Homes for Unsung Heroes - Building houses for insects

Homes for Unsung Heroes - Building houses for insects

What: Homes for Unsung Heroes – building houses for insects
Where: Splore 2015 Festival, Tapapakanga Regional Park, Auckland
When: 20 – 22 February 2015

Cats may run the Internet but insects rule the world. And just in case they plan to take it over, I want to be on the winning side. Therefore, I will be building a number of insect homes to provide our potential insect overlords with the shelter they deserve.

But seriously, this project focuses on raising awareness about the essential work insects do; specifically the crucial role our native insects play in maintaining a balanced ecosystem and healthy environment for us all to prosper in.

Insect habitats are under significant pressure from agriculture, industry, housing and transport; by encouraging people to build insect homes there is the potential to provide important sanctuaries to ensure our insects in Aotearoa thrive.

Each of my insect homes will reference iconic New Zealand state housing, both houses and flats, to accommodate a number of individual native insect species. These will be placed around the Splore 2015 site and plans to expand the idea across the country after the festival by making designs and plans freely available for others to start supporting our unsung heroes.

This creative and innovative approach is designed to increase awareness of our native insects and provide an opportunity for people to research all aspects of their life cycle. Part of a longer term plan, my vision is to encourage individuals, schools, environmental groups, councils and businesses to make their own insect homes, which mirror the current buildings in their own communities. Certainly more interesting than another series of The Block NZ!

Simon Gray - Artist
As an artist and beekeeper, insects (particularly bees), have fascinated me and have provided an endless source of inspiration for both my individual and community work.

This work spanning more than 20 years, has largely involved initiating and facilitating a wide variety of projects with groups to develop creative and artistic approaches, which strengthen and build healthy communities.

Images of the work and further information are available from: http://homesforunsungheroes.blogspot.co.nz

Fund Raising Campaign: www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/2852-homes-for-unsung-heroes

ENDS

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