“Insects, worms and other small animals that carry out vital functions for life on earth have declined by 45 percent average over 35 years, threatening humans, water quality and food supplies…”
-Steve conner, Vital invertebrates decline 45 percent, study finds”indpendent.co.uk. July 2014
PROJECT PROPOSAL
I am going to do a minimalistic geometric design for my insect motel. I am going to divide it up into several sections and use material such as pinecones, straw, twigs, and paper. This will be primarily for bees so I carefully considered the hole size required for that particular kind of bee. I also created a large overhang over my motel so it will stay dry from the elements.
SOLITARY BEES
Wisconsin is becoming a difficult place to be a solitary bee for a multitude of reasons. Two of the main reasons are the use of agricultural pesticides and severe cold in the winter. Bees are pollinators, and this decline is detrimental to the growth of apples, cranberries and cherries, since the bees fertilize them and help them produce seeds and fruit. Wisconsin’s bee die off rate was around 60 percent last year and bee keepers say that 15 percent is a more acceptable rate. Many of these solitary bees are very small and it can sometimes be hard to tell they are bees. They collect nectar and pollen from flowers, and are harmless and non-aggressive. They are native to the U.S. bit can also be found in the U.K and have a short 4-6 week lifespan.
The drilled blocks in the bee motel need to be replaced with brand new ones every two years. This is usually done in the summer after the young bees hatch. Replacing blocks will help to prevent the build-up of fungus molds, mites and other pests and parasites. The holes for this motel need to be between 2mm and 10mm and vary depending on the kind of insect it is constructed for. The motel for the Solitary bee needs to be in a sunny location because they are cold-blooded and rely on the sun’s heat to warm them up in the morning. Unlike bumblebees, they have no furry coats to warm them up. Another way they differ from other kinds of bees, is that they don’t live in colonies, hence is why they are called “solitary bees”.
I started out with design that had more spaces and simplified it into fewer sections. I went with a 14 by 10 size and decided not to add a roof. I added a diagonal piece for aesthetic purposes and to draw the eye upward. My final design is the drawing in the middle.
For my digital design I stayed consistent with my cardboard models and initial sketches. My final goals with this house will be the same as the image I created. I created 4 sections to put different materials for the insects. I kept in mind both aesthetic and functionality when considering my design. The diagonal piece draws the eye up and helps it to be visually balanced. In my final wood project, I will attach chicken wire so my twigs and materials don’t fall out. This is a good representation of the actual size it will be, since I’m going to make it 14 inches tall and 10 inches wide.
For my cardboard model I made a few extra sections I am planning to exclude in my final product. I think these extra sections make the design look too busy in appearance and will otherwise complicate a design I planned to be very simple.
REFLECTION
In this project we were asked to design a house for insects keeping in mind both functionality and design principals. It was meant to be both visually and actually balanced, and based off of our cardboard maquette. This project was intended to be made from wood, or other naturally occurring materials that would work within the space of the park. The construction is supposed to be able to withstand time, and be durable enough to survive the elements of Wisconsin. We were given the task of researching the issue of the decline in the insect population in Wisconsin and contribute to a solution by building a place where the insects could thrive and seek refuge. I chose to go with a clean and modern design that is separated into sections by wood and materials. For my process, I started with cleaning my wood planks, and then measuring and cutting them with a chop saw. I assembled the frame of my box first by using wood glue to be sure it would be sturdy. For my next step I used the table saw to trim a large piece of wood to use for the back of my box. It was a bit larger than my frame but I fixed this by using an electric sander to even out the sides. Once I had my frame and back, I mea- sured and cut my inside dividers and glued them in the box. The finishing touch I added was sanding down the entire house to achieve a smooth touch and appearance.
This was a different project or us because it enabled us to take our art outside the classroom and be used for a cause. It taught me how to think three dimensionally and t about how my design and materials would work outdoors. It also made me realize how art can be used to address issues and be so much more than work in a gallery. These insect motels will be permanent installations and will provide a space for the insects to thrive and protect themselves from some of the harmful actions humans use against them.
MAINTENANCE
My insect motel is to rest on the ground, and will require some simple maintenance to ensure the environment of the house stays clean. It is ideal that the house rest against a tree or rock to ensure that it stays standing up. The stick and straw components will need to be replaced every few months with fresh materials to make sure parasites don’t move in. The screws will need to be removed so the chicken wire can be taken off and the materials can be replaced. The screws and chicken wire can then be replaced when clean materials are put inside.