Above: Original is sold; prints of a detail are available (right).
The Honeybee: Bee-coming Rarer
Rozome on Silk charmeuse, with habotai side pieces.
Aspen hanger by the artist.
Original piece: 60 x 28"
Private collection.
For the sixth grade Science Fair I carved a balsa wood honeybee, never dreaming that this little creature would provide a basic material for my art over the next six decades. First, I used wax to create models for lost wax casting of silver and gold jewelry. Then, in 1980, I was introduced to batik, a wax resist process on fabric which has occupied my studio time ever since.
The European honeybee has fallen victim to several maladies in recent years: parasitic mites, Colony Collapse Disorder, and general decline. The EPA and the European Union are investigating the widespread use of neonicotinoid insecticides as a major culprit. These are found in many backyard garden treatments, as well as in Advantage flea and tick control for pets. When buying flowers at nurseries, consider asking about whether the grower used neonics. These are choices we can make.
Below: Detail. A limited edition of giclee prints is now available for $50 each plus shipping. Also available conservation-framed at Wild Hearts Gallery, $125.
