Russula Mushrooms- photo by Kendra MilliganArt lovers can go "'Shrooming in the Gila" at a new photography show by Kendra Milligan, opening during September's First Friday Art Walk on Sept. 6, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Made in Silver City (MISC) gallery, 206 W. Broadway St. Hors d'oeuvres will be served.

New Mexico Press Association award-winning photographer, Milligan is a life-long resident of Grant County. She honed her snapshot skills during a three year stint as editor of "The Independent", a monthly newsprint magazine previously published by The Silver City Daily Press and Independent. She became fascinated by mushrooms after being waylaid during a thunderstorm while on a hike in the Gila National Forest.

"Polly Cook and I were sitting in the truck waiting out the rain when we saw something bright red across the road. Once the weather cleared, we discovered an Amanita mushroom as big as my hand pushing up through the pine needles. There were mushrooms erupting everywhere we looked. It was a magical moment."

Milligan's colorful fungus photography conveys that magical moment of discovery to viewers, and she plans to share the experience by offering mushroom guides so attendees can try to identify the fungi featured in the show.

"They will truly be 'shrooming in the Gila along with us to celebrate National Mushroom Month this September," Milligan said.

'Shrooming is slang for hunting, picking, or foraging mushrooms in the wild. Typically this is done for culinary use, although medicinal and psychotropic uses are also known.

"Identifying mushrooms can be tricky, which is why I don't recommend foraging for them unless you are a trained expert, because some species can be toxic or even deadly," Milligan suggests to fellow fungus enthusiasts. "It's better to take photographs and leave wild mushrooms to their natural cycle in the forest."

The show is on exhibit at the MISC gallery until Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.