A series of mycelial workshops and walks led by Myceliart Collective that brought together artists, foragers, gardeners and mycologists to map our social, political, and personal connections with fungi in Edinburgh.
Mycography refers to creative processes of documenting fungi. This may encompass techniques such as drawing, recording, or other imaginative methods of rich description.
Participants were able to get involved in beginner mushroom identification, illustration, crafts and cultivation. The walks & workshops contributed to a collectively shaped chronicle of contemporary connections with local fungi.
Series co-curated by artist Johanna Koen & researcher Oona Dooley from Myceliart. Featuring facilitation by Sally Somerville-Woodiwis and Ruby Scott-Geddes, as well as workshops led by Edinburgh’s community mushroom farm and education project Rhyze Mushrooms.
An Introduction to Foraging for Medicinal Fungi (Nov 2023 to Sept 2024)
A series of walks were held exploring the rich variety of fungi present across a number of outskirt green space areas of Edinburgh, led by Myceliart organiser Johanna Koen and Rhyze Mushrooms.
Held across areas of Craigmillar, Craigentinny, Duddingston and Newhailes the walking workshops delved into the world of local medicinal fungi. A creative exploration developed covering the fascinating history of ethnomycology, a field of study that explores the relationship between fungi and humans. This involved recording medicinal fungi uses, with Rhyze Mushrooms demonstrating guerrilla mushroom cultivation of frequently-used medicinal species.
A number of the walks are detailed below.
This series of mycelial walks and workshops was commissioned by Art Walk Projects and forms part of our continuing Climate Cafe ‘In Hand with the Land’ series supported by Postcode Lottery and Awards for All.
The series culminated in an exhibition at the 2024 Art Walk Porty ‘UnderCurrent’ Festival including the production of e-zine produced by the participants.
14th January 2024 12:30-2.30pm
Newhailes Pilgrimage – Mapping a Fungi Forage
Join Myceliart organisers Johanna Koen and Oona Dooley on an upcoming pilgrimage to creatively document our winter mushroom encounters at Newhailes Estate.
Join us on a walk to chronicle your winter fungi sightings. This is an opportunity to engage in radical mycography, the creative documentation of our mushroom encounters, as well as a chance to share our foraging experiences in and around Edinburgh.
Inspired by both medieval pilgrimages and the radical mycology movement, this foraging walk sets out to question themes of self-transformation, linear progression, and predetermined destinations as we document our shared journey.
We will provide pens and paper. However, you can bring your preferred writing and drawing materials if you so desire.
All notes and drawings will contribute to a co-created record of our experiences, thoughts, sightings and feelings regarding fungi. Upon completion of the pilgrimage, a medieval souvenir awaits you.
10th February 2024 1-3pm
Fungi Paper Making – Lochend Park
Join Myceliart on an upcoming workshop to learn how to make paper out of bracket fungi.
The session will start with a short guided walk through Lochend Park where we’ll discover fungi and first signs of spring. Subsequently, we will settle down at the picnic tables, where we will demonstrate the process of making paper from bracket fungi.
Please note that this is a demonstrative session only, and the paper takes about a day to dry. If you wish to take some home, kindly bring a tea towel and folder for transport.
Any leftover paper made during this workshop will contribute to a co-created field studies guide– There will be opportunities for drawing and note-taking, so feel free to take a notebook
If you attended our previous workshop, you’re welcome to bring any drawings or notes from the last session to add to our collaborative field studies guide.
Starting Location: Lochend Park, meet by the benches next to Playpark, Edinburgh EH7 6BP
Sat 9 March 2024 12.45–3pm
Foraging Journaling at The Field, Duddingston
Join Myceliart for an upcoming nature journaling workshop with Ruby Scott-Geddes and Johanna Koen at the Field in Duddingston. Learn to identify spring plants and mushrooms through anatomy, context and sensory immersion.
The session will start with a relaxed exploration around the area, collecting and observing what’s growing this time of year. After our walk we’ll look at some drawing techniques and sketch our finds with guidance and advice from Ruby and Johanna.
Images by Johanna Koen