Techno Bees!

Introducing Techno Bees! Here are some drawings of the latest Taxidermy Bees made with computer parts.

Since I'm making so many tiny drawings anyway I thought I could make an animation with them. It will be a nice way to link each of the people who send me a bee with drawings that are small pieces of a unified whole. Eventually it would be nice for everyone to be able to see the animation online but it's still in the planning stages at the moment. It's definitely going to be a steep learning curve.

Bee Kit Drawings

I'm gearing up to enter the next phase of my bee taxidermy project which will include sending out a large number of bee kits; I've prepared two hundred drawings to go along with them. I'm seeing each drawing as more trade than gift since it takes time, not to mention bravery(watch out for those stingers!), to pick up a bee and send it to me. Thinking along these lines, I've signed and titled each small work in an effort to ascribe value to each of them and by extension, value each participant's time and effort. This has also been a great opportunity to find joy in drawing which has previously been somewhat intimidating to me. Above are a few examples of the drawings I've been making. Each measures 2'' x 3'' and they range in media including ink, watercolour and markers.

Drawings and drawings , oh my!

Hello Friends!

These days I'm busily working on making two hundred miniature drawings to give away in bee kits in the Spring. Once completed I will be sending these drawings out to Artist Run Centres, Libraries, Cafes, and anyone else who sends me a request. I've also decided to make pull tab posters with bee kits on them to put in public places so that people will be given the option of remaining anonymous by not having to send me their address. I'm enjoying the idea of creating tiny works of art to barter in exchange for either physical bees or stories.

Also in the works are a dozen large scale drawings of bees. Above are a couple of examples. I've been intimidated by drawing so I hope that by making A LOT of them I can get over it and just have fun.

Bee Taxidermy Update (with examples)

These images are the result of a very tiny (and very fun!) photoshoot. All images were taken by Christina Arsenault, check out her amazing work at www.christinaarsenault.ca

To Explain
Each bee is preserved, posed and repaired in the most careful way possible given its size. Using trial and error I have come up with a process which first involves keeping each bee in the freezer for at least twenty-four hours, this prevents any unwanted stowaways from causing damage to the finished product. Then the bee is soaked in alcohol for about a week to take care of any mold or bacteria which could take hold otherwise, bleugh!

Afterwards the bee is ready to be posed. I try to choose the most "naturalistic" pose possible in an attempt to give each bee an animated quality much in the same way you'd see a taxidermy animal posed at your local museum of natural history(try to see them as itty bitty teeny tiny bears or deer). Once these important steps are finished the bee is given a wire frame (to make it strong and semi-poseable) and filled with glue to make it as sturdy as possible.

Now the actual fun part, deciding what repairs and additions to make to the bee. I use discarded jewelry, electronics and anything else I can scavenge. The key is that the materials must be readily available and they must be reused. In the new year I will be creating an instructional video clearly showing each step of the process so that DIYers can try it themselves.

Bee Taxidermy

Here is a preliminary shot of Bee Taxidermy. Christina Arsenault ( a photography wizard) and I will be documenting a number of these bees next week. Each bee is carefully preserved and repaired by hand using discarded and reused materials.

Bee Taxidermy

As part of my now many pronged bee project I have started up a miniature taxidermy workshop in my studio. Now the bees are coming in on a weekly basis from places all over Canada and parts of the US. Bees with missing parts or perceived defects are being preserved, posed, repaired and in some cases improved either aesthetically or by being povided greater defence mechanisms. All of this is being done with a DIY philosophy using found and discarded materials that are being reused and recycled for this important purpose. In the works is an instructional video where interested parties can learn bee taxidermy in the comfort of their own homes with no specialized training and no fee. We can do this friends, one bee at a time!

I will have example images soon!

News!

New Studio

This blog post will be all about news! First of all as of the 15th of September I will be moving my art practice into a studio in the north end of Halifax (pictures to follow). This studio space comes with a gallery space as well as the company of at least half a dozen other artists. I'm looking forward to getting started in this space!

VANS Mentorship

Secondly, I have been accepted for the Visual Arts Nova Scotia Mentorship program which means I'll be paired up with a well established artist (tba) who will help me out with things such as grant and proposal writing and, for ten months, will provide a helpful critical eye to my painting practice.

May I have your Bees please?

Finally I'd like to draw your attention to a new project that I've just started. I'm collecting dead bees for an installation project in progress. I'm asking people from all over to email me their name and address and I will send you a "bee kit" which includes a self addresses stamped envelope, a small container(for the bee), a brief questionnaire(nothing too personal) and a small gift from me(poem or drawing) for your trouble.Please send your info to ruth@ruthmarsh.net