MONDAY, FEB. 3 2014 >>>

1. "Lego bricks, eight-bit video game sprites, and vintage Tupperware, along with his abiding interest in geology," influence University of Puget Sound Assistant Professor Chad Gunderson's vibrant, sculptural "rocks," as he says. Gunderson ceramic experiments have produced solid-glaze objects with pitted surfaces which reference vesiculated igneous rocks (such as pumice), ancient Chinese scholars' rocks, and the brightly colored surfaces of plastic. Step back and imagine assembling odd shaped Legos of clay, injecting highly saturated colors and molding them into pop culture references, and you'll appreciate the unique spirit and intention of each electrifying shape in the ceramicist "I Like Rocks!" exhibit, which may be seen from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Kittredge Gallery.

2. A story of a desert-dwelling spirit was told by a young Muslim student to photographerKristin Giordanoas she worked on a project called "Stories of the Desert," in Qatar. Two of Giordano's haunting photos are now on exhibit at Moss + Mineral. Also on view through Feb. 16 are her framed photos of the local landscape featured in the popular Tacoma Artist Playing Cards.

3. Abd.El.Kader and his AEK Band will fill The Swiss with blues beginning at 8 p.m.

4. In the same way that sharks must keep swimming to keep breathing, it seems guitarist Rafael Tranquilino must fuse genres across various musical projects in order to stay afloat. His arrangements incorporate blues, funk, rock, funk, ska, metal, reggae, Latin and jazz-fusion. As accomplished as he is varied, Tranquilino can be seen every Monday night as host of Stonegate Pizza's rockin' blues, if not experimental, jam at 8 p.m.

5. The New Frontier Lounge isn't The Five Spot on Cooper Square. Then again, it doesn't sit in the East Village of the 1950s either. But, grab the corner bar stool on a Monday night at The New Frontier, nurse a double bourbon, close your eyes and let pianist Nate Dybevik, bassist Arneson Cameron and drummer Peter Tietjen take you to the famous New York City jazz club over the din of the drinking Tacoma crowd. It as it should be: hearing a cool jazz jam in a comfortable, no-pressure environment. It launches at 9 p.m.

LINK: Monday, Feb. 3 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area