Come and see local artist, Jackie Swann’s giant polar bear display on 28th June!
Why a giant polar bear, you ask!? …it’s not just a bear—it’s a conversation starter, a symbol of environmental urgency, and a reminder that even discarded plastic can be transformed into something meaningful.
Jackie Swann local artist has been collecting milk bottles from friends, neighbours and from our local Gregg’s shop in George Yard most days for the last month. The approximate number of bottles that have made up the polar bear sculpture must amount to something like 300 bottles!
Jackie has used all sorts of recycled plastic bottles, bottle tops and largely milk bottles as you will see. Jackie has glued the bottles together to sculpt the polar bear using a heated glue gun. The bottles have been cut, squashed and molded to shape the sculpture.
The reason for the large sculpture is to raise awareness about climate change, and plastic waste, all impacting the number of surviving polar bears in the Arctic, and these beautiful animals that are vulnerable. Due to rapid change in sea ice, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that by 2050 polar bear numbers may decline by 30%.
The Polar Bear lives in one of the remotest parts of the planet, yet its very survival is at risk due to human activity.
Jackie‘s sculpture and other works will form part of her 3rd module, MA Fine Art degree submission which will be in the form of a short video about ‘Sustainable Practices’
