The DunBear

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The DunBear is a five-metre-high steel sculpture of a brown bear standing on its hind legs. It is located immediately adjacent to the A1 at DunBear Park, Dunbar in East Lothian, Scotland.[1]

The DunBear sculpture

This low carbon community is part of the Hallhill development and is being undertaken by the landowner, Hallhill Developments Ltd. Erected in November 2019, The DunBear is a tribute to John Muir, the Dunbar-born naturalist and conservationist. Muir is known as "Father of the National Parks" due to his role in the establishment of National Parks in the US, including Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks.[2]

The brown bear sculpture was created by Andy Scott, the Scottish sculptor also responsible for creating other public artworks, including The Kelpies in Falkirk and the Beacon of Hope in Belfast.[3]

History[]

The name of the sculpture, The DunBear, was chosen as the result of a competition involving local schools and named by a pupil at Dunbar Grammar School. It is a play on words of the town of "Dunbar" and the sculpture of a "bear".[4]

The brown bear was chosen to symbolise the role that John Muir played in establishing National Parks in the USA. These included Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, and through the creation of these certain species such as the brown bear have survived and thrived.

According to the sculptor, Andy Scott, The DunBear "is a symbol of the wilderness John Muir was such a passionate advocate of and is testament to his incredible desire to protect the natural environment". He hopes it "will provide an opportunity to enlighten people about the man and his work".

Planning permission for The DunBear was granted in October 2018 and it was erected in November 2019. It was unveiled by the sculptor, Andy Scott, children from Dunbar Primary School and local dignitaries.[5]

The sculpture is located at DunBear Park, a proposed low carbon mixed-use development, which was launched on land surrounding the sculpture in May 2020.[6]

It is part of the mixed-use Hallhill development which started on site in 1999 and is being undertaken by the landowner, Hallhill Developments Ltd. Extending to more than 400 acres the Hallhill development, to date, comprises more than 1,500 homes, including around 250 affordable family homes, school provision, commercial and retail outlets, a community sports hub and community woodland.

Structure[]

Andy Scott (bear sculptor), Ken Ross from Halhill Developments and children from Dunbar Primary School at the unveiling of The DunBear

The DunBear is five metres high and positioned on top of a mound at DunBear Park, Hallhill, in Dunbar.[7]

Located immediately adjacent to the A1, the site for The DunBear was selected as it is at the primary gateway to the town and is visible from both the A1 and East Coast Main Line. Work on the sculpture commenced in 2018 and was completed in 2019.

Made of welded steel, The DunBear is fabricated from steel plates of various thicknesses, heavy at the bottom and lighter towards the top, giving the structure an inherent strength.

The sculpture is fixed to a base erected on a mound planted with wildflowers, and visitors can access it via a footpath. Illuminated by lighting generated from onsite solar panels it is also lit up on key dates throughout the year.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ "Giant bear sculpture designed by Kelpies artist unveiled". STV News. 2019-11-19. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  2. ^ "New bear sculpture in Dunbar to celebrate John Muir". John Muir Birthplace. 2019-11-20. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  3. ^ McAlpine, Dayna (2019-11-18). "Dunbar bear: watch as new sculpture from Kelpies artist arrives in East Lothian". edinburghlive. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  4. ^ "Schoolgirl wins competition to name giant bear sculpture". STV News. 2020-02-04. Retrieved 2020-07-30. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  5. ^ "Bear sculpture to honour John Muir unveiled in Dunbar". https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-50476004. BBC News. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); External link in |website= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  6. ^ "Plans submitted to build low carbon community in East Lothian". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  7. ^ "Five metre high steel bear built by Kelpies sculptor unveiled in Dunbar". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  8. ^ "Dunbear illuminated: Five-metre bear sculpture lit up to commemorate the first battle of Dunbar in the Scottish Wars of Independence". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
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