“How might we create art together to help both humans and pollinators thrive?”

Founded in 2106 when we asked that very question, the Hudson Valley Bee Habitat is an arts-forward, women-led, creative pollinator conservation organization based in Kingston, NY. We are leveraging our expertise as artists and educators to inspire creative conservation of pollinators. Our public bee habitat sculptures provide clean and safe habitat for solitary, native bees. By co-designing and creating pollinator gardens with our community, we nurture beauty, sustenance, and care in our community.

HVBH Co-founder: Emily Puthoff is a sculptor, bee habitat designer, art professor, and beekeeper. When she took up beekeeping 'by accident' a few years ago, she was reignited by the beauty and wonder of the natural world and she committed to leveraging her creativity to save the pollinators. Emily is a 2016-2017 National Arts Strategies Creative Community Fellow, 2017-2018 Good Work Institute Fellow and a 2017-2018 Sustainability Faculty Fellow at SUNY New Paltz, where she teaches and heads the Sculpture Program. She is excited to co-create a more just, wild, and regenerative future with her community.

HVBH Co-founder: Elena Sniezek is an artist, educator, career advisor, and beekeeper. She has over twenty years experience as a teaching artist (Pre-K to College) in Chicago, Arizona, and New York. As a resident of Kingston since 2005, Elena is excited to collaborate with educators, youth and community members with projects involving art, environmental education, and pollinators.

Honeybees inspire our art/business model as they provide us with the most brilliant, wonderous example of how strong, healthy, and vibrant a community can be when it works together. While honeybees are our inspiration, our creations provide habitat and forage for all pollinators, especially solitary, native bees.