By Patrisio Lamb
Ceniad
East Lansing HS
1st Place Division 3, Yearbook Verbal
Academic Writing
JUDGING CRITERIA
- Clear, relevant, engaging angle
- Solid lead that draws reader into story
- Meaningful student quotes that enrich story and reflect effective interviewing
- Evidence of adequate research
- Story goes beyond simply reviewing what happens in classroom
- Adheres to rules of good journalism including: short paragraphs, effective transitions and use of active voice, freedom from editorial comment, careful editing and proofreading to eliminate mechanical errors, correct use of grammar
Austin Duma (9) is a quiet kid who spends his free time creating art, but not in the way one might expect. Through hours of precise cutting, gluing and a couple trips to the store, he creates pop up art of various printed images using an unorthodox medium – a simple deck of “Magic: The Gathering” playing cards.
“I make customized cards by cutting and layering them, drawing over them, or adding printed photos onto them,” Duma said. “My uncle [got me into making them] after he showed me one of the cards that he made. I always liked the ones he made, and I just wanted to try it.”
Duma transferred to ELHS this past year and has been a fan of card games, such as “Pokémon,” since he was in elementary school. Often shying away from sports, he found solitude in browsing through various decks of cards before deciding he wanted to make his own.
“I’ve been making my own cards since July of last year,” Duma said. “First you have to think ‘Will this look cool?’ and then figure out how many layers it will take [to create the card]. If you don’t have enough layers, you have to go buy some. Then you have to find a razor that’s suitable for cutting cards and then you just set aside time to make them. It can take up from two hours to a day.”
While Duma mainly keeps his hobby of creating his own cards to himself, teachers and students alike have begun to take notice in his craft, including his friend and fellow artist, Hailey Morris (9).
“I think it’s really cool,” Morris said. “[Duma] is very creative. I’m really interested in any kind of art, so I think it’s really awesome that I found someone else who not only enjoys art, but uses different resources to make it as well.”
In addition to creating his own cards, Duma also spends most weekends at Evolution Games, a local card shop in Lansing where he plays games of “Magic: The Gathering” using custom decks.
“Everyone [at Evolutions Games] is really nice,” Duma said. “They actually play what I play. Sometimes I’ll show off my cards when we play. People telling me my cards look good inspires me to continue making them.”
With support from his friends and card players alike, Duma continues to combine and embrace his love of “Magic: The Gathering” with the creativity that shines within him.
“[Duma] amazes me every day with how much he knows,” Morris said. “He seems so quiet and in this little bubble but once you pop it, his whole imagination just comes out and it’s incredible.”
Story by Patrisio Lamb