In recognition of Michigan Glass Month, the Rankin Gallery will transform into a glass house in a three dimensional fashion with hanging pieces, floor based sculptures, and small vase forms.

The exhibit is named “Of Sand and Fire” and was designed by Ferris’ own Rankin Gallery Director Carrie Weis with works from 11 professional artists living in Michigan.

According to Weis, the uniqueness of the materials, styles, and the qualities of the artists and their work is what sets “Of Sand and Fire” apart from previous exhibits.

“The artists in ‘Of Sand & Fire’ represent a broad range of artistic expressions and styles using the medium of glass as a basis for their work,” said Weis.

“Some are sculptural pieces that incorporate metals with the glass; some artists are creating very delicate and translucent pieces, while others are incorporating imagery on or in the glass.”

Weis selected the artists based on their aesthetic merit. They are Herb Babcock, Annette Baron, Andrea Oleniczak, Lucille Olechowski, Bill Poceta, Paul Runde, Adam Thomas, Albert Young, and Jordan Valley Glassworks, which includes Jay Bavers, Ben Bavers, and Glenna Haney.

“Of Sand and Fire” will start Monday, April 6 and will run until April 30.

The reception will be on Thursday, April 9, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The two artists to lecture will be Young and Baron, which will begin at 5:30 with the reception immediately following.

Young was the artist who created the “Totem Stack” which is in front of the Arts and Sciences Commons and is also part of the Michigan Artwalk.

If you were to make a batch of magician Dan Sperry; according to him, you would need one part Tim Burton, one part Cirque de Soleil, and one part Houdini.

The magician describes his magic as a new and bizarre twist where he blends comedy and audience participation along with intense illusions to blow the mind away.

According to a forum at themagiccafe. com, one of Sperry’s most notable tricks is the “Cookie Cutter,” where he shares his version of Russian Roulette. The trick involves razor blades and Oreo cookies, the rest can be left to your imagination.

According to Sperry’s biography, the magician has been practicing the old art for over 10 years. According to dansperry.com, Sperry’s interest in magic sparked when he was four years old, after a David Copperfield show.

Six years later he began performing at birthday parties and banquets at the age of 10. Then at the age of 17, he became the youngest magician to be featured in “The World’s Greatest Magic Show” in Las Vegas. More recently, you may have seen Sperry’s tricks in the television series “Masters of Illusion.”

Start next week off with a little magic while you give Sperry the reigns to your mind and he takes you on a twisted ride. On Tuesday, April 7, Sperry’s act will materialize on stage at Williams Auditorium from 7 to 9 p.m.

The show is free and open to Ferris students, faculty, staff and the Big Rapids community.

Comedian Alexandra McHale will be hosting Phi Sigma Kappa’s annual Special Olympics Date Auction.

The auction will have audience members walk up on stage, one by one, and have McHale mention their name and interests and then take bids from the audience.

Audience members who get the highest bid will get a certificate to a restaurant, according to Shanyn Leonard, Entertainment Unlimited (EU) president.

This is not the only award up for grabs. Audience members who fill out the survey at one of EU’s upcoming events, including this event, will have the possibility of winning a free Nintendo Wii.

Two years ago the event raised several thousand dollars.

Entertainment Unlimited, who is an event co-sponsor, found McHale at the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) and decided to bring her to Ferris for some more laughs while auctioning off EU members or people in the audience and to help raise money for Special Olympics.

McHale, known for her debut on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” has had a career performing at over 300 colleges, according to alexandramchale.com, and is known for her “witty, but never crude, mock jokes of herself and contemporary subjects.”

Leonard said, “[McHale] is very good at interacting with the audience.” This event will take place on Thursday, April 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Rankin Center Dome Room.

For more information contact Shanyn Leonard at shanynlee@ferris.edu.

“New Model. Original Parts.”

Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, and Michelle Rodriguez are back together again after eight years to give us some action-packed car races, chases, and fights in this week’s box office release, “Fast and Furious.”

Diesel is back as Dominic Toretto, an ex-con underground racer who is still on the run from the government. Michelle Rodriguez plays Toretto’s girlfriend, Letty; Jordana Brewster plays Toretto’s sister, Mia Toretto; and Paul Walker plays LAPD officer, Brian O’Connor.

“Fast and Furious” leads off of “The Fast and the Furious” showing Toretto with Letty still on the run down in the Dominican Republic, until Toretto hears of a loved one getting murdered. Toretto and Letty head back to where it all started, L.A., and they reignited the “friend/foe” type relationship with O’Connor, as he is back to his old ways being a cop. All, along with Mia, find and fight a drug kingpin who is “flooding the U.S. with lethal drugs,” according to the synopsis at fastandfuriousmovie.net.

In order to find this drug dealer, Toretto and O’Connor must start racing again and, according to the synopsis, “earn a spot on a heist squad that moves high-grade heroin across the border from Mexico through almost unnavigable tunnels carved into the caves.”

Two newcomers in the movie, John Ortiz and Laz Alonso, play the two lieutenants, Campos and Feniz, respectively, in the cartel that have the information and answers Toretto and O’Connor need.

As the synopsis said, “Two men will find the best way to get revenge: Push the limits of what’s possible behind the wheel.”

At press time, no critic reviews were found for this movie.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is trying a few new things this year.

The annual induction ceremonies will be in Cleveland— home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, where inductees’ names are permanently enshrined—instead of at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in midtown Manhattan. It also will be open to the public for the first time, instead of being a high-priced, first-class night out for the music industry. And its live broadcast has jumped cable networks, from VH1 to Fuse.

But, most of all, it will likely be relatively controversy-free. No Madonna, like last year. No no-shows, like Van Halen in 2007, or band-member blowouts, like Blondie’s in 2006. Inductees Metallica, who have been known to generate some controversy themselves, practically guarantee it.

“We’re in a good space,” says Metallica singer-guitarist James Hetfield, adding that all of the band’s current and former members will be invited to take part. “We want everyone to celebrate that fact. ... We don’t want to see the drama, unfortunately, of Blondie or The Sex Pistols or Van Halen. It’s ridiculous. This is Metallica’s moment, along with others. Let’s celebrate.”

Here’s a look at this year’s well-behaved class:

METALLICA
Members: Singer-guitarist Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, guitarist Kirk Hammett, bassist Robert Trujillo, as well as former bassists Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted

Hometown: Los Angeles

Known for: Bringing together thrash, heavy metal and rock, and providing an antidote to the hair-metal bands of the ‘80s with virtuoso guitar playing and serious songs. They are now the standardbearers of the genre, with five No. 1 albums, including last year’s “Death Magnetic.” To be inducted by Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Debut: “Kill ‘Em All” (1983)

Biggest hit: “Until It Sleeps” (No. 10, 1996)

Biggest achievement: Bouncing back from their Grammy snub in 1988, when the award for best metal performance went to Jethro Tull _ arguably the worst mistake in the show’s history. (Rule changes and nine Grammys have followed.)

Working on: Promoting “Death Magnetic” and the Guitar Hero: Metallica video game.

RUN-DMC
Members: Rappers Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, and DJ Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell

Hometown: Hollis, Queens

Known for: Bringing hiphop music and culture to mainstream America through streetwise rhymes, breakthrough videos and, eventually, a rock edge. Their anthem, “My Adidas,” ushered in a new age of hip-hop influence in fashion and advertising. To be inducted by Eminem.

Debut: “Run-DMC” (1983)

Biggest hit: “Walk This Way” (No. 4, 1986)

Biggest achievement: They became the first rap group to be on MTV, on the cover of Rolling Stone and to be nominated for a Grammy.

Working on: The Rev. Run is involved in his MTV reality series, “Run’s House”; DMC is preparing his solo album as well as a new reality show, “The Kings of Rap.” Police continue to investigate the 2002 murder of Jam Master Jay in his Queens recording studio.

JEFF BECK
Hometown: Surrey, England

Known for: Bridging various musical styles with his virtuoso guitar playing, reworking the blues into the foundation of heavy metal and bringing a rock sensibility to jazz fusion and even electronica. To be inducted by Jimmy Page.

Debut: “Truth” (1968)

Biggest hit: “People Get Ready” (No. 48, 1985)

Biggest achievement: Becomes a rare two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, after being inducted in 1992 as part of The Yardbirds.

Working on: Supporting the recent “Performing This Week Live at Ronnie Scott’s” album with a tour.

LITTLE ANTHONY AND THE IMPERIALS
Members: Singers Anthony Gourdine, Clarence Collins, Tracy Lord, Glouster “Nat” Rogers, Sammy Strain, Ernest Wright Jr.

Hometown: Fort Greene, Brooklyn

Known for: Bringing New York doo-wop to a broader audience in the ‘50s and then transforming into a soul group in the ‘60s. To be inducted by Smokey Robinson.

Debut: “We Are the Imperials” (1959)

Biggest hit: “Tears on My Pillow” (No. 4, 1958)

Biggest achievement: Named to Vocal Group Hall of Fame and recipients of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation’s Pioneer Award

Working on: Touring to support their recent “You’ll Never Know” CD, celebrating the band’s 50th anniversary.

BOBBY WOMACK
Hometown: Cleveland

Known for: His gorgeous voice and for writing such soul classics as “If You Think You’re Lonely Now” for himself and others, including “It’s All Over Now” for the Rolling Stones and “Trust Me” for Janis Joplin, as well as his work as a guitarist with Sam Cooke. To be inducted by Ron Wood.

Debut: “Fly Me to the Moon” (1969)

Biggest hit: “Lookin’ for a Love” (No. 10, 1974)

Biggest achievement: His albums “The Poet” and “The Poet II,” which will soon be rereleased by ABKCO Records, cemented his influence over a third decade of R&B and soul music.

Working on: A boxed set, “Bobby Womack Retrospective,” to be released later this year.

Also set for induction this year:

Early Influence Inductee rockabilly pioneer Wanda Jackson, and Sidemen Inductees Bill Black and DJ Fontana from Elvis Presley’s band, and R&B keyboardist Spooner Oldham. with a tour.