CMS Meeting – March 2025
- Speaker: Seri Robinson – Spalting Fungi – From Ancient Art to Modern Scientific Marvel
- When: Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at 7pm
- Where: In person at the Amazon Community Center
- Also live stream: CMS YouTube Channel (open and click to set a reminder)
‘Spalting’ refers to the natural coloration process where a small group of white and soft rotting fungi secrete permanent colorants into wood during decay. Join Dr. Robinson on a 700 year journey through the use of spalting pigments from ancient wood art to modern solar cells and batteries. A blend of art, science, craft, and culture, spalting fungi and their colors have entranced human societies all over the world, and have been the basis of myth, art, culture, and science since the 1400s.
About the Speaker
Dr Seri Robinson is scientist and sculptor who creates art through spalting. Seri is an associate professor of wood anatomy at Oregon State University and the lead researcher in the development of wood spalting. Blurring the lines between science and art, Seri is also an avid woodturner and sculptor. Seri’s first book on spalting: Spalted Wood – The History, Science, & Art of a Unique Material, traces the history of spalted wood from the 1400’s to modern day. Seri’s latest book is titled Spalting 101 – the ultimate guide to coloring wood with fungi.
OSU’s Applied Mycology Lab – Northern Spalting Website
In addition to authoring books about spalting, Seri is a prolific sci-fi, fantasy, fiction author. Learn more at JSFieldsbooks.com.
