Tuquski Wa Suwa - San Luis Obispo, CA - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

From the Smithsonian:
"A Native-American girl sits on a rock in the corner of a shallow pool and a bear stands behind her to her proper left. She holds her slightly raised proper right knee with both hands. The bear stands on its hind legs and leans its front proper right paw against the rim of the pool. It extends its front proper left paw into the fountain water spray."

The plaque reads:
"TUQUSKI WA SUWA
(Bear and Child)
Stanley P. Von Stein
Memorial Trust
Mary Jane Duvall Trust
Paula Zima, Sculptor
1988"

The fountain pool has a stacked flagstone rim about one foot tall and about ten feet square. The girl and the mother bear are within arms' reach of each other and are wistfully contemplating the water, the two cubs are on the other side of the pool playing on a rock in the water. The final object in the water, a steelhead trout, is positioned under the gaze of the mother bear, who might be thinking of catching a fish for supper.

According to a Chumash source, the bear is a guardian of the land.
"The Eagle and the Bear symbolize the winter season. The eagle represents man's pride and strength. The eagle, with its great vision observes the land and if it sees danger, warns the Bear. The Bear represents the strength of Mother Earth; no other creature is stronger. The Bear protects the land."
(visit link)

This sculpture symbolizes the relationship between the Chumash natives, the bear, and the central coast ecology.

TITLE: Tuquski Wa Suwa ARTIST(S): Paula Zima DATE: 1988 MEDIUM: Bronze sculpture, stone base CONTROL NUMBER: IAS CA000827 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: Mission Plaza above the creek, in front of Mission San Luis Obispo, near the junction of Chorro Street with Monterey Street in downtown San Luis Obispo. DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: Qiqsmu (life), two bear cubs - bronze, with rock - added to existing sculpture in the fountain pool by the artist in 2003 Yach Ka, steelhead trout - bronze - added to existing sculpture in the fountain pool by the artist in 2005 http://www.paulazima.com/iaboutartstresme.html

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