Arts & Culture

On May 16, First Lady Michelle Obama delivered a commencement speech at UC Merced. After noticing the campuswide effort that motivated the first lady to speak, two UC Davis students were inspired to get a different inspirational woman to speak at UCD.

Operation DeGeneres is a movement on campus with the main purpose of wooing Ellen DeGeneres to the UCD campus to speak. Many of those behind the project believe DeGeneres' appearance would be a great way to attract more attention to the often-overlooked UC Davis.

It's time to add another business to the list of things lost in the Sacramento area due to the faltering economy.

Alternative rock music listeners will have to go somewhere else to get their radio fix as KWOD 106.5 FM "Everything Alternative" shut down after 18 years on the dial. At 9 a.m. on May 22, KWOD played their last song - "Short Skirt Long Jacket" by Cake - and switched over to KBZC 106.5 FM "The Buzz", a station set to play exclusively 90s music.

The UC Davis Multimedia Ensemble is not dishing up your everyday traditional orchestral performance. They are instead presenting a musical explosion, melding together sounds from horns, drums, bottles, water and even laptops.

Under the coaching of Sam Nichols, a lecturer in the department of music, this group of 12 students from the music and technocultural studies departments has been working to create a soundtrack for the 1934 silent film A Story of Floating Weeds by Yasujiro Ozu.

In today's world, career advice for anyone interested in the arts is usually less than optimistic - simply glancing at any front page of the New York Times will likely offer such conclusions.

MUSE interviewed three representatives in the three broad fields of visual arts, film and creative writing to lay down the basics of preparing for an art career in and after college.

MUSIC

Relient K, Owl City, Runner Runner

Today, 8 p.m., $18 in advance, $20 day of show

The Boardwalk in Orangevale

I was born secular, but that doesn't mean that I can't appreciate the agreeable, if not catchy, pop punk of Ohio group Relient K, even if they make the occasional illusion to the man upstairs. They certainly are sneaky about it, those ones.

UNITY

Today, 8 p.m., $10 in advance

Freeborn Hall

Other than the Wellman Pit during Whole Earth Festival, I don't see electronic music getting its fair share of attention on campus. This scarcity changes with UNITY, a rave presented by newly formed student group Electronic Music for Change. All proceeds go to the UC Davis Children's Hospital. Any UC Davis ticketholder can bring one guest; tickets will not be sold at the door.

Although he graduated from UC Davis in 1983 with a degree in physics, award-winning writer and cartoonist Brian Fies has found himself using his knowledge of science to make art.

Fies' second graphic novel, Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow?, will be released in mid-June. Examining the 20th century, the novel explores the bygone golden age of technology and puzzles over its disappearance.

If a band could personify a season, Shayna and the Bulldog would be summer. This four-member Davis band is bluegrass meets rock n' roll, bringing the kind of energy and catchy lyrics to their songs that make you want to get out and enjoy the sunny weather.

They will be performing this Friday at Sophia's Thai Kitchen at 10 p.m. The bar area is open only to the 21-and-over crowd, but underage visitors can attend the show for free on Balcony B across from the restaurant's patio.

If you've got that urge to create, you have more options for expression than those art studio classes that you can't really fit in your schedule.

Co/Lab is a loosely organized club made up of mostly UC Davis students whose mission is simple: to create art in a fun, collaborative way.

Works from the Co/Lab will be on display today through June 12 in the Art Lounge, located on the second floor of the Memorial Union. A reception will be held today at 5 p.m. in the Art Lounge.

I've been writing for The Aggie for a little over two years now, and I have a confession to make: I've always wanted to be the weather(wo)man.

Really, though, Aggie weatherman Jon Gold's got a pretty sweet deal. He gets his own space every Monday through Thursday to comment on anything he wants - and on the front page, to boot!

Having my own column, I suppose I get the same perks. But they say that brevity is the soul of wit, so 20 column inches of "well-focused" text sometimes makes writing feel like a burden more than a blessing.

The Imaginary Zebra (TIZ) was born out of a mixture of graffiti and modern art, freedom of expression and imagination.

Founded in 2006 by junior managerial economics major Benson Chou, TIZ specializes in custom designed clothing - currently, T-shirts with an aim to expand - and creative performances at events.

TIZ began as Chou's graffiti crew in high school. Upon graduation, he transformed the crew into the professional company that it is today.

From introducing the public to Feist's "1234" to popularizing Chairlift's "Bruises," Apple Inc. advertisers are certified professionals when it comes to discovering hip, up-and-coming artists and sharing their music with the rest of the world.

The Submarines, whose single "You Me & the Bourgeoisie" was featured in an iPhone commercial late last year, will be performing with Red Cortez tonight at the ASUCD Coffee House. The show takes place at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 general admission and $5 with a student ID.

MUSIC

One for the Team, Zach Harju

Today, 8 p.m., $3 general admission, free with a UC Davis ID

UC Davis Coffee House

The last weeks between midterms and the start of finals is a trying time for all. When you're in mental overdrive, there's nothing better than some physical distraction, so I suggest that you dance your stresses away. Perfect solution: One for the Team, whose upbeat tunes brings to mind equally cutesy, equally poppy acts like Mates of State.

Just a week ago, I was put in an awkward situation. It wasn't quite F My Life worthy, but it wasn't mundane enough to post on Mylifeisaverage.com.

Long story short: AGTV put me in front of a camera and interviewed me.

Okay, so maybe it doesn't sound that bad, and it wasn't. Other than a bee hovering dangerously close to the reporter's neck during filming, me peppering unrehearsed answers with nervous laughter and breaking the fourth wall by giving the camera a smile, wink and thumbs up when the interview was over, it really wasn't bad at all.

If your music palate calls for something deliciously indie yet amped up with savory pop tinges, then indie rock group One for the Team will ensure a musical bon appétit.

Hailing from Minneapolis, Minn., One for the Team is set to take the UC Davis Coffee House by storm tonight at 8 - and although it will be their first performance in Davis, their music is nothing new to many ears on campus. The show is free with a UC Davis student ID and $3 general admission.

On Monday, the ASUCD Entertainment Council encouraged one and all to put on their best pair of fishnets, dust off their pumps and slap on some red lipstick by presenting a free screening of the tantalizing cult film The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 194 Chemistry along with a $100 prize winning costume contest.

There were Brad Majors, Janet Weisses, Columbias, Rockys and Magentas all vying for the honor of winning. A Rocky Horror virgin, Nicole Barfknecht, a junior neurobiology, physiology and behavior major, tap-danced in true Columbia style to persuade the room to vote for her.