Model of bronze bears debuted as airport display project seeks continued funding

A scale model of the bronze bear statues proposed for installation in front of the Kenai Municipal Airport was unveiled Wednesday, amid a fundraising push intended to see the bears realized this year.

“Picture this,” Mary Bondurant, a member of the Kenai Bronze Bear Sculpture Working Group said during a luncheon hosted by the Kenai Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday. “You just landed in Kenai. You picked up your bags, you step outside and the first thing you see is three striking bronze sculptures of a mother bear and two cubs.”

That’s the idea that got the project started, she said, gaining traction in 2023 when it received approval from both Kenai’s city council and airport commission. The working group helming the project represents a variety of groups with roots in Kenai’s government, arts, business and wildlife, she said.

Funding for the project has largely come from large sponsorships of $30,000 each by Grant Aviation and Three Bears Alaska. A donation portal on the project website says that around $87,000 total has been raised. Bondurant said the estimated cost of the project is $200,000. The group is applying for grants and continuing local fundraising, and she said they hope to secure a contract with a bronze artist this summer, before installation and unveiling of the full display before the end of the year.

Christine Cunningham, another member of the working group, said the display will feature a call for safe travels rooted in Dena’ina culture, approved by the Kenaitze Tribal Council. The message will read “Grandfather Ggagga, we are entering your forest. We won’t stay long and we won’t take much. We ask that you grant us safe passage while we are here.”

At the end of their presentation, Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel pulled the cover from a small model of the statue that Bondurant said is being used to confirm details before construction. It depicts a mother bear with a salmon in her mouth, one cub watching closely while the other looks outward. Other details present in the design include a fallen log, some rocks and a stream.

The statue, according to information provided by the project, “serves as a powerful symbol of Kenai’s untamed beauty and a welcoming landmark, inviting all who pass through to connect with the land, the wildlife, and the adventure that awaits.”

For more information, visit kenaibronze.com.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.