Bumblebee with Melting Ice 14x11" Oil on canvas, Hall Groat II, On exhibit at Lockhart Gallery, SUNY Geneseo through March 8

Historically, bumblebees throughout cultures were viewed as symbols of mortality, love, wisdom, social organization, diligence and tireless work. Bees work collectively to accomplish large tasks, whereas a single be can do very little. The work together to transfer pollen from one plant’s flower to another, and are often leased by farmers to pollinate fields and orchards—without them crop yields would dwindle. Bees are now facing extinction due to both manmade and natural factors. The earth, too, is facing its demise. As it gradually becomes lighter over the next couple billion years it will move closer to the sun and slowly disintegrate. At the moment, we are witnessing C02 contributing to the melting of the polar ice caps. If homosapiens are unable to figure out how to work together like bees, they will become extinct long before Terra Mater actually does.