The Triptych Art Fence is a sculptural mural fence outside of Hellmann Creative Center, which features two triptych murals each reflecting an aspect of Covington.

This triptych celebrates the native plants and native bees that can be found in the area - or, in the case of the Rusty-patched bumble bee, were once common in the area but are now endangered.  I've painted this endangered bee covered in pollen on a tulip poplar flower, highlighting their role as a pollinator in the past and tying this piece to the history of the building as a historic lumber mill.  The tulip poplar is the official state tree of Kentucky and I imagine that many tall, straight trunks of tulip poplars were once cut into lumber in this building. Tulip poplars can be identified by their uniquely shaped leaves which turn a brilliant yellow in the fall, their light greenish yellow and orange flowers in the spring and summer, and their brown winged seeds (samara) seen fluttering in the wind on the right side of this panel. 

One of the many beautiful plants growing around these panels is purple coneflower, which is bee-loved (pun intended) by many bee species.  Larger mason bees are often confused with bumble bees, but in this panel the cute and fuzzy Bufflehead mason bee is the star of the show.  The abstract swirling shapes and colors of the background call to mind pollen, seeds, invisible microorganisms like beneficial soil bacteria, spores, green growth, and seed dispersal.

This panel shows Agapostemon virescens aka the bicolored striped sweat bee landing on some aromatic aster.  When I was brainstorming ideas for these panels I met with Carrie Driehaus of Queen City Pollinator Project who generously shared A TON of knowledge about native bee species, including the fact that these stunning and shiny green bees look beautiful on the saturated blue-purple of aromatic aster.