Abeja Melifera
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melrup.bsky.social
Abeja Melifera
@melrup.bsky.social
350 followers 280 following 790 posts
Professor. Climate policy nerd. Non-motorized transportation enthusiast. Artist. Caregiver. Grower of food. Waste makes me anxious. Kindness is critical.
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melrup.bsky.social
I decided this year that if there is any part of my yard that is not thriving, I will only put new plants there if they are Minnesota natives. I just planted these 105 drought-tolerant native plant plugs in my front yard. Fingers crossed they liked their new home!
Two densely-packed boxes of very green baby Minnesotans-native plants on a brown low-pile carpet floor.
September 17, 2026 at 12:09 AM
melrup.bsky.social
This quote from Cornell West that Laurie Anderson mentioned in her amazing show tonight really stuck with me: “Justice is what love looks like in public.”
September 11, 2026 at 3:45 AM
Reposted by Abeja Melifera
dfeldman.org
“In memory of Alex Pretti & Renee Good”
Steel loon with a light as its head that says in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee good
September 10, 2026 at 11:21 PM
melrup.bsky.social
Excited to see Laurie Anderson tonight at the Walker Arts Center in Minneapolis with @bcmfietser.bsky.social
Black and white blobby speckled screen behind a speakers podium, surrounded by “this is an art show” black.
September 11, 2026 at 12:24 AM
melrup.bsky.social
The scarecrow exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair is under-rated IMO. I mean, this one is terrifying!
“Scarecrow” in the form of a woman in a pale blue dress, lavender long sleeve blouse and a bonnet tied with a rose colored ribbon. What is scary about this one be is that the face is a bunch of baby doll heads - like 20 of them. And many baby doll feet are where the human feet would be. Terrifying!
September 8, 2026 at 12:26 AM
melrup.bsky.social
Once a west coast gal always a west coast gal I guess, but my years in Minnesota are starting to show. I have no explanation for the random blob in west central Utah.
Map of the US demarcated by waves of color ranging from dark red to dark blue. The darkest red areas show the areas where my dialect is most similar to the local dialect. The darkest areas on the map are the west coast, northern Minnesota and, inexplicably, a random blob in West Central Utah.
September 4, 2026 at 3:15 PM
melrup.bsky.social
Milwaukee’s River Walk is very cool- part 2.
September 4, 2026 at 3:24 AM
melrup.bsky.social
This duck is so dufus-ish, I just love it. On the Milwaukee River Walk.
Metal sculpture of a duck that is part green, part grey is listing to one side and quacking in a way that makes it look inebriated.
September 4, 2026 at 3:13 AM
melrup.bsky.social
Milwaukee’s river walk is very cool. That is all.
September 4, 2026 at 3:08 AM
melrup.bsky.social
There is a section of the River Walk in Milwaukee that has historical news articles etched into the boardwalk. The entries ended in 1983 I think. Not sure how far back they go but at least to the 1940s. Here is 1965. @bcmfietser.bsky.social
Wooden slats on a board walk are partially blackened. They have years and months and the contents of news articles etched into them. This image shows entries for the year 1966.
September 3, 2026 at 8:59 PM
melrup.bsky.social
Another section of this very cool leaf wind sculpture in Milwaukee. This part rotates.
September 3, 2026 at 8:44 PM
melrup.bsky.social
You can play this musical bench with the rubber mallets. I know cuz I did.
Leaf-shaped wooden bench partially covered by lichen has two rubber mallets attached by wire to one of its legs. The mallets can be used to “play” the bench like an instrument.
September 3, 2026 at 8:37 PM
melrup.bsky.social
This ivy is making its move. Don’t stand still too long.
Red stone building corner is covered in ivy. The ivy has climbed down the wall and onto the neighboring stairs and is making its way across the stairs.
September 3, 2026 at 8:33 PM
melrup.bsky.social
Very cool wind sculpture in Milwaukee. @bcmfietser.bsky.social
September 3, 2026 at 8:28 PM
melrup.bsky.social
This water tower in Milwaukee is the shit. @bcmfietser.bsky.social
Water tower that looks like it is coated in stain glass beams against a Bluesky backdrop.
September 3, 2026 at 2:24 AM
melrup.bsky.social
Went to Milwaukee’s Bobblehead Hall of Fame today. There were thousands of bobbleheads but this one was one of the best IMO.
Front door of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame. The glass door is inset on a blond brick build. The logo for the Hall of Fame appears above the door. Bobblehead of Ralphie from A Christmas Story in a pink fuzzy bunny suit. He is wearing black glasses a a large frown.
September 2, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Reposted by Abeja Melifera
ulveheksa.bsky.social
Questionnaire by Wendell Berry
Questionnaire by Wendell Berry 1. How much poison are you willing to eat for the success of the free market and global trade? Please name your preferred poisons. 2. For the sake of goodness, how much evil are you willing to do? Fill in the following blanks with the names of your favorite evils and acts of hatred. 3. What sacrifices are you prepared to make for culture and civilization? Please list the monuments, shrines, and works of art you would most willingly destroy. 4. In the name of patriotism and the flag, how much of our beloved land are you willing to desecrate? List in the following spaces the mountains, rivers, towns, farms you could most readily do without. 5. State briefly the ideas, ideals, or hopes, the energy sources, the kinds of security, for which you would kill a child. Name, please, the children whom you would be willing to kill.
September 1, 2026 at 10:06 AM
melrup.bsky.social
Great MN State Fair crop art thread with good photos and detailed descriptions of each piece.
reduplicater.bsky.social Rebecca M-O @reduplicater.bsky.social · 18d
Crop art at the Minnesota State Fair! It is what it says it is - art made from various parts of crops, primarily seeds, lentils, and grains, occasionally leaves or flowers.

For any non-Minnesotans viewing this, I'll start with mostly less political pieces. It's harder than you might think.
Untitled? by Jenny Lau A red heart with radiating lines is in the upper half of the piece. In the middle are two loons, rising up out of the water to either fly or dance. The words "Forever - MN" appear in black at the bottom. The piece is edged in a wavy border. You can see from the seedlist that the inspiration was a Keith Haring drawing on a US "Forever stamp" where people instead of loons are dancing and holding up the heart. Crops include white sorghum, red sorghum, french lentil, canola, wild rice, garlic skin, and millet. Any others have been cut off by the photographer's (my) carelessness. Untitled? by Alice Hogan In the center are two traditional portrayals of Vikings, with horned helmets. The left is a bearded man with a photo of Governor Tim Walz's face, and the right character is a female with long blond braids and a photo of Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan's face. She holds a scepter topped by what might be a stalk of wheatand stands next to some miniature ears of multi-colored corn. Below them are the words "WELCOME TO MINNESOTA" in blue and green. Behind the two Vikings are a lake or river with swans, a pink house I don't recognize, and a stylized version of the Minneapolis skyline with some of its landmark buildings such as the Foshay Tower and the IDS Center. The seed list is partially hidden and partially too blurry to read due to the photographer's (my) inability to take good photos. "Pac-MN" by Meredith Keller This is a 3 dimensional piece in that the yellow frame of it is moved forward and shaped as if it's an arcade game. The screen has a black background. The words "MINNESOTA STATE FAIR 2026" are written in the Pac-Man font at the top left. the rest of the screen has a map of the fairgrounds making the path that Pac-Man can follow, complete with yellow trails. Some of the yellow trails have the street names spelled out on the seeds. The screen also has red and blue ghosts, but instead of the normal bonus icons we see a pickle, an ear of corn, some pronto pups, and a chocolate chip cookie - all popular foods at the MN State Fair. The seedlist shows yellow painted mustard seed in a Pac-Man shape, and the rest of the seeds are lined up for Pac-Man to eat: red and blue painted mustard seed, black canola, white, yellow, and green millet, white navy bean, yellow soy bean, and yellow split pea. This entry was awarded a blue ribbon for first place in its category. "Minnesota Welcomes You" by Megan Bell Paul Bunyan, in brown laced up boots, blue jeans, and a pink and ight blue checked shirt and cap, is neeling on the ground. He steadies an axe against the ground in his left hand, while his right hand is outstretched to the viewer. The grass is green, there are autumn colored trees in the background, and a multicolored swirly sky is above. The words "MINNESOTA WELCOMES YOU" are in the foreground. This piece was made with amaranth, hulled barley, black beans, canola, flax seed, millet, rye berries, and wheatberry. Most of these were painted.
August 31, 2026 at 1:40 PM
melrup.bsky.social
Why has the Crop Art Exhibit at the MN State Fair become so popular? Because it is the voice of the resistance! Thank you crop artists! 🧵
August 31, 2026 at 2:37 AM
melrup.bsky.social
Art is a mirror of our experiences - both individual and collective. This year's MN State Fair Fine Arts exhibit is a reminder that we've all been through some shit this year. Powerful stuff.
August 30, 2026 at 3:03 AM
melrup.bsky.social
Gary Jacobsen’s artful photo entitled “Slow Loon Rising”, which captured a loon emerging from the water, is magical and brilliant and I cannot for the life of me fathom how and why it did not receive an award from the judges of the MN State Fair Fine Arts show.
Black and white photo of a loon breaking the surface of the water. Just the head of the loon is above the water but the body is visible through a translucent bulge created by the bird’s upward mone.
August 30, 2026 at 1:17 AM
melrup.bsky.social
Things we notice at MN state fair (and explore with our pronto pup stick) @bcmfietser.bsky.social
August 30, 2026 at 12:57 AM
melrup.bsky.social
Be like James. Be cool. Reduce stress. Have fun!
metrotransitmn.bsky.social Metro Transit (Official) @metrotransitmn.bsky.social · 20d
⚾ Ride light rail for a modern-day Streetcar Doubleheader! This Saturday, Aug. 29, catch the Twins vs. White Sox at 2:10 p.m., then Saints vs. Toledo at 6:37 p.m. at CHS Field. Ride between Target Field and CHS Field on the METRO Green Line and connect with Twin Cities baseball history. 🚈
August 28, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Reposted by Abeja Melifera
reportermark.bsky.social
Edit of Spider-Man fighting fascism during Jake Lang’s very short protest in front of Minneapolis city hall today
August 22, 2026 at 6:48 PM
melrup.bsky.social
Reposting with update: backpack 2.0 completed! I made this one for my daughter & solved things I struggled with on v1.0 (lapped front pocket zipper, assembling so no stitches show on lining, no industrial machine needed to sew in straps). Very happy with the final product! @bcmfietser.bsky.social
August 18, 2026 at 12:59 AM