Jarrett Mellenbruch

Haven 

2014 
Hive Id. # MA02
216 x 15 x 15 inches
corian, wood, steel, honeybees
Courtesy of the artist

Born 1971
Lives and work in Kansas City, MO and Brooklyn, NY

Concerned with the weakening of the honeybee population and the agricultural impact of their decline, Jarrett Mellenbruch has created unique sculptures that create habitats for wild honeybees in the form of an ideal and, self-sustainable shelter. Haven’s structure visually calls to mind iconic images of rural farmhouses, churches, or Romanesque architecture while acting as a refuge for the hard working honeybees. The living sculpture sits on a 16-foot post, placing the bees at their preferred height and implying that the sculpture is for the bees and the sweet honey will remain with them. More info...

Tap below to hear Jarrett Mellenbruch talk about the design of the Haven house:

Tap below to hear Jarrett Mellenbruch talk about the functionality of the artwork:

Tap below to hear Jarrett Mellenbruch talk about swarm intelligence: