The Birds and the Bees and More: Pollinators

March 2, 2024 – September 2, 2024

Ava Roth, “Honeycomb Quilt”

Susan McDonnell, "Hummingbird and Aquilegia"

We are excited to bring the important topic of pollinators to our California Nature Art Museum gallery featuring original art by Ava Roth, Elizabeth Weber, Susan McDonnell, Cynthia James, Sara Woodburn, and John Gould.

Each artist brings a unique perspective to their pollinating subjects. For instance, Toronto artist Ava Roth collaborates with honeybees to create a series of artworks featuring bee-created honeycombs which Roth then augments in creative ways with other media.

Elizabeth Weber, “Monarch on Mustard”

Susan McDonnell is creating luminous new paintings with compositions featuring a variety of creatures less known as pollinators such as bats and butterflies, but who fulfill that vital role in a variety of ecosystems.

Documentary photographer Elizabeth Weber has captured unique images of monarch butterflies in an effort to bring attention to their dwindling numbers, which is intended to inspire homeowners to plant native species in their yards and gardens to support pollinators.

Santa Barbara artist Cynthia James, recognizing the increasing risks that pollinators like bees are faced with, creates fantastical paintings of flowers that seem slightly menacing, subtly referring to the pesticides that can harm pollinators.

Cynthia James, “Heave”

We are delighted to also be collaborating with the Cheadle Center For Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration at UC Santa Barbara. The Cheadle Center's contribution is focused on native bees, including high-resolution images of rare, local bees from the UCSB Natural History Collection and images of bees visiting flowers of native plants for an up-close look at their beauty and biodiversity. At our private members-only reception, Cheadle Center Director Dr. Katja Seltmann will present a performative discussion and Q&A about bee natural history that includes bees for viewing under the microscope.