Opening Reception for the Modern Art Bear Show

Synopsis of Friday's story: Beartrand Bear tried to interview Sweet Suzie Bear but was foiled once again. The first time, he was foiled by the presence of a school group. This time, he was foiled by a caterer who came to discuss the menu for that evening's reception.

Beartrand Bear brought his handy dandy microphone to the reception at the Art Museum. He could tell that Sweet Suzie Bear was easily distracted and that doing the interview with her was going to be more challenging that he had anticipated.
A line had formed outside of the Art Museum. The bears and even a few humans were dressed up and were ready for an evening that involved food and fundraisers. A tall bear stood near the door. Beartrand Bear recognized the tall bear as Bearnabus, the owner of the art gallery.
"Would you like to talk to my listeners about the Art Museum?" asked Beartrand breathlessly as he waved the microphone as close to Bearnabus' face as he could. Since Beartrand was a rather short bear, he couldn't reach the microphone to Bearnabus' face.
Bearnabus took the microphone and held it to his face. "Of course. I am always happy to talk about my Art Museum. It is a real treasure in Bear Land. Even the humans who come from the Land of the Humans and the giants who come from the Land of the Giants like visiting our Art Museum and seeing the creativity of our artistic Bears. I would also like to mention that everyone is welcome to donate to the museum so that we can have more exhibits like the Modern Art Bear show."
"When can people come visit the show and how do they make donations to the museum?"
"The museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from ten o'clock in the morning until seven o'clock in the evening for the next two weeks, which is when we go into our hibernation cycle. As for making donations, we have cans and jars and envelopes for these donations. We also offer memberships to the museum. When you come to the museum, just ask about the membership and one of our helpful staff will be happy to assist you."
"Thank you very much," said Beartrand Bear.
After waiting for about fifteen minutes, Beartrand Bear and the rest of the bears were able to go inside the museum when a museum guard opened the door and announced that the reception would start momentarily.
Beartrand was looking at a painting of a bear posing with a human in what looked like a tropical jungle. He began reading the artist statement by Sweet Suzie Bear.
"As a student at the art academy in the Land of the Humans, I met a family of giants. One giant, named Tina, asked if she could pose for a photograph with me. She wanted the photograph to be done in the wild forest, so we went out to an area with big leaves and giant trees. After the photography session, I used the photograph of Tina and me as the basis of a painting. When Tina isn't posing for photographs, she is an opera singer and vocal coach."
Then someone poked his shoulder. Beartrand jumped and then turned around. It was Bearnacle Bear and his first mate, the father of Sweet Suzie Bear.
"Hey Beartrand," Bearnacle Bear announced without even bother to say "hello" or "how are you" or any of the things that were said at the beginnings of conversations. "We are going on a sea voyage to the Land of the Giants and we want you to come with us so that your listeners can hear the giants stories. There is a special giant that everyone calls the Little Giant. All of the stories are about the Little Giant. Will you come with us?"
Beartrand was so startled at the invitation that he almost forgot to respond and he almost forgot that he had a live microphone in his paw.
"Um, er. Yes. Oh! The microphone. Listeners! I am going to have an adventure and I will share it with you." Beartrand turned off the microphone and stopped taping. "When do we leave?"
"Three days after we finish hibernating."
And with that, Bearnacle and his first mate ran over to see Sweet Suzie Bear.
Beartrand wondered when Sweet Suzie Bear would be ready for an interview but, in the mean time, there was food to eat and conversations to be had...

Tomorrow: The reception continues.

Notes about today's painting: "Self Portrait with Monkey," painted in 1938, was one of many self portraits painted by Frida Kahlo, a Mexican artist who was married to Diego Rivera, a famous muralist. Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) painted many self portraits. Her artwork was described at various times as naive or primitive or as surrealistic. Frida Kahlo disagreed with the surrealistic label and said that her paintings represented reality, rather than dreams.