The Possibilities of Mushrooms: a conversation at SLOMA

Join us for a conversation between researcher Danielle Stevenson and artist Minga Opazo as they discuss the possibilities of mushrooms as organisms, decomposers, and alternative materials to address some of the world’s most pressing issues.

Danielle Stevenson is a multidisciplinary applied environmental scientist with 15 years of experience in research, design, implementation and management of food, agriculture, waste and remediation projects. She is the founder and director of D.I.Y. Fungi (since 2012) offering mycological education, consultation, mushroom cultures, and mycoremediation and waste management research in North America and beyond. Danielle is currently a PhD candidate in Environmental Toxicology at University of California, Riverside, where she studies fungi in soil remediation and sustainable agriculture.

Minga Opazo: Presented in Dirty Laundry, Opazo’s woven textile sculptures are a result of ongoing research and collaboration between the artist and mycelium organisms. The sculpture’s outer layer is made of recycled garment weavings handmade by Opazo, while the inside of the sculpture has been filled with oyster mushroom mycelium. During the course of this exhibition, the mycelium will digest the fibers and make its way through the sculpture, steadily growing over the coming weeks and eventually producing mushrooms. Born in Chile, Opazo is a fourth-generation textile crafter who explores the relationship between climate change, contemporary textile production, and Chilean textile history and design. Her practice is dedicated to researching and studying this industry further and to creating work that exposes, reflects, and finds a solution to the current situation of our broken system.

Open seating in SLOMA's Gray Wing. Seating is limited so reservations are requested.

For accessibility accommodations, please contact SLOMA's Operations Manager, Erica Ellis, at (805) 543-8562 or email [email protected].

Learn more about the exhibition Dirty Laundry at sloma.org/exhibition/fast-fashion.

Host or Publisher San Luis Obispo Museum of Art