In the late summer and early fall of 2020, I began investigating mushrooms as a papermaking medium. I have long been interested in the material uses of fungi, and had come across the work of a few paper makers online who incorporate mushrooms into their practice. These artists have derived the term “mycopaper” from the root word myco, which means “fungi”. Referencing their work as a guide, I started my own series of mushroom paper experiments.

Meripilus sumstinei, or the black-staining polypore, is a good edible mushroom that bears many similar qualities to the better-known hen of the woods mushroom. Its fruiting body, shown here, tears nicely into fibrous strands. In younger specimens, these fibers are tender and meaty; in older ones (and in the tough inner portions of the mushroom), these fibers are strong and pliable, lending themselves well to papermaking.

I fashioned my own mould and deckle with thrift store wooden frames and some scrap window screening left over from a home project. For my first papermaking attempt, I made a simple slurry consisting only of the tough portions of black-staining polypore mushrooms, first soaked to soften the fibers, then blended with plenty of water. This mixture resulted in a beautifully rich, deep brown color for the paper. As it dried, it became very fragile and brittle, and thus impractical for most typical paper uses. However, this whole process was immensely pleasurable to take part in and witness. The drying paper ended up becoming an organic, time-based art object of its own.

This series of images shows the progression of wrinkles developing in the surface of a single sheet of black-staining polypore paper as it dried over time. I let this sheet dry without a press or adherence to any flat surface, which facilitated the natural emergence of some striking textural patterns.

For my next mycopaper iterations, I wanted to create some more flexible, durable, utilitarian paper. I decided to add supportive materials to my slurry along with the mushrooms themselves. I experimented with differing ratios of water, mushrooms, repurposed paper scraps, and cotton fibers from worn-out clothing. I was also curious to try a different mushroom species. In one batch of paper, I used Stereum ostrea (known commonly as false turkey-tail or golden crust), which fruit abundantly in the local ecosystem. I ended up with papers of varying shades, textures, and thicknesses, all of which were easier to work with than my first mycopaper attempt.

This still-damp paper sheet consists of a high ratio of Stereum ostrea mushrooms, creating variety in texture and color.
After removing these sheets from their mould, I first pressed them between pieces of cotton fabric using a wooden rolling pin. I then laid them (each on their own fabric sheet) on a flat surface outdoors in the sun, or indoors in a well-ventilated area to let the majority of the moisture evaporate. I then stacked them between more fabric sheets, two glass panels, and a bunch of heavy books until they were fully dry. The result were mostly flat sheets of paper, with some warping around the edges.

I’ve gone on to use my mushroom paper in various creative projects, and I look forward to continued exploration of this medium!