Angels for the Arts bring mosaic bears to Saddleback

The Angels for the Arts mosaic bear art instillation is currently located outside the Learning Resource Center and will remain there until January 10, 2016.

The Angels for the Arts mosaic bear art instillation is currently located outside the Learning Resource Center and will remain there until January 10, 2016.

Saddleback College has undergone a number of transformations this semester and the newest addition to campus is now on display outside the main entrance to the Learning Resource Center.

Nine life sized bears each representing a different culture or ethnicity that makes up the Mission Viejo community now sit perched outside the LRC.

Joy Aldrich, teacher and founder of Aldrich School of Art, along with Aileen May, a local artist and member of the Art Academy Alumni Association,  were the masterminds behind the mosaic bear project which took over three years to complete (2012-2015).

Both Aldrich and May are members of the visual and performing arts fundraising organization Angels for the Arts, who with help from the the city of Mission Viejo’s Friends of the Arts organization, brought the Bear Project to Saddleback College.

The nine bears were created by Aldrich and May, but were designed by over 1,000 community members with mosaics to highlight the nine different cultures and ethnicities that help make up the Mission Viejo community.

The cultures and ethnicities represented include a Persian, Native American, African, European, Margarita, Mexican, Asian, South American and Pacific Island bear each decorated in a unique way to express their cultural heritages.

Community members who participated in the art project ranged from infants to senior citizens as the Bear project brought together a wide variety of contributors in an attempt to “celebrate diversity that fosters unity” according to the Angels for the Arts website.

The bear project is the second art instillation to be placed at Saddleback this semester following the Wonder letters that are currently located between the fine arts building and LRC.

The bears arrived to campus on Nov, 9 and will remain in front of the LRC until Jan, 10, 2016.

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