I’ve just finished a three-week-long odyssey involving paper, glue, and spray adhesive coming up to my elbows. And I’d like to share evidence of it with you!

This paper painting is called Ekeliges Zeug! The piece is 6 inches (15.2 cm) high x 60 inches (152 cm) wide, and it’s made of 100% paper and glue. No ink involved. Here ’tis … click to enlarge:

Ekeliges Zeug! is a German expression that means “Revolting stuff!” or “Nauseating stuff!” We had a German friend over for dinner a couple of weeks ago, and we forgot to put dessert (an apple pie) in the oven. As we were chatting, it became apparent that our guest had never experienced a Hostess Twinkie, Ho Ho, Sno Ball, or Ding Dong ever before. Seizing the opportunity to freak her out, once dinner was over, I raced up to the neighborhood convenience store to grab every Hostess “dessert” I could find. We cut up the Hostess treats into petit-four-sized pieces, and we walked her through a tasting. Our friend’s reaction was marked by predictable revulsion. “Ekeliges Zeug!” she remarked. Hilarious!

Title aside, I made this “paper painting” expressly for a local art show, which will feature works on, and made of, paper. Since it’s in my home town’s museum, I tried to do everything I could to experiment in paper. I think the project brought out my best.

Originally, I planned to make a series of five 6×6-inch pieces. But after the narrative — about an astronaut who gets lost in space — broke down, I decided to take the best parts of that and incorporate them into a paper panorama.

Long story short, this is where I’ve been for the past 3+ weeks. I’m looking forward to painting again. No more being hunched over a cutting mat and an Exacto blade for hours on end!

Tags: paintings, paper art

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