Pollinators Highlighted in Art Exhibit

Wendy DesChene

Jeff Schmuki

(Press Release) April 3, 2024 (Lake Worth Beach, Fla.) -- A pioneering exhibition of artwork that explores the vital and multifaceted role of pollinators in our ecosystem will soon be on display at the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County’s main gallery in downtown Lake Worth Beach.

Curated by artists and educators Wendy DesChene and Jeff Schmuki of the art collaborative PlantBot Genetics, the free public exhibition Beyond Blossoms: The Power of Pollinators will take place April 19 through June 22 and features the work of 43 Palm Beach County-based creative professionals.

The exhibition will feature works by Ilene Adams, Jhonattan Arango, Milena Arango, Elliott Block, Barbara Bose, Anthony Burks, Eli Cecil, Lara Chapman, Joel Cohen, Liz Colomé, Pia Dugger, Julius Eb, Christine Ellinghausen, Carol Erenrich, Gail Erickson, Andrea Facusse, Mark Fletcher, Judy Gaggero, Daisy Galán, Richard Gobout, Arlet Gomez, Rose Gong Monier, Sofie Granthon, Andrew Hollimon, Clara Jejune, Autumn Kioti Horne, Scott Klimek, Victoria Rose Martin, Doreen McGunagle, Astrid Mora, Jo Ann Nava, Wendy Navarrete, Daniel Newcomb, Marion Roberts, Renata Rodrigues, Jamie Rodriguez, Ted Shaine, Valerie Solaas, Haydee Ullfig, Judy Van Horn, Bridget Vizoso, Carin Wagner and Barbara Ziev.

Beyond Blossoms: The Power of Pollinators will showcase a broad range of work and styles, including two-dimensional and three-dimensional work, printmaking, photography, textiles, sculptures and installations.
“There are traditional pieces, but other works that will surprise you, and make you think, ‘Wow, I hadn’t thought of pollination in that way before,” Schmuki said. “Some are more abstract, like music. You’ll feel it when you see it, and you’ll instinctively know that this is important.”

The exhibition will also include a site-specific installation of a colorful, large-scale wheat paste mural of mandalas based on photographs of the area’s pollinators (such as moths and salamanders) and magnified images of local pollen. Created with nontoxic, environmentally friendly, and temporary materials, members of the community are invited to stop by the Cultural Council and participate in the creation of the 8x8-foot mural on Tuesday, April 16, from noon to 5 p.m.

DesChene, who is Indigenous, said the installation will strive to epitomize “dialogical art,” or an Indigenous art form that refers to the idea of allowing conversations and connections to influence the progress and outcome of a piece.

“The question I always like to ask is, ‘How do we get people excited to talk to each other?’” she said. “Instead of telling people what to think, we want to invite people to have a conversation while they create and learn. Art provides a great way to begin discussions about topics that are important to us.”

Since 2009, DesChene (who serves as faculty at Auburn University) and Schmuki (faculty at Georgia Southern University), working as PlantBot Genetics, have employed community collaboration, a solar-powered mobile art space, tactical media, and public engagement to promote critical thinking and political action on environmental issues. Their work explores the lack of transparency and corporate influence in food production and distribution through humorous and satirical research, development, and marketing of transgenic products and projects. The next-generation robot-plant hybrids they create spark critical discussions on the environmental costs of agriculture and the journey of food from farm to plate.

The pair’s ongoing Moth Project programming seeks to raise awareness about the decline of pollinator populations, environmental preservation, and the challenges posed by doomsday predictions. The project actively engages the public through interactive experiences focused on environmental education, citizen science, and backyard naturalism. The Moth Project empowers audiences to contribute to positive change by fostering new conversations and inspiring civic action.

“Art has the ability to change the way we see the world by awakening our curiosity,” Schmuki said. “My hope is that people who view this exhibition and participate in the process will become curious about our world and feel inspired to take action to improve it.”

The Beyond Blossoms: The Power of Pollinators exhibition will include two exciting extensions on Saturday, April 20, at the Cultural Council’s downtown Lake Worth Beach headquarters. At 4 p.m., a free panel discussion with the exhibition’s curators will take place in the main gallery. At 7 p.m., guests are invited to join the curators for an Interactive Moth Project in the Cultural Council’s outdoor Project Space on the south side of the building.

During the Moth Project event, DesChene and Schmuki will set up white tents with lights inside them to attract moths. Guests will help count the moths and the curators will be on hand throughout the event to speak about the value of pollinators and their ongoing project collecting information about them. University of Florida extension agents will also be present to discuss native plants that attract pollinators.
The exhibition will take place in the Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. Building at 601 Lake Avenue in Lake Worth Beach. Hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

An opening reception is scheduled for Thursday, April 18, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Artists from the exhibition will be present to answer questions and discuss their work. Reception is free for members; $20 for non-members. Visit palmbeachculture.com/blossoms for more information or to register for the opening reception.

Beyond Blossoms: The Power of Pollinators is sponsored by Frances and Jeffrey Fisher, Ellen Liman, Lisa H. Peterfreund, Merrill G. and Emita E. Hastings Foundation, Flamingo magazine, Florida Weekly, WLRN and PureHoney magazine.