Melissa Jay Craig is an artist who brings a unique fusion of mycology and literature to life through her enchanting mushroom book installations. Her work, particularly the (S)Edition series, features 99 handcrafted books that resemble the iconic Amanita Muscaria mushrooms. This installation has been exhibited in various configurations, with a notable full display at the Morgan Conservatory in Cleveland, Ohio.
Craig’s artistic expression is rooted in her fascination with fungi as agents of change and her childhood experiences of discovering mushrooms, which she felt carried secret messages from the planet. Her installations are not just visually striking but also invite viewers to ponder the relationship between natural forms and human knowledge.
Fungus is an agent of change. I’m fascinated with its myriad forms, and I love to go in search of it. I can become more excited by discovering a beautiful fungal growth than by perusing artwork ‘discovered’ for us by curators in contemporary museums. When I was a child, the first time I had the intriguing feeling that the planet carried messages (texts, if you will) for those who were curious enough to look, was when I came upon a group of Amanita Muscaria, huddled together in a dark, secret space under tall pines.
Melissa Jay Craig
More info: Website, Facebook (h/t: Colossal).
