NOW IS THE TIME OF MOSS

This project started initially at the Manchester Museum in 2005, where I got to work with specimens from the botanical collection. More recently, I had the opportunity to do a research project at Gallery Oldham, working with the collection and exploring the mosses in the local area (Greater Manchester). 

The project evolved into a series of walking and terrarium-building workshops; the aim was to raise awareness of regional biodiversity and the importance of microfauna.

In recent times (since 2019), interest in mosses has been increasing both from a scientific and artistic perspective. There are now even memes about the proliferation of so-called 'moss art'. 

This slogan was inspired by a leaflet in a similar style explaining that 'MOSS IS THE ENEMY' (promoting moss removal services). Since most people are concerned with killing and removing mosses, I set out to raise awareness and encourage people to actively grow and protect mosses through urban moss identification walks, mapping species, and mapping my own 'sites of special moss interest'.

The first time I used the slogan 'NOW IS THE TIME OF MOSS" was in the form of miniature protest-style signs installed in secret urban mossy locations around the UK; later, these were installed in terrariums created from found spirit bottles and installed back in the places where they were found.

Now you can get the t-shirt and support the cause!

#NOWISTHETIMEOFMOSS

https://www.instagram.com/moss_bothering/

PS. a mug is also available because 'mug art' is also a thing … https://antonyhall.net/blog/shop/

Antony Hall, an artist based in Manchester UK.