I Walked 100 Miles On Foot To Save The Honeybee!

Every year, 80 billion honeybees are trucked into California's Central Valley to pollinate nearly one million acres of almonds trees. This February was history's greatest gathering of honeybees, coming at a time when hive populations are facing 44% yearly die-off rates and the state copes with drought. During this mass pollination event a crew of six women costumed in gold performed a five day 100 mile walk through the desert, interviewing farmers and beekeepers along the way. Part performance art, part ritual, part activism, “Equilibrium Rites” seeks to raise public awareness of this ecological crossroads so as to instigate healing and inspire creative response to crisis.

From August 6th-26th, project director Meesha Goldberg will be presenting a series of evocative visionary oil paintings in the exhibition “Equilibrium Rites” based on the ritual walk. Also on display will be photographs documenting the performance by renowned punk photographer James Stark, a short documentary on the experience, and a display of artifacts by Joanna Brook. The show opens Saturday, August 6th, from 8-11pm, at The Hive Gallery and Studios, LA.

Concurrent to her solo show will be a bee-themed group show entitled “Honey and Venom”, curated by Goldberg and gallery director Nathan Cartwright. Participating artists include: Peca, Katelan Foisy, K Lenore Siner, Lana Gentry, Elizabeth Shupe, Kaylee Holz, Theodore Holdt, Inge Vandormael, Liv Rainey-Smith, Kamina Kapow, M de Vena, Denise Bledsoe, Nyahzul Blanco, Evgeniya Golik, Ivonne Escoto, Alex Quintero, Mark Brunner, Joon Alvarado, William J.Dunn, Amanda Sage, Steven “Wireboss” Darden, Nathan Cartwright, Ricardo Ales, and Donna Zoell.

A percentage of all art sales will go towards the establishment of a bee sanctuary in Hawaii, directed by San Francisco bee activist Patricia Algara, who participated in the performance.

For more information on the project, visit www.equilibriumrites.com.
For more information on the bee activism of Patricia Algara, visit: http://baselandscape.com/portfolio/with-honey-in-the-heart/