Patience Sarkey and Harvir Kaur pose for a portrait in front of the pollinator-themed art wall at the 415 Bee Gallery.--News Photo Anna Smith
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
An open house at the Bee Gallery is making a point to promote pollinators for an open house today.
Located at 415-B Third St. SE, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m, the art show features various local artists all on the themes of bees, butterflies and various local pollinators.
“The owner has allowed me to put an art show up to sort of entice people to maybe rent this space,” said Medicine Hat local Martha Munz-Gue. “To make it more enticing from the sidewalk, that was the beginning of this gallery.”
After putting out a call for local artists to bring in their work, Munz-Gue received pieces from several artisans, both in paintings, drawings and sculptures, as well as a small pollinator-friendly garden that is currently growing in the windowsill.
“Dale Beaven, who’s a local artist, has contributed that beautiful picture of a bee covered with pollen, holding the world, which she painted after a conversation with a PhD that works at the base about the climate,” said Munz-Gue. She explained that the quote that had stuck with the artist had been simple: “Bees hold the world in their hands.”
Alongside the artworks, Munz-Gue has also invited several students from Medicine Hat College’s Sustainable Innovation program to give presentations on their projects.
Among those projects included Adeniyi Olanbi and his proposal for sustainable, secure personal package receptacles to reduce theft, and the need for packages to be signed for, therefore reducing emissions due to repeat deliveries or missed delivery windows.
Having worked for FedEx for years, he had brought his expertise to this project, suggesting that such a device could be used not only for international or online purchases, but for local businesses and restaurants to ensure their products arrive safely, as well.
Fellow student Harvir Kaur demonstrated her passion for organic and herbal skin products, aiming to encourage residents to increase their knowledge of plant-based remedies and reduce the number of chemicals finding their way into waterways thanks to current skincare and cosmetics.
“So many of these things and their packagings are not biodegradable,” said Kaur. “But we can keep many of these natural herbs and products in biodegradable fabric bags. I want people to shift from chemical cosmetics to herbal knowledge about plants and herbs; if they can grow them, it will be better for them and for nature.”
For Patience Sarkey, her project came down to education, and getting across vital knowledge about Medicine Hat’s more notorious invasive species such as leafy spurge, baby’s breath and downy brome to different age groups.
She explained that the version of her presentation she was showcasing had been geared toward Grade 4-6 students.
In accessible language, the importance of marking and removing invasive species and how to use tools such as EDDMapS, which allows anyone to submit a photo and have qualified scientists confirm and mark where invasive species have been spotted.
“It really worked. Right after my presentation to some of these students, they had to go for recess. During the recess, they had picked a whole bunch of Downy Brome that was growing along the school, because I had told them it was safe to pick with their hands.”
The open house will be open today only.
