Book Release --"Bear Fever—It’s Catching" Bears of Boyertown Chapter #1

Finally, a booklet about Boyertown’s Bear Fever’s bears is coming soon! Studio B Art Gallery is pleased to announce the release of Bear Fever—It’s Catching, a booklet featuring photographs and information about the community’s Bear Fever sculptures on August 7, 2025, from 6:30-7:30 at Chestnut Knoll, 120 W 5th Street, Boyertown PA. The booklet is part of the studio’s “The Three Bears” summer project, funded by The Berks County Community Foundation.

The booklet has been created by Diane O’Sullivan, a relative newcomer to the Boyertown area, with the assistance of Boyertown High School 2025 graduate Grace Gibbins. The 2025 edition, Bear Fever—It’s Catching: Bears of Boyertown Chapter #1, will include the 61 bears that are installed within the borough of Boyertown. Chapter #2, planned for 2026, will include Bear Fever bears that reside outside of town.

“Diane is a gift to our community,” offers Jane Stahl, co-founder of the community art project Bear Fever, along with her husband Paul. “Diane reached out to me months ago inquiring about whether there was a book about the sculptures that she could share with her mother, a resident of Chestnut Knoll’s memory care unit who ‘loved the bears’ and wanted to know more about them.” Diane had recently moved to Boyertown from New Jersey with her husband after her retirement from the telecommunications industry.

“Paul and I had planned to publish a book about the bears when we first started the project. But because the project continues, adding new bears all the time, we didn’t want to invest in publishing a book that wouldn’t include all of them,” Stahl continued.

“But, in my email response to Diane’s inquiry, I added that perhaps someday, someone would take on the project of creating a book and I’d be happy to help! I was surprised and delighted when she responded saying that we should talk about it because she might be interested in being that person, taking on that project!

“And so, I met with her and her husband; and while her husband declined to be involved and went on to work on his own projects, Diane made a commitment to create a book of the bears…in soft cover, a chapter at a time, that would permit the addition of pages to include new sculptures over the years until…(or if) the project ever ends when a hard cover copy could be published.

“Diane is perfect for the project. I just love her spunk and enthusiasm. She has the drive, the organizational work ethic, communication, administrative, managerial, photographic, and computer skills a project like this requires. I’ve been totally ‘hands off’ while she’s been taking hundreds of photographs, interviewing the bears’ sponsors and artists for months in preparation.

“And, aided by the graphic design skills of 2025 Boyertown High School graduate Grace Gibbins, Bear Fever—It’s Catching: Bears of Boyertown Chapter #1 will be published by Everything Printing in Gilbertsville and debut August 7, 2025, at Chestnut Knoll. “I’m so excited! And so relieved to have such an amazing partner in this project…who may continue Bear Fever for the community beyond my involvement, whenever that time comes! And while, sadly, Diane’s mother has recently passed, Diane has dedicated the booklet to her.”

Booklets will be available at Chestnut Knoll, Studio B Art Gallery, Building a Better Boyertown office, and the Boyertown Historical Society. Contact Jane Stahl amFuZUVzdGFobCB8IGNvbWNhc3QgISBuZXQ= or Diane O’Sullivan, RGlhbmUgISBvc3VsbGl2YW4xMTEgfCBnbWFpbCAhIGNvbQ== with questions, information, or to reserve copies. Payment can be made by cash, check or credit card.

You may also like the following events from Studio B Art Gallery:

• This Saturday, 9th August, 12:00 pm, "The Three Bears" Exhibition in Boyertown
• This month, 30th August, 12:00 pm, LIFE Exhibition in Boyertown

Also check out other Arts events in Boyertown.