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What is a Mushroom Anyway?
Local mycological expert J. R. Blair who explains that without mushrooms, we'd be "knee-deep in dead things". Join us for this free fungi lecture on Sunday, February 12, 3:00–4:30pm at the Library.
Library Events
Art Exhibit
Paintings in Gouache and Watercolor by Lucy Martin | January 4 – April 28, 2012
In this exceptional new exhibit of botanical art, Lucy Martin's art reveals her love of mushrooms
and other fungi in their forest habitat.
“My goal is to awaken a sense of the mystery, strangeness and beauty of the natural world.”
DETAILS
DATES
January 4 - April 28, 2012
ARTISTS' RECEPTION
Thursday, January 19, 5:00 – 7:00 pm, Helen Crocker Russell Library
FOR SALE
The artwork in the exhibition and prints are available for sale, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Library.
About this Exhibit
In contrast with the more familiar tradition of botanical art in which the subject is shown as an isolated specimen, Lucy's paintings are small landscapes of the forest floor, revealing mushrooms in their natural setting. With her subjects accompanied by leaves, moss, bark and fir cones, Lucy's paintings reflect an appreciation of fungi as participants in the continuous process of decay and transformation in the forest: the cycle of life. Her art draws us to contemplate the vital, intimate relationship of fungi with trees and other plants, often growing in mutually beneficial symbiosis. Lucy paints the mushrooms with scientific accuracy, but says "my goal as an artist is to awaken a sense of the mystery, strangeness and beauty of the natural world."
Lucy's interest in mushrooms began in 2006 when she moved to the Santa Cruz Mountains and began to discover the tremendous abundance of fungi in this area of heavy rainfall. She was captivated by the amazing diversity of fungi she encountered and drawn to study and focus on them in her artwork.
Lucy Martin lives in Felton, California, in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and has been drawing and painting most of her life. She studied with the well-known artist and illustrator Maryjo Koch of Bonny Doon, California. Recent exhibits include Women Illustrating Nature, at Galeria Tonantzin, San Juan Bautista (juried, June–July 2011) and the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County Open Studios Art Tour (juried, October 2011). She was also commissioned to create artwork for the poster and t-shirt for 2010 Mycological Society of the San Francisco Fungus Fair.
General Exhibit Information
The Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture is open Wednesday – Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm, free of charge; closed Sunday – Tuesday and major holidays.
The artwork in the exhibition is available for sale, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Library. For more information call (415) 661-1316 ext. 403. Exhibitions of plant- and garden-related drawings, paintings, photographs, and educational displays run for four-month periods.
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Story
Time
Looking for a fun, free and easy-to-coordinate activity? Join us in our cozy children’s book nook with comfy kid-sized cushions, a bevy of stuffed animals and lively readers.
This event is suitable for children ages 4-8. Held on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month at 10:30 am, Story Time lasts approximately 30 minutes. The Library also has an excellent collection of books for children on plants, natural history, general science, and nature-related myths and stories.
2012 Storytime Schedule Recommended Reading
New Books and Old Favorites
Including a Featured Book each month.
January 7
January 21 at 2:30pm, Lunar New Year Celebration
February 4 and 18
Library Orientations
Orientations for interested groups can be arranged by appointment.
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