ArtPrize artist crafts bear out of pine needles | News

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - There are more than 1,500 ArtPrize entries this year and one was driven 1,700 miles to be part of the competition.

The piece is called 'Out of the Woods' by Richard Carpenter and it is on display at the J.W. Marriott. It is an eight foot tall bear made from hand-woven pine needles. Its eyes, mouth, nose, claws, and paws are all hand carved from wood.

Carpenter is from Idaho and to get his piece to West Michigan, he loaded it on the back of his truck and drove the 1,700 miles.

"He took me eight months to make, I've made several before, but this is my largest and most impressive one," says Carpenter.

Carpenter's bear is hollow for the most part, but inside are current newspapers, a bumper sticker, and a few other things. He says it's a sort of time capsule.

It took seven months for Carpenter to complete the sculpture.