In 2014, the California-based artist Terry Arena began an on-going series of works based on the worrying phenomenon of colony collapse disorder, when worker bees disappear from a colony—a crucial issue, since around one-third of food directly or indirectly depends on bee pollination. “This dynamic relationship between insect, economics, and the dinner table is fascinating to me,” she says in a statement. The series, called Symbiotic Crisis, includes intricate graphite drawings of bees, plants, fruits and various foods—which Arena likens to nature studies and Old Master botanical drawings—made on repurposed and gessoed food tins and platters. The Carnegie Art Museum in Oxnard, California is currently showing works from the project in the solo exhibition Not Just Bees (until 10 June). Arena is making new pieces for series during a concurrent residency in the museum’s adjacent studio space, where visitors can stop by and chat while she works. The artist has hit the 100-work mark in the series during her residency, and is progressively displaying the new works in the exhibition. The show is “really an education”, a spokeswoman says.