Looking for Mushrooms

Looking for Mushrooms is a short film that documents a series of trips through rural Mexico and urban America. The film combines street views of San Francisco from the late 1950s and scenes of Oaxaca captured during the early 1960s. During this period, Bruce Conner and his wife, Jean, were living in Mexico City, exploring the landscape and culture.

In its revised 1996 version, Conner utilized an optical printer to expand the film's length from three to fourteen-and-a-half minutes. This iteration features a new soundtrack by Terry Riley, titled "Poppy Nogood and the Phantom Band," creating a meditative atmosphere that enhances the film's hypnotic qualities. This unique blend of visuals and sound makes it an intriguing piece for those interested in the psychedelic art movement and the cultural explorations of the 1960s.