JACKSON, Wyo. — Jackson Hole Public Art has unveiled a new and massive bear banner that might just now stop you in your tracks when passing by Teton County’s administrative offices in downtown Jackson.
The new piece does not depict the famous Bear 399 and cubs (who visited the same spot last summer on foot), but rather a giant reproduction of a Kathryn Mapes Turner painting titled “Outbound,” now on display as a fence banner between the Teton County Courthouse and General Services Building off of Simpson Street.
The 12-foot long banner was originally an eleven-inch painting of Blondie, a well-known female grizzly bear often seen in Grand Teton National Park.
“The way I see it, joy is one of the best motivators for creating art!” said Kathryn Mapes Turner. “My work is drawn from the love and appreciation for this magnificent place I’ve always called home. It is my hope that this image will bring joy to those who pass by it. I selected this image with movement that might lead folks along the path and serve as a reminder that we share this valley with the other wildlife creatures that also call it home.”
Photos: Caroline Chapman // Buckrail
