On Tuesday, April 1, The Foundry will open its doors to The Beehive Design Collective, a non-profit arts and activism organization dedicated to “cross-pollinating the grassroots.” The Collective will present their work, “Mesoamerica Resiste”, the final installation in a trilogy of graphics about corporate globalization and militarization in the Americas.
The Beehive is comprised of a group of volunteer educators, artists and activists who utilize imagery as a means to discuss the complex realities that surround us. They present these issues through hand-drawn, large-format posters, banners, and portable murals. They complement these visual pieces with storytelling and discussion on singular issues that are connected to bigger systems. Tuesday’s presentation will break down the complexities of global issues with an interactive presentation using metaphors from the natural world to connect social and environmental struggles.
“Mesoamerica Resiste” began to take shape in 2004 when the collective’s team traveled from Mexico to Panama to complete grassroots research. Its message is one of grassroots organizing, collective action and inspiration, touching on topics of colonialism, industrial development plans and resource extraction. The graphics series includes examples of resistance and alternatives to top-down plans, especially organizing efforts led by Indigenous peoples. The campaign strives to celebrate the ecological diversity of Mesoamerica, featuring over 400 species of insects, animals and plants.
“I love the Bees for their work as pollinators who have traveled and been instructed by the stories of communities throughout the Americas, communities that have been impacted by global economic and environmental policies. Those stories become translated into beautiful hand-crafted art; the mural becomes a vessel, each image a pocket from which a story can unfold,” said Jennifer Connor, event organizer. “When I attended their picture-lecture it was like being invited to step into the mural and journey through it with them. They inspire me with how they have integrated spheres of art, culture, storytelling, community and politics.”
The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a five-dollar beans and rice dinner, followed by the presentation at 6:30 p.m. Donations will be collected to support the collective, though the presentation is free and open to the public. Posters and patches of graphics will be available for purchase by sliding scale donation. The Foundry is located at 298 Northampton Street, Buffalo. To learn more about the Beehive Collective, visit http://beehivecollective.org.