Photo credit: Diana Thorneycroft

Aganetha Dyck is a Canadian artist who is interested in environmental issues, specifically the power of the small. She is interested in inter species communication. Her research asks questions about the ramifications all living beings would experience should honeybees disappear from earth.

Recipient of the Manitoba Arts Award of Distinction 2006
Recipient of Canada Council's Governor General's Award for visual and media arts 2007
Spotlight on 40 years: Artworks from the Canada Council Art Bank 2012
Art City Star Award, Winnipeg 2013
Making a Mark Award: in recognition of excellence in professional artistic practice. Winnipeg Arts Council, 2014.

Articles

2018
> Book launch, April 4, 2018, OCAD University , Toronto, Ontario
Aganetha Dyck, March 15 – April 14, 2018, Presented by dc3 LKAP
Aganetha Dyck reveals how she works with bees to create strange and wonderful art, CBC Artspots, March 29, 2018, archived from 2006

2017

> Latt kaotiskt bland jasande kanslor, Sara Arvidsson, Gotenborgs-Posten, by Ginger Rudolph, January 30, 2017, HAHAMAG.com
> Discover: Aganetha Dyck Bee Comb Sculptures, by Ginger Rudolph, January 30, 2017, HAHAMAG.com
> Where Honeybees Thrive, stories from the field by Heather Swan. Page 113-118 - Images and text. Pennsylvania Text University, USA by Heather Swan, 2017
> SciArt Magazine Review: "Animal Intent" At Apexart Gallery by Aimee Lusty, February 7, 2017
> HAHA, High on Art, Heavy on Antics Discover: Aganetha Dyck Bee Comb Sculptures by Ginger Rudolph, January 30, 2017
> Bedford & Bowery Animals Become Artists and Collaborators in This Unique Exhibition by Cassidy Dawn Graves, January 25, 2017
> Eyewitness News, abc7NY, WABC-TV Wild Art Exhibit in Tribeca Combines Efforts of Artists and Animals, by Kemberly Richardson, January 18, 2017
> dna info Artists and Animals 'Collaborate' in TriBeCa Exhibition , Irene Plagianos, January 9, 2017

2016

> HiveLights Beekeeping in art II: Aganetha Dyck by Shannon Moore
> Harmilton Arts & Letters magazine - HA&L Portfolio: A 22 Year Collaboration with the Bees by Aganetha Dyck

2015
> National Gallery of Canada A Poignant Farewell: Aganetha Dyck at the Tom Thomson Gallery by Shannon Moore
> The Globe and Mail In praise of puce? Designers come clean about the off-trend design elements they love by Paige Magarrey

2014
>Two pieces of Aganetha's work from her Sizes 8-46 collection will be on display at the Drake Devonshire 24 Wharf Street, Wellington, Canada. > straight.com, Surrey Art Gallery's Flora and Fauna is filled with surprises, by Robin Laurence, October 14, 2014, at 3:53 p.m.
> SECONDSIGHT 37, The Artists and The Honeybees, the questionable lightness of bee-ing , Interview by Caridad Botella Lorenzo, May 30, 2014, pages 46-48
> The Honey Bee, Aganetha Dyck , Weebly, May 28, 2014
> etihadinflight, The Magazine of Etihad Airways BEE-ING ARTISTIC, page 16
>inreview 5th biennale international du lin de Portneuf (BILP), Reviewed by Lycia Trouton, Spring 2014. > ignite, Artist Interview: The Buzz around Aganetha Dyck's Relationship with Honeybees, by Pamela Stewart, March 28, 2014. > GEEK SYSTEM, Artist Uses Real Bees to Turn Figurines into Horrifying Beehive People, by Dan Van Winkle, February 21, 2014. > boing boing, Sculptor collaborates with honeybees to cover statues with comb, by Cory Doctorow, February 20, 2014. > COMPLEX ART+DESIGN, Aganetha Dyck Partnered With Bees to Create Interesting Sculptures Using Porcelain Statues, by Andrew Lasane, February 20, 2014. > io9, Artist makes gorgeous sculptures in collaboration with bees, by Annalee Newitz, February 20, 2014. > demilked, In Collaboration With Bees, Artist Aganetha Dyck Creates Honeycomb Covered Sculptures, February 20, 2014. > PV Photo Vide, Aganetha Dyck's Sculpting and Drawing Collaboratively with Honeybees, by EGIS, February 20, 2014. > EXCHANGE Morning Post, Gala Celebrates 20 years of the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, February 19, 2014. > Winnipeg Free Press, Weird science, International group of artists explores the frontier between avant-garde art and cutting-edge biotech, by Steven Leyden Cochrane, January 9, 2014. > Kopalnia Wiedzy.pl, Człowiek zaczyna, a pszczoły kończą, by Anna Blonska, January 8, 2014.

2013
> New "Shrinks" By Aganetha Dyck, Michael Gibson Gallery, November 2013.
> Border Crossings Magazine, Felt Feelings: Aganetha Dyck, p.17 - Art pages, p. 77-79, Issue 127, August 2013. > Michael Gibson Gallery, Aganetha Dyck "Felt Feelings", September, 2013. > What gives a work of art its value? By Joe Belanger, The London Free Press, Wednesday, February 20, 2013. > What workplaces need to learn from bees, By Harvey Schachter, Special to The Globe and Mail, Sunday, July 07 2013. > The Art of Science: Collaborations with Bees, by Michele Banks, the Finch + Pea, July 10, 2013.

2012
> On the Road / Times Two, Art Works for Change. Posted by Randy Rosenberg, April 22, 2012. > SFU Art Gallery: The Winnipeg Alphabestiary, 11 Stations, By FANNY. June 26, 2012. > James Bawden, The Nature of Inspiration: Inspiring, Thursday, August 2, 2012.

2011
> Winnipeg Round Up, Sculptural Vocabularies and Close Encounters, Prairie Artsters.com, by Amy Fung, January 25, 2011. > Buzzing with activity. Sally Cole, The Guardian. August 4, 2011. > Aganetha Dyck: A Hive of Activity. Tess Edmonson. CANADIAN ART. August 25, 2011. > 'The Birds and the Bees' C Magazine. Stephanie Vegh + Blog. September 20, 2011. > Interview with Aganetha Dyck: Canadian Visual Artist, By Mason on October 24, 2011 @ 14:10. > Review of LIGHT, Fuse Magazine, Julian Jason Haladyn and Miriam Jordan. Winter, 2011 / 12.

2010
> The CANADIAN DESIGN RESOURCE - Sports Night in Canada, October 22, 2010.

2009
> HIVE AND CAIRN: Communicating With Nature Through Artistic Intervention. COASTLINE JOURNAL. April 7, 2009. > Olympic digital gallery showcases Canadian art, CBCnews.ca, September 21, 2009. > Aganetha Dyck: Imaging the Hive Mind, CANADIAN ART, September 3, 2009.

2008
> Letter from the Gold Coast: Precious Moments at Art Basel Miami, Art Tattler International, Art Basel Miami and Satellite Exhibitions,Peregrine Honig, December 4-7, 2008.

Galleries

Michael Gibson Gallery, Aganetha Dyck News.
Centre for Contemporary Canadian Art, The Canadian Art Database - Aganetha Dyck
Confederation Centre of the Arts. June 1, 2011, Bees create some buzz by taking over art gallery.
Oakville Galleries in Gairloch Gardens. June 5, 2011, The Birds and the Bees.
Burnaby Art Gallery, December 2009, Aganetha Dyck: Collaborations.
Gallery One One One, Aganetha Dyck: Nature as Language - Curated by Serena Keshavjee, November 2000 - Images by Peter Dyck - Introduction: Science, Art, and Bees by Mark L. Winston - Essay by Serena Keshavjee - Essay by Juan Antonio Ramirez

Video

Extrait du documentaire Looping Large : Smart textiles in Quebec réalisé par Carrie Haber pour la CBC télévision de Montréal Looming Large extrait BILP - .pdf : inreview (reviewed by Lycia Trouton)
TEDxManitoba: David Zinger: Hive Alive: To Bee or not to Be?
Aganetha Dyck: Guest Workers
My Winnipeg, Exhibition at La Maison Rouge, Paris
The London Free Press - Collaborating in the Darkness

Links of Interest

Image Essays, Dr. Jim Boogaerts, Birmingham, Alabama
Ariane Cloutier: Évaluation de l'expérience du jeu ludique au sein du processus de création en art contemporain (soutenu le 10 mai 2014 en Sorbonne, Diplôme de Docteur décerné avec une mention très honorable)
HONEYLOVE urban beekeepers
Honibe
BEECAUSE
Textile and Fibre arts events in Canada
Taylor Leedahl
David Zinger

Selected Group Exhibitions

Together Apart / Under One Roof , Di Thorneycroft, Reva Stone, Aganetha Dyck, Comox Valley Art Gallery, Courtenay, British Columbia, June 15 - October 28, 2023, Curated by Denise Lawson & Angela Somerset

The Permanent Collection: What the Bat Knows, at the Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan, June 04, 2022 - May 3, 2023
Online: 150 Years - 150 Works: Canadian Art as Historical Act, at Galerie de l'UQAM, Université de Québec à Montréal, Québec, May 02, 2018 - May 02, 2023
In the Middle of Everywhere, at rRemai mModern, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan January 04, 2022 - February 26, 2023
Fairy Tales, Confederation Centre of the Arts, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, December 18, 2021 - April 10, 2022
In Place. Reflections from Manitoba, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, October 10, 2020 - May 02, 2021
The Simple Life, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, Ontario, December 03, 2020 - December 26, 2020
Displacement, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia, March 15 - June 09, 2019
IKAP Editions Vol. 1, LKAP Editions, Lisa Kehler Art + Projects, Winnnipeg, Manitoba, December 09, 2018 - June 09, 2019
Freshly cut and softly bound, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Lisa Kehler Art + Projects, June 17, 2018 - June 30, 2018
ARTPAD: A COLLECTION. A CONNECTION.. The Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta, March 31, 2014 - May 31, 2018.
Small Gems, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, Ontario, December 02, 2017 - December 30, 2017
Cross Pollination, at 516 ARTS, August 19 - November 11, 2017
Aganetha Dyck: Feeder Boards, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, Ontario, April 02, 2016 - April 30, 2016
Title forthcoming, at Kamloops Art Gallery, July, 2017, by Adrienne Fast, Interim Curator
Animal Intent, at apexart, Soho, New York, January 18th to March 18th, 2017, organized by Emily Falvey
L'État des choses, Regard sur la collection, at Musée regional de Rimouski, Commissaire: Eve De Garie-Lamanque, January 28th to May 29, 2016.
OH, CANADA / New York, Exhibition curator: Jayne Holsinger, July 1 - 20, 2015
Attitudes in Latitudes: The Northern Wild Explores the Tropics, Hive Scans by Aganetha Dyck and Richard Dyck, Curator: Ombretta Agró Andruff, March 14 - April 26, 2015 Art and Value II, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, Ontario, March 01, 2014 - March 29, 2014
Nature's Toolbox, Biodiversity, Art and Invention at: The Field Museum, Chicago Illinois May 22 to December, 2012,

Selected Two Person Show

Altered States: The Ordinary Transformed, at Buhler Gallery, St. Boniface Hospital, Curated by Patricia Bovey, February 4 - May 8, 2016.
Surrey Art Gallery, Surrey, British Columbia, September 20, 2014 to January 4, 2015.
Collecting Our Thoughts, curated by Carol Wainio, Âjagemô, date to be announced. The Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, March 1, 2014 to June 8, 2014.
You've Really Got a Hold on Me. Oakville Galleries, Oakville, Ontario, Curated by Marnie Fleming. June 8, 2014 - August 30, 2014.
Other Electricities: Works from the AGW Collections. Art Gallery of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario,
Curated by Cheyanne Turions. September 13, 2013 - January 5, 2014.
International Biennial du lin de Portneuf. Saint-Léonard, Québec. Curated by Carole Baillargeon. été, 2013.
Toxicity, Plug In Gallery. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Curated by Jennifer Willet and Melentie Pandilovski. December 2, 2013. Looking up. Winnipeg Art Gallery. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Curated by Paul Butler. December 20, 2013.
The Leonardo Museum, Salt Lake City, Utah, January 2 - July 5, 2013,
Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita, Kansas, August 31 - December 17, 2013
Press Release (word doc)

Selected Solo Exhibitions

Aganetha Dyck, dc3 Art Projects, Edmonton, Alberta, March 15, 2018 - April 14, 2018, co-curated by IKAP + dc3
Temple Contemporary, Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia. Bee Collaboration, Curated by Robert Blackson. September 2, 2015 - February 13, 2016.
Tom Thomson Art Gallery. Owen Sound, Ontario. Curated by Virginia Eichhorn. September 20, 2015 to January 16, 2016.
COLOSSAL. Art & Visual Culture. Artist Aganetha Dyck Collaborates with Bees to Create Sculptures Wrapped in Honeycomb, Curated by Christopher Jobson. February 19, 2014.
Ottawa School of Art. Honeybee Alterations, Ottawa, Ontario. Curated by Jeff Stellick. March 3 - April 13, 2014. The Art Gallery of Algoma. Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Curated by Jasmina Jovanovic. Summer of 2014.

Acknowledgments

The Manitoba Arts Council for generous financial support over the years via Travel, Project, Major Visual Arts Awards and the Artist in the Schools/Communties projects.

The Canada Council for the Arts especially for the Exploration, Travel and Inter Arts Grants.

Peter Dyck for his support via documentation, hive alterations, crate construction and much more.

Phil Veldhuis, beekeeper for his support in the apiary.

Richard Dyck for collaborating on Inter Species Communication Attempt and the Hive Scans project.

Patricia Wasney, Michael Dyck and Diane Johnstone for information on bee related news.

Deborah Dyck for web design and internet research.

The Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C. Dr. Mark Winston for his time and generous assistance in my project of sculpting and drawing collaboratively with the honeybees. I would like to thank him for his patience and informing me that all questions are worth asking. Heather Higo for sharing her vast knowledge in the bee lab. The support of Dr. Mark Winston and Heather Higo has furthered my understanding of honeybee communication systems.

The Beaverlodge Bee Lab in Beaverlodge, Alberta under the Direction of Dr. Don Nelson, Dr. Stephen Pernal and Adony Melathopoulus for their expertise and support via the construction and installation of a special hive for exhibition purposes.

Aganetha Dyck

Michael Gibson Gallery | Aganetha Dyck