our mushrooms were in the hawks herald!

hawks herald 

Students won't trip on RWU's mushrooms

Allie Conn

Issue date: 5/8/09 Section: Features

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Sophomore Cory Alix left his dorm in Maple 10 on Friday, April 10th anticipating a normal walk to the Commons for breakfast. He didn't expect that three large mushrooms, all of which were painted bright orange with white spots, would greet him. Though he was surprised by the structures and the fact that they seemed to appear out of nowhere, he was delighted by the change in scenery.

"I love them," said Alix. "They make me feel like little Alice in Wonderland every time I walk by. I have been trying to work up the courage to go up and touch them one day!"

That's exactly the response students in the Visual Arts Special Topics course, 430.01, Installation, were hoping to elicit. Instructed by visiting professor Deborah Aschheim, the eight-student class created the three mushrooms as the second piece in their Alice in Wonderland series of projects. The intention of the mushrooms, as well as all of the artwork within the Alice in Wonderland theme, is to make students aware of the unrealistic and out of the ordinary elements of campus life.

"Our campus is looking through a looking glass," explained junior Psychology major and Installation student Lauren Dobronte. "We think it's the real world but it's not. We're sheltered here."

"We wanted to show that things pop up that don't normally occur," added Aschheim.

The three mushrooms displayed in the designated art area near the Gabelli School of Business are made of plywood frames and are stuffed with recyclable materials such as bottles and papers. In order to avoid deterioration and any potential danger risks, Facilities Management required the artists to coat the mushrooms in a weatherproof varnish and securely fasten them to the ground.

"We didn't want them taking someone out," said senior Architecture major Lauren Nickel.

Despite the precautions they had to take, they accomplished "a total video gaming mushroom look," according to Nickel. "They're bright and they really pop."

Their smaller counterparts do the same. Made of Fimo clay, the Special Topics students have created more than 100 miniature mushrooms, all of which they've dispersed throughout campus in places that "don't make sense," said Dobronte.

"I put one in the Financial Aid office, because they're supposed to help us, but they're really mean," said Dobronte.

The small mushrooms are in a variety of colors and can be found in places like A-Lot, the Marine and Natural Sciences building, the smoking gazebos, and the Architecture building.

The mushrooms aren't the only project of the Alice in Wonderland theme. A few weeks ago, Aschheim and her students premiered their art series on the quad, where they held a tea party and passed out invitations written on playing cards.

"We had a real bunny rabbit," said Nickel. "And cupcakes that said 'Eat Me' and tea cups that said 'Drink Me.'"

They also hosted a croquet game on the quad a few weeks ago. Dressed in red, white, and black to resemble a deck of cards, they played a large game of croquet and invited all passersby to partake. They still plan on creating one more project to conclude their theme.

"We need to think of something that's kind of a culmination," said Aschheim. 

At the time of the interview, the Installation class was still deciding on their final creation.

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