Artist Heide Hatry has been tending to some delightful visitors to Central Park. Her Polar Bear snow sculptures that she started crafting two weeks ago have been a hit since she first started working on them at night, leaving folks walking by mystified and excited the next morning. The popular attraction is located in the park near the 86th Street entrance on the Upper West Side, just off of Central Park West.
"Everybody is so thankful and everybody smiling, that actually kept me going”, said Hatry. It has taken a lot of hard work and the weather cooperating to sustain the project this long. She has made 17 of the bears, bringing Hatry many fans. The German-born artist and curator is known in the art world for her more provocative works. The family-friendly bears are crowd pleasers for kids of all ages, and still send a message, in this case about the impact of climate change on the planet.
"I want people to understand not only that we can do something but that they individually can do something”, said Hatry.
The Upper West Side resident has added props along the way like a beat up pink guitar found in the trash and some plastic ravens. The bear’s eyes are made from candy, the noses from kitchen sponges painted black. Her Polar Bears have certainly brought some fun, and folks checking them out are appreciative.
"I'm so thankful this just makes our day, we were all just saying how beautiful it is”, said Vicky Samaritano, who was spending the day in the park with friends.
"In all the gloom of the pandemic and the terrible weather I mean it's just so heartening”, said Upper West Sider Ruth Spencer, who said she took pictures and forwarded them to her granddaughter and daughter.
Hatry says initially she was crafting a snow cat which she planned to take a photo of for her daughter, but as she worked on it, it became a polar bear. They won't last forever, but she is glad she could at least temporarily bring some joy during difficult times.
“People were so wildly responding that I first thought it had to do with my bears, but I think it had a lot to do with finally seeing something that made them smile”, said Hatry.