March 28th, 2026
At March 28th, 2026 we had our first art+science webinar course!
The Hidden World of Lichens — Our First Monthly Webinar Recap
The Science: What Makes Lichens So Special?
Dr. Xinhui Yu, led a 15-minute journey into the tiny organisms most of us walk right past. Lichens aren’t just one living thing — they’re a partnership between fungi and algae (or cyanobacteria), layered together like a living sandwich. The fungus provides structure and protection; the photosynthetic partner makes the food.
We learned to tell apart the three main lichen forms — crustose (thin as paint on a rock), foliose (leafy rosettes), and fruticose (branching upward like tiny trees) — and discovered that lichens are among the toughest organisms on Earth, surviving arctic deserts, high mountain peaks, and even the vacuum of outer space.
The Art: Seeing Like a Lichen
Ms. Huang, artist and art educator, then guided everyone through a hands-on drawing activity inspired by the colors and shapes of lichens. The focus was on monochromatic color — using different shades, tints, and tones of a single color to capture the calm, organic feeling that lichens evoke. Participants grabbed whatever they had at home — colored pencils, watercolors, crayons, or just a graphite pencil — and created their own lichen-inspired pieces.
Two of our attendees shared their finished artwork with us, and we were blown away by what they created.
Art Piece by Huntress:
Art piece by Sarah Zager:
