I completed this piece after listening to a radio broadcast about trophy hunting in my province, British Columbia. The main objective of trophy hunting is not sustenance. It is the display of parts of the animal to represent the success of the hunter. In the case of the bear, often the hide, head or paws are taken. In 2017, the BC government ended the province's controversial grizzly bear trophy hunt. Unfortunately, even though possessing and selling bear parts is illegal in BC, poaching bear parts is still a problem. In May 2021, 80 to 100 bear paws were found near Shuswap Lake, BC.

Ursus Enthroned is comprised of an etched copper bear head on the left side and a copper box, or reliquary, etched with a bear paw on the right side (a reliquary is a container for body parts or small pieces of clothing often associated with religious or royal figures). The reliquary lid handle is a small hemlock burl. Both copper components are mounted in a structure comprised of two sand mold parts. Dimensions approx. 18 x 15 x 2.5 inches.

I made 6 intaglio prints of the etched copper bear head before I effaced the plate for mounting.

Ursus Enthroned, intaglio print made from etched copper plate. Approx. 7 x 9 inches

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