This Bear Painting Hits the Big Time

According to the folks at Jackson Hole Public Art, “A massive bear might just now stop you in your tracks when passing by Teton County’s administrative offices in downtown Jackson. It is not the famous Bear 399 and cubs (who visited the same spot last summer on foot with her 4 cubs in tow) but rather a giant reproduction of a painting titled “Outbound,” now on display as a fence banner between the Teton County Courthouse and General Services Building off of Simpson Street.”

While I was waiting to hear back from the selection committee, something remarkable happened in the town of Jackson, WY. On November 9, 2021 (which also happens to be my birthday!), the world-famous mama bear, 399 and her four cubs were seen walking through town. In fact, security cameras captured the five bruins traveling past this exact fence that was planned to host the artwork!

To me, finding grizzly bears inside city limits is simply a reminder that we live in their home! Because we’ve built houses and municipalities in wildlife corridors, we have a special responsibility of preventing conflicts with wildlife.

It is presumed that 399 and her cubs were seeking out unsecured food sources such as garbage cans, bird feeders, pet food, or even leftover pumpkins from Halloween before settling into hibernation. If the bears did find food such as these, this would jeopardizes their safety since human conflicts are the leading cause of bear mortality.

In December 2021, I was deeply honored to learn that my painting was selected from a large group of submissions to be enlarged as a banner for the fence. They were looking for a universal image that would evoke a sense of play, whimsy, color, and visual interest. What was originally a 3 foot wide painting of Blondie (another well-known female grizzly bear often seen in Grand Teton National Park), is now over twelve-feet long.

It is my hope that this image will spark joy and curiosity as well as inspiration to live responsibly in bear country. Here’s how you can help:

1. Store garbage in certified bear-resistant garbage cans or dumpsters.
2. Keep garbage containers inside a secure building until the morning of pickup.
3. Store recyclable containers, such as pop cans, indoors; the sweet smells attract bears.
4. Store especially smelly garbage, such as meat or fish scraps, in a freezer until it can be taken to a refuse site.
5. Do not leave food from grills and picnics outdoors, especially overnight; coolers are not bear-proof.
6. Replace hummingbird feeders with hanging flower baskets which are also attractive to hummingbirds.
7. Store pet food inside and feed pets inside.
8. Clean and store barbeque grills after each use, put them in a secure shed or garage.
9. Pick fruit from trees as soon as it’s ripe and collect fallen fruit immediately.
10. Do not put out feed for wildlife (corn, oats, pellets, three-way, or molasses blocks). It is harmful to wildlife and prohibited by a Teton County Ordinance.

My work is drawn from my love and appreciation for this magnificent place I’ve always called home. It is my hope that this image will serve as a reminder that we share this valley with the other wildlife creatures that also call it home.

My deep thanks to Teton County Government and Jackson Hole Public Art for this special opportunity to share my artwork with the community. It is a huge honor!