IMDI History
The book, Skapa av Svampfärgat Garn by Carla and Erik Sundström and Miriam C. Rice, was published by ICA bokförlag in Sweden in 1984. The authors jointly decided to invest a portion their royalties from the book into the formation of a non-profit organization for educational purposes and the promotion of mushroom dyes. Thus, the INTERNATIONAL MUSHROOM DYE INSTITUTE was established in 1985.
The IMDI was founded to encourage the use of fungal pigments and to further research on their extraction and employment; to encourage research on cultivation of especially desirable fungi; and to financially aid artists and researchers to participate in the international symposia and exhibitions.
IMDI Board History
The board of the IMDI has been very stable over the years. The first meeting in 1985 included Miriam Rice as Chairperson, Mary Cardiff as Treasurer, Susan Tanaka as Secretary, Dorothy Beebee, and Michael Crofoot. In 1988, Andreya Marks replaced Susan Tanaka as Secretary, and TigerLily Jones replaced Michael Crofoot. In 1998, Nancy Denison became Secretary, Andreya Marks became Vice-Chair, and Dorothy Beebee became Historian & Newsletter editor. Felicia Rice, Miriam’s daughter joined the board after her mother’s death in 2010. In the years since, Felicia acted as Chairperson, Dorothy Beebee as Vice-Chair and Historian; Nancy Denison as Treasurer, Julianna Schleuder as Secretary, and Andreya Marks.
In 2025, four longtime members— Dorothy Beebee, Nancy Denison, Andreya Marks, and Julie Schleuder—elected to become legacy board members and four new board members have stepped into their roles. The current board includes Felicia Rice as Chairperson, Anna Mieritz as Secretary, Amy Loftus as Treasurer, Myra Beebee as Social Media/Historian, and Alissa Allen.
Current IMDI Board
As of 2025, the board is made up of:
Dorothy Beebee, Legacy Board Member
Myra Beebee, Social Media/Historian
Nancy Denison, Legacy Board Member
Amy Loftus, Treasurer
Andreya Marks, Legacy Board Member
Anna Mieritz, Secretary
Felicia Rice, Chairperson
Julianna Schleuder, Legacy Board Member