Created by Willoughby Arévalo & Isabelle Kirouac
in collaboration with Mountainside/SmanitaXan Secondary School students
We designed moulds out of clay in the shape of miniature boats, in which we grew a native strain of Oyster Mushroom mycelium that we cultivated ourselves on upcycled plant-based materials, including prayers for the land and water written in India ink on biodegradable paper, which was eaten by the growing mycelium. After taking the boats out of the moulds, we created sails with biodegradable paper, Shaggy Mane ink and found sticks, writing and drawing more intentions and wishes for the future of the stream. These vessels, made of living mycelium, sailed in the urban stream behind the school, helping to bioremediate chemical and mineral pollutants in the water from road runoff, and eventually fully decomposing and helping to build fertile soil as a small symbolic action of caretaking. This project was produced under the Art & Mycology Program funded by North Van Arts and ArtStarts.
The Art & Fungi Project 