What are cyanotypes? Cyanotypes are a Victorian era print technology discovered in the 1840s that are made by arranging objects on sensitized paper. They are a type of photographic printing using chemicals sensitive to UVA radiation in the 300-400nm range of the electromagnetic spectrum.
This print, with a maggot exiting a mushroom, was made at the January 2023 MSSF Fungus Fair.
Karen Rusiniak was inspired by Anna Arkins (1799-1871), an early English adopter of using the cyanotype (sunprint) process to document biological specimens. Karen has found ways of using mushrooms and other specimens from the forest such as lichens and ferns to make frameable art sunprints and invites you to try making one, too. She has taught the process at SOMA Camp, the MSSF Mendocino Woodlands Foray and also at Burning Man.
The Mycological Society of San Francisco has been hosting 1 or 2 Fungus Fairs each year since 1969. Fairs have been held in San Francisco County, Alameda County, San Mateo County, and Marin County. Historical information is available about previous Fungus Fairs: