The Orange County Arts Commission, in partnership with the Town of Hillsborough and the Hillsborough Tourism Development Authority, announces the selection of David Hinkle for the Gold Park Bee Hotel Project.
Hinkle is Chapel Hill resident and graduate of North Carolina State University College of Design. He has spent the last 24 years in residential outdoor design and has been a woodcarver since the age of 16. His knowledge of outdoor construction and eco-friendly materials, combined with his artistic vision, proved to be the perfect combination of skills needed for this unusual project.
“The selection committee loved every aspect of David’s proposal, from the well thought-out design materials to the artistic detail with the hand-carved bees. We also appreciated that he views this project as a ‘living classroom’ and plans to incorporate an educational component,” stated Katie Murray, Director of the Orange County Arts Commission.
The Bee Hotel plans to open on November 4. The arts council plans to hotel “make your own air bee & bee” workshops for the community to coincide with the unveiling.
Hillsborough was named the 35th “Bee City USA” in the country in 2016, a result of a proven commitment to providing a healthy habitat for local pollinators. There are nearly 500 species of bees native to North Carolina.
