It’s still a week before Beakerhead kicks off, but Calgarians can get a sneak peek at what the 2019 festival has to offer as organizers have already unveiled an art installation in Victoria Park.
The 35-foot-tall polar bear in Enoch Park was revealed on Tuesday.
The polar bear was created out of car hoods by DKLA Design from Sante Fe, N.M., and is one of several so-called Community Beacons that will be erected throughout the city during Beakerhead.
The beacons are larger-than-life displays that combine art and science in a spectacular way, according to festival organizers.
The polar bear, for example, is intended to show the connection between carbon footprint and habitat loss.
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“It acts as an ambassador representing the impact of global warming,” a Tuesday news release from Beakerhead explained.
The Long View Polar Bear installation will be on display in the 1102 block of Macleod Trail Southeast until Sept. 15.
After Sept. 15, the polar bear will be moved to Prince’s Island Park to be part of Beakerhead’s The Spectacle event on Saturday, Sept. 21.
“You won’t be able to turn without encountering something fabulous,” Beakerhead co-founder Jay Ingram told Global News.
The Spectacle runs from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets are $27.50 for adults, $22.50 for youth (aged 13-18) and free for children 12 and under.
The event will feature over 20 art installations in Prince’s Island Park.
Beakerhead is an annual festival held in Calgary, described by organizers as a world stage for artists, engineers, designers, scientists, inventors and performers.
Beakerhead 2019 runs from Sept. 18 to 22.
For a complete schedule of events visit beakerhead.ca.