The Art in Public Places Program commissioned seven artists through open call to create temporary artwork in conjunction with the Texas Biennial, a juried show of work from artists across the state. Each piece was accompanied by a cell phone audio tour component offering tidbits from the artists and the ability for callers to leave feedback. "Giant Mushroom Forest" is part roadside attraction, part stage set, part garden statuary, relying on the unexpected to make its impact on the viewer. In this case, the oddness of the art experience is itself a metaphor for other odd experiences. The piece is made of concrete and metal lath over a foam armature, weighing roughly 2000 lbs. At the piece’s opening, the artist (without identifying himself as such) set up a “mushroom information booth” as a whimsical way to connect with the public, distributing hand-painted rocks and information on various forms of fungi.