Ursa Major

The constellation Ursa

Major contains the group

of stars commonly called

the Big Dipper.

The handle of the Dipper

is the Great Bear's tail

and the Dipper's cup is

the Bear's flank.

Not a constellation, the

Big Dipper is actually a

distinctive group of stars,

called an asterism.

Another famous asterism

is the Little Dipper in the constellation, Ursa Minor.

Myths and Legends

The Greeks say that their

highest deity, Zeus fell in

love with Callisto, a river

goddess. Together they

had a boy named Arcas.

When his wife, Hera, found

out her husband had been

unfaithful, in blind anger,

she brought divine wrath

down on the poor nymph.

Hera turned Callisto into

a bear, forever be cursed

to wander the wilds as an

animal.

Callisto’s hands twisted

into massive paws, her

body became covered

with fur, her face twisted

into a muzzle and she

was transformed into

a terrible bear.

Arcas was devastated at

the disappearance of his

mother.  He did not realize

she had beencursed.

One day, while hunting,

Arcas came upon a great

bear drinking water from

a stream, unaware of his

presence.

Not realizing the bear

was his mother, Arcas

notched an arrow and

waited for the best

moment to fire.

Discovering Arcas was

about to slay his mother,

Zeus (who knew what Hera

had done), took pity on

the pair and transformed

Arcas into a bear as well.

Zeus plucked up the two

bears and hurled them

safe up into the sky, to

wander forever as the

asterisms Ursa Major

and Ursa Minor.

According to Native

American legends, the

bowl of the Big Dipper

is a giant bear; the stars

of the handle are three

warriors chasing it.

The constellation, low

in the sky in autumn

evening sky, is said

to represent hunters who

injured the bear and its

blood caused the trees

to change color to red.

Although the whole

of Ursa Major is difficult

to see without very dark

skies, the Big Dipper

is one of the most

recognized patterns

in the northern sky.

In other cultures, it was

identified as a wagon or

cart, a plow, a bull's thigh,

and (to the Chinese)

the government.

Historical Impact

The Big Dipper played

a very important role

in the  Underground

Railroad, which helped

slaves escape from the

South before the Civil War.

There were songs spread

among the slaves, which

included references to the

"Drinking Gourd."

The songs said to follow

the " Drinking Gourd"

to find a better life.

This veiled message for

the slaves to flee north

was passed along, as

songs, since many

slaves could not read.

Somewhere

between design

and completion

is the perfect blend

of artistic balance...

by Ruth Johnson, Editor

In the tradition of the greatest fine arts

establishments, Bears&Buds announces

its first annual major award contest, the

URSA Awards.

URSA is not just another name for bear

or a constellation, URSA is an acronym 

for the criteria by which we ask readers

to judge each entry:

Unparalleled Beauty

Rarity of Vision

Style beyond Compare

Point of Difference

While we strive to acknowledge the

excellence of artists in the teddy bear

world, we will also wish to recognize

the abilities of our readers to pinpoint

those works worthy of the highest

honors.

Therefore, there will be no judging

panels winnowing the entries down

to a select few to be then voted

upon by a greater body of the

collecting public.

The collecting public will be the

only judges and they will have

an opportunity to view all entries. 

The other major difference between

the Ursa Awards and other contests,

pertains to our overall emphasis on

both bears and buds (animals other

than bears). 

You can enter a bear or a bud in

every category so for those of you

who specialize in animals other than

bears, you are no longer limited

to just one category but are eligible

to enter all categories.

Notice to Our Readers

We bestow upon you, the collectors

and enthusiasts, the privilege to choose

the artists you believe, have ventured

beyond where others have never dared

to tread, blazing trails to the next age

of fine bear art, knowing that the path

less traveled will shorthly thereafter

becomes the road to follow.

A bear artist follows the call of their

inner being as it cries out to create. 

They follow their own path and

stretch the wings of their talent

far beyond the comprehension

of mortal souls.

Creating appreciation for visual

beauty, they breathe life into

designs that appeal to our very

soul, making us yearn to own the

thing of beauty, which they have

birthed. 

As a reader judge, you will vote

for the creation per category,

which you believe possesses

the indefinable quality that frees

you and others, from earthly

ties - the piece that speaks

to you as it will to others - one

that also reveals aspects of the

artist who created it. You will

also be evaluating whether the

artist Has "gone beyond" and

"reached outside the box" with

their work and reward those you

feel have done so, with your vote. 

2006 Theme

The Journey Beyond...

Reaching Outside the Box

The main criteria is that entrants create something

different than what they normally would. The difference

can encompass style, size, medium, whatever, even

subject matter - maybe a cat instead of a bear, mohair

instead of faux fur, a new design perhaps.

Basic Rules  

The Ursa Awards is an international contest and is open

to teddy bear artists around the world.  The only prerequisite

is that the artist must be a Professional Member of Bears&Buds

to enter the URSA Awards. 

If you are not a Professional Member and desire to join

Bears&Buds, so that you may enter the Ursa Awards, simply

proceed to our Join page for an online form and view the total

membership benefits.

For Original Artist entries, each entry must be 100% designed

and produced by the Original Artist as a limited edition, an

open edition, or a one-of-a-kind. 

If the work is dressed, the clothing needs to be designated

as to whether it was made by the Original Artist or or was

purchased.  If the clothing is incorporated, it is considered

a dressed bear/bud.

For Manufacturer entries, the submitted piece must be 100%

designed by one of the manufacturer’s Original Artists or an

Original Artist who will need to co-sign the entry form to indicate

their agreement with the entry.  The photos of the finished entry

must be created from a prototype 100% produced by the Original

Artist.

Retailers may sponsor an artist whose work they carry and if

they do so, their name will be listed along with the artist's

on the entry and all of the publicity surrounding it. 

Except for the Vignette category, entries must depict only one

animal - no sets or animals with friends depicted.

To determine size, measure the work in an upright, standing

position (unless the work is designed to be on all fours), the

top of the head to the bottom of the feet.

Supporting documentation of original work such as concept

sketches, explanation of inspirations involved in the work,

preliminary designs, or a paragraph on how the work was

developed, would be appropriate.

The Entry fee for the URSA Awards is $25 for up to 3 entries

(one category per entry). (Note to Professional Members -

the entry fee, as explained previously, is the one and only

fee not included in the annual membership fees).

Ursa Prime does not count as a category because the

the URSA Prime Grand Prize winner will be chosen by

reader vote from the Top Five Winners (specific Top Five

placement not designated during voting and will not be

disclosed until the URSA Award Presentation Dinner)

in each category.

Bears&Buds reserves the right to publish all photographs

submitted for the Ursa Awards, in Web publication format

for voting as well as for marketing campaigns for the Ursa

Awards.

Contest Categories

URSA Prime

The “best of the best”, the one entry that stands above

all others, the Grand Prize winner! The URSA Prime Grand

Prize winner will be chosen by reader vote from the Top

Ten Winners (specific Top Ten placement not designated

during voting and will not be disclosed until the Award

Presentations) in each category.

Brand New Development!

Dancing Bear Folk Center Award and Traveling Exhibit

Sue Blakey of Dancing Bear Folk Center, will select the

winner of this award from amongst all the entries.

Sue will also be selecting those entries which she

would like to invite to participate in an exhibit that will

travel to museums thoughout the country in 2007,

which will publicize your work to thousands of new,

potential collectors.  When the works first arrive at

the Dancing Bear Folk Center, Sue will also be reviewing

each one for potential purchase by the Dancing Bear

Folk Center for permanent exhibit. 

Category Choices (Gollies are considered Buds):

1.  Bear/Bud under 6" undressed (Hat & Neck Accessories acceptable)

2.  Bear/Bud under 6" dressed

3.  Bear/Bud 6" to 15" undressed (Hat & Neck Accessories acceptable)

4.  Bear/Bud 6" to 15"  dressed

5.  Bear/Bud 15" and up undressed (Hat & Neck Accessories acceptable)

6.  Bear/Bud 15"  and up dressed

7.  Bear/Bud Vignette

8.  Realistic/Natural Bear (Polar, Grizzly, Panda, etc)

9.  Zoom – Innovative, whimsical, unusual or experimental

design.

10a.  Trinket & Treasures (gift items, dolls, merchandise,

figurines, jewelry, faeries, mermaids)

10b.  Bear/Bud Amigurumi/Japanese-Style (any medium)

11.  Bear/Bud Crocheted Thread Animal

12.  Bear/Bud Needle Felted

Timetable

March 15 , 2006- Entry Form submission deadline extended

due to large turnout and staff timetables! Ursa Awards

Entry forms ONLY (not photos) due by this deadline.  Send

your Ursa Awards Entry Form in as early as possible because

photo positions per category will be assigned by the date

and time on which we receive the official Ursa Awards Entry

Form(payment information must accompany order).  

First come, first served, positioning.   EXAMPLE OF PHOTO

LAYOUT SHOWN BELOW (Not an actual entry).

April 5, 2006 - Photos and supportive information on each

entry are due.

May 8, 2006 - Round 1 voting pages posted, reader

voting begins.

July 14, 2006 - Round 1 voting closes.  Votes are tabulated

to determine the Top Five Winners in each category.

July 17, 2006 - Round 2 begins with pages posted

depicting the Top Five Winners within each category.

Reader voting begins to choose the URSA Prime Grand

Prize Winner from a page depicting the collective Top

Five Winners from all the individual categories.

Special Note: Specific Top Five Winners placement within

categories will not be designated nor disclosed, until the

URSA Awards Presentation, October 7.

August 20, 2006 - Voting for Round 2, Ursa Prime, closes. 

Votes are tabulated and personalized awards ordered. 

October 7, 2006 - Award Presentations in Louisville, KY

at Ursa Awards Presentation Dinner (Saturday night) prior

to the Bright Star Promotions, Inc show, which will be held

the next day (Sunday) at the same location. 

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