B.C. Culture Days to include Prince George-wide fungus treasure hunt

B.C. Culture Days is coming up this fall and to celebrate, a Prince George man will be leading the community on a fungus-inspired treasure hunt.

B.C. Culture Days occurs during the last weekend in September, where hundreds of free interactive events and activities are held in cities across the province, providing visitors with the opportunity to celebrate arts culture and heritage in their community.

In addition, 10 ambassadors, all emerging artists, will work with professional mentors and present an activity leading up to the Culture Days weekend.

Artist Sebastian Nicholson is Prince George’s ambassador and he will be leading a city-wide treasure hunt for hidden tree fungus castings painted by the community itself.

Nicholson will offer free painting workshops until Aug. 30 for people to paint fungus casts made of concrete in silicone moulds.

Each participant will receive a card with information about the art project, dubbed The Spores of Joy, as well as a number to identify their fungi when the treasure hunt launches in September.

“The importance of installing the fungi in units is to reflect units of family and friends. The purpose of The Spores of Joy is to invigorate a sense of connection and ownership in our community as well as supply a fun activity for years to come,” writes Nicholson on the Culture Day’s website.

Nicholson is a graduate of the Fine Arts Program at the College of New Caledonia (CNC) and is currently a practicing artist and academic in Prince George.

The Spores of Joy treasure hunt takes place between Sept. 27 to 29 during the B.C. Culture Days weekend.

You can contact Nicholson to book a painting session.