BRIDGEWATER, Va.- On Jan. 12, Bridgewater College hosted the opening reception for Pollinator Friendly: Celebrating and Conserving Virginia’s Native Bees, an exhibition by Professor of Art Scott Jost, using art to raise awareness about the challenges facing pollinators.
The exhibition features photography and a video focused on native bees and pollinator conservation in local areas. During the artist talk, Jost said that the project was created to raise awareness about native bees and the challenges they face.
“This show is really trying to kind of celebrate, and bring awareness to native bees,” Jost said.
Jost said the exhibition also highlights local individuals who are working to support pollinators and improve their habitats.
“It’s meant to really highlight people that are very local here who are doing various kinds of things to help conserve pollinators or try to make life better for them,” Jost said.
Jost said that the project began after he initially considered photographing honeybees but later learned they are not native to North America and already receive significant attention. He said this led him to focus on native bees instead.
According to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, native bees are essential pollinators for both wild plants and agricultural crops, but many species are experiencing population declines due to habitat loss, pesticide exposure and climate change.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that pollinators contribute significantly to food production and ecosystem health, with more than one-third of the food supply depending on pollination.
Jost discussed the difficulty of photographing bees, noting their small size and fast movement. He said capturing successful images required patience and repeated practice over time.
“It just takes a lot of patience and sort of like a Zen attitude toward it,” he said.
His use of video in the exhibition presented an additional challenge compared to photography, he said.
Professor of Art, Eric Kniss, who attended the exhibition, said Jost’s presentation stood out because of its visual layout. Kniss noted that the gallery was arranged salon-style, encouraging viewers to flow through the space differently, compared to all of the photographs being at eye level.
Kniss said that he appreciated the optimism of Jost’s artist talk, despite the serious subject of the matter. He said Jost had optimism that the exhibition would give “a sense of abundance” rather than fear.
Jost said he hopes visitors leave the exhibition with a greater appreciation for bees and a better understanding of their role in the environment.
“I hope people will go home and enjoy being around bees instead of feeling afraid of them,” Jost said.
The exhibition is open to the public in the Beverly Perdue Art Gallery in the FLC through Feb. 4.
