The Bear is back

"Skip" the bear and her cub made her triumphant return to the Sisters Elementary School foyer last week.

More than 25 years ago, as part of a class project for his daughter's first-grade class, J. Chester "Skip" Armstrong, a world-renowned chainsaw sculptor from Sisters, made the bear on the playground during a recess with members of his daughter's class.

Made of Mt. St. Helens Spirit Lake cedar, "Skip" has been a mainstay in the foyer ever since the day she was created. After 25 years, she and her cub needed a little refinishing. Community members approached Principal Becky Stoughton and asked if they could help coordinate getting the bear worked on - and the original artist was happy to help bring life back to the sculpture.

Sisters has always had a unique way to showcase community. This project was just one of many examples of caring and compassionate individuals making an impact locally on young Sisters residents.

"I did this project for my daughter's first-grade class in 1987," says Armstrong. "The kids gathered around during recess and watched as I created the bear with their suggestions. They even helped finish it with a little elbow grease and sanding."

Armstrong was born and raised in Berkeley, California, and attended UC Berkeley, receiving his degree in theory and philosophy in the '60s. In the early '70s he worked at a YMCA camp outside of Spirit Lake, Washington where he discovered his natural gift for shape and proportions.

His sculptures, made primarily with chainsaws, chisels and grinders, can be seen in the collections of Burt Reynolds, George W. Bush, Clint Eastwood, Olivia Newton John, Nic Nolte and many more. Most notably he created 16-foot cathedral doors for St. Mary's Church in Boise, Idaho.

"The bear represents a mother-and-child scene, perfect for the Elementary School," says Armstrong. "I wanted kids in kindergarten and first grade to feel at home when they came to school. The mother-and-child relationship is the most primary connection in nature."

Armstrong picked the roughly 750-pound sculpture up in November, much to the dismay of students and staff. He touched up a few imperfections, fixed one minor repair and added a fresh coat of lacquer; then let the bear dry throughout the month of November.

"Students asked where Skip had gone," Principal Stoughton said. "It was wonderful to meet the man behind the bear and hear the story of how she came about. We are all glad to have her back."

"I'm glad I was able to do this," says Armstrong. "It was a great way to be connected to the school and my daughter so many years ago, and now to be able to refinish it for current students - I was happy to do it."