Bee City, USA: Talent, a Community Created Mosaic
Talent, Oregon is the second Bee City USA in the country since 2014. It’s a title bestowed by the national non-profit organization working to protect honeybees and other pollinators that are vitally important for our world ecology. Karen recognizes this honor and wants to keep it in the forefront of people’s minds through this community art project. She proposed a mosaic mural Bee City USA: Talent to the Talent City Council in the Fall of 2017 emphasizing how the project supports the goal of bringing awareness to the threats facing pollinators while educating and involving the community.
She received a seed grant from the Haines and Friends Foundation, a local philanthropic art group, and Talent City Council approved the project. The artist held work sessions in her studio in 2017. The design was constantly evolving based on what type of flowers participants chose to make. Participants were educated about native flowers. Imagery was used as guides to creating recognizable flowers they could also plant in their own yards to help encourage pollinators.
Likewise, over 25 local and native bees were highlighted in the mural to help educate viewers. Folks of all ages and stripes joined together to learn this new-to-them technique most had never before tried. Once enough blooms were created on mesh in the studio, they were arranged by Karen into a flower garden design. Foliage that matched the blooms were added in subsequent workshops.
Some folks came to workshops repeatedly. One group of three women traveled from Grants Pass more than twenty-five times to help, an hours’ drive each way! Some people used the work sessions to celebrate birthdays – one with a 94 yr. old and his 3 younger friends. Some celebrated their marriages by using it as a bonding date-night experience. Many new friendships were made in our small rural community; others were cemented in place (pun intended). In total over 100 participants made this gorgeous mosaic a reality.
The mural, designed and facilitated by Karen, is made of stained glass and handmade ceramic elements and features naturalistic clusters of flowers, foliage and, of course, pollinators and bees. It is permanently installed on a low stage, just outside the Talent City Hall and next to the Talent Public Library. Overall, this super successful project could not have happened without the amazing help of the community.**
**Update: Although it was never in the forefront of my mind during the horrific Almeda Wildfire that destroyed much of the town of Talent on Sept. 8th, 2020, it is with relief that I can now say that NONE of the community projects I have facilitated or created in Talent over the last 15 years was damaged. It brings me great joy knowing that these works of the community can continue to stand and give hope to the thousands of residents that have been displaced and/or impacted by the wildfires as they attempt to come back together and slowly rebuild so our neighbors can return home.
