Art Celebrating Polar Bears on International Polar Bear Day

International Polar Bear Day is celebrated every year on February 27th. This day is dedicated to raising awareness about the plight of polar bears and the impact of climate change on their habitat. Polar bears are one of the most iconic species of the Arctic and are often the animal used to represent climate change. The art that follows celebrates this magnificent Arctic beast and the significance of International Polar Bear Day and the changing landscapes the bear roams.

Polar bears are found in the Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland, Norway, Russia, and the United States. They are the largest land carnivore and are perfectly adapted to life in the Arctic. Polar bears have a thick layer of fat and a dense coat of fur that keeps them warm in the extreme cold. They are excellent swimmers and can swim for long distances in search of food. Polar bears primarily feed on seals and depend on sea ice for hunting. However, due to climate change, sea ice is melting at an alarming rate, which is causing a decline in the polar bear population.

Climate change is the biggest threat faced by polar bears. The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world, which is causing the sea ice to shrink. As the sea ice melts, polar bears are losing their habitat and food source. Polar bears are also affected by other human activities, such as hunting, pollution, and oil and gas development. These activities further exacerbate the impact of climate change on polar bears.

Art Celebrating Polar Bears

The Polar Bear began appearing in the paintings of Canadian Artist Brandy Saturley as early as 2014. Saturley’s first polar bear painting featured a young blonde girl, wearing a POOK meeting a polar bear face-to-face over a crack in the arctic ice. The painting titled, ‘Face-Off’, would tell the visual storyteller of curiosity between child and bear and hint at the changing landscape Arctic home of the polar bears.

Over the years the Canadian painters’ artworks have come to address the plight of the polar bears in playful ways, creating bold visual stories on canvas. Asking the question, ‘What if polar bears went on road trips to find new homes and adapt to new areas of Canada?’ Her recent works feature the polar bears riding on JEEP’s and even canoes portaged by humans.

International Polar Bear Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the plight of polar bears and the need for conservation efforts. It is a reminder that we all have a role to play in protecting the environment and reducing our carbon footprint. By taking simple steps such as reducing energy consumption, recycling, and using public transportation, we can all contribute to the fight against climate change.

In conclusion, International Polar Bear Day is an important day to remember the importance of protecting our environment and the impact of climate change on wildlife. It is a call to action to take steps to reduce our carbon footprint and protect the habitats of these magnificent animals. We must all work together to ensure a sustainable future for polar bears and the planet.

See more of Saturley’s Polar Bear Paintings here.