Over the past two weeks in my college art class, we have been talking about elements of our local forest ecosystem. We had a class discussion about how each resource depends on the others and how each part of our ecosystem works in harmony to create balance.

We were each tasked with creating a quilt square featuring an element of our local ecosystem to come together and create a collaborative class quilt. Each student received a different element of the ecosystem, and we were given materials like paint, felt, embroidery thread, and more.

I was given the “native bee”, and was really excited, with so many ideas before even starting. The final product that I created was original, but I did watch a tutorial on creating the lavender flowers on the bottom.

Anyway, enough of me talking about the project, I’d better just show you guys.

Artist Statement

The quilt square that I created highlights the native bee as a symbol of the balance within our local forest ecosystem. Bees play a vital role in pollinating local flowers, gardens, and crops, which allows plants to thrive, reproduce, and support local wildlife. My quilt square showcases the essential role of bees in our ecosystems. The flowers, honeycombs, and bees represent the wonderful cycle of pollination that supports local plants. The movement patterns of bees show their hard work and continuous movement from flower to flower to keep our ecosystem in balance. I also added the lavender flowers at the bottom more for a personal touch. Although lavender is native to Mediterranean Countries, it can thrive in the climate of our area, so I used to have the most beautiful lavender bush outside my house growing up. Every summer, my yard was absolutely full of the most adorable little bees. I depicted one of the bees sitting on a lavender bush on my quilt square, and I felt it connected me to my childhood, where I spent the most time with the bees.