Distant Stations

John Cage on “Mushroom Haiku” by Bashō.

A selection of John Cage’s mycological society membership cards, via Collective Museum.

Break the mushroom caps in small bits; slice the stem. Place in an earthenware jar with 1 tablespoon of salt for each pound of mushrooms. Let stand in a cool place for 3 days, stirring and mashing several times a day. On the third day, put over a low fire, in an enamel or Pyrex pan, until the juices flow freely. This takes about ½ hour. At that moment, a “catsup” is strained through a sieve; the “dogsup” is just mashed. Simmer for 20 more minutes. Measure the mash, add to each half pint: 1 ounce ginger root, chopped or grated; a blade of mace; a bay leaf, broken up; a pinch of cayenne; 1 ounce each of black pepper and allspice. Boil down to half the quantity. Add, for each half pint, a teaspoon of the best brandy. Bottle, cork, and seal.20 quarts of mushrooms, he adds, will produce 4-5 quarts of “dogsup.” via the New York Mycological Society Newsletter

Lithographs from Mushroom Book by John Cage

John Cage mushroom foraging

Helen Siegl (1924-2009), Magician linocut block print

Prefab Sprout - “When Love Breaks Down” (Live in Munich 1985)

“Corner Of My Sky” - Kelly Lee Owens ft. John Cale

William T. Horton illust. for The Savoy, 1896

Birger Sandzén, Pines and Aspen, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, 1929

Gustave Baumann, Morning Sun, 1931 Color woodblock print

a. Gustave Baumann, Taos Patio, 1924 Color woodblock print b. Gustave Baumann, Woodblock for Taos Patio (light blue), 1924 Carved basswood

Gustave Baumann, Spring – New Mexico, 1924 Color woodblock print

Gustave Baumann, Procession, 1930 Color woodblock print with aluminum leaf