S. Gayle Stevens has been concerned for sometime about CCD colony collapse disorder affecting hives.

Disappearance, a series of wet plate tintypes, is featured in the Atelier Gallery Under Glass at the Griffin Museum January 9 through March 2, 2014. An opening reception with the artist is January 23, 7-8:30 p.m.

Stevens’ installation will consist of a series of 200 2” x 2” square wet plate tintypes of dead bees accompanied by an actual array of 200 flower heads, each located within a 2” x 2” space.

“My intention is that in Disappearance the flowers heads will wither and die over the exhibition time period,” says Stevens. “As we lose our bee population we will lose pollination of plants and our food supply. The plates themselves are shadows of what once was; death masks of the bees. The vitrine case is like a coffin encasing what has passed.”

Ms. Stevens has worked in antiquarian photographic processes for over 15 years. She received her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1999 and is an educator, juror, curator and active member of the photographic community. Stevens is represented by Tilt Gallery in Phoenix and is a resident of Downers Grove, Illinois.

A gallery talk for museum members by Denyse Murphy will take place at 6:15 p.m. January 23, 2014, prior to the opening reception for all exhibits.

Purchase an individual tintype from Disappearance.