Saturday, September 21, 2024
Butterflies and the Art Show
I've mentioned several times the dearth of butterflies in our garden this summer. I've seen a few cabbage whites, a few common blues and I think one single red admiral, and that's about it. It's been a terrible year considering we usually get commas, peacocks, Jersey tiger moths and others.
Well, now I'm seeing articles about how we're not alone. It's apparently been a disastrous summer for butterflies across the country. Some of it might be due to the climate, but according to experts cited in this article, "the declines in butterflies and other flying insects appear to be more than seasonal fluctuations relating to bad weather." As a result, Butterfly Conservation wants a ban on all neonicotinoid pesticides -- Britain and the EU banned them in 2018 but then the UK exempted the sugar beet industry from its ban. So those potent pesticides are flying around once again, instead of our beloved butterflies.
Isn't it amazing that 62 years after Rachel Carson and "Silent Spring," we're still having this conversation -- still waging this battle?
On a brighter note, I made a video to show you more of the community art show at the school where I work. I tried to do it all in one take -- it's not a very big show -- but people kept walking through the gallery so I had to do some splicing. I also tried to film in a way that shows the works but not the names of the exhibitors, for privacy reasons. So this will only give you a taste of what's on display, but it's better than nothing. I added the contemplative Asian-themed music mostly to drown out extraneous sounds of people talking, floors creaking and doors opening and closing, but it seems to complement the art, doesn't it?
You'll see pottery, embroidery, an architectural model, a decorated boom box, a painted pair of sneakers and a wooden sculpture of a jungle cat. And of course paintings and drawings and photography and all manner of wall art, including my very blue picture.
The only piece that gets really short shrift is an installation shown toward the end -- two side-by-side iPads, playing a looped series of videos created by one of our art teachers. The videos are fascinating to watch but I couldn't really capture them in my own short video, so you mostly just see the setup.
Finally, continuing our artsy theme, I created a few "paintings" with my Waterlogue app -- including this one of Olga napping in the garden near the hollyhock, which you'll remember from this post. I think it turned out well.
If Olga is going to do any outdoor napping this weekend, it will have to be this afternoon. We're getting possible rain this morning and then more certain rain tomorrow and Monday. That's OK -- the plants and grass need it!
(Top photo: A folded sticker on the sidewalk on Finchley Road, on my walk home yesterday.)
Thank you for showing the art exhibit, it was very good. I like the jacket with "have courage and be kind" embroidered on it.
ReplyDeleteA lovely mixture of different art mediums, it's a good exhibition.
ReplyDeleteI wish you had lingered a little longer on the clear plastic cup on the window sill - a remarkable piece of work.
ReplyDeleteI laughed more at your comment here than your jokes.
DeleteHis jokes are shite
DeleteNo they are not.
DeleteThere was a painting? of a woman with her hair piled high in almost sepia tones. I though that was good and I liked the timber work at the end. Thanks for showing the display.
ReplyDeleteLovely show; many tyalented folks.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting group of people, to go by their art choices. Thanks for the tour. I'm glad fiber arts made it into the exhibit.
ReplyDeleteWow! I'm impressed with your community art show! What a wonderful variety of interesting and lovely things! Really terrific, Steve!
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to see what the school was able to offer up! Your choice of music 🎶 was perfect to go with the exhibit!
ReplyDeleteI loved the video. It looks like a great little art exhibit. There really is so much artistic talent in this world of ours. If only we could harness that instead of all the destructive urges we humans seem to push forward.
ReplyDeleteThe jacket really stole my heart too but there is a lot of very fine work there. The carved jungle cat is very good. The sense of energy in it is strong. Nice little film, Steve. Thanks for making and sharing it.
ReplyDeletea nice little exhibit although you panned across everything a little too fast especilly the wall of art. for me anyway. curious about the small piece, the woman sitting on the egg shape. is that glass?
ReplyDeleteSome beautiful artwork there. I loved that painting of flowers in the round, not much of a surprise there.
ReplyDeleteSome of the artwork is really quite amazing. Thanks for the video.
ReplyDeleteWe've noted similar low numbers of butterflies throughout the summer, but outside of gardens and public parks, eg in forests and wild areas, there seem to be plenty - which kind of supports the pesticide argument.
I read Rachel Carson's book when it came out . Not enough people have read it.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great little art show! Loads of talent in that room.
ReplyDeleteWe have not had butterflies for at least two decades. We plant flowers that they like but they do not come because they do not exist.
Thanks for the brighter note. The exhibit is exceptional. And, oh, that very blue picture is an award winner.
ReplyDeleteI loved the video of the artwork - thanks for putting that together for us. I especially liked the mosaic piece (the one in shades of blue/turquoise & white). I could see that one in my house :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for making the video! I'm impressed with the showing. Did Dave not want to enter anything?
ReplyDeleteI hope Olga's able to get in an outside nap. We all need a daily dose of fresh air and (hopefully) sunshine.
A few years ago, our bees and butterflies were nowhere to be seen. Lawn fertilizers and weed killers were identified as the cause. This year I planted white clover in the grass and the bees loved the clover flowers. The bees seem to be coming back but the butterflies are still low in numbers.
ReplyDeleteThe art exhibit shows lots of creativity and talent. Your film with the Asian music is well done. Thank you for the tour.
I love that app although it worked better with the flowers/plants than it did with Olga. You are great with the videos--thank you! There aren't many butterflies around here either this year. :(
ReplyDeleteSteve I’m impressed , truly , with that painting.
ReplyDeleteNo butterflies in Spokane, either. We haven't seen honey bees either. There are bumble bees and some sort of little bee on the hydrangeas and the rhodies when they were blooming. We do have a plethora of turkeys, apparently they were prosperous in their reproduction.
ReplyDeleteExcellent job! Hollywood is on Line One!
ReplyDelete