Bear 'steels' show

Article Photos

Curtis Wiesz's huge steel sculpture of a bear is quite an attention-getter at the State Fair.

Numerous fair-goers Thursday morning stopped by the exhibit of the 8 1/2-foot-tall bear, which has one of its paws in a trap. The bear sculpture is attached by a chain to a tree stump.

The sculpture is located in 4-H Hall in the State Fair Center.

Wiesz, of Bowdon, received the Best of Class award in Open Class fine arts and crafts original work for the metal sculpture

Fern Laudenschlager, Surrey, an open class superintendent, said, "They put it in with a forklift." She said "umpteen men and boys" helped bring the huge sculpture into the building. The bear exhibit is on a platform with rollers.

Wiesz said they used a bale fork on a tractor to lift the sculpture onto a trailer to haul it to the State Fair. He said the entire exhibit weighs about 2,500 pounds.

Yes, he said that hauling the bear sculpture in an open trailer on the highway does draw attention. He said he finished the sculpture in late June and has had it in parades in Jamestown and Carrington. "I figured I might as well make it worthwhile," he said. So he brought it to the State Fair too.

The trip from Wiesz's home at Bowdon to Minot and the State Fair is about 110 miles.

Wiesz farms at Bowdon, which is southeast of Minot and in Wells County, and is a welder. He constructed the bear sculpture at his farm, where he's also made other steel sculptures.

He said he started designing and getting the framework for the bear about 1 1/2 years ago.

The sculpture mainly is sheared metal, which Wiesz said is supposed to replicate fur.

To do the work, he said, "It takes forever," adding, "For me, I love it. It's just great."

Laudenschlager said this is the first exhibit they've had that they've put a curtain around to protect the viewers. That's because of the sharpness of the metal. Usually curtains are put up to protect exhibits.

Wiesz has been making metal sculptures about six years and entering them in competition at the State Fair for five years. Last year he entered a metal sculpture of a cactus with a rattlesnake. The year before, he said he entered a metal sculpture of an eagle. He's won awards for them.

Wiesz has a Web site about his steel sculptures that shows some of his other work. He said he makes one-of-a-kind creations, focusing on sculpting nature from steel. He designs and handcrafts each piece. He likes people to give him their own ideas of designs they would like him to make.

What will happen to the bear sculpture after the State Fair?

"The bear isn't for sale, It's the one and only bear," said Donovan Wiesz, Curtis' son.

Curtis Wiesz has plans for the bear sculpture. He said he's going to put it in front of his house.