You’ld think that, by now, my Father in law would just chalk up anything wierd to Halloween. But, he had to ask. Followed by “Are you just leaving it up till Halloween, then?”
No…but the rebar holding that thing up is down pretty tight, and I’m needing some help getting it out. So, I figured the ‘thing’ was better than a bare piece of rebar kids might get hurt on. Besides, it’s fun to mess with people. I did take off the banner and skull this morning, though, as we’re supposed to get some weather this afternoon. Just a bamboo pole up, now.
Also began work on the “Tombstones” for Project Nightfall.
Now, Guild Wars showed them as rather nice pots overturned on the grave markers. While I’m not entirely sure where they got that specific idea, Nightfall was based on some African traditions, and I’ve seen enough documentaries on various tribes to recognize the general idea there.
The grave is for the body, the pot is for the spirit. Some tribes use plain rocks, some pots, some more ethereal means. Essentially, the body is buried, but the spirit remains for a while. Sometimes years. When that spirit fades, whatever item represented it is taken to a resting place as well for the spirit to continue it’s journey. Sometimes that place is with the body, as we see in the GW picture, sometimes it’s somewhere else.
Chances are decent that Arena.net didn’t put that much thought into their art for the gravesite. However, that’s the backstory in my mind, for my graveyard. A mix of authentic African tribal culture (Tribal Secrets. Great documentary series! Not for the faint of heart.) and Guild Wars. In my mind, such backdrops are essential prior to building anything.
Now, GW was depicting a rather refined culture in the surrounding area of this gravesite. And, it is reflected in the symmetry and beauty of the pottery. (yes, I read all this into a little artwork) My yard on halloween, however, most definately depicts a much less refined area. To make these work in the bigger picture for ME on halloween, and not just for this contest, I need the pots to reflect this lack of refinement.
Thus began what looks to be the most laughable model for our ‘tombstones’. Utilizing all the clay in the house, I managed to build a neck and start on the vase portion. Not willing to go buy more, or wait, we finished off the bottom with….wire clothes hangers covered in duct tape.
Can’t get more ugly than that…
To make the first pot, then, we covered the model in tin foil, covered the tin foil in duct tape, cut it off, and taped it back together.
This was then covered in Rigid Wrap for a cheap and easy ‘pottery’ feel.
It’s taking me 1 3″ roll of the rigid wrap per pot right now, and they look nice and rough, and unrefined. Need to purchase more rigid wrap, and figure out how many graves we’re making.
