Bees are amazing, unfortunately they are getting screwed.
I am honoured to have been selected for this year’s Fifty Bees project, brainchild of long-admired Lydia Needle.
Each of the fifty artists taking part is allocated a bee species (mine is Colletes Daviesanus), and asked to make an artwork in response. The brief is broad and relaxed, you can pretty much do anything.
Lydia has made the most exquisitely sculpted bees, to exhibit alongside each guest artwork, at Richard Jefferies Museum in June.
I am flailing around like a netted fish. Unbelievable I know, but it has only just dawned on me that my work does not do briefs (however broad) and deadlines. I am still stitching work I started thirty years ago.
I’d had the information for a good month, when panic set in. Having already looked through newspapers and magazines, to no avail, for pictures of hogweed (my bee’s ‘food’) and the like, I ordered some Wild Flower books on Ebay. It felt wrong, but I felt desperate. The books were described as being in disrepair. They are not. I couldn’t bring myself to cut them up and took them to a charity shop.
Lydia, and my ‘beekeeper’ Joy, are not putting any pressure on me. They have total faith.
Anyway, when I wasn’t looking, I found a path. I’m using this. More to follow.
Alison Sye 
I’m sure your finished art will be exquisite Alison. Look forward to seeing you completed bees.
Thank you, Sharon
You will find a way. Looking forward to it.
Thank you, Claudia
I believe in you. I know you can do it.
Thank you, Laura.
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Intriguing! And how lovely to really get to know ‘your’ bee as you prepare for the exhibition
Hi Julia,
yes it was a great exhibition, such a wide variety of work involved. It had been pack up now and is moving on to a new gallery as we speak.
I don’t know if you would be interested in applying to take part, but Lydia has just put out an open call to select the next 50 artists.
I did spot that, and have been mulling an idea over in my head. Am now reading various books and articles on bees, which is interesting, even if my idea isn’t accepted into the new exhibition.
Thanks for saying about it though
It’s a really lovely thing to be part of. All of the work can be viewed in Lydia’s shop. I’m not saying that so you can buy some, I’m saying it so you can see the selected works.
Oh cool… Thanks, i’ll have a look.