Our Pastel Patchwork bear is one of 60 giant bears exhibiting alongside 100 smaller bears as they take to the streets of Sheffield this summer 2021 in aid of Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
We’re delighted to have created our patchwork bear with a design that takes direct reference from the textile work that we have have previously created for SCH. Having recently made bespoke cushions for seats and seating areas in the hospital that featured soft patchworks of flowing shapes in ice-cream colours. We wanted to use the same colour pallet and reference the same pattern but as if the shapes continued on into one large patchwork, that could wrap around the bear. It was nice to expand on those designs and take them into a 3-dimentional space, bringing our work out of the hospital and into the wider city for people on the street to enjoy.
The Bears of Sheffield is a public arts exhibition which will unite the city whilst celebrating everything that is wonderful about Sheffield and its surrounding areas. Following the success of the Herd of Sheffield which was also coordinated by The Children’s Hospital Charity, the trail will bring together businesses, communities, artists and schools whilst supporting Sheffield Children’s where it is needed most.
The inspiration for the bear for the theme of the trail came from the link to the well known Sheffield bear in the Botanical Gardens and through the hospital and charity mascot, Theo the bear. The designer who created the Botanical Gardens Bear, David Mayne, has designed our bear which makes the trail extra special as they have been designed right here in Sheffield. They’ve also been made in locally, thanks to the brilliant Simpson Ltd in Attercliffe who have ensured the bears are all Sheffield born and bred.
The Bears of Sheffield will help fund a new Cancer and Leukaemia Ward at Sheffield Children’s through donations, merchandise, sponsorship challenges and fundraising throughout the trail. At the end the Bears will also be auctioned off to the highest bidder to raise money!