Please check out the link below to take a peek at two art books that I’ve created through The SKETCHBOOK Project. The titles of the two books that I’ve created are: SURIVORS II and A PEEK INSIDE.
SURIVORS II – Library Call Number:375.59-9 A PEEK INSIDE – Library Call Number: 375.59-8
https://sketchbook-project.meteorapp.com/library/S266231
There are days when Munsey and Boda are chillaxing in the winter sun, dreaming of the warmer spring and summer months that will bring the smell and tastes of fresh buds on the trees and little animals running around their habitat area and the refreshing water in their pool and their pond.
The winter in central Wisconsin provides Munsey and Boda a pond full of ice to excavate and Munsey case, it’s a supply of objects to toss into the air!
Boda is more interested in releasing his downed tree trunk, so he can move it around and show off his brute strength.
Munsey and Boda truly enjoy each other’s company and they are never separated from each other for more than 15 minutes. Of course, they are bears and they love to wrestle with each other. On Sunday, February 23rd, I documented the boys wrestling for about 45 minutes out of the 90 minutes I was charting their activities in the Bear Woods Habitat Exhibit.
After about 10 minutes of wrestling Munsey and Boda take a short time out to catch their breath before starting the next wrestling match. They aren’t growling or creating any loud vocal sounds directed at each other, usually just a lot of heavy breathing from the extensive physical activity.
Then it’s time to rest, roll and slide around in the snow and dig up more ice chunks to break apart or toss into the air. At this time Munsey is in the past 900 lbs. and Boda is over 1,000lbs.
Munsey and Boda spent their 5th Bear-thday enjoying meat/blood frozen ice cakes, unwrapping their cardboard birthday boxes filled with fresh fish and other bear-lightful yummy foods hidden in construction themed decorations placed all around the JP Adler Kodiak Bear Habitat Exhibit on Saturday, Feb 22nd, 2020.
There were over 150 zoo guests that attended the bear-thday celebration and the Wildwood Zoo Staff and volunteers worked for many hours preparing for the event and setting up the decorations and interactive educational activity center. Zoo guests brought Munsey and Boda many wonderful Birthday treats that the boys could enjoy over the next few weeks and throughout the years.
Munsey and Boda never disappoint, when it comes to being interactive and sometimes even a little death-defying in regards to their behavior with each other and/or as individual characteristics.
Sometimes they’ll appear to be hugging each other and truly seem at peace with each other and the next minute they’ve into a full force wrestling match!
Munsey loves to play and toss his collection of field stones whenever given the opportunity. I’ve documented him tossing his stones for 30 minute periods of time, multiple times throughout the day.
When Munsey was finished with tossing field stones he decided to climb about 25 feet up a tree to retrieve some tender leaves and branches.
As much as I enjoy photographing Munsey and Boda climbing up a tree, I really wish they’d stop climbing trees! Munsey is about 840 lbs. and Boda is 860 lbs. on 8/29/2018. The boys an about 3 1/2 years old at this time.
My next book titled ” Swamp Stories” is in the process of being printed at this time and will be available at iMAGiNETHAT! Art Studio during the Northwoods Art Tour scheduled for October 5-6-7 from 10:00 am-5:00 pm. My studio is listed as Number #14, located just a mile north of Lakland Airport on Lake Bayer road. To learn more about the Northwoods Art tour go to the following link. http://www.northhwoodsarttour.com
Munsey’s special talent is to collect rocks and stones and place them on his nose or forehead and toss them up into the air and hit them with his paw.
Munsey has been perfecting his technique in stone throwing for the past two years.
This morning Munsey was kind enough to demonstrate just how well he can throw these rocks while swimming in the pond located at the Wildwood Zoo in Marshfield, Wisconsin.
It’s hard to believe that these two brothers collectively weigh around 1,610 lbs. with that amount of weight and the incredible amount of strength these two Kodiak bears have, I wouldn’t want to get in-between them while they’re giving each other a bear hug!
Munsey and Boda appear to enjoy wrestling with each other in the pond located in the Bear Woods section of the habitat area.
Munsey and Boda also enjoy playing with beer keg that floats around the pond.
Register to participate at the Be the Bunny Event held at Marshfield Wildwood Zoo held on March 25th at 10:00 am!
This bear basket is just one of many silent auction items that you can bid on to help support the Marshfield Wildwood Zoo!
My latest book title “Branch Management” is included in the bear basket, along with other Munsey and Boda themed products, including 10-greeting cards, 1- journal, 3- 5″x 7 “photographs, 1 bear book and two stuffed bears.
I love to play with a variety of materials when I’m creating artwork! If my original prints don’t live up to my expectations, I alter them into a totally new composition.
Sometimes an original prints will sit in a drawer for a couple of years before I figure out what direction to follow. Every January through March I pull out all my misfit children and turn them into totally new compositions, usually collages / mixed media.
I believe that the artwork is waiting for me to develop my skills and that’s when the magic happens! It helps having an open mind and the courage to destroy one piece of artwork to make exciting discoveries and push my boundaries!
On Friday Dec. 15th around 9:00 am Munsey and Boda will be having a special holiday bear snack! The photograph below is not a photograph of the snack that they’ll be getting.
So, if you’re in Marsfield and want to see Munsey and Boda get a special snack, stop by the Wildwood Zoo tomorrow morning!
And check out the special Christmas Enrichment activities at Wildwood Zoo on Sunday Dec. 17th, 10:00 am https://www.facebook.com/events/162708524333896/
iMAGiNETHAT! 