Story behind the art of Karen Kluglein

Curious Allies: Mutualism in Fungi, Parasites, and Carnivores

The Fifth New York Botanical Garden Triennial

Magic (Stubby Brittlegill, The Sickener, Lepidilla, American Wintergreen, Grisette, Red Oak, Striped Wintergreen, Beard Lichen, Ruffle Lichen, Sulphur Tuft, Bryophyte, Pinewood Gingertail, Wolf's Milk Slime, Pleasing Fungus Beetle)

Russula brevipes, Russula emetica, Amanita cokeri, Gaultheria procumbens, Amanita vaginata, Quercus rubra, Chimaphila maculata, Usnea sp., Parmotrema hypotropum, Hypholoma fasciculare, Leucobryum sp., Xeramphalina campinella, Lycogala epidendrum, Dacne pi

When I first learned about the Curious Allies: Mutualism in Fungi, Parasites and Carnivores exhibition I immediately thought about the mushrooms and lichens I have been living amongst, on the eastern end of Long Island, New York, for the past thirty years. I had always taken them for granted, as things that were there throughout the year or appeared in the fall. I also remembered admiring a painting of a mound of growing things by contemporary artist Eric Wert titled “Sottobosco,” which refers to the genre of seventeenth century still life that focused on plant and animal life found on the forest floor. I knew I wanted to create a similar gathering of curious allies with this exhibition in mind and the relationship between these compatible elements was appropriate.

On October 25, 2022, I spent the morning gathering mushrooms and lichens that were at the front of my house, at the edge of the woods and under pine trees. I ended up with a diverse assortment of specimens from a relatively small sample area. In fact, everything in this painting (except the beetles), was found within fifty feet on a single day!

After the painting was complete, mycologist John Michelotti, founder of Catskill Fungi, identified the mushrooms and lichens—which was no small feat. Some of the common names were amusing, like “wolf’s milk slime” and “the sickener.”  Before getting in touch with John, I had wanted to add an insect to the painting but had not found any near the mushrooms in my woods. John told me that the “pleasing fungus beetle” might be found near them, so I added a few at his suggestion. 

 Going in a circle beginning at the top left of the painting, the subjects are:

Russula brevipes, stubby brittlegill

Russula emetica, the sickener

Amanita cokeri, lepidella

Gaultheria procumbens, American wintergreen

Amanita vaginata, grisette

Quercus rubra, red oak

Chimaphila maculata, striped wintergreen

Usnea sp., beard lichens

Parmotrema hypotropum, ruffle lichens

Hypholoma fasciculare, sulphur tuft

Leucobryum sp.

Xeramphalina campinella, pinewood gingertail

Lycogala epidendrum, wolf’s milk slime

Dacne picta, pleasing fungus beetle

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Read more about this artist's work: 26th Annual