Ava Roth

The Honey Bee Collection evolved from years of working with wax as an encaustic painter. After being immersed for so long in beeswax as a medium, I began to turn my attention to bees themselves, and quickly learned about Colony Collapse Disorder. Bees are often considered a harbinger of the health of our planet, and their mass global disappearance is interpreted by many scientists and environmentalists as an indicator of our environment’s peril. This project explores the boundaries of where humans collide with the natural environment and imagines a more beautiful outcome of our encounter.

Each piece in this series celebrates the bees’ delicate and complex work, and attempts to mirror these qualities in playful concert. The work begins in my studio, where I make encaustic based mixed media pieces using largely local and organic materials. These are then adhered to custom made frames that slide into traditional Langstroth bee-hives across southern Ontario. Inside their hives, thousands of bees add their contribution by building lush honeycomb on designated areas of the frames. The result is a true inter species collaboration that is unique, wild and beautiful.

I consider the bees to be my co-workers and collaborators in every sense. The bees are not harmed in any way during the process, and I do not manipulate conditions, such as the structure of the hive or the time it takes the bees to naturally build their comb.

The Honey Bee Collection is essentially hopeful at a time when we are overwhelmed with despair at the state of the climate, and our role in its destruction.

Blue and Gold, Ithra
Encaustic, Japanese paper, gold leaf, embroidery floss, glass beads, natural honeycomb, local Ontario maple frame
This piece was made in collaboration with a colony of bees, and was created in a custom double length Langstroth hive frame, 17.5”x17.5”

Black and White, Circle
Encaustic, Japanese paper, embroidery floss, gouache, natural honeycomb, local Ontario maple frame
This piece was made in collaboration with a colony of bees, and was created in a custom double length Langstroth hive frame, 17.5”x17.5”

Magnolia Tree Leaf and French Knots
Encaustic, Japanese paper, tulip tree leaf, embroidery floss, natural honeycomb, in custom local Ontario maple frame
This piece was made in collaboration with a colony of Ontario honey bees. 17.5”x17.5”

Porcupine Quills and Embroidery Floss
Encaustic, Japanese paper, porcupine quills, embroidery floss, natural honeycomb, local Ontario maple frame
This piece was made in collaboration with a colony of bees, and was created in a custom double length Langstroth hive frame, 17.5”x17.5”

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http://www.avaroth.ca/

All images copyright and courtesy of Ava Roth

Art, Creativity, Environment, Nature