14 minute read
ARTS & CULTURE
MARVELLOUS MUSHROOMS Changing how you think about fungi in What a Mushroom Lives For
The book launch gave insight into mushrooms and their impact on our world
JOCELYN STEVENS // SFU STUDENT
On July 16, I found myself attending my first book launch event for SFU anthropology professor Michael Hathaway’s new book, What a Mushroom Lives For: Matsutake and The Worlds They Make. Although I’m not currently an avid reader, my obsession with mushrooms propelled me to buy the nonfiction book without a second thought. The event was hosted at Massy Arts Society, and Hathaway was joined by Spencer Greening, a Gitga’at doctoral student at SFU. They shared a conversation about the book and the ways fungi have been interpreted in western societies.
Owned and operated by the same crew from Massy Books, the room was cozy with lots of cool books and art showcased throughout. The energy at the event was very welcoming, and the community of fellow mushroom lovers in the audience were chatting away like old friends. Complete with complimentary food and wine, the book launch felt more like a living-room gathering.
In the first part of What a Mushroom Lives For, the reader is able to reimagine fungi as more than a simple mushroom on the forest floor. Hathway argues our planet is habitable because of fungi and how they are critical life partners for all living things.
The second half of the book focuses on Hathaway’s research in China on a specific mushroom — the matsutake — and the important role this sole fungi plays in our world. Hathaway interactions in that, you see these black lines as they’ve engaged,” expressed Hathaway. “There are these interesting physical archives of the histories of these relations going on that we just have the slightest hint.”
The idea that mushrooms, too, have institutionalism similar to other beings was very eye-opening. Even though I went into this event with some knowledge about mushrooms, it altered my views of fungi and their agency.
Despite fungi being associated with poison in western societies for so long, it was encouraging to have people come together with open minds and listen to two people talk about the ways in which fungi shape our world. I found myself very engaged with the conversation, listening to Hathaway and Greening’s conversation at the edge of my seat.
With all the fascinating things I learned about the magical matsutake from the event and the book so far, I’m really looking forward to reading more about “the worlds they make.”
This book on the enchanting worlds of mushrooms is one to add to your summer reading list. PHOTO: Jocelyn Stevens / The Peak
talked about his time with the Tibetan and Yi people and how the matsutake has impacted their ways of life and interactions with the land. This point was contrasted with the fact that matsutakes are a multibillion-dollar global trade item. Hathaway was challenged to think about forms of “agency and observation” in ways that he never thought of before in relation to plants and fungi. He hopes others will be challenged in the same way when reading his book.
“It’s just a given that other beings have agency,” Greening said when asked to share his Indigenous knowledge in relation to fungi. “When I hear elders talk about other beings [ . . . ] they’re talked about in a way that they’re just human. We might say the mountain goat people, the wolf people, the salmon people, and often when I hear oral histories, they say society. The mountain goat society, the salmon society, again, it’s this expression that there’s this deep, sort of institutionalism.”
Greening then asked Hathaway if there are any examples of institutionalism in the mushroom world. Hathaway brought up an example of encountering this in his personal life.
“[I was] looking at this piece of cutting board that I have from an old pear tree and you can see the histories of fungal You can purchase What a Mushroom Lives For: Matsutake and The Worlds They Make at Massy Books either online on their website or in store.
PICTURE PERFECT lessLIE’s Salish Modern/Tradition collection reclaims literacy through Indigenous oral and visual traditions
This collection acquired by SFU reclaims his Peoples’ narrative through seven paintings
JOCELYN STEVENS // SFU STUDENT
SFU’s Teck Gallery is featuring an art collection by lessLIE, a “Coast Salish artist from the Cowichan Tribes,” until September 25. Salish Modern/Tradition is a collection of seven different acrylic-on-paper paintings which are inspired by the ways colonizers have used language as a tool against Indigenous culture and traditions. He combines the English language with visuals inspired by his Coast Salish culture to show the complex duality of the written word, “an instrument for both cultural oppression and cultural survival of his People.” The exhibit is held at Teck Gallery, a small area located in SFU’s Harbour Centre campus. It is easily accessible with a ramp for those who need it to get onto the platformed area.
The paintings were nicely laid out on the west and east walls, and the view of the harbour waterfront from the large window amplified the experience. There weren’t any individual descriptions for each piece, and visitors were encouraged to view the accompanying support material online. Each painting was painted in a circular shape and framed in a white square, laid out in an order that flowed well.
lessLIE conveyed the interconnected relationship between the English language, Indigenous oral tradition, and visual symbolism. According to the exhibit description, “he argues that individual Coast Salish design elements, such as circles, ovals, crescents, trigons and u-forms, are like the letters of an alphabet, which can be used to visually ‘spell’ any image.” lessLIE, therefore, accepts literacy without sacrificing deep cultural connection, which is a powerful critique of how it was weaponized for assimilation throughout colonization. and the pigments that are used when creating them in my Indigenous Studies class last semester: red pigment is used in some Indigenous cultures as it carries a spiritual or mystical meaning.
Something that came to mind while viewing my two favourite pieces in relation to the other ones was that they seemed to be the sun and moon for the other paintings. This was due to the circular motifs, the colour choices of the two pieces, and how they were placed on opposite walls from each other. The Sun, Salmon, Frogs and Ravens piece was bright yellow with red elements like the sun. In contrast, the white with blue detail in the heART piece reminded me of the moon. This made the pieces feel really connected, and illustrated the intertwined nature and storytelling aspect of the collection.
I enjoyed going to view lessLIE’s Indigenous art and his powerful use of negative space. It’s one of my favourite kinds of artwork to see as it can come in so many forms, have many different meanings, and cultural interpretations. The collection is beautiful, critical, and worth a visit to downtown Vancouver.
Teck Gallery is the perfect place to showcase LessLIE’s Salish Modern/Tradition with its view of the waterfront. PHOTO: Rachel Topham Photography / SFU
My favourite pieces ended up being the two that caught my eye as soon as I got there due to their colour scheme and stylistic differences from the other pieces. The first piece stuck out to me because of its bright pop of yellow and was titled Sun, Salmon, Frogs and Ravens. lessLIE strategically used the yellow on the white canvas to bring out the different animals listed in the title, and the circle was outlined by a red paint. Although it gave the impression of being an uncomplicated painting, when I looked at it long enough, I could see the subtle shape and essence of sun, salmon, frogs, and ravens.
The second piece that I really liked was called heART. This piece was particularly striking because lessLIE used white paint on white paper, and was contrasted with a deep, dark blue background to bring out the boldness of the white circle. This made the circle eye-catching and gives it a 3-dimensional look when I observed it with less focus. I was attracted to this painting because of the white-onwhite concept, which seems overly simple but was quite captivating. Similarly to Sun, Salmon, Frogs and Ravens, when you look long enough, you can see two fish-like figures using their fins to make a heart shape.
ART OF GLIDE Jenn Edwards’ journey from figure skating to professional dance and back again
The SFU alum combines her passions with the Le Patin Libre skating company
SARA WONG // PEAK ASSOCIATE
When someone asked me whether I miss my figure skating days, I usually summarize with, “I miss performing. I don’t miss the pressure and intensity of it.” In an interview with SFU alum and former competitive skater Jenn Edwards, I was comforted in discovering I wasn’t alone in this experience. Now, Edwards has found a place to skate again with Le Patin Libre, a Montréal-based company. Over email, Edwards described what led her to return on the ice.
“Looking back, competing made me pretty anxious,” said Edwards. “I didn’t love being out there all alone in front of the judges. And as I got more advanced and the jumps got harder, I started to realize it was the dance element of skating that I really loved.”
Sadly, there are few ways for figure skaters to make it professionally outside of competing. As Edwards said in an interview with Dance International, she “wasn’t interested in being a coach or in dressing up as a Disney character.” So, at 18, Edwards put away her skates and began her studies at SFU.
“I came to SFU not really knowing what I wanted to do as a career,” Edwards admitted. Since she enjoyed AP English in high school, she started working towards an English degree. But athletics were still important to Edwards.
“My plan was to do a minor in dance, because I had just quit skating and wanted something to keep me moving,” she said. “But then I became obsessed with modern and contemporary dance, and ended up getting concurrent degrees.”
After graduating, Edwards’ career as a performer and choreographer took her around the world. She is currently based in Newfoundland and Labrador, where she also works Watching the trailer, I got chills almost instantly. Aside from the visual of one skater being showered in ice crystals, the group’s collective movements felt haunting and edgy. They glided so gracefully, yet with such sharp precision. I’ve rarely seen this kind of choreography in a figure skating routine before.
“When we’re moving together, we’re constantly making these minute adjustments and calculations to create the overall picture you see on the ice. It’s really fun to perform, because it forces you to be so present, and connected with everyone in the group,” Edwards said.
After a two year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the group recently debuted Murmuration in Paris. Though no other shows have been announced on their website, Edwards revealed that “a presentation in the Lower Mainland is definitely in the works.”
as a yoga, barre fitness, and off-ice movement instructor. She contributes to dance magazines and tours with a local band called Ptarmageddon. Despite these successful ventures, figure skating remains Edwards’ first love. Thanks to Le Patin Libre, she has a place to revisit and express joy on-ice.
“I first became aware of Le Patin Libre in 2017, when The Cultch presented their show Vertical Influences in Vancouver,” Edwards said. While The Cultch hosted Le Patin Libre, their performances took place at the Britannia rink. Being in a familiar environment, but seeing figure skating like never before, Edwards “knew pretty much immediately it was something [she] needed to be a part of.” She approached Le Patin Libre’s artistic director, Alexandre Hamel, and learned they were quietly holding auditions. Despite being about a decade out of practice, Edwards tried out and earned a spot in the company.
What makes Le Patin Libre stand out from traditional skating clubs is the focus on movement and theatricality, elements that aren’t prioritized as much in competitions, or even showcases. The elimination of elitism allows for a more welcoming creative atmosphere. Edwards shared she feels more connected to a figure skating community now with Le Patin Libre. “I love how authentic we’re encouraged to be in performance. There’s no pretense, we don’t have to jazz anything up or paste smiles on our faces,” she added. And because Le Patin Libre is a group, moving as one on ice, Edwards doesn’t have to skate alone anymore.
Le Patin Libre’s latest show, Murmuration, presents the same principles but on a whole new scale. “There are 15 skaters, whereas all the previous pieces have had only five,” Edwards explained. With more emphasis on a large ensemble, the idea is to emulate a flock of birds. Edwards making moves as a multi-disciplinary performer. PHOTO: Garrett Kling
For more from Jenn Edwards, follow her on Instagram @jjedwards. Check out Le Patin Libre on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
MONDAY MUSIC: GROOVY TUNES TO BLAST ON YOUR WAY TO A BEACH DAY
Written by Yelin Gemma Lee
To be honest, I’m not a huge beach person because I’m a wimp when it comes to direct sunlight. If I want a tan in the summer, I want to be outside doing sports rather than lying there in my bathing suit and feeling like the UV rays are eating me alive. But when I do go a few times in summer it has to be a whole production and I end up having a great time. These are some of my favourite songs to hype me up while getting ready and driving to the beach with the windows down.
By Snoop Dogg, Raphael Saadiq, Miguel
IMAGE: Death Row Records This song is sunshine and summertime encapsulated. The lyrics are so simple but the vibes make me picture myself biking along the beachside somewhere with palm trees, where it feels like summer all year long. This is a power trio of some of my favourite artists of all time. My favourite part of the song is when they sing, “Is it the sun on your skin? / Or the light in the wind? / Who knows.” I love this song not for its lyrics in particular but for how these simple words are sung. The production of the song gives off a breezy and carefree vacation vibe. The song closes with Snoop Dogg’s iconic voice saying, “Yes sir, I hope you’re enjoyin’ this music brought to you by,” which is just the cherry on top of this sweet refreshing sundae of a song.
By Amber Mark, Shelley FKA DRAM
& Virgin EMI Records IMAGE: PMR Records This song never fails to brighten my mood. Whether you’re listening to this while packing for a weekend trip, doing some seasonal cleaning, or listening to music at the beach, you won’t be able to resist the urge to dance. Amber Mark’s strong androgynous voice in this song is paired with Shelley FKA DRAM’s old-school slower rap in this song. A catchy beat will immediately have you grooving and the lyrics are easy to sing along to.
“Body Count”
(feat. Normani & Kehlani) Remix by Jessie Reyez
IMAGE: Universal Music If you’re looking for a new queer bop about woman empowerment for the summer, these singers have come together to bring you one groovy jam. Jessie Reyez has such a unique and dynamic voice, which sounds like she is both rapping and singing at the same time. Remixed with Normani and Kehlani’s voices, this song takes several level-ups. The lyrics sound like one big roast on controlling and insecure men. One of my favourite lines is when Normani sings, “You think you made me? You funny, you know that? You funny, boy / You were birthed by a woman, show some fucking respect.”
By Nao
IMAGE: Little Tokyo Recordings Nao has such an amazing vocal range and a beautiful charismatic voice. I love everything she puts out into the world, but this song has a special place in my heart. “Nothing’s for Sure” is a groovy philosophical song about letting go of things you can’t control and going with the flow of life. A great principle for life in general but paired with production that has a tropical-island vibe it feels perfect for summer. I can picture myself reading a book at the beach or drinking sangria on a patio to this song. Nao croons in the chorus, “Nothing’s for sure / Just let the moment take you on its wings / Nothing’s for sure / Just go with the flow, let your spirit run free.” These lyrics feel therapeutic to hear from her sweet voice: it’s the perfect song to help me chill out.
