Urban Bears Downtown

You will be seeing something new downtown - Bears. No not the Newark Bears baseball team, but red urban bears that were created as a mobile art exhibit. There are five bears made of recycled plastic by artists in Italy - each bear has significance within the city. They can be hosted on premises by businesses and establishments for two week stints. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to the environmental missions associated with the Urban Bears.

The Newark Downtown District (NDD) chose the bear because it symbolizes both power and resurgence"”following the bear's season of introspection, it emerges"”undeniably dynamic and fiercely energetic. Just like the City of Newark.

Here's a description of the bears taken from the website:

Yosemite (Native American name for bear)
The Yosemite National Park, is a shrine to human foresight, strength, power, and the persistence of life. His goal is the preservation of the rich history of the City, and a commitment to keeping Newark clean and litter free.

Manilkara (from the Manilkara Chicle tree)
Manilkara's name comes from the Manilkara Chicle tree, which exudes chicle, the substance we know as "gum". Chewing gum is one of the leading causes of litter in urban areas, as it is commonly stuck underneath benches and tables and to the surface of sidewalks, and is almost impossible to remove once dried. Chewing gum does not break down over time, making it also a potential hazard to the environment. Manilkara has one goal"”to purchase "Gum Buster" machines to remove gum from the sidewalks in downtown Newark.

Bernadette (Strong Brave Bear)
Bernadette is dedicated to the NDD Horticulture Project. There have been 175 new trees installed, and there will be seasonal plants and flowers in the 220 planters throughout the downtown district year-round.

Orsa (Little She Bear)
Orsa's name, meaning "little she bear", is derived from the Latin "orsorum" meaning "undertaking", so her mission is a lofty one"”pun intended. Orsa envisions environmentally-friendly green roofs in Newark. Roofs covered with living plants have many benefits in urban areas - from reducing city heat and air pollution to decreasing the rate of storm water runoff.

Reeree (from the prefix "re", meaning "again")
Reeree's mission is connected to her name"”to re-new the City by recycling, reusing, and reducing. By collecting and reusing materials that would otherwise be considered waste, and then buying recycled products, we can create a circle that will ensure the success of a recycling project.

For more info on the bears and to have them visit your establishment: http://www.downtownnewark.com/bears