STEVENSON — Using forty varieties of fungi to make 825 vibrant natural pigments, dyes and paints, Julie Beeler expresses and educates using mushrooms for color. Beeler exhibits at the Columbia Gorge Museum in Stevenson, October 12 through November 22.
Layering on natural fibers, Beeler draws on the history of natural dyes to make textiles that are cut, sewn, stitched and constructed to reflect our relationship to the natural world. She shares her process — from foraging and identification to dyeing natural fibers — through her studio Bloom & Dye in Trout Lake, workshops, retreats and demonstrations.
Beeler’s journey into the world of mushroom color began with a fascination for the vast and mysterious network of fungi, beyond the commonly known edible and medicinal uses. Beeler, who spent the past decade delving into uses for these natural pigments, calls herself a self-taught mycophile. Beeler made an online resource, “The Mushroom Color Atlas,” to share mushroom colors.
“The universe of colors lurking inside mushrooms mirror the vast array of hues we see in the natural world, yet they are invisible and hidden in an immense underground fungal network of life that represents a new frontier,” she said.
A comprehensive guide to Beeler’s process, “The Mushroom Color Atlas,” written by Beeler, illustrated by Yuli Gates, releases September 3 from Chronicle Books. It holds botanical mushroom illustrations and clear instructions to find and positively identify more than two dozen color-filled mushroom species.
Beeler’s show, “Symbiosis,” includes large-sale, immersive “tree totems,” displaying chromatic interplay of hues from regional fungi. Textile pieces, mono prints and photographs show their relationship to the environment and portray the local ecosystem.
A demonstration at the Columbia Gorge Museum entitled Mushroom Pigments, Paints & Inks on October 19 from 1-2 p.m. is free ticket holders at the Stevenson Mushroom Festival, an event presented by Traverse PNW Market. The festival is designed to captivate visitors of all ages with celebrations of the enchanting world of mushrooms throughout Stevenson on October 18 to 19. More at: stevensonmushroomfestival.com.
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