Metallic storytelling bear’s ‘Tales of Brian Head’ opens new chapter for public art at resort town

Written by Jeff Richards
July 27, 2023

BRIAN HEAD — Brian Head’s newest residents, a quartet of metal bear sculptures, were officially welcomed to town on Monday.

Brian Head town manager Bret Howser speaks during unveiling ceremony of “Brian the Bear” sculpture installation. At left are sculptors Mari and Terrence Martin and their young daughter, Brian Head, Utah, July 24, 2023 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

The commissioned public art piece features a 12-foot-high steel sculpture of a bespectacled bruin reading a book. Surrounding him are three young cubs on benches who appear to be listening to the larger bear.

Brian the Bear’s storybook is titled “The Tales of Brian Head.” Its stainless steel cover has a shiny mirror-like finish that reflects the image of someone standing near the base of the sculpture.

“You literally see your reflection within the book, and that’s what it’s meant to do,” said sculptor Terrence Martin, who created the piece along with his wife and business partner, Mari. “Brian is meant to reflect the people in the community around him.”

Martin’s remarks came during the sculpture’s unveiling ceremony Monday morning, as a crowd of approximately 150 people gathered at Brian Head’s Bristlecone Park.

Town Manager Bret Howser said when he first came on the job a decade ago in 2013, there was “one big field” next to a pond and little else at the site.

“The mayor and I were talking the other day about how they came in here and stuck this pavilion in the middle of this giant field, and probably everybody thought that was a little nuts,” he said, adding, “Most of the projects we do in government are a little bit nuts, at first, and then people kind of start to see the value of it.”

Community members gather around the newly unveiled “Brian the Bear” sculpture, Brian Head, Utah, July 24, 2023 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Howser thanked all those who had been involved with the project from its conception to its completion, a process that spanned two years.

“The Town Council, of course, I’ve got to thank them for their vision, in taking that sort of leap of faith forward into the realm of public art,” Howser said. “You know, you can take some lumps for spending public dollars on art projects. A lot of people have philosophical differences with that. And so I want to thank them for their courage in taking that step forward.

“Hopefully, it’ll be so well received by the community that I think we’ll keep taking steps forward in the public art process,” he added.

Howser said the winning proposal emerged after a rigorous selection process, with more than 40 artists nationwide submitting their qualifications.

“The council did a great job of going out in the community, getting people’s opinions and coming back and deciding what would really fit in this space and what would really be a first great step into public art for the Brian Head community,” he said. “And we ultimately decided on Brian the Bear.”

Martin said the idea was to create an “iconic character” that would resonate with people.

“That’s what we like to do is give you something that when you walk away, you have something to remember,” he said. “That’s what we tried to do with Brian. We wanted to make him a character that reflects Brian Head and the activities and the things that you can do here.”

Martin also spoke of a planned interactive feature.

“As you can see the little baby bears that are engaged in listening to the story that Brian has to tell,” he said. “Eventually, the plan is to create a small pocketbook that can be found at local eateries and establishments, that children and adults can come back and sit down at the benches.”

On the back of the book will be a QR code visitors can scan with their phones, which will take them to a YouTube video, where the stories will be read aloud along with closed captions for the hearing impaired, he said.

“And the stories will be related to the community and from the community’s input, for everybody to enjoy,” he added. “So, it is an actual spot where you get to learn something about your community.”

Also speaking at the ceremony was R. Scott Phillips, a member of the Iron County Public Art Commission, who spoke of the importance and value of public art.

“The nice thing about public art is it can bring a sense of community understanding,” he said. “ It can illuminate its surroundings. It can work to cultivate an identity by setting the community apart, and attracting a stronger sense of place.”

Sculptors work to unveil plastic covering from “Brian the Bear” sculpture, Brian Head, Utah, July 24, 2023 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

“When a community sees themselves reflected in social settings, they feel a sense of respect, understanding and I hope pride,” he added. “Ultimately, this allows people to identify with the place they are from, where they live and/or are visiting.”

Although Terrence and Mari Martin’s business, Jagged Edge Metal Art, is based in the Sacramento area, Terrence spoke of his Utah roots during the ceremony, noting that his mother was born in Mount Pleasant and that he is a University of Utah graduate.

Mari Martin said each of the benches (with a cub affixed) weighs about 450 pounds, while Brian the Bear’s estimated weight is around 2,500 pounds. They had transported the sculptures on a flatbed trailer from their workshop in California a few days earlier, making the trip in about 14 hours.

The Martins said the bears themselves are made of stainless steel that won’t rust, while the benches and Brian’s tree stump seat, along with his backpack and shoes, are made of a special type of weathering steel.

“It does rust, but after about five years, it stops rusting for life and becomes dark and rich, and it makes the wood, the faux wood, look almost real,” Terrence Martin said, referring to the metal benches. 

“So when you just see his neck sticking out of the snow, the rest of him that is underneath there, has a skin that is very resilient to these conditions,” he said. “We put a lot of thought and effort into making him last as long as he possibly can in this environment.”

Brian Head town manager Bret Howser welcomes those in attendance at the unveiling ceremony of “Brian the Bear” metal sculpture, Brian Head, Utah, July 24, 2023 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Martin also said the stunning tree-covered mountains and pond that frame Brian the Bear provide one of the most exciting backdrops he’s seen in his 20 years as a sculptor. 

“I don’t know how many sculptures are above 10,000 feet on this planet, but there’s not many,” Martin added. 

Added Brian Head Mayor Clayton Calloway, “This bear rekindles a little bit of imagination that I’ve lost as I get older.”

The total budget for the project, including installation, was $120,000.

At the conclusion of his remarks, Phillips reiterated the benefits that can be derived from public art.

“There can be long-term economic growth as a result of public art,” he said. “Engaging in public art generates excitement and can lead to increased foot traffic within the community or travel from outside the community, which tends to benefit business.” 

Added Phillips: “May this exciting piece of public art in Brian Head bring joy, wonderment, understanding and economic prosperity for years to come.”

Photo Gallery

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have three young grandsons. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @stgnews@moabjeff@stgnewssports

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!