Explore the History of this artwork, The Dunbear.
The name of the sculpture, The Dunbear, was chosen as the result of a competition involving local schools and named by a pupil at Dunbar Grammar School. It is a play on words of the town of "Dunbar" and the sculpture of a "bear".The brown bear was chosen to symbolise the role that John Muir played in establishing National Parks in the USA. These included Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, and through the creation of these certain species such as the brown bear have survived and thrived.
According to the sculptor, Andy Scott, The Dunbear "is a symbol of the wilderness John Muir was such a passionate advocate of and is testament to his incredible desire to protect the natural environment". He hopes it "will provide an opportunity to enlighten people about the man and his work".
Planning permission for The Dunbear was granted in October 2018 and it was erected in November 2019.  It was unveiled by the sculptor, Andy Scott, children from Dunbar Primary School and local dignitaries.The sculpture forms the centrepiece of Dunbear Park, a proposed low carbon mixed-use development, which aims to include a variety of commercial, community and residential uses. It was launched in May 2020 and is planned around The Dunbear.Dunbear Park is part of the mixed-use Hallhill development which started on site in 1999 and is being undertaken by the landowner, Hallhill Developments Ltd. Extending to more than 400 acres, the Hallhill development has delivered more than 1,500 homes, including around 250 affordable family homes. Hallhill is also the location for Dunbar Primary School (primaries four to seven), together with playing fields; retail and food outlets; a pub/restaurant; a hotel; a community sports hub, and over 50 acres of community woodland.
Sequoia National Park mixed-use John Muir Yosemite sculpture National Parks brown bear Andy Scott Sequoia low carbon Dunbar