It Begins with a B(ee)
by Charis J. Carmichael Braun
debuting at the Museum of Contemporary Art Long Island in a pop-up exhibition April 30 - May 2, 2021
“April 30 – May 2, 2021
Coffee with a Curator May 1 @11:00 AM;
All are invited to join us on ZOOM or watch along on Facebook Live.
Artist Reception April 30 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Patchogue Arts Council • MOCA L.I.
20 Terry St, Suite 116, Patchogue, NY 11772
This exhibit and all coordinating events are free and open to the public. Please note receptions are held outdoors weather permitting. Masks are required upon entry into the gallery and guests are expected to practice established social distancing protocols. Hand sanitizer is available throughout the space. Currently, we permit only 4 guests in the gallery at one time.”
This project illustrates diverse relationships between people and pollinators. By presenting portraits through an apicultural lens, these paintings connect us to each other, our communities, and environment here on Long Island. Over 700 beekeepers are on Long Island; approximately 350 are members of the Long Island Beekeepers Club, a few representatives of whom are pictured here in paint. Like a beehive is it’s own tiny world with different jobs and life cycles, these portraits show a particular microcosm of Long Island: “bee-people” can be found in every ethnicity, economic background, and educational focus:
Speaking with a mother unfortunately widowed by cancer, said she found beekeeping was a journey back into her community - back into her own life. She now lovingly tends thousands of buzz-worthy lives in her backyard: Moira.
Another ‘keeper holds his hives as living history of the scientific community at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Walter G.
Newly wed, and new to beekeeping, a chef and a civic engineer have ties to the “old world” as they grow in Garden City: Alessandro & Yildiz.
Once an engineer, a Queens lawyer raises Queens: Steve.
A retired nurse in Middle Island cares for “brood” as well as the next generation of beekeepers: Debra.
An entrepreneur builds an “apic” empire on the rooftops of NYC: Nick.
One of the first female Commanders of a Naval warship cultivates peace and sweetness in her life in Smithtown: Grace.
A young biologist who helped develop grassroots sustainability through honeymaking in Madagascar now maps connections through NASA: Darcy.
At the Long Island Children’s Museum, a photographer builds a fascinating observation hive to illuminate the interior world of honeybees: Carl.
A grandfather presents the ABC’s on keeping bees in classrooms, his backyard towering with familiar icons: Walter S.
Fearless and intrepid, a honeymaker in the Hamptons surrounds herself with swarms and policy-making: Deb.
These portraits have stretched my capabilities, and this project has grown beyond the grant. Curator John Cino has graciously agreed to “debut” this project's development in a pop-up exhibition where these paintings now invite you into every stage of my paintings' process: energetic primaturas, build-up of structures, pushing and pulling the paint until the forms tie together. That you are able to step into my process is like inspecting a hive to see how the whole sweet system is being built.
Artist Charis Carmichael Braun in her studio, with various beekeeper portraits as works-in-progress.
These portraits aim to bring more awareness to not only beekeeping - in any yard by anyone - but also toward increasing our care and stewardship for this vulnerable keystone species that nourishes our shared environment.
I am grateful to the Huntington Arts Council who saw the potential in this project to give me the financial catalyst to start it; to each participant for their willingness to be a part of this ambitious exploration; and to John Cino at MoCA L.I. who has provided this space that allows you to see how “It Begins With A B(ee).”
“It Begins with a B(ee)” Portrait Project is made possible by a “Creative Individual” Grant administered by the Huntington Arts Council which supports projects of outstanding artistic merit that involve the community during an artist’s creative process. It Begins with a B(ee)” Portrait Project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and is administered by The Huntington Arts Council, Inc.