Poems for Pollinators
On View at the Winter 2025 Art at the Center Exhibit in Nederland
Poems for Pollinators are Paintings for Hope
I stood next to a triumphant patch of Milk Thistle and felt the bees thrumming the air. I knew I needed to capture that exhilaration in paint and color. On these canvases I share my hopes for a world that continues to thrive with bees, birds, butterflies, and flowers.I am thrilled to be showing this collection of mixed media paintings again this year.
In the chaotic and often painful times we are living through these colorful and hopeful paintings lift my spirits. Each was created as a devotional poem to the pollinators, using paint, paper, glitter, marking pens, and gesso. I experimented with rhythm and texture to capture the movement of the bees. I experimented with colors to evoke the song birds and the starry sky. I co-created the majority of the series over a long weekend at the peak of covid quarantine. I was fueled by a creative spirit, staying up late, cutting and gluing until my hand cramped, determined to bring my vision to life.
Looking back at these paintings four years later I want to revisit some the compositions.
The largest of the series I Felt the Bees Thrumming in the Air, for example, layers a radial composition in a monochromatic silver scheme under a very linear, repetitive, and colorful composition of images invoking pollinators. The linear aspect of the painting was inspired by the rows of clouds found in early images of the planets, honoring the celestial ancestors we all share as beings made of stardust.
Another composition I adore is found in A Heart Blossoms Again.
The layers are mostly concentric circles of similar colors; the pinks, blues, purples, and reds found throughout the rest of the series. However the dynamic rays of flower petals add an expansive feeling to the piece, which opens my heart every time I look at it. I haven’t returned to this idea for a composition in a while, partly because of the physical labor involved in accomplishing the work. Each petal is outlined in shimmering paint, which left my hands achey and sore. I would like to experiment with this in a future collection and see if I can find a way to create that doesn’t cause as much physical discomfort- perhaps creating a slower pace would help.
Five of the original Thirteen paintings will be included in the group show in Nederland, along with a sixth sister painting that was completed in 2022.
I hope you can join me at the opening on March 6th 4:30–7:30 PM for the family friendly event.
Annual Demo Show & Opening Reception – Kid Friendly!
Thursday, March 6, 2025 4:30–7:30 PM
I'm excited to invite you to the Opening Reception for the Winter 2025 Art at the Center Exhibit—an evening of creativity, conversation, and hands-on art experiences! This special event is all about learning, making, and connecting with art and artists. Bring your friends, family, and creative spirit for an inspiring, interactive evening!
Hands-on Demos You Won’t Want to Miss:
Playful Watercolor with Kathy Bremers
Discover the joy of watercolor with Kathy! Using a spontaneous, loose approach, you’ll learn how to let water and color guide your imagination. This freeing, playful experience is all about embracing the unexpected—materials provided!
Inspired Journaling & Sketchbooking with Meg Fox
Meg will share the tools and techniques she swears by, helping you overcome creative blocks and make the most of your sketchbook practice. Flip through her personal sketchbooks for inspiration and take home new ideas for your own creative journey.
Enjoy wine, snacks, and great company while immersing yourself in the creative energy of our community. A suggested $10 donation helps cover food and drinks—thank you for your support!
In case you missed it…
New Moon Vision Board TONIGHT 8-10pm mtn
“Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born.” –Dale Turner
Every New Moon is an opportunity to revisit goals and intentions, calibrate to the current moment, and begin again. Join Me, Artist Khiri Lee @magick_socks in the Creative Coven Discord Server every new moon to create a New Moon Vision Board.
What is a Vision Board? A vision board is a collection of images and words that are collaged together to affirm and clarify a dream or goal. It is a simple visualization tool that can be easily created to ground your dreams in reality. Once your Vision Board is complete every time you look at it, it will transport you to your goal, which creates a loop of affirmation and reflection. Holding the vision of Dream in the minds eye is a great place to start, but it can become taxing to keep the pieces together. Creating a Vision Board transforms the dream into a concrete image, allowing the mind to rest and starting the process of manifestation outside of the self. Using found images allows for the unconscious to speak through the collage, helping navigate what you think you want to what you truly want. Sometimes something unexpected makes it way onto your Vision Board and as the year unfolds it becomes clear why it belongs there. The mystery is part of the fun.
MATERIALS: Collect some old magazines, print your own images from the internet or make it completely digital if you want (There are image pools on Patreon that folks can download if you become a patron.) • Scissors • Poster Board • Gluestick or anything sticky like tape or staples.