Additional Info about the Coprinus Comatus Series:

This series is inspired by Coprinus Comatus, named the Shaggy Mane mushroom because of the irregularly shaped flakes that cover the cap of the mushroom, resulting in a hairlike appearance. These particular mushrooms are edible, and when they are ripe, they are completely white. As they rot, the inside of these mushrooms turns from blue to black, and the outside follows in the same fashion. I created these weavings with those aspects in mind, using an original variation of a traditional technique. Although I still incorporated similar motifs and visual themes to those found in traditional Native American ceremonial dress such as chevron-shaped motifs and long fringe, the driving force inspiring these works was the texture of the mushroom itself and how that texture transforms. Therefore, I chose varying accent threads to represent this variance of textures. In its peak ripeness, the Shaggy Mane mushroom displays an overall flaky texture. As it rots, the cap of the mushroom smooths out and develops a slight shine. To emulate this, I used fine, yet still highly textured yarns with minimal energy and high movement, in conjunction with super fine silk and cotton threads, which contain a smooth texture and a slight sheen. By focusing on accumulation and repetition, I used these yarns to create contrasting overall textures in the works, further describing the life cycle of this fascinating organism: Coprinus Comatus.