Bears to take over Antioch in 2011

Antioch went to the dogs in 2010, but bears will rule the town in 2011.

After the success of Dogs on the Chain (of Lakes), the Antioch Chamber of Commerce announced next year's community art project will be Bears on the Chain (of Lakes).

At least 60 brightly painted and creatively decorated fiberglass bears will be on display in Antioch this summer. The community art program Bears on the Chain (of Lakes) is already in full swing, in the same tradition of the village's Dogs on the Chain (of Lakes) last year, or Chicago's Cows on Parade from a couple years ago, said Antioch Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Barbara Porch.

The Dogs on the Chain (of Lakes) event raised $20,000 in 2010 for charity, she said.

“This is has really been a wonderful event for us,” Porch said. “It's fun for the community and gives merchants a chance to showcase their businesses.” The chamber is looking for artists who would like to paint one of the bears, as well as artwork to put on the bears around town, she said.

After artists submit their designs and a portfolio of the art is created, sponsors are brought in to purchase the fiberglass bears and the design to place on the bear, she said.

The bears are then sent to the artists for painting. When completed, the bears are given to the businesses to be displayed for the year, she said.

After all the bears are completed, the chamber will hold various events to showcase the bears and businesses in town, such as a scavenger hunt and a judging contest.

At the end of summer, the bears will be put up for auction to raise money for the Open Arms Mission, Save-A-Pet, and Antioch Community High School's scholarship program.

Porch said the chamber will retain artistic control to ensure quality of each art piece, but sponsors will work with artists on concept and design. “We are recruiting both professional and amateur artists,” she said. “The artists can be individuals, or it could even a class project for students.” She said the bears were chosen this year because of the cost and the size of the sculptures. She said a sitting bear is about 29 inches tall and about 25 inches deep.

“This is one of our favorite projects because it does three very important things,” she said. “It shows off the talent of local artists, it generates foot traffic to various stores in Antioch, and it raises money for charity.”

Detailed information for potential artists and sponsors can be found at antiochchamber.org.