"We are all connected. When we care about bees, we are also caring for each other. We are caring for the whole world." - Sheila Colla
This listing is a fundraiser for our friend Dr. Sheila Colla, who has dedicated her life's work to the conservation of bees. 100% of the profits will go to Sheila to support her and her family through this difficult time. Please continue reading below for more about Sheila, and scroll to the bottom for specific product information.
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Dr. Sheila Colla is an inspiration in East York, Toronto – where our studio calls home – and across North America and beyond, for her work as a conservation scientist, author, and professor, committed to the protection of at-risk native pollinators. Her research and advocacy, spanning years, have been published in scientific journals and popular media, as well as the bestseller she recently co-authored, A Garden for the Rusty-patched Bumblebee.
She’s said yes to participating in everything from children’s science podcasts to New York Times articles and, through pandemic school closures, gave virtual bee talks to young students (including artist Lichia’s child) in addition to her York University lectures (while pandemic-parenting her own two small children!) because it is so important to her to tell the story of the Rusty-patched Bumblebee and other native bees at risk of extinction, but also to ensure children who are BIPOC see that the environmental movement and sciences are places for them to lead too. She is extraordinary.
Sheila is also a friend to Silver Antelope, a champion of small local businesses, and a kind and generous neighbour. When artist Lichia Liu learned that Sheila had been recently diagnosed with a rare and aggressive thoracic cancer, for so so many reasons, she wanted to help.
Bumblebees for Sheila
Lichia painted this original art, North American Bees at Risk of Extinction, highlighting these beautiful endangered bumblebees, in honour of Sheila and her conservation work and to help raise much-needed funds. 100% of the profits will be given directly to Sheila.
Sheila consulted on the illustrations, lending her expertise to make sure the bees were fluffy enough, and round in the right places. These art cards and prints were created with the hope of helping Sheila as she focuses on her treatment, and sharing her research with a broader audience.
Available in a variety of options:
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the 8x10 archival art print is of the Rusty-patched Bumblebee alone
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North American Bees at Risk of Extinction with 5 illustrated bumblebees can be purchased as a 5x7 archival print, a set of three postcards, or a set of eight postcards
North American Bees at Risk of Extinction is a perfect gift for yourself or anyone interested in native ecology, gardening, bees, conservation, or anyone with a special place in their heart for Sheila who wants to show their support.
The museum-quality prints make a thoughtful addition to your gallery wall, office, lab, or a classroom (and fit handily into a wooden print hanger like this one from our friends at Secret Planet or an IKEA frame), and the postcards are perfect for sending as a quick note to someone you care about, or as a take along on a nature walk for bee-spotting.
Thank you for championing at-risk bumblebees and supporting our dear friend Sheila. As your purchase will contribute to a cash gift for an individual’s care and not a registered charity, this purchase does not qualify for a charitable tax receipt.
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Product Details: Archival Prints
- 5"x7" or 8"x10", 3/4" white border, frame-ready
- Printed in Toronto on acid-free, heavyweight, beautiful cold press paper, using archival inks with a colour permanence rating of more than 75 years
- Packaged with backing board in a protective sleeve
- Shipped flat in a protective rigid mailer
- Please note that the frame is not included
Product Details: Postcards
- Standard postcard size (4"x 6")
- Printed in Toronto on natural-white, heavyweight, FSC-certified paper
- Sets of 3 are packaged in a compostable cello sleeve
- Sets of 8 are packaged in an elegant vellum recyclable enclosure
