“The vital role that bees play in the pollination of agriculture makes the decline of bee populations, a syndrome known as colony collapse disorder, potentially disastrous. Albert Einstein recognized the critical role that bees play, when he wrote “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.”
Many contributing factors have been identified, including single crop agriculture, leading to urban bees faring better than their country cousins, due to the greater variety of pollen found in city gardens. Designed for use in parks, urban gardens and rooftops, textile artist Amy Pilszka proposes “Bees Beside Us”, a collection of expandable bee architecture. In an attempt to redefine our relationship with bees, and aid understanding of our reliance on them, Pilszka’s natural and biodegradable bee architecture, acts as a means of attracting and housing urban bees. Still in the developmental and testing stage, Pilszka undertakes site-specific commissions, with prices varying dependent upon materials. -Sass Brown, photos courtesy Amy Pilszka”
