"Artist Matt Willey and His Global Mural Project Come to Savannah Bee Company"
New York City-based artist Matt Willey is set to bring his internationally acclaimed project, "The Good of the Hive," to Savannah Bee Company's new location. The artist, known for his dedication to raising awareness about the declining honeybee population, will unveil a captivating mural at the company's store.
In an unprecedented global art initiative, Matt Willey has committed to hand-painting 50,000 honeybees on murals and installations worldwide. His journey began over eight years ago, during which he has created remarkable works for prestigious institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoological Park and Burt's Bees' global headquarters. Willey's mission is a long-term endeavor spanning 21 years, and Savannah will mark his 49th destination.
The inspiration for this massive undertaking came from a humble encounter with a honeybee in Willey's Manhattan studio in 2008. As he recollects, "I got down on the floor and hung out with this little bee, because she was walking really slowly. I was fascinated with how beautiful she was, her antennas, the giant eyes, the fuzziness – there was a cuteness that I had never noticed before in my entire life about a bug."
Tragically, the bee passed away, sparking Willey's curiosity about the plight of honeybees. He learned about colony collapse disorder, a phenomenon linked to the dwindling population of western honeybees. This discovery ignited his artistic mission: to raise awareness. The first mural he painted revealed the power of art to engage and educate people about the crucial role of bees in the ecosystem.
"The honey bee is the only creature that I know of that we keep, but it remains wild," Willey points out. "It's different than a cow or a dolphin. Bees are everywhere that humans are all the time."
In Savannah, Matt Willey aims to share the profound connection between honeybees and humans. His "Intersection of Art & Conservation" talk, scheduled for November 16th at Laney Contemporary, offers a deeper insight into his journey and the project's significance. He encourages everyone to join him in painting and discussing the critical message he brings.
"I can paint them, put them in the front of people's brains, and then the bees do the rest of the work," Willey says. "Because they're going to bump into a bee somewhere if they go outside, and then hopefully that sparks that thinking, that we're more connected than we realize."
For Savannah residents and visitors, Matt Willey's mural and presence offer a unique opportunity to engage with a global artist and become part of a vital conversation about the environment and our interconnectedness.
#MattWilley, #TheGoodoftheHive, #SavannahBeeCompany, #ArtandConservation, #Honeybees
