JACKSON, Wyo. — There’s a new bear in town.
The National Museum of Wildlife Art (NMWA) has announced the addition of sculpture “Cub, Sitting,” to its outdoor Sculpture Trail. The piece will be unveiled by its creator, Hacer, at a free public event at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9.
The cub sculpture is a more contemporary piece and was recently purchased by Collectors Circle, a group of NMWA members formed in 1998 whose mission is to support acquisitions for the permanent collection of the Museum, according to NMWA.
“Hacer’s whimsical ‘Cub, Sitting’ is a wonderful addition to our permanent collection,” Museum Curator Dr. Tammi Hanawalt said. “The sculpture’s style, based on origami, and its bright green color will bring an eye-catching element of fun to the Museum’s doorstep. Visitors are sure to notice and appreciate this noteworthy new addition.”
Hacer, an American sculptor, was first introduced to origami through the book “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes” by Eleanor Coerr, while placed in foster care, says NMWA. His work continues to evoke the minimalist style of origami in larger-than-life, brightly colored steel sculptures. Hacer’s psychologically complex work has been shown in museum exhibitions and large-scale, permanent sculptural installations, including most recently, “The Chase” series of four large-scale sculptures along Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, California.
“As I learn to shape my work, afraid, I move forward through the familiar unknown and learn to re-shape myself, lessening the past’s grip,” Hacer said. “Like the dynamic, formative process hidden by my seemingly simple designs, my work’s simple existence aims to elicit a dynamic response about the viewer’s relationship to their formative process: childhood. Through this interaction, we can all begin anew.”
“Collectors Circle has been instrumental in adding many significant works to the Museum’s permanent collection, including ‘Study of Two Ravens’ by James Browning Wyeth, ‘Endangered Species Portfolio’ by Andy Warhol and ‘Tiger’ by Ai Weiwei,” Collectors Circle Member and Museum Trustee Sally Painter said.
The sculpture’s official unveiling is free and open to the public and free apple cider will be available.
