Pollinator Pathways

by Jo Hodges 2024

As part of our (untrodden) Paths Residency with Connecting Threads, we invited people to join us for a series of field trips to explore the pathways of pollinating insects along the River Tweed. How do pollinators navigate? How do they see the world? What are they attracted to? And what might the future hold for both pollinators and humans?

The field trip invited people to explore the world of pollinators through a new lens and create their own stunning micro images from the viewpoint of a bee. Participants modified smart phones in a surprising way using borrowed lenses from laser pointers, kirby grips and sticky tape and took them on an adventure on a riverside walk.

Kate O’Leary, Pollinators on the Tweed Project Officer, was on hand to explain the fascinating world of pollinators and to answer questions.

“Loved every minute, really enjoyed the blend of education and creativity’. Participant
“Fabulous experience. Really enjoyed seeing pollinators from a different perspective” Participant.

Above: Transforming phones into microscope cameras at Newstead Village Hall.

Above: Walking to the river

Above: Using phones to examine flowers and take images.

Above: Conversations about pollinators.

Above: Audio work. Listening to the sounds of the river in 2024 with pollinators present then time travelling 100 years into the future to listen to a speculative audio piece of the same place when pollinator populations may be significantly reduced.

Above: Exploring the world 100 years in the future when pollinator populations may be reduced as a result of land management practices and other factors and trying out hand pollination.

Above: Back at the village hall, exploring pollen in more detail and looking at the images that participants had taken.

Above: A selection of images taken by participants.

Glimpses of Utopia

For the follow on project where the images were incorporated into a large scale outdoor audio visual installation click through to Glimpses of Utopia.

For other work on the (un)trodden paths residency see:
Micro-Utopias
LADEN
Lost Letters
Glimpses of Utopia

Paths research documentation: https://colemanhodges.com/trodden-paths/

Images of the field Trip: Kat Gollock

Categories: 2024, Art/Science, Community Engagement, Environmental, Participatory, Process, Sound, StrategyTags: , , , , ,

Jo Hodges's avatar

Jo Hodges

Jo Hodges is a multidisciplinary public artist based in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
with a background in Human Ecology, community development and social justice.

Her work investigates ecological and socio-cultural systems, processes and relationships, and explores new strategies for working in public. Her practice takes many forms; temporary and permanent works, site specific installations and socially engaged projects and processes. She is often led by context, where the outcome is determined as a result of process.

She is interested in research, experimentation and collaboration at the intersection of environment, culture and technology and exploring the role of art in social change. She is joint Director-Curator of Sanctuary Lab, a public art laboratory in the Galloway Forest Dark Skies Park.