At first glance, Point Defiance appears to be a huge rust-colored boulder perched on a silvery mountain peak, but it is, in reality a depiction of a bear.  Artist Beth Nybeck deliberately plays with viewers’ expectations by minimizing the bear-like features.  The work could refer to Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, Washington, which houses a zoo among other attractions. In the late 1930s, the zoo experienced two high-profile grizzly bear escapes (explained here:  http://postdefiance.com/the-great-grizzly-escape/).

The Greater Greenwood Arts Council, in collaboration with the City of Greenwood Parks and Recreation Department, installs public artwork by nationally known artists along Polk Hill Trail to enhance the community’s quality of life and improve economic development. Point Defiance was on view in the 2013-2014 exhibition.

Nybeck also created Crescendo, a community-participation artwork on view at the Indianapolis Art Center.

Beth Nybeck received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from the University of Northern Iowa. She lives and works in the Crossroads Arts District in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri. Read more about her at http://www.bethnybeck.com/ .