TRY IT AND SEE: THE STORY BEHIND MUSHROOM DYES

Directed by Martin Beebee
Saturday, February 28th at 6pm

Mushrooms are now widely used as a source for natural dyes. Many dyers today may not know that it all began with an accidental discovery by Miriam Rice, an artist from Mendocino, California. Miriam would later write the first book on using mushrooms as a source of natural dyes in the 1970’s called “Let’s Try Mushrooms for Color.” This groundbreaking dye book was illustrated by artist and friend, Dorothy Beebee. Here, Dorothy gives a behind the scenes look into one slice of the early history of mushroom dyes, the expansion of their work into two additional books, and her thoughts on the future of mushroom dyes.

Film trailer: Click below for the trailer for On Heavy Lifting. The film features Mendocino Coast dancer, Kara Starkweather.