Pamela Fraser said she is inspired by history when she paints. Her piece, In Support of the Ninth Dimension, is in her latest exhibition in the Blaffer Art Museum and came from her being influenced by 19th century color diagrams. | Nora Olabi/The Daily Cougar

Guests perused the work of a distinguished artist’s first solo exhibition during her opening reception Friday evening in the Blaffer Art Museum.

The exhibition, “The Fourth Dimension was Ha-Ha, in Other Words, That it is Laughter,” is a display of whimsy and ephemeral lightness by painter Pamela Fraser.

Fraser’s work is inspired by past artists, color theorists and linguistic anthropologists. One of her iconic works, “In Support of the Ninth Dimension,” a large circle with varying colors that dissolve into empty space, draws inspiration from 19th century color diagrams.

Though Fraser described her work as pulling from historical references in art and literature, she was also interested in how her art reacts to and reflects American pop culture.

“There’s something about pop music in particular that appeals to me because it’s ephemeral. Its pleasure is limited; next year you’ll hate it,” Fraser said. “I think that if my paintings could produce that sort of pleasure, even if it’s temporary, that’s what I would want.”

Her style resembles constructivist art as she works with basic shapes and forms, creating a simple, freeing experience and allowing the audience to focus on her major concerns that are color and composition.

Computer science graduate student Tejas Shah said he admired the Blaffer’s new solo exhibition.

“I think she deals with very simple figures, but the most amazing part of that is that she is using different colors,” Shah said. “It’s actually good.”

Though there was much praise for Fraser’s work, her contemporary art was not appealing to all.

Local art enthusiast with ties to Blaffer, Sherri Rogers, was unsure about the paintings.

“It makes me feel really inadequate. I feel like I’m supposed to be getting more out of it,” Rogers said. “I do like the playfulness though.”

Fraser distilled complex ideas from humanity and visual arts into pristine, playful and anti-heroic paintings that seem shallow and deep, spontaneous and controlled and conventional and bold.

The exhibition is on display in the Blaffer Art Museum through July 27.

arts@thedailycougar.com

Being the head honcho of Coke Boys collective, the director of Cocaine City Records, pumping out memorable mix-tapes such as “Laundry Man,” “French Revolution” and “Mac & Cheese 3” and signing a joint record deal with Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group and Sean “P.Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy Records, the Moroccan emcee French Montana has built himself quite a resume.

His debut album “Excuse My French” is filled with catchy hooks about club and gang beats with verses consisting of stories about making money while being in and out of the role of a cocaine dealer.

The opening track, “Once in a While,” executes a successful and beautiful start to the album with its infectious drum loop and soulful sample in the instrumental. Given what fans of Montana know about his breakthrough in the music industry and how one drug related stunt nearly ended his life, the song does well to portray a feeling of overcoming the odds.

“Paranoid” and “What Happens Tonight” are violent, gangster rap tracks with heavy and grittily rambunctious production provided by Young Chop and The Beat Bully. The former track speaks true to complications of drug selling life that French Montana once lived before the fame. Although the lyrics aren’t as aesthetically detailed, the beat takes the track home with its sound similar to Chief Keef’s “I Don’t Like.”

The latter track, which harbors seamlessly smooth flows from Ace Hood, Snoop Dog and Houston’s own Scarface, is equally violent but also equally energetic. The Major-Harris-sampled beat helps keep the cast in their A-game, and Montana vibrantly excels in his verse. Jamaican vocalist Mavado also exudes with a powerful, intimidating chorus.

While ”Excuse My French” showcases a softer, laid back side of the Maybach Music, French Montana struggles with solo tracks.

Besides the first track, all four of his solo songs are the worst that the album has to offer. “Ain’t Worried About Nothing” sounds repetitive, and “I Told Them” and “Bust It Open” are uninteresting. The beats are subpar, and French’s lyrics are cut from the same quality.

“Excuse My French” isn’t a bad album, but there lies a mystery behind the microphone. With the number of guests in this album, Montana is trying to deviate himself away from the spotlight. His lack of presence and balance between his voice and the voice of his friends interfere with the overall tone of the album. Because of this, his debut into mainstream hip-hop is off to a bad start.

For longtime fans of his artistry, the album is a solid one that may get played for a while. For unfamiliar fans, “Excuse My French” is a reason why they continue to wonder how merits get attention in the rap game.

arts@thedailycougar.com

A team of 13 UH students, including Daniel Serna, Pamela Franco, Long Kim Nguyen, Edgar Carrizales and architecture professor, Patrick Peters designed a new campus for HSPVA. After a semester of studying and sketching, the team showcased their ideas at the HSPVA Gallery Thursday evening. | Yasmine Saqer/The Daily Cougar

A team of students from the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture on Thursday unveiled their blueprints they have created for the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

The inspiration was different for each student, and that helps shape the vision for the new building, said an associate professor and graduate design and build studio director, Patrick Peters.

Peters has been worked with the 13 UH students for the design of the new HSPVA campus.

“I wrote Principal R. Scott Allen last fall before the bond election proposing that I assign this new HSPVA downtown campus as my senior studio design project this spring,” Peters said. “He enthusiastically welcomed the idea, and we began our planning.”

He said the students have each made their own designs.

“Each of the 13 architecture students designed his or her proposal to the assignment, but they will not be built,” Peters said. “The professional architecture team, headed by Gensler, will be designing the actual building, but they asked us to share the students’ work to study.”

The students were selected by course registration and interest. While Peters worked as a critic and teacher, the students worked on their schemes individually.

Architecture graduate student Long Kim Nguyen was one of the selected students to contribute to HSPVA’s new campus. After visiting the school and interviewing students and faculty, Nguyen and his team were able to grasp ideas for the new design.

“Because we relocated the school to Discovery Green, we analyzed the area to see what’s going on,” Nguyen said. “Each of us did our own research. There was no group work at all, and my concept was based on what I saw from the urban analysis.”

He wanted to bring the culture of the high school into the new design and contributed to the interactive aspect.

“I created a main entrance — or central atrium — that they call a ‘common space,’ to bring daylight into the building and to help students interact and circulate around the school,” Nguyen said. “I merged and weaved all the programs around, so students of different departments can interact with each other.”

Nguyen recounted his biggest challenge about the project.

“The circulations were the most challenging,” Nguyen said, “How people enter the building, how the bus drops off … it’s really hard to create an entrance or a circulation of how people get in and out.”

arts@thedailycougar.com

The sole creative writing conference in the country, specifically geared toward emerging writers, celebrated its fifth anniversary at the Honors College Monday morning.

Approximately 80 conferees from across the country attended the Boldface Writers’ Conference. Initially founded by editors of UH literary journal Glass Mountain in 2009, the convention was intended to expose emerging writers to an intense, professional atmosphere that is generally available for professional writers only.

Under the tutelage of one of three UH alums serving as visiting writers and a wealth of UH creative writing faculty, attendees honed their craft in one of three creative writing genres.

Critically acclaimed poet, writer and UH alumnus Jericho Brown brought his enthusiasm to Boldface along with writers Miah Arnold and Joni Tevis. The trio shared their knowledge and support to the eager fresh faces.

Managing editor of Glass Mountain Steven Simeone has worked with Boldface for many years and described the Boldface experience.

“Some people have never been to a workshop, so this is the first one for them,” Simeone said. “Having it in this rigorous and intimate setting is extremely beneficial for the attendees.”

Modeled after the prestigious Bread Loaf conference, Boldface offers workshops, craft talks, manuscript consultations and also an opportunity to create professional and local peer networks.

“The community building aspect feels like a success story to me in and of itself,” Simeone said. “It provides the attendees with a chance to hang out with people from their classes that they might not have otherwise.”

Faculty adviser for Boldface and Glass Mountain Lynn Voskuil explained that the conference offers time and space to focus intently.

“What they will expect to get out of the conference is a really intense experience focusing on the craft of writing,” Voskuil said.

She compared the conference to several others across the country. She also expressed that many emerging writers like those who attend Boldface would be left to fend for themselves and unable to access resources open to already established professional writers.

Though Boldface seemed to be an essential for emerging writers, conference administrator Elizabeth Winston shared some of the setbacks.

“One of our biggest battles is getting emerging writers. It can be very intimidating,” Winston said.

Boldface continues through May 24 and ends with a panel discussion on publications and a path to graduate school.

arts@thedailycougar.com

Managing editor Steven Simeone attended the annual AWP Conference in Boston with his staff members to receive the 2013 National Program Directors’ prize for Undergraduate Literary Magazines. | Monica Tso/The Daily Cougar

The undergraduate literary journal at UH won a prestigious award and national recognition for its content during an annual convention for writers and writing programs.

Awarded for its content, Glass Mountain was presented with the 2013 National Program Directors’ prize for Undergraduate Literary Magazines at the AWP, Association of Writers and Writing Programs, yearly conference, the largest literary conference in North America. Faculty advisor of Glass Mountain Lynn Voskuil has worked with the magazine since its founding in 2006.

“Because of the national recognition we’ve achieved, the award allows us to fulfill and exemplify the tier one title of our university,” Voskuil said. “It’s the largest prize for an undergraduate publication.”

Voskuil credited her staff members for their diligence and commitment.

Specializing in the logistics of the journal, co-editor Brett Forsberg felt proud to be validated by AWP.

“We’re a group of writers who want to write and who are committed,” Forsberg said. “There’s no money involved. We simply help people find out if writing is what they want to do. We get to look at writers break into their individual styles.”

He described Glass Mountain as a raw, passionate study of writing before professional graduate work.

Managing editor Steven Simeone has worked with Glass Mountain for four years and focused on the layout in the magazine.

“Since the award is for content, most of the recognition goes to Anthony and Melissa, but it’s a great achievement for us all,” Simeone said. “Like Bonnie Culver of Wilkes University said, our magazine does represent edgy, funny, smart and top shelf fiction and poetry.”

Poetry editor Anthony Sutton was responsible for reading submissions from writers and picking pieces for editorial suggestions.

“Glass Mountain represents ambitious work, and it showcases such diverse styles of poetry,” Sutton said. “We help writers get a voice before graduate work, and we find unexpected diversity in the undergraduate work.”

Sutton explained that after being rejected multiple times, he feels good to be acknowledged for the hard work put forth.

“We’re becoming the leading voice in undergraduate publications,” Sutton said. “We were featured in Plain China, the only national anthology of the best undergraduate writing, which is such a big deal. We will also be recognized in the Writer’s Chronicle in September.”

Assistant fiction editor Amanda Scott helped select prose submissions for the journal and sought to make Glass Mountain’s online presence more visible.

“Earning this accolade is an amazing feat, and I feel especially fortunate and proud to be part of our staff,” Scott said. “To be recognized by a national institution such as AWP means we have arrived as a staff, as a journal and as a force within the literary sphere.”

Scott characterized the journal as balanced and was humbled to know that the staff’s efforts to expose new voices are being noted.

“Though we deal with turnover like any staff, I think the revolving door of bodies and minds is beneficial to the journal’s diversity,” Scott said. “It keeps the content and aesthetic fresh and allows us to evolve while staying focused and dedicated to our main demographic – emerging writers and artists.”

The staff members of Glass Mountain thanked Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences John Roberts for his individual emails of appreciation.

After spending most of his 25-year career under the radar, a Texas native and international artist debuted his first solo exhibition Friday evening at the Blaffer Art Museum.

Andy Coolquitt’s exhibition launched Friday evening at Blaffer Art Museum | Thuy Nguyen

The opening of Andy Coolquitt’s exhibition, “Attainable Excellence,” is a collection of 60 discrete sculptures and tableaux made between 2006 and 2011. Coolquitt uses non-traditional materials, and he creates ready-mades and assemblages from a potpourri of trash and other found objects.

Coolquitt has garnered attention only in recent years that put himself into national and international art awareness.

“I’m more interested in, basically, creating a place, and all these objects are just things I can use to that end,” said Coolquitt. “I’m not interested in imparting my meaning on the viewer.”

He is known as a “master bricoleur,” curating human activity through his collection of the remnants of a wasteful society and transforming them into bright, visual displays.

A freelance designer and photographer Nadia Pacheco appreciated Coolquitt’s work.

“I find them very playful, cutting meaning away and putting them,” Pacheco said. “It’s a very interesting approach; he brought his studio with him.”

Several people were surprised by Coolquitt’s work, and some of his most iconic works were on display. His condensed wall of spindly “stick-pole” light sculptures feels off-putting at first glance, but upon further inspection, they become mesmerizing.

A local sculptor Daniel Esquivel Brandt valued the exhibition’s unique qualities.

“I feel very good to see the different forms and colors. It expresses happiness,” Brandt said. “They’re different but have harmony.”

Coolquitt’s crude work includes a display of hands flipping the bird, collections of lighters used by crack-addicts, “stick-poles” that resemble lamps, trails of dirt and a dirty, knit Pacman monster.

His materials are mundane and familiar, but his obsession with spatial language and social encounters lend these assemblages a sense of warmth, comfort and connection.

The ongoing exhibition at Blaffer will continue through Aug. 17.

arts@thedailycougar.com

The Moores School of Music Concert Chorale performed a sample of the pieces they will showcase in the upcoming 13th International Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf in Germany.

The ensemble has received recognition locally and internationally including standing ovations at state and national conventions. The choir also won first prize for the performance of a world premiere at the Florilège Vocal du Tours in France.

Music professor and conductor Betsy Cook Weber has overseen the ensemble since 2002.

“Our invitation to this competition is a true indicator that the choral program sings at an international level,” Weber said. Of the 10 competitors originating from eight different countries, our chorale is one of only two ensembles from the United States.

Weber included that the chorale will also be performing for two local churches in neighboring villages and towns in collaboration with Serbian, Swiss and Swedish choirs.

Vocal music education senior Jordan Koenig described his excitement in entering the competition.

“Our favorite after-concert piece is ‘If You’re Gonna Play in Texas,’” Koenig said. “We love it because it’s fun, and we’re bringing Texas to Germany.”

Piano performance senior Josh Tan also shared his anticipation for the week-long competition.

“I’m really excited to see the culture and hear the other choirs sing,” said Tan.

arts@thedailycougar.com

An American Latino organization held its first town hall meeting Tuesday evening at Rice University to discuss the preservation of the forgotten history and immense cultural diversity of American Latinos in the country.

Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino hoped to reach out and educate the community about the need for a Latino museum housed in D.C. The Smithsonian Latino Center shares the mission of telling a more complete story of the role of Latinos in American history.

UH World Cultures and Literature professor Marie-Theresa Hernandez has devoted her professional career to the study and documentation of untold and almost forgotten American Latino history.

“The more presence we have and the more political presence we have, in which the museum would help, some things would be more believable about the mainstream perception of American Latino history,” said Hernandez.

She has been named as one of the few American Latino ethnographers that has dedicated herself to the preservation of Crypto-Jewish history and the immense amount of American Latino history in the creation of the Republic of Texas, or “buried treasures.”

FRIENDS Director Estuardo Rodriguez introduced the group’s mission.

“I can host this in Miami. I can host this in New York City,” Rodriguez said. “And I can promise you our conversation about the vastly diverse Latin culture would be different.”

With a few colleagues from the public policy advocacy group, the Raben Group, Rodriguez has relied on supporters through social media and community outreach to develop this concept and to pass it through Congress since 2004.

Associate professor of Hispanic studies at Rice University José Aranda Jr., is a founding member of Chicano Leadership Rice that focuses on the development of Latino issues on campus and throughout the city.

“A lot of our history is gone. If it’s not told again, it will be forgotten,” Aranda said. “We are Americans too.”

FRIENDS estimated the cost for the museum to be $650 million and is pushing the Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act through Congress that will designate the space for the prospective museum.

arts@thedailycougar.com

The era of chillwave, electro-pop music has been having its way around the streets as the hybrid genre continues to contribute decorated artists — Toro Y Moi, Purity Ring and Washed Out being the most popular of the bunch — and it continues to expand with Spazzkid, who samples heavy, glittery instrumentation in his new album “Desire” take to some interesting levels of innovation.

Filipino L.A. native Mark Redito, who took on various monikers before sticking with Spazzkid,
had released a few underground projects before this new album on his bandcamp page. All three of his albums were practically the same in terms of style. “Blank Stares,” “Fake Accents,” “Right Now” and some remix compilations had been constructed with a beginner’s tools and mindset, and such attributes were evident in the final project. Some songs flowed with vivid, chimeric-sounding atmosphere while others were bland.

What separates “Desire” from any of Spazzkid’s past works is the heightened sense of
awareness, production quality and overall aesthetic makeup. Listeners will immediately notice a striking Japanese influence in some of the track’s samples and will also take note of the abundant down-tempo  hip-hop drums that carry throughout the 8-track instrumental album.

There are plenty of xylophone and piano instruments laced within tracks like “Getting to Know
You” and “40 Winks.” Both of these intimate tracks harbor some sporadic yet seamlessly executed transitions with drum changes and mesmerizing samples. Through these beats, Spazzkid showcases his ability by switching between a mellow pace to a double-time breakdown.

Along with this track, “40 Winks” and “Forgiveness,” which are arguably the best tracks on the
project, hold interesting build-ups from the start of the song and comes swinging with a resounding
finish in the end. Both tracks are very light-hearted in the samples and synths used in background. For
the latter track, the loud, hard and authoritative kick drum that is present throughout is beyond
satisfying. These opposite elements work well with the gentle tone conveyed.

“Loving Free” is a pool that a lot of fans will want to dive into upon first listen. The track is a
high-octane and club worthy dance track. Spazzkid’s vocal accompaniment, complete with its spacey and trance-influenced structure, makes this song the most energetic of the batch.

“Candy Flavored Lips,” featuring Skymarines, is an easily skippable track. It’s obvious that Spazzkid had put a lot of work into this album in terms of working with unique elements that give each song a certain characteristic. These elements, however, didn’t flow through with this particular track. The drums are dull, and it seems like Spazzkid didn’t play around with the hazy loop in the background. To make matters worse, Skymarine’s vocals takes an already damaged ship and pulls it further down under the sea. Lyrics in the song are hard to make out and the singing sounds unmotivated.

Although Spazzkid didn’t have a concrete theme in “Desire,” the idea of timelessness fits
perfectly. Each track sounds a lot longer than it should and that could partially be due to a lot of moving
around within every second of the production. Fans of Toro Y Moi and How to Dress Well may find that Spazzkid borrowed a few of their features, but Spazzkid’s level of production exceeds beyond many artists within this small yet gradually popular genre.

Summer is here, and the soothing sounds of “Desire” are perfect for the season. Spazzkid has put out a beautifully crafted project for those looking for light-hearted, sample-based experimental beats.

arts@thedailycougar.com

Summer activities in Houston’s scorching heat leave UH students in need of a refreshing treat as restaurants try to lure them in, but students should consider creating healthier homemade desserts before embarking on their frozen fast-food paradise.

With a handful of key ingredients, you can create a nutritious banana split yogurt sandwich and a strawberry banana smoothie, each having less than 100 calories, as a tasteful summer delight.

Business management freshman Lexi Edwards described one of her delectable desserts.

“One of my favorite treats to enjoy during the summer is the brownie blizzard from Dairy Queen because I love chocolate,” Edwards said.

Edwards said that the banana split yogurt sandwiches are a healthful option.

“These sandwiches are a great alternative to fast food desserts,” she said. “They’re really creamy and delicious. I don’t even feel like I’m having a low calorie treat.”

Human resources and development junior Hilary Daniels considered the strawberry banana smoothie as a reasonable alternative to her preferred summer treat.

“The peach milkshake from Chick-fil-A is amazing, but it’s only available for a short period of time,” Daniels said. “This smoothie is really delicious and works as an awesome substitute when my milkshake goes out of season.”

Banana split yogurt sandwiches

Makes 9 servings
Serving size: 1 square
Calories per serving: about 55 calories

Ingredients:

• 9 whole graham crackers
• ½ cup fresh or frozen strawberries (thawed)
• ½ banana
• 1 cup vanilla non-fat greek yogurt
• 1 cup thawed fat-free whipped topping
• ½ regular-sized milk chocolate bar (1.55 ounce)
• Splash of milk (about 2 tablespoons)

Instructions:

Begin by lining a 21 x 21 centimeter square pan with foil.

Break graham crackers into halves, or 18 squares, and arrange a single layer of graham cracker squares on the bottom of the pan.

Place the fruit in blender and pulse for 2-3 seconds. Chunkiness in the fruit is desired.

Combine the yogurt, whipped topping and fruit into a bowl, and stir until the distribution is even.

Scoop the mixture onto the graham crackers in the pan.

Microwave the milk chocolate and splash of milk in a microwave-safe cup or bowl. Stir well.

Drip the melted chocolate over the yogurt mixture.

Place remaining graham crackers onto the yogurt blend and chocolate drizzle in the same direction as the bottom layer.

Place the uncovered pan into the freezer for approximately 4-5 hours.

Remove pan from the freezer and cut in-between graham crackers to create sandwich-like squares, and enjoy.

Strawberry banana smoothie

Makes 3 servings
Serving size: 1 cup
Calories per serving: about 76 calories

Ingredients:

• 1 cup nonfat milk
• ½ fresh banana
• ½ cup fresh/frozen strawberries
• ½ cup non-fat Greek yogurt
• Ice
• 1 scoop Whey protein (optional)

Instructions:

Combine the nonfat milk, banana, nonfat Greek yogurt and strawberries into the blender. Blend until smooth.

Add the ice into the mixture and pulse until desired consistency is achieved.

Pour and enjoy.

arts@thedailycougar.com