Programmed Hive #7
Hilary Berseth, 2008, honeybee comb on board, hive super, wood, polystyrene foam, wire, metal, paint, 47.5 x 29 x 26.5 inches, © 2008, courtesy of Eleven Rivington Gallery and the artist
Hilary Berseth
Hilary Berseth creates sculptures that blend the guiding hand of humanity with the forces of nature. He crafts armatures in a variety of materials and uses natural processes to transform them into organic, architectural forms. His work demonstrates the power of an enlightened partnership with nature and are a testament to the creative potential of nature’s toolbox. In his “Programmed Hive” series, which is featured in this exhibition, Berseth collaborates with honeybees to create a unique set of sculptural beehives. He designs a framework for each hive and builds it out of plywood and polystyrene foam. He then introduces honeybees into the hive structure, establishing a resident artist colony that springs to life with the hum of harmonized production. Berseth presents these sculptures as a celebration of the honeybee, a species that is critical to our food supply. He invites us to marvel at the intricacy of their constructions and to appreciate their role in creating the bounty that fills our supermarkets, farms and gardens.
Explore the Gallery
Programmed Hive #6
Hilary Berseth, 2008, honeybee comb on board mounted on hive super, wood, polystyrene foam, wire, metal, paint, 44 x 25 x 22.5 inches, © 2008, courtesy of Eleven Rivington Gallery and the artist
Programmed Hive #8
Hilary Berseth, 2008, honeybee comb on board mounted on hive super, wood, polystyrene foam, wire, metal, paint, 44 x 26 x 24 inches, © 2008, courtesy of Eleven Rivington Gallery and the artist
How does Hilary Berseth collaborate with honeybees to make these scultpural hives? These behind-the-scenes photographs provide a glimpse into Berseth’s amazing creative process.
Programmed Hive #10
Hilary Berseth, 2008, honeybee comb on board, hive super, wood, polystyrene foam, wire, metal, paint, 42.5 x 20.25 x 20.25 inches, © 2008, courtesy of the artist
What role do honeybees play in the production of our food supply? As explained in this short video, foraging honeybees pollinate our crops in the process of collecting nectar and pollen. Did you know that honeybees are not native to the Americas, but rather were introduced in the 1600s by European settlers? In fact, honeybees do not pollinate native plants such as tomato or eggplant, which rely instead on native bee species for pollination. Learn more about the large and diverse array of native bees in North America in this beautifully-illustrated article.
How would your diet be affected by further declines in the population of bees and other pollinators? Look for your favorite foods in this list of crops and their pollinators.
Programmed Hive II
Hilary Berseth, 2007, honeybee comb on board mounted on hive super, wood, polystyrene foam, wire, metal, 44 x 25 x 22.5 inches, © 2007, courtesy of Eleven Rivington Gallery and the artist
Programmed Hive #9
Hilary Berseth, 2009, honeybee comb on board mounted on hive super, wood, polystyrene foam, wire, metal, paint, 48 x 24 x 24 inches, © 2009, courtesy of Eleven Rivington Gallery and the artist
Honeybee colonies have been dying off at an alarming rate, a phenomenon referred to as Colony Collapse Disorder. In this informative article, NRDC discusses the potential causes of Colony Collapse Disorder and its implications for our economy and food supply. For a more in-depth discussion of Colony Collapse Disorder, check out this TED Talk by entomologist Marla Spivak, Distinguished McKnight University Professor of Apiculture / Social Insects at the University of Minnesota.
Humans have been collecting honey from bees for thousands of years. Learn more about the history of honey and other bee products in this article by Smithsonian.
In this interactive video from BBC Earth, explore the extraordinary details of the honeybee’s sting, wing, and head, which are the byproducts of millions of years of evolution.
Featured Actions
Hilary Berseth’s work addresses humanity’s critical partnership with honeybees. If you are inspired by his work, you can take action in your own life. Select one or more pledges listed below and spread the word. You can also learn more by visiting our Pledge Center. Let’s #EndOvershoot and save our #OneEarth.