"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.

"I LIKE ROCKS!" 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, through March 1, Kittredge Gallery, University of Puget Sound, 1500 N Warner, Tacoma, free admission, 253.879.301