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 [6 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 [6 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]
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]