Enhance your home garden with a beautiful bee-themed art piece from the UT Gardens! The UT Gardens, Knoxville (UTG) is holding an on-line auction of over 80 pieces created by local artists as part of their annual Art in the Gardens project. All the Buzz: A Bee Exhibit has been on display in the UTG since early summer. All pieces are currently on display in the UT Gardens, Knoxville during daylight hours with exhibit guides available at the entrance kiosk, or they may be viewed on-line at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.5269484719740342&type=3 (teen/adult artists) and https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.5269497116405769&type=3 (youth artists).

Local amateur and professional artists donated their time and talent to artistically interpret this year’s theme with a fun and creative design.  Teen/adult artists were given a large 3-D plywood bee to embellish using media of their choice. New this year, we also invited younger artists to participate by decorating either a bee or a honeycomb silhouette. Works were returned to UTG where they were mounted and installed throughout the Gardens for visitors to enjoy. These unique art pieces will now be sold during this on-line auction with all proceeds benefiting the UT Gardens, Knoxville. This annual project was designed to promote community participation and foster artist collaboration at the UTG as well as raise awareness and support for the Gardens. Our choice of a bee theme this year sought to bring a focus on bees and the need to protect them and their habitats because of their importance as pollinators.

Winning bidders will complete their purchase by scheduling a pick-up time during our Fall Plant Sale on Friday, September 30 (from 4-7 pm) or Saturday, October 1 (from 9 am - 2 pm). Payment in full will be due at time of pickup. Each large bee will include its custom support rod and counterweight as well as the exhibit sign on display with the piece. The smaller bees and honeycombs were attached used a threaded screw inserted in the back, which will be included, along with the exhibit sign on display with the piece.

*All auction images were taken at the beginning of the summer. Be aware that all pieces have been exposed to the elements while on display, and some weathering may have occurred. Items may be previewed while on display in the UT Gardens. 

Sponsors for the exhibit were Jerry's Artarama, Lange Customs, UT Biosystems Engineering Machining and Fabrication Shop, J Tsuruda - UT Entomology and Plant Pathology, Wendell and Matt Thomas, and Andrew and Susan Mehringer. We are grateful to our sponsors and to our project artists!