The umbilicus that captivated a nation
February 2, 2019 1:09 AM Subscribe
The image of a giant "snow bear" appeared on Montreal's Lachine Canal this week, apparently made by its artist tracing a bear-shaped path through the snow. But the bear was 12 feet across--so how, wondered the nation of navel-gazers, did the snow bear get its belly button? CBC News spoke to the snow bearer herself, Valérie Duhamel, who revealed her secret: five snowballs, thrown with precision aim.
Mysterious body parts in snow, previously.
posted by Vesihiisi at 1:26 AM on February 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Vesihiisi at 1:26 AM on February 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
I'm equally curious about how she did its face
posted by Paul Slade at 2:08 AM on February 2, 2019
posted by Paul Slade at 2:08 AM on February 2, 2019
From what I read, the belly button was about 2m from the tracks that made the body. Most of the face could have been done with a stick.
posted by peppermind at 2:25 AM on February 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by peppermind at 2:25 AM on February 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
The face looks made of footprints to me, which I think could have been done in stages: hop from head/ear corner to eye (stompstompstomp), then to nose/mouth (stompstompstomp), then to other eye (stompstompstomp), then out.
Of course, if I'd attempted this, the bear would have been covered in accidental snow angels.
posted by Westringia F. at 5:02 AM on February 2, 2019 [7 favorites]
Of course, if I'd attempted this, the bear would have been covered in accidental snow angels.
posted by Westringia F. at 5:02 AM on February 2, 2019 [7 favorites]
Did she start with the belly button or finish with the belly button... that's the question. Case 1? Good Throw. Case 2? Snow Art Sniper.
posted by Nanukthedog at 5:35 AM on February 2, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by Nanukthedog at 5:35 AM on February 2, 2019 [5 favorites]
It wouldn't have occurred to me to wonder about the belly button!
posted by moonmilk at 5:48 AM on February 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by moonmilk at 5:48 AM on February 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
I imagine the key is to start with the belly button. If I'd done it, the canal would be dotted with failed previous attempts.
posted by zamboni at 6:24 AM on February 2, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by zamboni at 6:24 AM on February 2, 2019 [4 favorites]
How come the bear has a visible belly button anyway? Did someone shave it? Is the bear bare?
posted by Segundus at 6:27 AM on February 2, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by Segundus at 6:27 AM on February 2, 2019 [5 favorites]
I imagine the key is to start with the belly button. If I'd done it, the canal would be dotted with failed previous attempts.
posted by zamboni
If you'd done it, there would be no bear at all and no evidence...but there would be skating.
posted by heyho at 6:28 AM on February 2, 2019 [23 favorites]
posted by zamboni
If you'd done it, there would be no bear at all and no evidence...but there would be skating.
posted by heyho at 6:28 AM on February 2, 2019 [23 favorites]
Well, it's not the Nazca plains, but thumbs up anyway!
posted by coppertop at 6:30 AM on February 2, 2019
posted by coppertop at 6:30 AM on February 2, 2019
This is great north country folk art.
posted by doctornemo at 6:33 AM on February 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by doctornemo at 6:33 AM on February 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
Meanwhile, at the European Commission building in Brussels... (NSFW)
posted by elgilito at 6:38 AM on February 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by elgilito at 6:38 AM on February 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
MetaFilter: Well, it's not the Nazca plains, but thumbs up anyway!
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:52 AM on February 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:52 AM on February 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
snow bear!
In one of the articles before we knew the truth, there were some commenters who thought it might have been a boot on a rope.
other speculation
posted by batter_my_heart at 3:47 PM on February 2, 2019
In one of the articles before we knew the truth, there were some commenters who thought it might have been a boot on a rope.
other speculation
posted by batter_my_heart at 3:47 PM on February 2, 2019
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posted by Hermione Granger at 1:23 AM on February 2, 2019 [3 favorites]