From Under the Armillaria started as an extension to a previous series about the inevitability of misunderstanding through primarily nude figure paintings. The work evolved to include imagery of mycological networks to emphasize the interconnectedness of things: people to each other, to nature, to themselves. Through a combination of figure painting with abstraction of the body through composition and textural layers mimicking mycelial growth, Armillaria focuses on the vulnerable aspects of being a person, the multifaceted interpretations of messages between people, connection, and consequence. As a whole, the work creates an atmosphere of longing, pain, betrayal, support, comfort, grief, and confusion.
Armillaria ostoyae (aka honey fungus) is the largest known living organism by area and mass on Earth. The definition of what constitutes an individual in the world of mycology is blurred. Conceptually, this is mirrored in human relationships. While physically determining what constitutes an individual is clear when it comes to humans, the social relationships we form make the interconnected nature of people more complex. Habits from one are picked up by another, body language is interpreted and reflected, true connection is reached, or it falls apart.
Who is to say where one person ends and another begins? What kind of traits do we imprint on one another that will last a lifetime? What are the ripple effects of these traits across our abilities to communicate with one another? What are the ripple effects of communication itself? These are ideas that are ruminated upon through paintings of a single group of models. Some compositions are clear in their settings and representations of the figures, while others are more difficult to ascertain, reflecting the combined clarity and confusion of existing in social relationships. The fractal patterns of the mycelial imagery serve as a reminder of connection, visible and invisible, and of consequences, intended or otherwise.
A special thanks to:
Fungi and friends in Mycology Research at Denver Botanic Gardens
MCA Denver Creator's Studio
Oracle Performance Ensemble, especially
Micah Callin
Peach Dance
Reyes Fragua
Haleigh Komoroski
Margo Sanford
Kimi Schillinger
Natasha Terrell
Armillaria ostoyae (aka honey fungus) is the largest known living organism by area and mass on Earth. The definition of what constitutes an individual in the world of mycology is blurred. Conceptually, this is mirrored in human relationships. While physically determining what constitutes an individual is clear when it comes to humans, the social relationships we form make the interconnected nature of people more complex. Habits from one are picked up by another, body language is interpreted and reflected, true connection is reached, or it falls apart.
Who is to say where one person ends and another begins? What kind of traits do we imprint on one another that will last a lifetime? What are the ripple effects of these traits across our abilities to communicate with one another? What are the ripple effects of communication itself? These are ideas that are ruminated upon through paintings of a single group of models. Some compositions are clear in their settings and representations of the figures, while others are more difficult to ascertain, reflecting the combined clarity and confusion of existing in social relationships. The fractal patterns of the mycelial imagery serve as a reminder of connection, visible and invisible, and of consequences, intended or otherwise.
A special thanks to:
Fungi and friends in Mycology Research at Denver Botanic Gardens
MCA Denver Creator's Studio
Oracle Performance Ensemble, especially
Micah Callin
Peach Dance
Reyes Fragua
Haleigh Komoroski
Margo Sanford
Kimi Schillinger
Natasha Terrell
Postcard invitation for From Under the Armillaria, Designed by Bitfactory Gallery
