Absolutely gourd-geous

Local artist Wendy Giminski likes to make it known that she'll draw on just about anything: wood, clay, gourds—anything except canvas; she really hates canvas. But who needs canvas when you're practically Picasso with the cucurbitaceae?

Take, for example, the “Ungrateful Yuppie Larvae” (pictured) from her Ghostbusters-themed series, which is available on the WigOutGraphics Etsy store for $75: a big, womb-like gourd is bisected, and inside, two more bisected, smaller gourds are painted as needy, budding ungrateful yuppies. Or the “If Slimer Had a Brain,” gourd ($75), featuring Slimer's face on the convex side of a gourd half, and a clay-and-papier-mâché brain nestled in the concave half. Must-have pieces in preparation for next year's Ghostbusters reboot, I say.

Giminski doesn't limit herself to painting dried squash husks (though she even makes earrings out of 'em, available for $15). Her Etsy store is replete with ceramic bowls, soap dishes and rolling trays painted with an impressive range of things: Captain Kirk, crayfish, a snowboarding sasquatch, Spock. For those with extra-adventurous tastes, may I suggest snapping up the “Welcome to the McWorld” clock made out of a vinyl record painted with Ronald McDonald delivering a baby from a terrified-looking mother ($75)?

The pieces on offer are delightfully kitschy and one-of-a-kind. To use the artist's words, she specializes in the “not-so-normal,” and she does commissioned work, so really, sky's the limit: If you can dream it, it certainly seems like Giminski can do it and then some. Just do not—we repeat, do not—ask for acrylic on canvas. www.etsy.com/shop/WigOutGraphics.