Move over Millie, a new bear enters the scene on the corner of Broadway and 116th. 

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no, it’s a person fighting a bear? As I made my way to class last week, a conglomeration of people and my piquing curiosity slowed me down to investigate what was going on. I was not prepared for the sight that I would see: a life-size mannequin of a person fighting a bear. The person was clad in hiking gear, including hiking shoes, cargos, a puffer jacket, and a backpack, his legs in a lunge position and his arms up. The bear, on the other hand, bared its teeth to the plastic human, arms up to defend itself. Their fighting scene, built on a moss-covered platform, brought in a crowd of spectators, taking pictures and staring in both confusion and awe. I, myself, was late to class so my confusion and curiosity would have to chalk it up to New York City antics that are sometimes never explained. 

Illustration by Sasha Forrest

However, upon further research, it became clear the mannequin’s origin and purpose. This intricate mannequin display was part of a marketing campaign from Columbia (not the university) Sportswear. The scuffle between the bear and human was just one of many mannequins around the city, with others including a woman fishing, a man skiing, etc. Next to the mannequins are meant to be QR codes to enter a raffle to win a trip for two to Japan, but interestingly enough, I didn’t see one near the mannequin I passed by.

Columbia Sportswear’s Instagram announced the campaign:

“Lock in NYC, the hunt is on! Our mannequins are all over the city. Spot them, scan their QR codes, and enter for a chance to win a free trip to Japan for two 🇯🇵✈️

Look out for:

🎣 Anglers casting in fountains

⛷️ Skiers on moving trucks

🚕 Taxi surfers

🐻 And even a bear encounter 👀

They vanish Oct 13. MOVE FAST! @nybucketlist

#EngineeredForWhatever“

This means you still have the weekend to seek out a man-fighting-bear mannequin if you want to try to win the trip for two. Maybe next time I’ll even stop and explore what’s actually going on rather than trying to stick to my survival instincts.

Header via Bwog Archives