The deliverable of this project is a book.
The covers are made from fungal mycelium.
The pages are printed with ink extracted from the gills of an inky cap mushroom.
The content, written with spores, acts as both an explanation and a catalyst for growing mycelium.
The intent was that users would wet the pages, activating the spores in the mushroom ink, seal the book covers, which double as a box shaped form, and walk away with a tactile experience and a better understanding of how mycelium can be used as a sustainable medium.
Originally this project started out as a desire to create a thesis project about sustainable fabrication practices. What was an initially small interest in mycelium's role in this sector, grew into a full blown passion for mycology and its potential. The goal of the project evolved to become purely educational by taking the abstract discussion of Mycelium Fabrication and making it tangible for those who had never heard of it. The resulting thesis project came in the form of a book that presented information through its pages but also gave readers hands on experience with mycelium through its form.
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UPCOMING: NAROPA UNIVERSITY WORKSHOP 2020
Unfortunately, this workshop is postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19.
BMOCA MEDIA LIVE FEST 2019
The 2019 MediaLive Festival coordinated by Maya Livio showcased many speakers who discussed technologies that fell under the "Subterranean" theme. Maya extended an invitation to me to lead attendees in a workshop where they could create their own mycelium objects. I followed a presentation given by an expert member of the Colorado Mycological Society and because of the length we were only expecting 20 participants. I prepared 20 kits that included cardboard forms that the mycelium would be shaped with, materials for sterilizing workspace, and compostable plastic bags to line the cardboard forms (since mycelium "eats" cardboard). We were surprised to find that 50 or so eager mushroom lovers had stuck around for the workshop portion! During the workshop I explained how mycelium can be used as a compostable replacement for styrofoams and plastics while giving participants access to pre-prepared mycelium materials and molds that they could take home to grow an artifact. The process of fabricating with a subterranean material like mycelium is very involved, but after speaking individually with a large portion of attendees, I was happy to learn that I am not the only person out there infinitely fascinated by the fabrication potential of this material.
Cardboard Forms, Compostable Plastic Bags, and "Unactivated" Mycelium Substrate
"Activated" Mycelium Substrate
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