Claws and effect
A big bear just moved into Sonoma Valley. You can’t miss it. It’s 28 feet tall, weighs 15 tons and is made of steel.
The sculpture, by local artist Bryan Tedrick, was topped off by crane on January 24 in front of St. Anne’s Crossing Winery in Kenwood. The piece was commissioned by winery owner Ken Wilson.
“Doing a bear was Ken’s inspiration, my task was to bring it to life. The attitude he asked for was ferocious, and thus the pose. I incorporated some used steel recycled from local sources such as water pipes from Sobre Vista (the fur), light standards from the city of Sonoma (hands and feet), conveyor belt chain from the sawmill in Cloverdale (neck area), and beams from the charred remains of Wilson’s Soda Rock Winery (lower leg).
It’s the third creation that Ken Wilson has commissioned a third sculpture from local artist Bryan Tedrick. This one’s the biggest — in fact it may be the largest in all of Sonoma County. Installation began January 19 with the legs and lower torso already bolted in place, and will finished off five days later with the bear’s rotating head installed by crane.
This impressive feat of art has been in development for over 30 months, just down the road from St. Anne’s Crossing at Tedrick’s Glen Ellen studio. Ken Wilson is drawn to Tedrick’s art for many reasons, but is most engaged by Tedrick’s fondness for both large scale and fine detail—the way his use of steel and various materials provides definition down to the sinewy detail of muscle structure.
The sculpture is endowed with even greater meaning for Ken Wilson, as it incorporates recycled steel from his Soda Rock Winery Tasting Room which burned down in the 2019 Kincade Fire.
Wilson was first introduced to Tedrick’s work through the striking Bull structure on the street in Cloverdale, but said he really fell in love when Tedrick’s Coyote, first debuted at the 2013 Burning Man festival, and then installed at the Geyserville Sculpture Trail. Wilson later purchased the Coyote which now reigns over Dry Creek Valley at the front of Wilson Winery.
In 2016, Ken Wilson purchased another of Tedrick’s pieces, dubbed “Lord Snort” – a giant wild boar, which had also debuted at Burning Man; it now lives at Soda Rock Winery in Alexander Valley.
For Tedrick, the bear, “to me, is a reminder of the wildlife that surrounds us and the will to survive. I am grateful to have been able to create this powerful sculpture and share it locally. My studio is only a few miles away and I have been able to work there for over 25 years thanks to the Gordenker Family.”
St. Anne’s Crossing Winery will be host an official unveiling where guests will be able to interact with the new sculpture while enjoying some of the gold-medal winning wines from this year’s San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition on Saturday, 1/29, from 2pm-5PM.
Photos by Brian Cary
