What is The Buzz Around Town?

By Moriah Kilgore

“It takes 12 bees their entire life to make a teaspoon of honey,” George mentioned. It is such a versatile ingredient that is used in everything from teas to roasted chicken.

Virginia is home to 480 varieties of bees. Though not all of these varieties make honey, they are all a part of our delicate ecosystem. One of the things that George stated that is harming these creatures the most, are chemicals that are used for pest control. Not only are these chemicals causing damage to the creatures we rely on in nature, but also to the foliage they rely on. Weed and pest control is what George says is killing the bees. Taking away plants like dandelions and clover, as well as many more wildflower native plants, does much more than hurt the beehive. Without the pollination of insects like the bumblebee, gardens can deeply suffer and limit the vegetables that are grown from the flowers.

The Prince William County beekeepers association presented its third annual Bee Festival in Manassas on Saturday, June 24th. With over 150 vendors helping to celebrate beautiful and busy creatures that need our help and support. George Theresa has been working hard to create a safe environment for the bees in Manassas. In 2019, his wife, Ellis Thereas-Cotes, worked hard to make the city of Manassas into a “Bee City.” Changing the zoning permits to allow residents to have beehives in their backyard.

This year the community has come together, working hard to create awareness and accessibility for those looking to help sustain our ecosystem with these lovely bees.

Three Queen Bees helped sponsor this year’s festivities.

The first of the Queen Bees is Manassas Garden Club. They use their vendor booth to spread awareness about native flowers that can help wildlife and to learn about their club. Founded in March 1933, Manassas Garden Club is still spreading knowledge and promoting environmental conservation to this day.

For more information, please reach out to: manassasgardenclub@gmail.com

Like and Follow on Instagram and Facebook instagram.com/manassasgardenclub facebook.com/manassasgardenclub

Next of the Queen Bees, is the Women’s Club of Manassas. Club members could be found walking around the festival in their fun bee costumes passing out seeds of wildflowers. The packets were pre-mix with the dirt as well as directions. Making it easy for you to help your local bees by just planting some flowers.

The Women’s Club feels strongly about helping out their community’s environment. They hope to help grow flowers and compassion for these dear creatures.

With over 150 vendors, the Liberia House and grounds were full of beautiful creations of art, food, and drink. As honey is a main ingredient of mead, many meaderies come out to show their support, offering tastings and more of their drinks. Such as Misty Mountain Meadworks with their delicious blackberry and honey mead. Located in Winchester Virginia, Misty Mountain felt it was well worth the trip to the Bee City of Manassas.

Young entrepreneurs Yassi and Lucy (ages 10 and 11), brought their aspiring business, The Earring Sisters, to town. Their handmade earrings featured cute bees and sweet flowers, along with their other favorite creations. Lucy’s little sister Lexi (age 5) joined them for the adventure and to get involved with the community event that helps support even the smallest creatures.

When asked what message the girls would like to spread to their community, these young business ladies did not miss out on the opportunity for great advertisement. “We Have Earrings! Glistening butterflies, bees, and gummy bear earrings. Oh, My!”

Caroline Scott, a veteran artist of 25 years and a new resident of Prince William County, displayed her ‘Infused Moments’ artwork and creations during the festivities. Her 4-D paintings and hand warmers were filled with the sweet smell of flowers that reminded you of a warm spring day on a cold winter night.

For more information about Caroline’s beautiful work you can follow her on Instagram at: www.instagram.com/infused.moments.artistry/

If you have not had a chance to visit this busy and beautiful event over the last three years, definitely put it on your calendar for next year. It will BEE a great time!

What Is Fashion? What Is Art? Can the Two be One?

Is fashion an art form – Some may call it decorative or applied art as opposed to fine art, but what’s the distinction?

One thing that is certain… The same amount of artistic expression goes into clothing, pottery and painting.

There are galleries - such as at the Metropolitan in New York – that are very relevant and is the perfect example of fashion as art.

Fashion tells us what people wore at a certain period, as pottery tell you what their tea parties were like. The fact that these things were designed to be practical distinguishes them from fine art. You could say a painting is designed to go on the wall, but if it were made as a fresco, where it was part of the wall, would you say it was not art because it was practical?

Fashion is adept at fulfilling another traditional function of art by reflecting changes in contemporary culture, but only up to a point.

Fashion is art. Fashion is a form of creative expression carried out by a designer and put on our blank canvassed bodies.

As we gear up for our first annual fashion weekend in Prince William County at Open Space Arts, we tried to think of a way to advertise through the many creative talents here at OSA to show something fashionable.

The photo session we did could be perceived as many things, maybe even Couture to some. My question to you….

Do you consider this photo fashion or art?