bear Book and the soon-to-be-published Bear Book II, two essay collections that take an academic look at the bear phenomenon.

Based on an early viewing of the exhibit, it's clear that this collection has something for everyone, from intellectuals to laymen, from straight folks to men who are bears themselves. The exhibit is housed in the gallery on the ground floor of Mount Ida's student center. Although credits for some individual works weren't available at press time, here are observations on some of the things that we saw.

Overall, there is feeling of diversity in the exhibit, both in the style and content. The works range from candid photography to abstract drawing to points in between. There's plenty of "classic" bear imagery. Near the entrance you'll find a nice portrait of three bearish men, including Bear magazine stalwarts "Jack Radcliffe" and "Mack." Elsewhere, there's a set of candid photographs showing several shirtless, furry masculine guys in a summer resort setting. One man shows an example of what has become a bear fashion statement: he's wearing overalls with no shirt, and one strap undone to expose as much of his furry chest as possible. The image evokes a rugged, blue-collar sexuality. But in that same picture set, not far from this butch bearman, we find a bearded bear... in a skirt. A white skirt to be precise, complemented by a frilly blouse and a big blonde wig that looks like it was stolen from one of the B-52's. Draw whatever conclusions you wish, but it can't be said that this exhibit is sticking to any strict definition of "bear."

Not everything is straightforward photos or bear eye candy. Some of the imaginative works are very impressive. For instance, we all know what a Bear magazine model looks like. But have you ever seen a naked bear with angel wings, sitting in front of a spring pool, and chomping on a cigar? Such 'angel bears' are the subjects of two striking David Small paintings that face each other on opposite walls of the room.

Many subcultures don't take themselves very seriously, and bears are no exception. One color drawing slyly parodies the classic "Coppertone" ads from the seventies. Another uses a chubby, mustached man to poke fun at the "swimsuit issue" models and their suggestive poses.

Sex is a major part of bear culture, and the exhibit doesn't shy away from it. Many works show naked bearmen, and there's even a drawing of two bearded men engaged in oral sex. These are likely to shock and provoke visitors not accustomed to seeing hairy, husky men treated as erotic objects. But below the surface, some of the works point out interesting things about bear erotica. A pair of black-and-white photos shows two men, one obviously enraptured with the other's very furry chest. His softly-lit chest fur is the focus of both pictures, so vividly captured that it seems almost touchable.

But for all its variety, the exhibit has a certain overall balance. Sexuality may be present in many of the works, but not all. There are a few works that even the most conservative visitor could enjoy. One such work is a photograph showing a bearish man sitting in a chair in a living room, sharing a playful moment with a young girl (presumably his daughter).

As any Bears Mailing List subscriber knows, the definition of bear is impossible to pin down. This exhibit does an excellent job of staying true to that inclusive and sometimes contrarian spirit. Your reviewer is the first to admit that he knows little about art criticism. And if you don't want to think about how angel symbolism applies to bears, that's fine. As the show's curators have noted, this exhibition takes a "no-brow" approach. And it works very well. The exhibit is a feast for the eyes, a very enjoyable celebration of the furry gay man.

GETTING THERE

Take the MBTA Green Line, "D" Riverside branch, to the Newton Centre stop. From there you can take the #52 MBTA bus or get a taxi. The #52 bus stops in front of the nearby Newton Baptist Church (for exact schedule, go to the MBTA website). The bus route passes in front of the college entrance at 777 Dedham St. You'll have to walk up Carlson St to reach the actual campus. The Student Center is the first large building past the gates. For more info, call Mount Ida College at 617-928-4500.

Driving:

See the Mount Ida website or call 617-928-4500 and ask for directions.

GALLERY ACCESS

SPECIAL EVENTS

• Reception: Friday, March 10, 7-9PM in the gallery. Free admission.
• Live Performance: Saturday, March 11, 7-9PM in the auditorium adjacent to the gallery. Featuring Ernie Lijoi, Martin Swinger, and Alan Reade. Tickets $10 at the door.

WEB SITES

• Bear Icons [Bear History Project]
• Bear Icons [Bearly Visible]
• BearPress, exhibit co-sponsor
• Mount Ida College, exhibit co-sponsor
• TJ Norris

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