Bear Tracks placement in Little Rock

“High on a mountain, tell me what you see
Bear tracks, bear tracks, looking back at me…”-Johnny Horton

Update 5/13/2026: Bear Tracks has been installed in Little Rock, it has a phenomenal presence on the newly renovated B. Finley Vinson Plaza. 

"There’s a song by a fella named Johnny Horton called “Ole Slew-foot”. It’s a song about a bear, a big scary monster of a bear that nobody could tame or catch him. As a little boy I would sit with my grandpa, and he would try to teach me how to whittle wood. I was a young boy and restless and always looking to get into mischief. One day he sat me down and he said, “boy, sit down!” I did, and he said, “let me tell you something…” then he imparted some of his grandpa wisdom on me that stuck with me all these years. He said, “son, if you go into the woods looking for a 
bear, you’ll never find him. But, if you sit quiet, he might just come around.” 

I thought about those words recently and wondered what that would look like. So, I grabbed some clay and started pushing it around, next thing I know “Bear Tracks!” was born. Bear Tracks! Is a very special piece because it carries the message that when you come face-to-face with the untamed spirit of nature, sometimes the best thing you can do is just enjoy the ride." -Craig Campbell

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June 2025: Craig Campbell’s newest monumental bronze, BEAR TRACKS began the same way many of his most joyful sculptures do—rooted in a memory and shaped by a sense of wonder. 
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The inspiration comes from Craig’s grandpa, who used to say, “If you go into the woods looking for a bear, you’ll never find him. But if you sit quietly, he may just come around.” That childhood wisdom set the tone for a composition about courage, surprise, and the playful possibilities that unfold when we meet life with openness.

This sculpture was selected as the winning design for the 2025 Sculpture at the River Market Public Art Competition.

Proposal Rendering of Bear Tracks by Craig Campbell

Update 11/10/2025: Once the clay reached its final state, BEAR TRACKS moved to Bronze Services of Colorado to begin the lost-wax casting process. Each section—fur textures, the boy’s helmet, and even the tiny lunch-box details—are molded and re-poured in wax. A ceramic shell will then be built around each wax form, creating the vessel for pouring molten museum-quality silicon bronze. After casting, the bronze pieces will be welded together, metal-chased, apply patina, lacquer, and wax. This process takes several months and expert foundry artisans to complete, stay tuned for a Spring installation in Little Rock.

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Update 9/3/2025: In his Philadelphia studio, Craig tackled the clay enlargement. BEAR TRACKS captures the perfect moment—a boy perched atop a bounding bear, wide-eyed and unsteady, balancing exhilaration with trust. Each gesture was refined until the entire composition carried the lively motion Craig is known for.

​Structural engineering was developed alongside the sculpture to ensure the dynamic lift of the bear’s form could be safely translated into bronze. The internal stainless-steel armature designed by Martino & Luth anchors the work for long-term stability in an outdoor environment.

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​The sculpture BEAR TRACKS was proposed for the roadway entry into Allsopp Park, a wooded, well-trafficked zone where a sense of whimsy and welcome felt fitting. Digital mockups helped evaluate visibility for pedestrians and slow-moving traffic, ensuring the placement was both safe and engaging.

June 2025: As the winning design of the 2025 Sculpture at the River Market Public Art Competition, BEAR TRACKS received an especially enthusiastic response from the community. During the public presentation, the maquette drew instant smiles—its sense of motion and joy resonating with viewers of all ages. The nonprofit’s excitement has only grown as plans move forward to bring the sculpture to its new Little Rock home.