RISD Continuing Education

Meet Chloe Zimmerman, faculty for RISD Continuing Education’s Summer Intensive transfer credit course, “Mycological Arts.”⁠
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An artist, filmmaker, writer, and educator based in Providence, Chloe’s practice engages ecologies, documentary poetics, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her teaching brings together fungi, film, poetry, and expanded forms of making to explore how we understand and relate to the world around us.⁠
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In "Mycological Arts", fungi—particularly mycelium and the mushrooms that emerge from vast subterranean networks—serve as a framework for thinking about connection, place, decomposition and world-making.
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Students will learn through creative experimentation, readings, research and observing fungi where they live, while participating in live online sessions with a global community of artists and fungi enthusiasts. ⁠
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The course draws on a range of influential voices, including Merlin Sheldrake, Giuliana Furci, and Yasmine Ostendorf-Rodríguez, alongside artists, scientists and organizations including the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) and the RISD Nature Lab.
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Students will translate these inquiries into original creative work in the medium of their choice—developing both conceptual depth and a personal, interdisciplinary practice.⁠
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Early bird registration is open through April 1. Course runs June 22–July 26. Secure your spot and learn more—link in bio.⁠
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Slide 1: Photo of Chloe Zimmerman; Slide 2–3: “Fruiting Bodies”, in collaboration with Lucia Monge and Christopher Kennedy; Slide 4–5: Mycological Research PlayGroup; Slide 6: How to Organize Like Mycelium, from “Let’s Become Fungal!” Mycelium Teachings and the Arts" by Yasmine Ostendorf-Rodríguez; Slide 7: from SPUN (Society for the Protection of Underground Networks); Slide 8: From RISD Fungi Arts Research Studio, co-taught with Florence Wallis; Slide 9: photo by Chloe Zimmerman; Slide 10: photo of Chloe Zimmerman.