Published 2005-03-06T00:00:00Z”/>

Duane Wristen<br>Staff Writer

<a href=”” onclick= “window.open(‘http://www.orion-online.net/vslideshow/viewer.v?&slideshow_id=422a324c8ba61’, ‘vss_view’, ‘width=665,height=435,left=20,screenX=20,top=20,screenY=20,location=no,toolbar=no,status=no,scrollbars=yes’); return false;”> View more red-hot photos of the fire dance here</a>

Paintings hanging on art gallery walls is one thing, but imagine balls of fire swirling like frenzied fireflies to the sound of heavy metal music and tribal drums.

The fire dance was part of the sound and vision art show that opened the new art exhibit at Moxie?s Cafe and Art Gallery Friday night. The multimedia show and exhibit is billed as “progressive expressions from the heart of Chico’s underground movement.”

The art exhibit, which runs until April 11, features work by artists who are not shown in well-known studios.

The curator is Joelle Dennis, Butte College student and manager of Moxie?s. Dennis said the unusual nature of the show is an outlet for artists who create for art’s sake.

“These people don’t make their art because it’s what the public wants,” she said. “They wouldn’t be excited about the scenery of a landscape. These people paint their dreams. It’s very individual. It’s about release of emotion.”

Ajay Reed, founder of The Den Collective, a six-member group of artists, showed her functional art for sale in the back room. Her work ranges from stamps made out of erasers to unique style wear.

Reed said she felt there wasn’t a market for items that aren’t dominated by a certain style. She said her crafts are for people who dress more alternatively or for the younger crowd.

Reed said The Den Collective began as the “Yart Sale”, an impromptu art sale and exhibit in her front yard. She said she decided to expand when she saw how successful it was.

Soon after, Reed formed a collaboration with the crux Artist Collective, whose downtown studio features multimedia art and exhibit spaces.

Terri Dote, the founder of crux, said the collectives are a building block to the Chico community and a way for artists to create their own path through an art community that is already developed.

Reed, who is working on a grant from the Chico Arts Council, said the way to making underground art accessible to the community doesn’t necessarily have to follow a commitment to traditional avenues such as the Farmer’s Market or the prestigious studios.

She said the collective is for artists choosing alternative ways of exhibiting their “unique form of artistic expression,” which, she said might not pander to popular opinion.

“It gives people options, which are kind of limited here,” she said. ?We’re getting away from showing art at places that people say you’re supposed to be a part of.”

For Dennis, the show reflects the bohemian environment of earlier coffee shops that provided sanctuaries for underground philosophisers. She said that today’s sterile coffee shop has merged into the fast-paced modern society.

“I wanted to bring the underground to Moxie?s again,” Dennis said. “It (Moxies) used to be more oriented toward poets and writers.”

The depth of the underground orientation was proven in the fire dancer’s show of physical and mental expressions.

“Fire is a real powerful element. It’s really sexy and dangerous,” fire dancer Jason Q said of his performance art.

The dance is called Poi, which originated in New Zealand as a warrior’s ceremony.

Jason holds two chains that have balls of fire on the ends and the dance begins. At first the fiery globes seem to float as he whirls them around his body, increasing pace as the dance goes on.

Jason said the dance has social and spiritual elements to it. He said he works with fire in a constructive way by developing an equal relationship with it.

“I try to connect with the fire,” he said. ?It’s not about controlling it. It’s more like, together we can make this beautiful thing happen.”

Fire dancer Tyana Maddock said the art form is powerful.

“It’s difficult to move your body and combine it with something powerful like fire and make something out of it,” she said.

Artist Rosa Contreras said she appreciates the opportunity to show her oil painting titled, “And the day came when a carrot could love a frog and a frog could love a carrot.” Contreras said when she paints she discovers symbols that aren’t apparent in her normal life.

“You can make a painting and you can’t put your finger on it. It’s almost like creating your own dream,” she said.

Contreras’ paintings examine the conflict between intuition and logic. She said the notion of finding purpose in art interferes with emotional attachment to it.

“Everyone struggles with finding what their heart tells them what to do,” she said. ?There are people who don’t appreciate art unless it has a purpose. You don’t have to explain something only when it’s functional.”

Duane Wristen can be reached at <a href= “mailto:[email protected]”>[email protected]</a>