Purdue University North Central Odyssey Arts and Cultural Events Series is presenting the exhibit, "Mycological Magic: The Art of Mushrooms," a collection of photographs by local photographer Mike Bailey.
"Mycological Magic: The Art of Mushrooms" will be on display Aug. 26 through Dec. 13 in the PNC Library-Student-Faculty Building student lounge, Room 062.
Building hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Library-Student-Faculty Building is closed on Sundays.
Bailey, of New Carlisle, owner of the outdoor accent lighting company, lightwithmike, began taking pictures of mushrooms that he would discover while on the ground installing lighting systems. He found it convenient to snap photos of interesting mushrooms using the same iPhone that he uses to listen to music while working and continues to use his phone for his photo work.
"My only inspiration is the beauty of life and nature," said Bailey. "I never imagined someone would view my documentation of what I see as art. Nothing is more amazing and diversified than nature and the world of fungi demonstrates this like few other things."
Bailey noted that mushrooms are the fruit bodies of a much larger underground organism, much like an apple on a tree. Most trees could not obtain the nutrients necessary for life and growth without the symbiotic relationship they have with these underground organisms. There are more than 10,000 species of mushrooms and related fungi in North America.
To obtain further information about this exhibit or the Odyssey Arts and Cultural Events Series, contact Judy Jacobi, PNC assistant vice chancellor of Marketing and Campus Relations, at 785-5200, ext. 5593. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Jacobi.