Beakerhead, the annual festival celebrating the mashup of science and art, rolled into Calgary this week. I usually try to head out every year and view at least one of the spectacular art installations that the festival highlights, and last Saturday, I managed to squeak in a few minutes to head to the former site of the old Enoch Sales house to take in the Long View Polar Bear, a 35-foot likeness of one of the north’s most iconic animals. The bear is made out of over one hundred metal doors hoods salvaged from wrecked automobiles. The gigantic sculpture was designed “to show the connection between carbon footprint and habitat loss.”
Last year, the same site was home to the “Up”-inspired installation Dreams Never Die, by Maria Galura , which I also went to see (but failed to post about at the time). The 114-year-old Enoch Sales house was actually integrated into this work; the long abandoned building burned down on February 2 of this year. (You can read about the history of the home here).
Flowery Prose 
That is a really interesting sculpture. I would have never guessed it was made from car doors. I wonder how much it weighs.
Very special material to make this Polar bear
Such an amazing sculpture! What a pity the old house burnt down.
Absolutely amazing! Very appropriate that the polar bear was made from car doors. I have a car, and every time I drive I am aware of the harm I am doing to the environment. Sigh.
Oh my gosh! That’s an enormous polar bear sculpture. I’m glad they used recycled items.
I love that polar bear! Great message and so clever.