I am happy to announce that a large print of my Mandala Art titled, “Honor the Bees” was shown in Greenwich Village, New York City on June 22 at the Launch Party for the Non Profit Organization, Bee Native.

My sister gave me the initial idea for this piece.  She wanted a bee themed design to give to a friend.  After reading some articles online depicting their plight and then talking to some bee keepers at our local Farmer’s Market, the image emerged.

“Honor the Bees” is a limited edition digital work created using elements from some of my photographs as well as hand drawn and digitally painted elements using my wacom drawing tablet.  Very faintly embedded in the background of the image are 4 Japanese Kanji symbols blessing the bees:  Upper Left  = Peace, Lower Left = Tranquility, Upper Right = Truth, Lower Right = Harmony. The image is available as a high quality professional print backed with double matte board or printed on canvas, in the following sizes:  8 in. x 8 in., 10 in. x 10 in. and 20 in. x 20 in.   With a slight bit of reworking this can be sized up even further to around 20″ x  20″.  I normally have these printed on Endura Metallic photo paper which gives the image a shimmering quality or on Kodak E-Surface Photo Paper.  The image can also be printed on canvas.  If you would like to order a print, view my “About” page for contact information.

Survival of pollinating bees are intrinsic to our own survival and vital to our food production.  One third of our food requires pollination by insects.  Bees began disappearing at an alarming rate in 2006, in an epidemic known as Colony Collapse Disorder.  Humans have much to learn from the comples, efrficient and productive world of the bee.

Bee Native’s Mission statement is to:

• Provide education about bees and their environment, their functions and needs, Colony Collapse Disorder, environmental change and the impact on the landscape and all it’s inhabitants. Provide environmental intervention strategies.
• Strengthen the honeybee population.
• Provide access to stocked hives and training in holistic organic beekeeping methods to American Indian communities and others.
• Provide training on the extraction of honey and the manufacture of other related products from the hives.
• Provide support to establish a high standard of product and co-operative collections under a clear unique brand and marketing plan to benefit the American Indian communities and fund further education.
• Provide research opportunities and data for the study of apiculture. Making this information available to fellow tribal communities, beekeepers and the academy.

I will donate 15% of all sales of this image through the end of 2009 to Bee Native.

Purchase this Print today.

This print is available in various sizes and papers.  You can also order it matted and framed or printed on stretched canvas.  Greeting cards also available for purchase.