Being with Bees
Making Art with Bees at KOAC
Written by Patricia Lortie
In May 2023, I acquired a beehive, now nestled at the KOAC. My goal was to introduce a new natural system in my artistic process and, ultimately, create in partnership with the bees.
As a visual artist, my work evolves from immersing myself within natural systems. I place myself in environments like water, forests, and now, a beehive, repeatedly engaging on a physical and intuitive level. This process reveals insights and visuals that I refine and transform in the studio. This artistic approach opens the door to the mystical experience of being human. It’s an act of presence, demanding silence, stillness, and an acceptance of the world unfolding around us—a state of receptivity rather than imposition. This opens the path to a heightened perception of the world.
The summer of 2023 marked my first season as a beekeeper, and it was challenging. Though I gained insights from Amber at Mob Honey and a two-day course with the Calgary Beekeepers Association, I felt wholly unprepared. Working with the bees unsettled me intellectually, physically, and emotionally. Each time I opened the hive, I sweated uncontrollably. I entered with a couple of questions, and left with many more. Anxiety made it hard to recall my observations once I closed the hive. And at home, I was surprised by how much I worried about the bees, always wondering if I’d done the right things and if they were ok. To add to the intensity of the experience, my hive was a “hot hive,” quick to sting and intolerant of my interventions. On a positive note, the experience of opening the hive was so consuming that I would forget the world around me. I took very few photos that first summer simply because I forgot my phone was in my bee suit pocket until after I’d closed up the hive.
Sadly, my bees didn’t survive their first winter, likely due to my rookie mistakes. I knew this was a possibility and was at least prepared for that part; winter is tough on honey bees, not native to cold climates, and so much can go wrong.
With one season under my belt and fresh artistic ideas having simmer over the winter, I started anew with a package of bees in May 2024, installing them at KOAC. This new season with the bees has been an incredibly different experience. We have come to a peaceful understanding and have begun to make art together.
Over the winter, I read an article about bee reactivity that reshaped my approach. Moving as if in molasses helps the bees remain undisturbed, allowing them to carry on with their work. The idea is to ensure that chasing me away doesn’t become their work. Just like that, it became a soft and comfortable process. I now feel I can sense their signals. I move slowly and giving them space when they indicate it’s needed. I took the gloves off to feel their vibrations, and I no longer use smoke on the hive unless it’s to keep the queen safely out of the way. Inspired by Amber at Mob Honey, I opened the hive in shorts, a tank top, and flip-flops—without a single sting. This last one felt like such an accomplishment.
With this comfortable act of presence achieved, I shifted focus to art. My test pieces are inspired by the uninterrupted life cycle within the hive, which is essential for their survival. For the first test, I introduced “human larvae” sculptures into the hive. As expected, the bees didn’t do what I intended. They built wax combs. That’s pretty much their go-to when building. But where they build and how they interact with what I place in the hive is entirely up to them. However, observing their choices in interacting with the pieces was intriguing. After adjusting the sculptures by giving them less depth to work with and replacing the back wall of each piece with a more attractive (to bees) support, the second test met with some success. The bees built combs more or less as I’d hoped, with enough surprises to keep things interesting.
The bees’ comb-building season is brief—about eight weeks—and it ended quickly. I now understand the limited window I have for co-creation and plan to be prepared next year. For now, the colony is winter-ready, kept warm in the hive with plenty of honey. With jars of honey stored, I’m turning my attention to preparing new artworks for next season. By winter’s end, I’ll have a collection of pieces waiting for the bees to embellish.
Learn more about Patricia Lortie by visiting her wesbite:
First test. Image Courtesy Patricia Lortie.
Successful test. Image Courtesy Patricia Lortie.
Successful tests. Image Courtesy Patricia Lortie.
Sculptures in preparation for 2025. Image Courtesy Patricia Lortie.
