From idea to living prototype
Guardians of the Salmon is an ecovention art installation—a functional sculpture that uses Mushroom Berm technology inspired by Fungi Perfecti. Designed to resemble salmon swimming upstream to spawn, the installation helps protect the very waters salmon depend on by filtering chemical and nutrient runoff from surrounding land.
Finished Prototype: A Living Sculpture
Background
This prototype represents a single salmon form, created to test the viability of clover and mushrooms growing on and within the sculpture. It is constructed from inoculated wood chips, wrapped in a burlap “skin,” and finished with hand-applied, nutrient-rich soil. The goal is to ensure the living components thrive and integrate with the sculpture before scaling up.
The final installation will feature multiple salmon sculptures, each approximately 9 feet long and 3 feet high, placed strategically between the new Craft District in Tumwater, Washington, and the Deschutes River—creating both a symbolic and literal connection between community and ecosystem.
