A statue of a grizzly bear, carved from a dead redwood tree, keeps watch over Ganesha Park in Pomona near the G. Stanton Selby Bandshell. The public art statue, carved by Irvine artist John Mahoney, is one of 14 sculptures he artistically crafted from dead trees in the park vicinity. Installed April 2017, the historical site labeling did not come without some dispute. The words on the dedication plaque were a matter of controversy between the Kizh and Tongva tribes, who both claim heritage ownership in the area of Ganesha Park.
This story was originally published by La Verne Magazine. This piece won First Place in Magazine Personality Story at the University of La Verne’s Communication Department Awards.
Natasha Brennan 