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Mindy Kinsey |
I don't know how old I was the first time I went to the circus, and,
honestly, I don't remember much about the show. What I do remember is the
heart-pounding excitement. I was amazed at the animals, the acrobats, and the
sheer spectacle. I had never seen anything like it.
In this era of special effects and computer graphics, it's surprising that
people still love circuses and, more important, are still amazed by the feats
of athleticism, grace, and daring performed in the rings and high above them.
On the other hand, circuses might astonish us because we witness the
performances in person and know that, unlike in movies, there's no editing, no
stunt doubles, no retakes—it's all real, right there in front of us, in
the ring.
Grab a bag of peanuts and some cotton candy and come along as we celebrate
the circus. We have a parade of lions, giraffes, elephants, horses, and other
big top favorites, lead by Karen Meer's incredible ringmaster. Wendy
Meagher's old-fashioned clown bears tumble and pose for your amusement. As a
souvenir of your circus experience, make an elephant and his exotic costume
using Celia Baham's pattern.
If you're in the mood for nostalgia but prefer the '60s to the circus,
you'd probably get along well with Jack Finhold. Jack is a musician, surfer,
and chef who also happens to make really cool character bears and animals. As
Jill Jackson reports, the subtle fragrance of the 1960s still clings to Jack,
flavoring his art in an intriguing way.
We also revisit the '60s to meet Dare Wright, the author and photographer
of The Lonely Doll series. Joan Greene shares her quest to meet Ms. Wright, a
review of a new nonfiction title about the photographer, and the fate of The
Lonely Doll's friends, Mr. Bear and Little Bear.
John Wright respects nostalgia—he makes wonderful versions of
characters from everyone's favorite childhood books, such as Winnie the Pooh,
The Little Prince, and Peter Rabbit—but these days he's looking more to
the future than the past. John and his wife, Susan, have designed a series of
bears that combine elements of teddies and real bears to create a unique new
style.
Speaking of looking to the future, we at the magazine are trying to plan
upcoming issues, and we'd like some input from you. We've included a
collector survey in this issue. Please complete it and return it to us so we
can plan the best magazine for you. Be sure to include your contact info so
we can enter you in a drawing to win a Steiff Penelope bear!
Until next time …
Mindy Kinsey
Editor in Chief
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