Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time in East Quad’s art studios. For my sculpture class, our first assignment was to make a plaster object with some sort of negative space. The guidelines were fairly open-ended and our envisioned projects were left up to our imaginations, but they were to be achieved by cutting foam boards and attaching them together to make a mold that plaster would be poured into.

I made a simple square tile with a block “M” shape, which took longer than I had anticipated given the need to convert measurements and make sharp cuts into foam with an exacto knife. I cut out several duplicate block M shapes and layered them to create a deeper “M.” After hot gluing the Ms together, I wrapped the sides in clear tape for a smoother edge.

This first image shows the mold I made out of foam, hot glue, and tape. Plaster was poured into the mold in liquid form, so I had to ensure that all corners and edges were sealed properly. I brushed the inside of the mold with Vaseline to make it easier to remove from the plaster.

This point of view is actually from the bottom of the original mold. The sides and bottom of the mold were removed, and despite hot gluing the M to the bottom, it pulled apart from being stuck inside the plaster. In the above image, you can see textured lines where the plaster picked up on the Vaseline brush strokes. The inner corners of the M aren’t quite as sharp as the mold was due to yours truly being too generous with the Vaseline (my professor and I were nervous about this part in particular sticking to the mold and breaking off).

It was surprisingly difficult to remove the remaining part of the mold. Carefully using a chisel as a wedge, I was able to pull out the M. In the process, I ended up breaking the foam and separating the layers that made up the mold. In retrospective, I should’ve cut the sides of the foam M on a slight angle to make it easier to pull out of the plaster. This was something I learned from my professor, who had previously expressed concern over how deep my M was and how small the inner corners were. The inside of the M wasn’t as nice as I would’ve hoped, but I’m relieved it didn’t break off completely.

Based on the color, you can tell that the plaster in the previous image is still a little wet. Conversely, it’s notably paler in the picture above. My water to plaster ratio wasn’t perfect (this was my first time trying, after all), so it took a bit longer than it usually would for my piece to dry. Although the texture left by the Vaseline was interesting, I wanted a smoother finish, so I set to work cleaning up the piece by sanding it down once it was dry. I also used a chisel and several other smaller tools to clean up the corners and edges.

Ta-da! I still have some more work to do to clean up the inside of the M, but it turned out okay. I’m not sure what happened with the strip of discoloration in the middle, but that’s okay.

While the finished product isn’t perfect, it was a fun process to create it. I had never worked with plaster prior to this project and am looking forward to doing so again. What do you think? Should I leave my block M as is, or should I paint it? Would you be interested in seeing another one of my art projects?

The general flatness of the Midwest does make me long for the mountains sometimes, and I know I am not the only one. So, take a peak at some previously-seen and unseen mountain photos that made me feel a bit nostalgic this week.

 

Gaming is one of my biggest hobbies, and something I already write about regularly for the Michigan Daily. Over the past year especially, I’ve grown obsessed with simulation games. Animal Crossing New Horizons and Stardew Valley are two that have completely taken over the world of gaming, but there’s a ton of variety in the genre. One of the best examples of a unique management sim is Graveyard Keeper, which I recently got hooked on.

Graveyard Keeper begins with your character being magically transported from the present day to medieval times. Once there, it’s decided by a talking skull and a bishop that you are to be the new graveyard keeper. Shortly thereafter, you get – you guessed it – your very first corpse to bury!

 

The main quest line of the game revolves around you trying to find your way home, but along the way you learn to manage the graveyard, climb the church leadership ladder, and use the locals and their resources to your advantage. One of your first quests is gathering wood and iron to fix the gravesites you’ve inherited, which unlocks a slew of side quests. 

 

Much of the game revolves around these side quests, whether that’s smuggling magical items from the nearby town or increasing the success rate of your sermons. Each completed side quest earns you points with characters, which can be exchanged for information, items, or further quests. 

Another aspect of the game that is surprisingly complex is the technology system, in which the player can spend three types of points on new “technologies”. There are eight different categories to upgrade, each with their own point requirements. These points are earned through specific actions — red points via physical labor, green via interacting with nature, and blue via studying and writing. Managing these points and unlocking technologies is key to completing quests, as it goes hand-in-hand with resource management.

 

The gameplay loop of gathering materials, crafting, unlocking technologies, finishing quests, and repeat is addicting. Every time I enter the world of Graveyard Keeper, I end up playing for hours without realizing it. The “just one more quest” mentality takes over, and I find myself wanting to keep unlocking new content to see what lies ahead for my little time traveler.

 

Not only is the gameplay unique and intricate, but the visual component of the game is as well. The pixel art is devilishly delightful, including the tiniest of details. Miniature skulls remain after witch burnings, flowers made of a mere few pixels dot the landscape, and little stone grave fences have defined texture.

The games’s developers, indie studio Lazy Bear Games, advertise Graveyard Keeper as “the most inaccurate medieval graveyard management game,” and even if there was competition, this game would still win my heart with its dark-yet-wacky narrative and charming stylistic details. For those who, like myself, are entertained by macabre humor, this casual game will quickly become one of your most played.

 

Graveyard Keeper is available on PC, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.

 

“Fire up the Batmobile”

When I’m feeling overwhelmed or upset, my first instinct is to be alone. This can be physically alone, like staying alone in my room, or mentally alone, like walking the crowded streets where I know I will not be recognized or talked to. Taking time away – taking a step back – helps me calm down and reconnect with myself, my desires, and my values.

“‘Cause I gotta get out of here.”

As much as I love being able to take a necessary step back, I’ve realized that running away will not solve any problems that I may be experiencing. Regardless, taking time to clear my head so I can react to a problem rationally instead of emotionally is something that I value. Most likely, the problem I face is internal, and those kinds of problems would follow me no matter how remote a place I could travel to.

“It’s the mouth of the gift horse I know,” 

That’s what makes it important for me to remember to not take a permanent step back. I can compose myself and collect my thoughts for a moment, but I need to get back on my game as soon as possible in order to continue bettering myself and my life. If I don’t take action for self-improvement, I’ll end up running forever, and I know I don’t want that for myself.

“But I gave it my best shot.”

Like Liz Phair sings in today’s song Batmobile, sometimes when I feel like I am not being heard or understood I feel the need to flee, and that’s okay, provided I eventually come back and fight for the change that I want. Time to reflect is often necessary for me to ensure I am making a good decision, and after I reflect, I will come back in full force and proceed with confidence.

“I gave you the performance of a lifetime.”

Listen to Batmobile here: https://youtu.be/7Mfs0019kgo