Status: Ongoing
Beecoming Sustainable is a creative research proposal to develop a series of experimental videos and paintings critically addressing various issues surrounding bee populations and factors impacting their environment. The project will travel to several beehive colonies and information centers to research apiculture, gather video and photographic material for artistic source material, and research Yukon viable pollinator crops. The project will culminate in an exhibition including the video and painting work produced, as well as offer the free distribution of pollinator-friendly plant starts to raise awareness around the importance of establishing pollinator-friendly spaces in urban environments. The research generated from this project is the first step towards creatively integrating pollinator-friendly crops into local community planning and reclamation projects.
Project description:
Bee-coming Sustainable is requesting support to travel to two beehive colonies and information centers in British Columbia to film and learn about bees, beehives, apiculture (the management and study of honeybees), and creating pollinator-friendly environments.
The video material gathered during this excursion will be used to create a series of experimental videos as well as a series of paintings critically addressing the various issues surrounding bees and factors impacting their environment. The project will culminate in an exhibition including the video and painting work produced, as well as offer the free distribution of pollinator-friendly plants to raise awareness around the importance of establishing pollinator-friendly spaces. I have confirmed support to exhibit this body of work the SOVA Gallery in Dawson City, but once completed, I intend to apply to exhibit in Whitehorse as well as at other artist-run centers across Canada.
In addition to understanding more about bees, their roles in ecosystems, and how to establish pollinator-friendly spaces, the goal for this excursion is to film beehive colonies, bees in the act of pollinating, and to capture the bee ‘waggle dance’ (a method bees use to communicate by dancing a pattern to tell the other bees in the colony where a pollen source is located). This filmed material will be used for the creation of experimental videos and as source material for the paintings. A cinematographer (Jonathan Klynkramer) will be hired for three days to accompany me to the hives to film while I direct to acquire the desired footage. Jonathan will provide all the camera equipment necessary for the filming of the project.
The two sites I intend to visit are Arlo’s Honey Farm in Kelowna, BC, and Planet Bee Honey Farm in Vernon, BC, both which offer information centers and guided tours of the hives. Arlo’s Honey Farm has a ‘Bee Educated’ information centre and tours which guide visitors through the centre with a beekeeper, as well as an opportunity to observe a colony through a screen enclosure, allowing close-up views of the hive interior. Planet Bee offers educational presentations for the viewing of their indoor observatory hives and guided walks through their pollinator-friendly garden. Presentations cover species of bees, the life cycle of the honey bee, pollination, swarming, honey, and the current plight of the honey bee. The setup at the Planet Bee farm offers views behind glass of an indoor observatory hive, which will allow for extended observation and filming of bee activity. One day will be spent filming at Arlo’s Honey Farm and two days will be spent filming at Planet Bee.
Upon completion of filming, I will spend three months creating a series of experimental videos and paintings addressing issues surrounding bees, their role in the ecosystem, factors impacting their environment, and the importance of establishing pollinator-friendly spaces. Studies have shown that one major contributing factor to pollinator losses is the temporary shortage of floral food sources during the summer season, which is often the result of mono-cropping and established urban landscape practices. Initiatives such as the ‘Food for Bees’ project seeks the voluntary involvement of public and private institutions to improve environments supporting pollinator populations. The hopes are that this exhibition will contribute to awareness of bee-friendly forage plants that are suitable to Yukon environments, as well as raise awareness to the plight of the bee.
Partners and funders
YukonU Scholarly Activity