Bee

The Visual Arts Committee at Arts on The Lake is currently hosting it's Fall Collaborative Exhibit!

Artwork currently on display has been created by artists working together on the projects. My wife Mary Schreiber teamed up with Pallas Athene to create a giant Bee for the show. Following is the story and pictures!

The Concept

The collaborative concept is to combine sculpture and natural finishings. Pallas and Mary agreed on creating a bee, recognizing that bees are in danger - therefore respectful and positive portrayal is an important and timely statement.

The Process

Pallas and Mary took turns hosting The Bee in their separate work spaces, working both together and independently. The initial form and structure was created in Mary's home out of wire and many layers of paper mache.

The Bee then moved to Pallas's home, where she used actual bee and wasp nest material to cover the Bee in intricate layers.

Together, Pallas and Mary pondered the Bee's evolving shape and form, adding texture and detail as required. Mary created the wings with flakes of Mica that Pallas and an excited community of friends collected in Huntington State Park. Visual Arts Committee Chairperson Roy Volpe provided technical assistance and guidance with the wings, and also with the challenging task of hanging the Bee:

The Collaborative Community

Throughout the process, family and friends became involved. Suggestions and ideas began to flow, building excitement as the Bee progressed. In particular, Pallas's husband and son (Michael Scott and Cyd Scott) provided insight and variations in perspective. I provided my usual enthusiastic good cheer, and helped vacuum up the massive piles of Micah flakes after Mary had finished the wings.

Reflections

Having a giant Bee in the home changes the household. The process of creation becomes visible and tangible. The time constraints of completing the project required intense and concentrated effort. Mary felt time stop as the wings emerged. Pallas noted that she often considered how a 'bee is a bee', and that this idea helped to change the usual artistic forethought to a focus on the present - to actually work as a bee works - letting the Bee command the work, and essentially "be the Bee."

The Bee, along with many other excellent pieces of art will be on display through the next week at these hours:

Wed, Sept 30, 7-9 pm;

Sat, Sun, Oct 3-4, 1-5 pm.