Small Bear
"Williston Button Bear" by Jill Lewis
- Item Number
- 118
- Sold
- 700 USD to Live Event Bidder
- Number of Bids
- 6 - Bid History
Item Description
ABOUT THE BEAR:
“Let me introduce you to Williston Button Bear. Willi, as he prefers to be called pays whimsical homage to Samuel Williston. Samuel Williston, philanthropist, was born in Easthampton, Massachusetts. His eyes having failed him while studying for the ministry, he became a country storekeeper. His wife thought that perhaps she could cover by hand the wooden buttons of the time, and thus earn some money. From this, the couple advanced in their ambition until they had perfected machinery for covering buttons, the first in this country. From this sprang an immense factory, the United Button Company. At that point, Samuel Williston made half of the buttons of the world. In Easthampton, Williston also started cotton mills and to this he added a factory making suspenders, as well as other elastic goods. His various enterprises brought him a rather large fortune. In 1841 with a very generous endowment he founded Williston Seminary, a preparatory school, which we know today as Williston Academy. Easthampton became a community of thriving industries, largely due to the inventive genius and energy of one man (and his wife).” – Jill Lewis
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Jill Lewis earned a BFA with Distinction in photography from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and graduated Phi Theta Kappa from Greenfield Community College with an Associates of Arts Media Arts. Her work has been exhibited in both individual and group shows throughout Massachusetts and also at the Rhode Island School of Design and the Maria Droste Services 5th Annual Benefit Art Show in New York. Her work has received several awards including the Media and Performing Arts Auction Award from the Massachusetts College of Art, and appears in private collections in Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, South Carolina, and Bangalore, India.
Item Special Note
This bear is a small bear. The measurements are as follows: Height: 26" tall. Width: circumference - approximately 58" around at the widest point at the base of the bear. Footprint, 17" wide and 19" deep. Weight: This bear weighs approximately 20 lbs. Other useful information: The bear will come with the log that it was displayed on in the exhibit, and will include the plaque on the log. The bear is coated with a UV protective clear coat so that the paint will not fade with exposure to the
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