Bearing Dreams

The teddy bear reimagined as a sculptural swing

Cluster of plush teddy bears sitting on a suspended clear acrylic swing

In Bearing Dreams, I bring the familiarity of the teddy bear into the scale and form of furniture. I arranged plush figures over repurposed faux fur, refining their placement into a balanced composition in which each bear becomes both ornament and cushion. A transparent acrylic seat supports the soft surface, while braided ropes suspend it in space.

I use this relationship between softness and structure to explore how childhood objects continue to hold emotional weight. The familiar gesture of swinging becomes an invitation to revisit play, while the visible suspension draws attention to what holds us. The work considers the forms of comfort we carry into adulthood, giving memory a tactile, sculptural presence.

Cluster of beige teddy bear plush toys hanging in a suspended fabric swing

Sydney Anmuth
Bearing Dreams, 2025
Clear acrylic, nylon and polypropylene rope, carabiners, plush teddy bears, and repurposed faux fur
18 × 24 in.; hanging drop: 9 ft.
Suspended swing installation

A transparent acrylic seat supports the soft surface, while joined lengths of nylon and polypropylene rope suspend it in space.