Volume 5 of the Honeycomb Project highlights the contributions of many students from Heritage Academy in Kalispell, Montana; Damonte High School in Reno, Nevada; and Spanish Springs in Sparks, Nevada. Individual artists from Nevada, Montana, Colorado, Arizona and Idaho are also featured in this volume.

As the organizer of this project, I’ve been enriched by the extraordinary experiences and insights gained along the way. Reflecting on the honeycomb metaphor, I’ve come to a fascinating realization: the majority of bee species are solitary, with approximately 90 percent of the estimated 20,000 bee species worldwide living alone. This fact is intriguing, as our common perception of bees is heavily influenced by social species like honeybees and bumblebees. I, too, was unaware of this distinction, but it resonates deeply with the unfolding narrative of this project. Observing the artists who eagerly joined has been enlightening, as has witnessing those who chose not to participate or who eventually dropped out. This small yet impactful project has grown significantly, and as I near the completion of this volume, I am excited to share that around 700 panels are now packed and ready for display.