Eco-Art Pollinator Garden
The Eco-Art Pollinator Garden: An Interactive Community Experience is an ongoing collaboration between sculpture artist Jennifer McCandless and the Strand Center for the Arts. What started in 2024 as less than a 25 sq. ft. garden to house and support one of McCandless' bee habitat sculptures will expand both in gardening space and programming in 2026 with funding support through the Lake Champlain Basin Program. The Eco-Art Pollinator Garden will be home to not only a variety of native plants to attract and support two species of native bees, Mason & Leaf Cutter bees, but also a collection of functional clay bee habitats by sculpture artist Jennifer McCandless. This is more than a pollinator garden, it is a tool to interact with and inspire our community.
History of our Eco-Art Initiative
Establishing our Pollinator Garden with Vermont Ceramic Artist Jennifer McCandless
Back in 2025 we announced a unique partnership between the Strand Center for the Arts and acclaimed ceramic artist Jennifer McCandless as we embarked on an inspiring eco-art project aimed at establishing our Pollinator Garden and creating a thriving habitat for essential pollinators.
The Vision
At the heart of this visionary initiative lies the marriage of artistry and environmental stewardship. Jennifer, renowned for her captivating ceramic sculptures inspired by nature, will lead the creation of three stunning ceramic installations designed as mini pollinator habitats. These sculptures, meticulously crafted to provide shelter and sustenance for local bee populations, will serve as both functional habitats and breathtaking works of art, seamlessly blending with the natural landscape of our Pollinator Garden.
