IMDI and IFFF
The IMDI has been central to the success of the IFFF. IMDI co-founder Dorothy Beebee stepped up from the very first to compile information about the fungal fiber arts to be gathered from representatives for each country by compiling and editing the first IMDI Newsletter in 2000. The International Mushroom Dye-Gest gave a brief history of Miriam’s experiments with mushroom dyeing and polypore papermaking, as well as announcing the formation of the IFFF at the Norway Symposium in 1999. After eleven issues with many international articles contributed from overseas, the Dye-Gest evolved into the formation of this website, Mushrooms for Color in 2007, sponsored by the IMDI. Find the complete story of the IMDI Dye-Gest and the beginnings of the IMDI website here.
IFFF Founding
In 1999, at the 9th International Fungi & Fibre Symposium meeting in Hønefoss, NORWAY, the group of fiber artists in attendance decided to form a loosely organized board with a representative elected from each country to serve as delegates on the board. The Board was initially formed to help guide the planning of future Symposia, aid in choosing upcoming Symposia locations, and suggest topics for workshops and discussion at future Symposia. The delegates decided to call their board the International Fungi & Fiber Federation or IFFF. Delegates were to be in contact with fungi and fiber artists in their own countries, collecting suggestions to be presented at the next Symposium.
IFFF Membership
Over the years, the IFFF has evolved into a more formal structure to more easily facilitate the organization and presentation of the Symposia every two years from country to country. Each participating country is invited to send a representative to attend the IFFF meeting which is held during the Symposium. These meetings are recorded and minutes circulated post symposia.
The purpose of the meeting is:
- to discuss symposium business and decide who will host the next symposium,
- to elect a representative to give the vote of thanks at the celebration dinner,
- to elect the Newsletter Co-ordinator,
- to review the Guidelines as required
IFFF Symposia
Since the First International Mushroom Dye Exhibit in 1980, textile and fiber artists have gathered Symposia from all over the world to exhibit their mushroom-dyed works of fiber art, exchange new ideas and teach workshops in dyes, paper-making, and pigments made from fungi. These exhibits and Symposia came to be known as the International Fungi & Fibre Symposia and are hosted by different groups of textile artists around the world, under the sponsorship of the International Fungi & Fibre Federation (IFFF).
The IFFF Symposia are organized approximately every two years and hosted by a different country. Those who attend include delegates wishing to learn about fungi and dyes; amateur and professional mycologists; artists/crafts people who work with fungi dye, pigments, and paper; and those who are curious and want to learn more.
The IFFF Symposia offer a range of opportunities:
- to further our knowledge about dye fungi
- to go on forays to identify and pick dye mushrooms
- to share our knowledge about identification, dyeing methods/paper making/pigments through workshops, lectures and discussions
- to provide opportunities for networking & friendship
- to learn more about each other’s culture & history.
Past International Fungi & Fibre Symposia
1980 – 1st International Mushroom Dyes Textile Exhibit, Mendocino, CA, USA (“International” because there was an entry from Canada!)
1983 – 2nd National International Fungi & Fibre Symposium, Stockholm, SWEDEN
1985 – 3rd International Fungi & Fibre Symposium, Sorø, DENMARK
1988 – 4th International Fungi & Fiber Symposium, Mendocino, CA, USA
1990 – 5th International Fungi & Fibre Symposium, Voss, NORWAY
1993 – 6th International Fungi & Fiber Symposium, Edinburgh, SCOTLAND
1995 – 7th International Fungi & Fibre Symposium, Härnösand, SWEDEN
1997 – 8th International Fungi & Fiber Symposium, Saranac Lake, NY, USA
1999 – 9th International Fungi & Fibre Symposium, Hønefoss, NORWAY
2001 – 10th International Fungi & Fibre Symposium, Rovaniemi, FINLAND
The following list of International Fungi & Fibre Symposia only went into an electronic format on this website with the 11th Symposium in Australia
2003 – 11th International Fungi & Fibre Symposium, Western AUSTRALIA
2005 – 12th International Fungi & Fibre Symposium, DENMARK
2008 – 13th International Fungi & Fibre Symposium, USA
2010 – 14th International Fungi & Fibre Symposium, SWEDEN
2012 – 15th International Fungi & Fibre Symposium, SPAIN
2014 – 16th International Fungi and Fibre Symposium, ESTONIA
2016 – 17th International Fungi & Fibre Symposium, British Columbia, CANADA
2018 – 18th International Fungi & Fibre Symposium, Oslo, NORWAY
2022 – 19th International Fungi & Fiber Symposium, Port Townsend, WA, USA
January 13, 1918 – August 30, 2010
(at the Symposium in Rovaneimi, Finland -2001