Exploring the Mycoverse: Don’t Fear the Foam – Explorations in Fermentation

Organized and hosted by Aaron Tupac
Sponsored by Arlington Garden

Pacific Coast Cultures is an open ended gathering that explores relationship and work between microbes and humans to create and preserve food. We share a fascination with the breadth and depth of fermentation, and its ability to cross between scientific processes and folk knowledge. We explore process to hone practice and ferments, while also learning to work with other living organisms and broaden our understanding of symbiotic relationships.

Presenting for the Mycoverse are it’s three founding member, a mix of creatives and scientists: Zenji Oguri, Michael O’Dell and James Oliver-Peña. The presentation includes a brief history of our practice and small community, a tasting of different styles and microbes of fermentation we’ve explored in the short and long term, a review of cost and accessibility of fermentation, and a reflection on relationship and inspiration with our microbial partners.

More about our presenters:

James Oliver-Peña (he/they) is a community mycologist and soil scientist, born and raised in Venice, California. His studies in philosophy and time in the Olympic National forest cultured a deep curiosity in the intersection of life and death, namely fungi. In his nine plus years of culturing microbes, fungi and cells, with friends, labs, and community, he explores the intersections of microscopy, bioremediation, human health, urban/SoCal soil microbiomes and a sense of self entangled with microbes.

Michael O’Dell (he/him) is an artist from Los Angeles, a city kid with a deep connection to the natural world. After studying art at Hunter college in New York City, O’Dell hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. This experience fostered an interest how we as humans interact with the natural world, and that relationship in the context of time. Fermentation has become a creative practice through which O’Dell explores the co-working of human hands, microorganisms and time.

Zenji Oguri (he/they) was born and raised in Venice, California. He studied architecture and has worked in the field since college, but continues a multidisciplinary art practice. Cooking and fermentation have been an important creative outlet and lens for exploring culture.

Before our discussion, we invite you to think about:

• Your questions you have regarding home style fermentation.

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Host or Publisher Arlington Garden in Pasadena