I'm setting up the gallery for a new show, "Bee Good", featuring paintings and photos of bees.  Many people have been asking what is it with me painting bees lately.  Well, I am interested in agriculture here and worldwide and recognize the importance of these little critters.  They deserve to be looked at with a careful eye and painted in their moments of glory.  The more I look at them, the more intriguing I think they are. Bees are actually quite the fun subject.  Plus, I thought that if I do a show about them, it might help raise awareness for keeping the health of these insects a top priority.  They are to be revered not feared.  And, as we give thanks this month, let's not forget the bees.  Yes, keep them in your prayers.

Bees are a lynch-pin in our entire food chain.  Over the last three years more than one in three honey bee colonies have died nationwide, posing a serious risk to our natural food supply.  One cause of these losses is an alarming phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder, or "CCD", where honey bees mysteriously desert their hive and die.  These symptoms have been reported in more than 35 states across the US and in many other countries.  Researchers believe there may be many factors contributing to CCD, including chemical exposure, viruses, mites and poor nutrition.

There is a lot going on with bees and beekeeping.  I've heard all kinds of stories from customers.  One customer told me about a man in NY City who keeps bees from atop his highrise.  There has been a documentary made of his enterprise.  Another customer told me about a prison project in Chicago teaching bee keeping to inmates.

I've also read some terrific articles in Edible Grand Traverse Magazine, from contributing writer, Nels Veliquette, on this subject.  I will post some links in reerence to these stories as soon as I get this show hung and have a few odd moments to do so.

Meanwhile, I hope you get a chance to come by and see the new Bee exhibit at Seed.

Oh, also, I wanted to mention that there are a couple of great photographers whose photos I used for reference with their permission.  The majority of my paintings are from Rick Lieder's photography, bugdreams.com .  A couple others are from referencing photos of Rollin Coville, covillephotos.com

Graciously,

Lindy