Fossil.... mushrooms?

Last year, fellow artist Ian Gorton invited me to take part in an exhibition around the theme of mushrooms. Slightly out of my usual realm of landscape and geology! But I pondered this, as every artist does ponder every potential opportunity, and googled a lot.
Here is Ian's original concept theme:

"Mycelium (think mushroom “roots”) forms an underground network that connects between an individual tree and the Fungi exchanging nutrients and water. Recent research has shown that exchange between individual trees (via the mycelium) is also taking place, including the probability that mature trees are nurturing seedlings during their early growth years. The mycelium network has coined the phrase “Wood Wide Web” akin to the familiar World Wide Web. This basic idea I see as similar to the way many artists and creative people work, with the creative seeming to be the “trees” and acting individually; while below the surface ideas, inspiration, etc.. are passing intellectual and artistic “foods” between us all."

Now, of course artists can just do new work to a theme but I personally like all my work to stand together. That way it can be shown several times, mixed together with other drawings/paintings, and basically all fits together as "Tina Mammoser" artworks. So I had to find something that was already in my strands of work that might suit this theme.
The idea of fossil fungi appeared.

So... I drew fossil fungi. And then found mushrooms. Drawing the magnified parts of these there was a feeling of similarity to other fossils. Loping forms and enclosed "vesicles" were reminiscent of rounded forms of bivalves and pillow lavas. The networks of lines of growth eerily resemble the crystal growth formation I've found in limestone cannonball concretions. On a microscopic level there were growth patterns in circular patterns - again like crystals or even the spiral growth of ammonites.

Crystalised limestone concretion from a year ago, May 2015

So I focused on these patterns of lines that connected the fungi to geological structures creating new abstract fungal landscapes.

The works on paper and framed on board can be seen at:

Mycelium - eurika!

15 June - 16 July 2016 

Private view (with nibbles!) 2-4pm Saturday 18th June

Apple Store Gallery  
Unit 1 Rockfield Rd
Hereford HR1 2UA
applestoregallery.com
Group show featuring 8 artists exploring the theme of networks inspired by by fungi and trees in paintings, prints, ceramics, and even 3D printing.