A COLUMN FOR POLLINATORS
A COLUMN FOR POLLINATORS
Pollinator Column is a sculpture that hums, a functional art piece shaped by the habitat needs of solitary bees. Solitary bees make up more than 90% of North America’s 3,600 native bee species. They live in the ground, in plant stems, and in the cracks of rocks and dead trees. Soil degradation, pesticide use, habitat fragmentation and an intolerance for deadwood in parks and public spaces has led to population declines in bee communities. Pollinator Column upcycles fallen wood into hyper-dense habitat, providing over 150 cavities for nesting bees and larvae.
The wood of the sculpture was salvaged from a fallen hackberry tree at Waterman Farm, Ohio State’s laboratory for agriculture research.
Forms were developed using parametric modeling software to control for dimple size, cavity depth and density, and solar aspect.
Segments were placed on custom jigs and milled with a 5-axis router.
The dimpled form provides cover from the rain. Each dimple is fitted with a dried, repurposed reed of phragmites—an unwanted species in Ohio—that provides a nesting space for solitary bees and can be replaced with each reproductive cycle.
After processing, the sculpture was returned to Waterman Farm, where resides among the tallgrass and flowers in A Meadow Made by Walking.
