Night of the Grizzlies 1970

Curator: This is Mort Künstler's "Night of the Grizzlies" from 1970, painted in oil. I'm immediately struck by the narrative it presents. It seems very dramatic, perhaps even melodramatic, in its depiction of man versus nature. What do you make of it? Editor: It does feel very staged, almost like a movie poster. There's a lone man defending himself against two massive bears! How should we interpret the broader story that Künstler is telling here? Curator: Consider the context. The 1970s saw a rising awareness of environmental issues, coupled with anxieties about the disappearing wilderness. Think about how this imagery might resonate with broader discussions of power. Who is typically seen as the intruder? And who has the power? Is it really as simple as man versus beast? What’s your initial reaction? Editor: I initially see the man as brave, perhaps a victim. But, I get your point. There's something about the composition—the way the bears dwarf the man, and the unnatural stance they are taking, that maybe suggests the violation of the bear’s natural habitat… Curator: Exactly! The aggressive pose of the bears could symbolize the disrupted ecosystem retaliating. Note the relatively small size of the deck on which the man stands. Where exactly is this story situated, both physically and historically? Think about land ownership, about whose story typically gets told. Editor: So it becomes less a heroic tale and more a commentary on encroachment? And also, I’m not familiar with the original story. Curator: Precisely. Kunstler presents us not with a straightforward action scene, but with an allegory of the consequences when we disregard the delicate balance of nature. Are we meant to empathize with the man simply because he’s human? Editor: That's a totally different way to consider the artwork. It highlights how deeply ingrained anthropocentrism is, doesn’t it? Thanks so much! Curator: A fruitful reflection indeed, one that goes to the heart of the image and encourages questions about much more than the image.