LOCAL ARTIST CRAFTS SALUTE TO AMGEN BIKE RACERS.

Byline: Posted by Carol Rock valleynews.com

Local artist Frank Rock (and this writer's husband) has been commissioned to paint the California Bear saluting Santa Clarita's inclusion on the 2007 Amgen professional bicycle tour.

The bear is part of the California Bear public art series sponsored by the city's Arts and Events Office. The three-dimensional grizzlies are modeled after the bear caught in 1877 by John Lang in Canyon Country. Standing five feet tall, four feet wide and nine feet long, this life-size fiberglass bruin will feature Rock's original design of California scenery dotted with bicyclists along the 700-mile route.

Santa Clarita Arts and Events coordinator Michael Marks said that nine artists submitted designs for the Amgen competition, which were fashioned into a powerpoint presentation sent to the Santa Clarita Arts Advisory Committee for selection. ``Frank is one of our most outstanding local artists,'' Marks said. ``His art captured the Tour of California through its design, and we're thrilled he was selected.''

The Amgen bear is the second California Bear created by Rock. He recently finished a bear that will be placed at the Canyon Theatre Guild in the Old Town Newhall Arts District. A muralist by trade, Rock also serves as the head scenic artist for the guild. Artwork on the guild bear highlights local history with depictions of landmarks and prominent pioneers as well as native flora and fauna.

Rock will also paint a smaller version of the bear to be presented as a unique trophy to the winner of the Santa Clarita stage of the competition. Marks said that each city is responsible for creating an icon of their community for the team that comes out on top during their special challenge of the course.

According to the tour's Web site, the Santa Clarita stage could be where a favorite will emerge before the circuit race finale in Long Beach. Starting in Santa Barbara, the cyclists will travel 105 miles with several climbs and sprints, culminating in three circuits between Magic Mountain Parkway, McBean Parkway, Valencia Boulevard and Tourney Road. The day's competition will conclude at the entrance to the Valencia Town Center on McBean Parkway.

The Amgen tour, now in its second year, starts Feb. 18 at the Ferry Building on San Francisco's Embarcadero and will visit Santa Rosa, Sacramento, San Jose, San Luis Obispo and Solvang before stopping in Santa Clarita on Feb. 24. Last year's tour, which featured 16 professional racing teams, drew more than 1.3 million spectators along the route. For more information on the tour, visit the tour Web site atwww.amgentourofcalifornia.comhttp://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/ or the city's Web site at www.santa-clarita.comhttp://www.santa-clarita.com/ and click on the Amgen tour logo.

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Photo: (color) Artist Frank Rock works on a detail for the bear commissioned by the Canyon Theatre Guild. Part of the California Bear Project created by the Arts and Events Office of the city of Santa Clarita, the bear will be placed near the theater in downtown Newhall.

Carol Rock