Submitted
Visitors to Sternberg Museum in Hays may have noticed several large, bright yellow structures at the entrance of the nature trail located just west of the main facility, 3000 Sternberg Drive.
“The Bee Project” is currently on exhibit and it features bees made from found and recycled objects. Presented by artist Elena Smyrniotis, “The Bee Project” focuses on the importance of pollinators and challenges visitors to participate in the exhibit by making their own bees from found and recycled objects.
The number of bees on the structures will soon multiply as the museum plans a July 1 workshop at which participants will create their own bee sculptures from recycled and found materials, mostly plastic and metals. The structures will remain in place until August.
The free workshop, which is designed to be a family activity for both parents and kids, is scheduled from 10 a.m.-noon. The program will be led by Sternberg education and outreach director Ian Trevethan.
Visitors are encouraged to bring their own recycled and found materials, and the museum will have some materials on hand as well. Materials can include aluminum cans, plastic containers, discarded toys, flyswatters, etc.
“Basically anything that can be used for a bee’s body and wings,” Trevethan said.
At the conclusion of the activity, participants will write their names on their bees and return to the exhibit to attach them to the structures.
“It’s a very thoughtful exhibit in which people take discarded and found objects and create something from those objects,” Trevethan said.