Originally posted June 5, 2014
I’ve been working on a cardboard sculpture that I made in response to disturbing updates from Friends of the Earth, an activist organization fighting to save bees.
Honey bees continue to die in greater numbers every year. Popular pesticides are a primary cause. Bee balm and Black-Eyed Susan are easy to grow flowers that provide good food for bees.
I began the sculpture with a wonderful piece of packing cardboard that I painted and punched holes in. Then I melted old candle stubs and poured the wax over the cardboard form. The hot wax melted the gold paint causing it to become diffused in an interesting way. Other materials such as gold paper and Senna tea leaves were added, secured with wax or glue. Although it is about bees dying I wanted it to have beautiful honey like colors. It’s called Empty Hive. I took this picture this morning but have worked on it since then. It’s a piece that keeps pulling me back in.