Fota Lichens Project
An environmental survey project supported jointly by the Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Sirius Arts Centre,
and the Fota Arboretum in Cork, Ireland, the Fota Lichens Project was exhibited at historic Fota
Arboretum during the e v+a Open and Invitational Biennial in Limerick, Ireland.
The project represents a survey of lichens found in the celebrated gardens on the once-private Anglo-Irish
estate at Fota Island; lichens are recognized by scientists as very reliable bio-indicators since they take their nourishment from the air and water, rather than from the host plant or structure.
The research undertaken at Fota presented an opportunity to gauge the effects of development on environmental conditions in the surrounding region based on the existence and health of various lichens species found at Fota.
The resulting project offered visitors to the arboretum an opportunity to view enlarged
and illuminated lichen images alongside living specimens and accompanied by information
about the conditions of the surrounding natural ecology.