For Al Loving, the 80’s were a time for a redefinition of his artwork. After years of art revolving around geometric shapes, the 80’s proved to be a sort of coming-out party for Loving, as he redefined his style and reputation as an artist. As a result, this period of work went down as Loving’s spiral era. Many of those pieces are now on display at the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Known for the artist’s ability to use different materials and mediums, the spiral era consisted mostly of heavy rag paper cut into various spirals and shapes, thoughtfully placed together to form elaborate collages. As Loving says, “I chose the spiral as a symbol of life’s continuity. It became an overall wish for everyone.” Each with their own unique size, color and shape, the art of the spiral era broke the boundaries of the conventional art of the day and pushed the limits of abstract art.

Loving constantly used the negative space around the spirals to give specific ones emphasis, while others ran into and intertwined with each other to create parts of a creation much bigger than a single spiral. In some instances, Loving would layer spirals to the point the untrained eye could not differentiate them from a distance. Rather, they blended together cohesively to form a platform for other spirals to dance upon.

The creativity did not stop at spirals, though. Loving also stayed in touch with his earlier style, seen throughout various pieces on display. He strategically placed geometric shapes, particularly squares, across his works to add to the controlled chaos that is remembered as Loving’s signature style during this era. This period was a defining time for Loving, as he set himself apart from other artists with his unique and versatile use of the spiral amidst an era of art polluted by predictable geometric abstraction and politically charged pieces.

The piece that really caught eyes in the exhibition was Barbara in “Spiral Heaven,” a gigantic piece right in the middle of the gallery, a true focal point of the entire display. Hundreds of spirals are clustered together, forming a medley of them, all with unique personalities of their own. Falling off the edge is a cube-like structure, a hint of Loving’s past. Crafting like a true artist, Loving lets the negative space behind the objects balance out the piece, resulting in a visually dominating cloud of creativity that perfectly represents the spiral era.

The Spiral Play: Loving in the 80’s is a must-see exhibition for anyone who is appreciative of the arts. The complexity and tedious detail that went into the pieces on display is imminent throughout the gallery and leaves viewers with their creative juices flowing, each forming their own distinguished interpretation of Loving’s beautiful collages.

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His Dream of Lions, a four-person rock band hailing from Virginia, launched a new EP this past week. The band’s pop punk energy is similar to that of My Chemical Romance or Fall Out Boy, with the glamorous feel of classic rock bands such as Queen. Frontman Seth Coggeshall answered a few questions about the band and about their new EP, “Psuedo Star,” this past week.

To start off, tell me where you drew your inspiration for the EP.

We tend to draw a lot of inspiration from our own lives. I think ultimately a song is just a reflection of whatever is going on internally for the writer. For this EP however a lot of the energy behind it came from our own desire not to get bogged down too much in our own anxieties about the prospect of making an whole new record. It was a significant undertaking but the challenge inherent in the recording and writing process reinvigorated the band and our sound in a really exciting way.

What’s your favorite song on “Pseudo Star” and why?

Personally I’m a big fan of Earth Girls. I’m really proud of the fact that this band could write that kind of song. It has this really interesting blend of classic and modern elements that isn’t really like anything we’ve done before. That and the subject of the song is kind of funny to me.

What’s the story behind the music video for “Love Me Like I’m Sick”?

In our previous music videos we had always borrowed visual concepts from movies or other media, however for this video we were really interested in creating our own world/feeling. What we ended up doing was pulling aesthetic elements from a variety of different sources and smashing them all together to create the “Love Me Like I’m Sick” world. There’s a little bit of Blade Runner, The Outsiders, Watchmen, Stranger Things, all sorts of stuff.

I heard you played Warped Tour last year, how was that experience?

That was really the pinnacle of our careers up ’til now. You grow up going to Warped Tour dreaming about being a part of it one day and then you get opportunity. It was a really fascinating and eye-opening experience.

What festivals or venues do you dream of playing in the future?

Definitely Warped Tour again. But then there’s always the dream festivals like Reading, and Firefly.

Can fans expect a full album from His Dream of Lions in the near future?

Maybe! That’s all sort of in the air right now. We have the material for it, just need to make sure it would be the right move! Right now I think we’re just ready to make this current EP last as long as it needs to.

His Dream of Lions is currently on a “Psuedo Star” release tour, and will play Worcester, MA on Feb. 27. You can learn more about them at www.hisdreamoflions.com, and find them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Who: All Majors!

What: A student organization created to engage students in WHO simulations and global health policy debate

Why: To gain public health experience and develop solutions to critical public health issues

INTEREST MEETING

Where: Sondheim 112

When: Monday, March 5, 2018

Time: 12:00pm-12:50pm

Contact: amwhoumbc@umbc.edu

The Baltimore Museum of Art hosts an array of stunning collections that span centuries and cross continents. Notable artists from Picasso to Andy Warhol fill magnificent rooms and corridors, leaving little to no room for idle space. The naked eye scans a landscape of challenging art forms that defy dimension and structure. Entry to the BMA is free for all, and the discovery of internationally renowned historic, modern and contemporary art is priceless.

The countless exhibitions located all around the building are wonderful additions to the BMA. Visitors enter exhibitions that contribute a variety of interactive features that surpass standard viewing. This atmosphere emphasizes the relationship between the viewer and art and invites diverse interpretations that may mirror that individual or the world around them.

In a nutshell, art influences its viewer to think by evoking their senses. Nothing quite describes this discovery like Kara Walker’s and Hank Willis Thomas’s joint exhibition in “The Black Box.” With the use of a projector and four walls, these revolutionary artists create a platform to unroll a legacy of slavery.

Kara Walker, a noteworthy African American conceptual artist, uses cut-out silhouettes to examine the formation of racial inequality. These images remove the veil of self-conscious inhibition by showcasing stereotypes of the black female identity in history, literature and biblical accounts. In her piece, “Salvation,“ Walker presents a woman surrounded by a swamp, either emerging or submerging herself into the water beneath her. The most captivating component of this visual is the fish that leaps out of the mouth of the “escaped,” or emerging, woman. Drawn heavily both in name and natural elements, Walker has portrayed strong subjects with very little context.

In contrast, Hank Willis Thomas’ portion of the exhibition narrows in on the context needed to reveal a relationship between a subject and an outsider. By taking a picture of Walker’s exhibit, viewers discover that underneath “Salvation” lives Thomas’ stimulating composition titled “And I Can’t Run.” This striking reveal uncovers a silhouette of a young black boy shackled to a post. Overseeing his bondage is a sea of white males with no signs or pitchforks in sight — but their gaze has a binding impact. This sinister scene embarks on a theme of racial identity prominent in Thomas’ anti-conformist artistry. “And I Can’t Run” finally elaborates on the haunting effects of invisibility by requiring viewers to use the light of a camera to peer into the darkness.

Walker and Thomas reinvent the dynamics of the BMA’s “Black Box” by relentlessly pushing the boundaries of how we define race. As viewers follow their shadows across the projection screen, they begin to notice the layers that go beyond an image or a concept. Walker and Thomas generate room to create dialogue and furthermore offer us all a vital piece of advice:

Think inside the box.

February is Black History Month and it is quickly coming to an end. To celebrate the strong, powerful leaders that are at the root of this history, events like Black Jeopardy, TED Talks and dance workshops have been held throughout the month by multiple organizations on campus. The Black Student Union, African Students Association, Ethiopian-Eritrean Student Association, Caribbean Students Council and Black Lives Matter organization all contributed to make these programs a success.

On Wednesday, Feb. 21, there was a general body meeting discussing “Intersectionality: The Diaspora” in Physics 101. The purpose of the talk was to allow people from different backgrounds to share their experiences in America and how the mixture of their identities affects their everyday lives.

Junior Health Administration and Public Policy major, Jessica Linus, gave a compelling introduction. She started with a brief overview of some of Africa’s richest moments in history. She also discussed how these same rich moments are usually not included in the lessons we are taught as young children. She ended her introduction with a quote by Steven Biko that states, “Being black isn’t a matter of pigmentation — being black is a reflection of mental attitude.”

Linus is also making a conscious effort to work with UMBC on bringing African language studies to our class offerings. Even though she is facing some barriers with faculty she believes that it is important for UMBC to recognize, “the benefit in not only having a diverse population, but [also] creating cross-cultural experiences and investing in the African diasporic community by expanding the languages taught at UMBC.” For anyone who would like more information on this project, go to https://www.gofundme.com/african-parade-of-cultures.

The hosts of this event were both members of the Ethiopian-Eritrean Students Association. Jerry Gebremeskel, a junior Health Administration and Public Policy major, and Nahum Meherete, a senior Computer Science major, asked engaging questions that broke off into very eye-opening discussions. Students in the room all shared stories from their past and it was captivating to see how many people shared similar experiences.

Even though some opinions were not as agreed upon as others, everyone seemed to genuinely respect each other’s words. It was clear that every student in the room enjoyed the fact that they could openly share their thoughts without having to worry about being judged or looked at differently by their peers. It was a safe space made so that everyone could share as much or as little as they please.

Chizitere Odidika, a junior communications and technology major, frequents Black Student Union and African Students Association meetings. She thinks, “it is very important for all campuses to have organizations that are specifically formed for people of color, especially at a PWI [Predominantly White Institutions]. It was nice that they had multiple events throughout the month that catered to everyone’s interests.”

The last event celebrating Black History Month takes place on Feb. 28. A Black Student Union general body meeting on “Abuse vs. Discipline” will be held during free hour in Physics 101 for anyone who is interested. Future events held by any of these organizations are publicized on myUMBC.

During a gathering this past February, members of the UMBC community gained new perspectives and exchanged dialogue on the topic of guns in America.

The event is part of the Student Government Association’s Between Elections: Coffee and Conversation series, created to promote political engagement in the campus through civil discussion. In each installment of the series, students are joined by a panel of commentators and industry experts from across the political spectrum.

Over 70 people participated in the occasion, which was the largest turnout of any Coffee and Conversation event thus far. “We are incredibly proud of the turnout for this conversation. Moments like [the event on] last Thursday is what really makes UMBC, UMBC,” says Collin Sullivan, a junior information systems and economics student who helped set up the gathering.

During the first half of the two hour congregation, the five panelists answered questions and provided additional commentary pertaining to the topic at hand. Later, students would engage in freeform discussion within small groups, guided by discussion moderators, before having the opportunity to posit their own questions to the panelists.

Statements made by the panelists reflected their diverse views and experiences. One of the panelists was Rich Gibson, Jr., who is the Assistant State’s Attorney in Baltimore City. During the discussions, he mentioned that the Second Amendment had historically been interpreted differently, with the right to bear arms only applying in connection with service in a militia. He added, “This wasn’t the case prior to the [landmark District of Columbia v. Heller] ruling… it wasn’t the consensus for over 200 years.”

Other panelists concerned themselves less with the legal status of guns and focused on other matters. Jonathan Danko, the president of the UMBC Rifle and Pistol Club, and senior computer science major, is one of these people. “They’re a part of American culture,” he said, and suggested education on firearm safety as a way to mitigate the threat surrounding guns. David Dannessa, a gun rights advocate, similarly agreed, while Liz Banach, an anti-gun violence activist, and Amy Berbert, a UMBC alum who photographs homicide scenes in Baltimore, offered competing viewpoints.

Despite this, the panel members remained entirely civil in their conversation and were able to agree on various general matters. Following the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida a week ago, the panelists were united in their willingness to reflect on the incident and find ways to prevent similar actions from happening again.

Like the panel members, the students held a variety of viewpoints; many of them came from differing political student organizations such as the College Republicans, College Democrats, UMBC Progressives, and the Constitutional Retrievers.

The questions they gave to the panel members were similarly varied: one student asked about how to ensure safety on campus, another questioned whether open and/or concealed carry policies represented “positive or negative externalities,” and yet another asked to examine how gender biases could affect gun culture in the country.

The discussions formally concluded after two hours; however, the crowd was slow to disperse as many students and panel members stayed around for longer to resume their conversations.

Between Elections was formed after the 2016 Election Night Extravaganza by active members of the SGA and various political student organizations. Students can keep up with new events by following the SGA and being aware of announcements and postings around campus and on myUMBC.

It was announced on Friday that rapper and trap artist, 21 Savage, will be performing at the school’s annual Quadmania concert.

This year, the Student Events Board decided to revamp the way they reveal the artist for Quadmania. Instead of the usual five to ten minute reveal of the artist on Commons Main Street, SEB planned and orchestrated a two hour party surrounding the reveal in the UC Ballroom on Friday.

The bright, neon decorations and lights set the tone for dancing before the artist was revealed. A UMBC dance group, Major Definition, took charge of the party’s dance floor, and even performed on stage before the ultimate reveal.

When it was revealed via video that 21 Savage, a 25-year-old rapper who recently made the Billboard Top Ten, would be performing in this year’s Quadmania, the crowd on the UC Ballroom dance floor became electric, brimming with excitement.

Some students were either unaware of the artist or disinterested. For these people, the spectacle of the reveal party felt like a waste of time.

Born Shayaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, 21 Savage was born in Roseau, Dominica, and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. When he was younger, he joined a gang called 21 and participated in drug dealing. It was around the time that his friend was shot and killed during an attempted robbery that 21 Savage decided to use rapping as a way to turn from the risky life he was leading. The first part of his stage name comes from the name of the gang he belonged to, but the latter part “came out of nowhere. [He] was just looking for an Instagram name.”

Savage began making music in 2015 with his debut mixtape, “Slaughter Tape.” He notably worked on this project with only a Macbook and a microphone. His debut studio album, “Issa Album,” was successful on the Billboard 200 chart, making the Top Ten. The leading single on the album, “Bank Account,” was played during the reveal video at the party. Savage was also featured on fellow hip-hop artist Post Malone’s single “Rockstar,” which also topped the Billboard Hot 100 at its highest point.

While learning of Savage’s success was interesting, the selection of this performer did not particularly excite some people at the reveal. Some choose to opt out of attending the Quadmania concerts, finding the Homecoming Comedy Shows to be more enticing. Considering the acclaim 2017’s Homecoming comedian, Trevor Noah, holds in comparison to 21 Savage, it is more likely that people know of Noah because of his TV presence. However, even in other such events involving lesser-known artists, such as 2014 Homecoming comedian Bo Burnham, who had much less TV presence than Noah, people could still come to the show expecting to laugh. Comedy succeeds best with unexpected jokes and commentary. With music, on the other hand, many people already have an idea of what and who they like to listen to, so it can be harder to attain a merely curious attendee.

It also felt as if there was a lack of planning involving the reveal party. There was no post of the party on myUMBC. The event, which was supposed to start at 8 p.m., opened its doors approximately 10 minutes late.  The time slot of the event also felt disproportionate to its initial draw, and the actual reveal took about an hour to commence.

Having the artist reveal at free hour, as was done last year, allows the information to quickly disperse throughout the student body, but having the event on Friday night can exclude students who commute, go to work, go to other events, or visit home.

21 Savage will be on tour with Post Malone around the time he will be performing at UMBC. The video that SEB used to reveal Savage’s performance also hinted that he could bring a guest. The tickets for the Quadmania Concert will go live on Monday, Feb. 26.