Gideon Finck returned to campus his senior year with a mission: to promote Narragansett beer by any means necessary. This new calling has earned him plenty of praise and new friends. The Argus sat down with Finck in the CFA architecture studio to talk about his (contractually-obligated) love for cheap New England beer, as well as his bubble-wrap-based thesis project, and his similarities to “The Big Lewbowski’s” Dude.

The Argus: A friend of mine described you as “The Dude” of Wesleyan. How do you feel about the Jeff Bridges comparison?

Gideon Finck: Totally misguided. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I have been known to abide from time to time, and Jeff Bridges is obviously a heartthrob. And yeah, I do have a fine collection of robes, and a sweet rug, which has not been peed on to the best of my knowledge. And I do hate the Eagles, but who doesn’t? But the idea that I’m, uh, lazy or…a bowler…that’s just inaccurate.

A: So what are you working on here?

GF: I’m making a large landscape installation out of bubble wrap. That’s basically it. I think bubble wrap has a lot of structural and aesthetic potential. It’s a labor of love. So that’s what I aspire to make, but for the most part I come up here. I surround myself with bubble wrap and pop it until it stops being fun.

A: How long does that usually take?

GF: A few hours a day of consistent popping. Then I have a small existential crisis. I think about all my classmates who are locked in the library or a lab doing intense research. And I look at the bubble wrap and I wonder what it all means.

A: What kind of landscape are you making?

GF: It’s a study of topography. There’s this blatant difference between how topography is modeled in the studio and what it actually is. I’m trying to take the way topography is actually modeled, and blow that up to the scale that it becomes a landscape. Looking at the way a model becomes a thing in it’s own right—except I’m doing it with bubble wrap.

A: Why?

GF: Well it’s this mass-produced, inflatable thing, and it’s the most fun in the world. Who doesn’t love bubble wrap? It’s something we use to fill empty spaces but it itself is mostly empty. To treat it with the precision and respect that is reserved for architectural materials is very…disturbing to me.

A: Interesting choice of words.

GF: Yeah, I have a sick mind.

A: You lived in Buddhist House for two years. How would you describe that experience?

GF: Totally weird. Buddhist House is a strange place. It’s a good thing it’s far from campus—we wouldn’t want it to corrupt everyone. I got to live in an 18th century mansion with 17 like-minded individuals. What an incredible opportunity in such a beautiful space. The time I spent there was…I don’t know what the word is, but when I look back at the years I spent at Wesleyan, Buddhist house will be that experience. All the highs and lows of my college experience were in that house. Even the most mundane experiences took on significance to me.

A: Did you do a lot of meditation?

GF: My personal practice fluctuated a lot when I was there. It was really nice how laid-back everyone is about spiritual practice. There was never any sort of pressure or competitiveness. There were times I was very disciplined, and times when I was very lax about it and didn’t stick to a schedule. It was great that it was there for me. It’s great to live in a house with a meditation hall that’s just there when you get out of bed in the morning. I wish my house now had that.

A: Where do you live now?

GF: I live on Fountain [Ave.] now with a bunch of dudes. It’s kind of a mess…kind of a dump. It’s definitely a different scene, but not without its own sort of spiritual integrity.

A: I heard you’re the official ambassador of Narragansett beer. What kind of responsibilities does that esteemed title come with?

GF: I get to go to a lot of spiffy parties with foreign dignitaries—they all come together from all over the world and drink the cheapest beer on the market. Seriously though, I am burdened with the heavy responsibility of promoting this New England-based beer that’s making a comeback around New England. Mostly I get to give out free tickets, hats, and stickers. And I get a lot of free beer. It’s pretty fun.

A: How did you end up in this position?

GF: There was an extensive application process: interviews, background checks, essays. There were intense physical trials that I can’t get into—of course everything was done completely drunk. It was especially hard for me because I’m not from New England. That was a major setback.

A: What other types of alcohol do you enjoy?

GF: Flammable cocktails. I’m a sucker for theatrics.

A: Tell me about one of the best classes you’ve taken at Wesleyan.

GF: When I was a freshman I took a course on the history of 20th Century Architecture with Joseph Siry. Since then I’ve taken two more classes with him. He’s a great teacher, really interesting. As a freshman I had no idea what I was doing. I was taking classes in departments I haven’t touched since. Going in I knew I’d be taking architecture classes, but to hear him talk validated everything I thought I felt. To hear him talk about buildings he loved was so inspirational. It made me feel reassured that architecture was something I wanted to study, and probably what I want to do with my life.

A: Speaking of life, what are your plans post-graduation?

GF: I think it’s time for me to settle down. Find a good wife, buy a house somewhere with a two car garage. Have a little garden. Probably take up shuffleboard. Everything between now and retirement seems like filler.