Whitney Houston's death saddens Regina artist

The death of Whitney Houston has especially shocked one Regina fine arts student, whose graduate thesis includes an exhibit dedicated to the pop star.

Jamie Cooper says he was shocked upon learning that Houston had died on Saturday, hours before she was supposed to appear at a pre-Grammy Award gala in Los Angeles.

Houston's death has sparked achorus of grief and sympathyby fans and musicians worldwide.

"She just resonated with me," Cooper told CBC News in an interview Monday.

"The image of her first album is sort of imprinted in my mind as the first album that I can remember seeing in our living room."

Cooper, who is finishing a master's offine arts degree at the University of Regina, said his graduate thesis includes an exhibit called Whitney Biennale, which explores the relationship between "divas" like Houston and gay men in western society.

"As a queer child, I guess you could say that Whitney was my diva," he said.

"Having grown up in the '80s, there was no escaping her or her voice."

Houston wasunderwater and apparently unconscious in a bathtubat the Beverly Hilton Hotel when she was found by a member of her personal staff, police said Monday.

Police have said it may take weeks to determine what exactly caused Houston's death.

Houston's most famous song, IWill Always Love You,was the most downloaded single for much of Sunday on iTunes.