‘The Honey Bee And Its Culture’

NEW FAIRFIELD — “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.” Attributed to Albert Einstein, this supposition has concerned environmentalists,  social theorists, and artists as the prehistoric, mythical and symbiotic relationship between humans and bees continues to engage and alarm.

“Susan Bradley: The Honey Bee And Its Culture,” at New Fairfield’s Sculpture Barn through June 13, combines painting, drawing, monoprints and large scale sculpture to address concepts and patterns of culture, those “invisible energies that lead to the survival of the most cooperative,” as the artist suggests. “The whole is made up of the sum of its parts,” she said.

As part of the expansive installation, Ms Bradley invites visitors to interact with her “bee dance” drawings, reflecting the weaving of the hive.

“Clearly, there are multiple meanings in Susan’s work,” says Sculpture Barn’s artist-in-residence David Boyajian. “The choreography and rhythm of the individual artwork, as well as the installation as a whole, demonstrate a concise, embryonic body of work with an illustrative story that has a beginning, middle, and an end.” The show is the result of the Connecticut-based artist’s Master’s thesis at Hartford Art School, University of Hartford.     

Sculpture Barn is at the intersection of Milltown Road and Route 39 on the New Fairfield town line. Exhibition hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm. For more information, visit SculptureBarn.com or call 203-746-6101.