Sheffield - Botanical Gardens
David Mayne
'Bear', 2005
Botanical Gardens
welded and rusted mild steel
Location:
In the Bear Pit, Botanical Gardens.
Description:
A lifesize standing bear, c. 2m high, with front paws dangling at its side. The metal has been deliberately allowed to rust so that the figure is realistically brown.
At the feet of the bear are four lines from one of the riddles that tempt visitors to the Gardens to explore various features and views within them. The riddles were written by local author and poet, Berlie Doherty, and have been incorporated into a number of artworks within the Botanical Gardens. Lettering by Matt Fairley, who also installed the piece with the artist.
Commission:
The sculpture was commissioned by Sheffield City Council for the Riddle Trail project initiated by the city's Off the Shelf Festival of Writing and Reading in 1999 in collaboration with Sheffield Botanical Gardens. A partnership composed of the Friends of the Botanical Gardens, Sheffield Town Trust, Sheffield City Council and the University of Sheffield has been responsible for the restoration of the gardens since 1997.
The Bear was installed on 3 March 2005.
Comment:
The bear pit was the home of two captive bears in 1850's.
The original concept was for this bear to be reaching upwards, but this had to be changed for Safety considerations; the figure was considered to be too close to viewers looking into the pit and might invite spectators to try to climb onto it.
Sources: Conversations with the artist [3.3.05 and 23.3.05]
public-art.shu.ac.uk/sheffield/may396.html
————————————————————
Bear Pit
The Bear Pit is the finest surviving example in the UK.
The superb condition of the structure is due to the many years it was used as Yorkshire’s biggest compost pit.
This is a Grade II listed structure and was built in 1836 to home a black bear.
Local legend relates that a child was killed after falling into the pit around 1870.
www.sbg.org.uk/portfolio-items/bear-pit
——————————————————————————————————
BEAR PIT NEAR SOUTH SIDE OF BOTANICAL GARDENS, CLARKEHOUSE ROAD, SHEFFIELD
Grade II Listed
List Entry Number: 1247256
Detail
SHEFFIELD
SK3386SW CLARKEHOUSE ROAD 784-1/32/198 (South side (off)) 28/06/73 Bear Pit near south side of Botanical Gardens
II
Bear pit. Early C19, restored mid C20. Coursed rubble with stone dressings and renewed iron railing. Circular pit approx 5m diameter and 4m deep, with low parapet wall and slab coping. Triple arched passage entrance with larger central opening, with slots for bars or doors. Inside, 2 blocked segment-headed openings on opposite sides. One of the original features of the Botanical Gardens.
Listing NGR: SK3340586200
Sheffield - Botanical Gardens
David Mayne
'Bear', 2005
Botanical Gardens
welded and rusted mild steel
Location:
In the Bear Pit, Botanical Gardens.
Description:
A lifesize standing bear, c. 2m high, with front paws dangling at its side. The metal has been deliberately allowed to rust so that the figure is realistically brown.
At the feet of the bear are four lines from one of the riddles that tempt visitors to the Gardens to explore various features and views within them. The riddles were written by local author and poet, Berlie Doherty, and have been incorporated into a number of artworks within the Botanical Gardens. Lettering by Matt Fairley, who also installed the piece with the artist.
Commission:
The sculpture was commissioned by Sheffield City Council for the Riddle Trail project initiated by the city's Off the Shelf Festival of Writing and Reading in 1999 in collaboration with Sheffield Botanical Gardens. A partnership composed of the Friends of the Botanical Gardens, Sheffield Town Trust, Sheffield City Council and the University of Sheffield has been responsible for the restoration of the gardens since 1997.
The Bear was installed on 3 March 2005.
Comment:
The bear pit was the home of two captive bears in 1850's.
The original concept was for this bear to be reaching upwards, but this had to be changed for Safety considerations; the figure was considered to be too close to viewers looking into the pit and might invite spectators to try to climb onto it.
Sources: Conversations with the artist [3.3.05 and 23.3.05]
public-art.shu.ac.uk/sheffield/may396.html
————————————————————
Bear Pit
The Bear Pit is the finest surviving example in the UK.
The superb condition of the structure is due to the many years it was used as Yorkshire’s biggest compost pit.
This is a Grade II listed structure and was built in 1836 to home a black bear.
Local legend relates that a child was killed after falling into the pit around 1870.
www.sbg.org.uk/portfolio-items/bear-pit
——————————————————————————————————
BEAR PIT NEAR SOUTH SIDE OF BOTANICAL GARDENS, CLARKEHOUSE ROAD, SHEFFIELD
Grade II Listed
List Entry Number: 1247256
Detail
SHEFFIELD
SK3386SW CLARKEHOUSE ROAD 784-1/32/198 (South side (off)) 28/06/73 Bear Pit near south side of Botanical Gardens
II
Bear pit. Early C19, restored mid C20. Coursed rubble with stone dressings and renewed iron railing. Circular pit approx 5m diameter and 4m deep, with low parapet wall and slab coping. Triple arched passage entrance with larger central opening, with slots for bars or doors. Inside, 2 blocked segment-headed openings on opposite sides. One of the original features of the Botanical Gardens.
Listing NGR: SK3340586200