Juggling Bear 

Scott Gustafson's painting, "Juggling Bear," presents us with a whimsical scene dominated by warm, inviting colors. The bear, dressed as a jester, is caught mid-performance, surrounded by floating spheres against a backdrop of a cozy hearth. The composition is carefully structured, using the arch of the fireplace to frame the central figure. This framing creates a sense of depth, drawing the viewer's eye into the painting's narrative space. Note how Gustafson plays with textures, contrasting the smooth, almost porcelain quality of the bear's costume with the rough, tactile surface of the stone fireplace. This contrast adds a layer of visual interest, highlighting the materiality of the artwork. Gustafson destabilizes the traditional notion of seriousness often associated with art by embracing playfulness. The choice of a bear as the central figure, traditionally a symbol of strength, now reimagined as a jester, creates a dichotomy that challenges fixed meanings. The artwork then becomes a site for reinterpretation.