About this Sculpture
- Artist: Gert Olsen
- Medium: Vermont Marble
- Size: 42" x 12" x 25"
Sunning Bear
About the Artist
Sculptor Gert Olsen is Denmark, immigrated to Canada and then to the US where he became a citizen.
Olsen began as a woodcarver, experimenting with various materials and methods of carving. After years of making wood sculptures, Gert’s work evolved into stone carving. His sculptures are seen in galleries and art collections around the world.
“I work with the natural texture and color of the stone to create representative sculpture of animals, human forms and abstract shapes.”
Olsen traveled to Italy to hand select the Carrara marble. Gert cuts and shapes with modern saws and, then refines the forms with traditional carving tools, including chisels.
Gert Olsen is known for his minimalist expressive bears. Olsen leaves a lot of room for each viewer’s imagination to fill in the details. His bears take on a “humanness” and their gestures are endearing and humorous.
Location
502 Water St., Saugatuck, MI 49453
Experience this Sculpture
Walk around the sculpture
- Notice how the sunning bear is close to the ground in the park, where people would also be sunning on the grass.
- What is different about the base from the bear?
- The roughness is similar to a blanket, once again fitting into the place where it is.
Step up closer
- The curved forms on the bear create a soft and smooth animal. Most bears are textured, rough and harsh.
- This gentle bear is inviting to touch and pet.
- The lines in the marble adds interest and character to the animal.
Walking away from the sculpture
- Look at how the figure is so close to the edge of the blanket. This suggests that the bear is larger than it appears.
- The animal looks in one direction, the curved form of the body begins at the head which gazes away….enjoying the view.
