Jeanine and I rode our bikes to the Hapgood Wright Town Forest this morning where I was hoping to find this patch of mushrooms.  I had seen a Facebook picture of them and thought I would enjoy tracking them down for my own photograph. On close inspection, I discovered they  were made of ceramic and later learned they were part of the 2016 Art Ramble outdoor art installation.

Chris Frost
Amanitus (2016) 
Glazed ceramic, various pieces each 6’ X 3’

Artist Statement: The strength of artwork, Amanitus is rooted in contradictions. Physically, these bright, colorfull mushrooms grab our attention as they contrast with the greens and browns of their surroundings. Contextually, the mushrooms (based on the species amanita muscaria) speak more of fantasy rather than natural reality. Cultural depictions of these toadstools revolve around images of gnomes and fairies, images appearing in traditional fairytales and classics, such as, Alice in Wonderland and Disney’s Fantasia. The mushrooms appear almost as candy, yet in reality they are listed as poisonous. Amanitus is a group effort! The ceramic mushrooms were created by many; the artist, his family, as well as, students and residents of Concord. Many of the mushrooms have the initials of their creators carved into the base of the mushroom.