Fiddle-de-Dee 

Scott Gustafson’s whimsical painting presents a wedding between two bees, officiated by a praying mantis, set against a backdrop of vibrant foxgloves. The scene playfully anthropomorphizes the insect world, embedding human social rituals within a natural setting. The wedding itself is a potent symbol found across cultures, representing union, fertility, and continuity. The praying mantis, an unusual choice for a clergyman, carries its own weight of symbolism—revered in some cultures for its meditative stillness and in others feared for its predatory nature. These contrasting aspects create a captivating tension. Consider how such motifs echo through art history: the formal poses reminiscent of Renaissance marriage portraits or the use of flora as symbolic markers of purity and innocence, found in countless paintings. These archetypes tap into our collective memory, engaging viewers on a subconscious level and demonstrating the cyclical, ever-evolving nature of symbols across time.