Art Quilt: Signals from the Earth

I've been fascinated by mycelium since I read Suzanne Simard's excellent book [Amazon link] Finding the Mother Tree (mentioned in this 2022 post). In keeping with the mycelium/mushroom theme, on the [Amazon link] Gelli plate this time I printed from one mushroom, sliced in half. The monotypes I had made from string resembled their string-like tendrils. The mushrooms we see are the "fruting bodies" of mycelia, alerting us to the network of organisms traveling underground, beneficial to the trees. A metaphor and an honoring, certainly, for all the invisible things and people that keep our much of our lives running smoothly.

Signals from the Earth
22.75"w x 22.75"h (58 cm x 58 cm)
Hand-dyed cotton and velvet; linen; monotypes and monoprints; machine piecing; appliqué; free-motion quilting with metallic threads

Detail: appliqué of thread monotype on hand-dyed cotton and velvet, linen

(monotype: one print, one printing)

Process:

Thread and mushroom monotype: using Gelli Gel Printing Plate; Golden Open Acrylic; button mushroom, threads

Mushroom monotype on found cloth bag

Thread monotypes on linen

mushroom monoprint (one print, three printings)

Eight prints, one quilt.