Symbiocene Era: Mycelium, Soils, and Roots
October 25–December 7, 2025
On view during Open Hours, events, by chance and by appointment (info@bushelcollective.org to schedule a visit)
Opening Reception:
Saturday, October 25, 4–7pm
Workshops:
Sunday October 26, 12-2pm The Vertical Path with Jenna Spevack and Jeanne Lynch (off-site)
Saturday November 8, 10-12:30pm Earth Pigments Workshop with Emily Johnston (off-site)
Saturday November 15, 2-4pm Deep Imagination Mushroom Circle with Gabriela D’Elia of Catskill Fungi (at Bushel)
Bushel is pleased to present “Symbiocene Era: Mycelium, Soils and Roots,” a group exhibition that explores diverse approaches to environmental awareness and collaborations with nature. Guest curated by multimedia artist, activist, and educator Kathleen Sweeney, this exhibition expands a conversation that began in Fall 2024 with the well-received exhibition that Sweeney curated for Bushel, “Symbiocene Era: Artists Envision Environmental Symbiosis.”
For the current show, Sweeney selected 14 New York State artists: Hovey Brock, Holly Cohen, X.S. Hou, Emily Johnston, Robin Kahn, Mary McFerran, Pareesa Pourian, Jenna Spevack, Mina Teslaru, Roberta Trentin, Monte Wilson, Farah Marie Velten, Dion Yannatos, and Jim Zivic. Each artist—as solutionist, ecoartivist, and changemaker—is developing creative practices that expand what it means to be a responsible creator. Their varied practices include innovative material reuse, mindful ecological sourcing of mineral and plant pigments, and limiting use of petrochemicals, plastic, acrylics, and fossil-fuel-originating paints and solvents. Works in the exhibition include mushroom-paper sculpture, drawings made with slime mold, and watercolors derived from reclaimed bricks. These artists are also co-creating systems of intersecting, interspecies communities as alternatives to dystopia and despair. The majority of these artists live and maintain studios in the Catskills, with a deep commitment to environmental land stewardship.
The term “Symbiocene,” explains Sweeney, takes its root from “Symbiosis,” or ‘living together’ to co-create and envision a world of mutual respect for all living beings, beyond the human-centrism of the post-industrial Anthropocene Era. The artists and their works in the exhibition demonstrate an understanding of a healthy mycelial network, honor our forested homelands, and encourage all of us to work together to ensure sustainable resilience of the Catskills and beyond.
A full-color catalogue accompanies the exhibition, featuring the exhibition artworks along with a behind-the-scenes view of artist tools and techniques in the studio.
Guest Curator Kathleen Sweeney (MA, InterArts, SF State University; BA NYU French Literature), is Assistant Professor of Media Studies at The New School/Parsons. She has received grants from the NEA, NYSCA, and Ford Foundation, and has been in residence at Virginia Center for Creative Arts, Cill Railiag (Ireland) and Mind and Life Institute (Germany). Her work has been exhibited at SXSW, LA Center for Digital Art, Atlanta Film Festival, TermiteTV, and 1053 Gallery. Sweeney is the author of The Book of Awe: Wandering and Rewilding; her articles and photography have been published in Afterimage, Indiewire, The Nation, and literary magazines.
“Symbiocene Era: Mycelium, Soils and Roots” is funded in part by a Community Grant from Delaware County Arts Council, administered by Roxbury Arts Group.
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Image: Monte Wilson, detail of Once Was Totem, 94 x 50 inches, sculptural installation, maple wood with black ink and stone.