Modern Art Bear: A Bear Screams

Synopsis of Thursday's story: Beartrand Bear went to the art museum to view the new exhibit, titled Modern Art Bear, and to interview the curator, Sweet Suzie Bear. 

Just as the interview was supposed to begin, Sweet Suzie Bear's assistant entered the gallery, out of breath from running.
"The caterer for tonight's event needs to talk to you. It is something about a change in the menu," said the assistant.
"So sorry," said Sweet Suzie Bear. "I do have to take care of this. Will you come to the event tonight? There will be delicious food and loads of nectar, and we can do the interview then. Why don't you invite your listeners? The event is open to the public."
"OK," said Beartrand. "I'll be back tonight."
Sweet Suzie Bear and her assistant left, and Beartrand walked over to the painting titled "A Bear Screams." He wondered what the artist was thinking and what the bear in the painting was screaming and covering his ears. Beartrand remembered a time when he was screaming and covering his ears. It turned out that he had an ear infection and his ears were ringing for about three weeks after he went to the Bear Clinic. He was just a bear cub at the time and his mama bear poured all sorts of smelly stuff in his ears so that they would stop hurting. It was winter, and he was happy when it was time to hibernate. After he woke up, his ears did not hurt anymore.
But the painting. The Bear did not look happy. Beartrand took a look at the artist's statement:
"What is the difference between a bear singing and a bear screaming? Visually, maybe not too much. Either way, the bear is trying to get out a message that is probably urgent so the bear is using unusual methods of communication.
"The screaming bear holds his ears to shut out the world, so that he can experience his inner world. Or maybe the screaming bear holds his ears to hear his thoughts in a world gone mad with chaotic noise.
"As an artist, I decided to use color and image to depict the over stimulation that we receive on a daily basis from a glut of sensory information.
"The colors of night and of life that flow on and on, like a river, are things that I hoped to translate to canvas."
Beartrand Bear stared at the painting for quite a while and then walked back to the radio station. He hosted his jazz program during the afternoon and then returned to the art gallery for the big event.

Monday's story: More modern art paintings at the Bear Museum and a surprise for Beartrand Bear.

Notes about today's painting:  Edvard Munch's "The Scream" was painted four times, between the years 1893 and 1910. Two of these were done in pastel and two were painted, probably in oils. Edvard Munch (1863-1944) was Norwegian, and the styles that he was known best for included expressionism and symbolism. "The Scream" is considered to be an autobiographical painting. For more information about this fascinating painting, take a look at this webpage: The Scream!