Myco-scapes: Multispecies Entanglements in Artmaking

Myco-scapes: Multispecies Entanglements in Artmaking is a body of ephemeral fiber sculptures. These weavings and digital fabrications are the result of collaborations with dynamic materials and other species, primarily fungi. The artworks (or artifacts) of the artist's material intra-actions explore the possibilities, challenges, and ethics of multispecies collaboration. Furthermore, in its ephemerality, Myco-scapes responds to the preventative conservation practices employed by art museums. Not only do these sculptures embody the fleeting nature of material entanglements, but they also challenge the capitalist structure of art collecting through their impermanence. The written thesis describes the artist's studio practice by exploring three primary influences: mycelium (the root-like structures of mushrooms), entanglements (the complex interwoven structures in which we exist), and preventative conservation (art-handling protocol designed to preserve artifacts).

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Fine Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Creative Technologies

Department dc:contributor.department

Art and Art History

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Thornton, Eva Marie

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Ronan, Anne Elizabeth

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Tucker, Thomas James
• Standley, Eric J.

• myco-scape
• entanglements
• New Materialism
• mycelium
• preventative conservation
• intra-action
• collections care
• multispecies
• ephemerality

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:40986

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/119513