On Fire.

Twirling Fire Batons

As in, on the subject of fire.  Like a Rousseau-ean essay.  But also the pun hearkening back to the classic NBA jam.  Marv Albert shouted it, and your hightops turned fluorescent.  Unlimited turbo, baby.   

Actually, that's all off topic.  My friend Dan spins fire, aka Poi.  You may have seen something like this at a fair, or a performing arts festival, or a juggling/magic performance.  Basically, the spinner has a ball made of kevlar attached to a handle with a chain.  The ball is soaked in fuel, then lit on fire.  It will produce a bright orange flame and burn for several minutes.  During this time, the spinner whips, twirls, spins and throws the device, producing trails of flame that are both beautiful and thrilling to the point of frightening.  

Fire staff producing an unusually rectangular trail.  

About 18 months ago, Dan invited me over to watch and photograph him spin.  It was really a fun afternoon and evening.  It was early winter, and there was a little snow on the ground with grass poking through it.  We took some pictures in the late afternoon sun, and then more in the early evening darkness.  I experimented  with different exposure and zoom settings, and Dan experimented with different costumes, masks, and fire apparatuses.  It was an evening of experimentation.  

More recently, Dan became involved with an organization called the Providence Fire Tribe, which then spun itself (pun intended) into the Providence Spinjam.  Various performance artists would assemble once per week to spin Poi (balls of fire on chains), Snakes (ropes of fire on chains, Dan's specialty), Darts (a single ball of fire on a long cord), Staves (a staff with fire at both ends), Swords (Flaming Swords, that is!), and Hoops (picture a hula-hoop outfitted with a number of flaming marshmallows, ever popular amongst the ladies).  

We all have hoop dreams.  

The Spinjam now takes place in a warehouse near Roger Williams park, in its third semi-permanent location (special shout out to TightCrew for providing the space).  So, how does one describe a group of people who get together to light things on fire and twirl them about?  Well, I would have to start by illustrating it as an artists community.  These are individuals who above all else are dedicated to their art.  I infer that they have a strong dedication to the development of the aesthetic and skill of spinning fire.  This is, at its core, a type of movement-improvisation or perhaps a dance with at most a loose structure.  Second to this, there is a sort of hedonism.  I use this word in the most complimentary of fashions, because I am describing people who live to experience life and all it has to offer to its very depth and dregs.  So essentially, a dedicated fire spinner is one who lives to turn his/her body into a work of art, for at least a few bright and shining moments every week.  

Now, I shy away from calling myself a capital-A "Artist."  I had an oil-painting professor in college who said that he would not call himself an artists.  On his best days, he did something he would call "painting," but until he could look back on his life and confidently say that he had created something that added to the art of painting, he was not prepared to call himself an artist.  I found this remarkable admirable and humble.  It also allows one to experiment freely and objectively without the pressure of grand evaluation.  (Conversely, a classmate's watercolor professor told her, "Call yourself and artist!  If you don't, who will?!")

However, being welcomed, as someone who on his best day does something he might call "photography," into community of artists is remarkably nurturing for the craft.  Essentially, I have subjects and an audience who love to see the work, and unabashedly offer rave reviews in ways that are both affectionate and genuine. At worst, it's an ego-boost, and at best, an inspiration.  

Poi.  

This post is getting a little long.  In the future I'll write another one with some more technical details about composing and exposing fire shot.  In the meantime, please enjoy the photos in the galleries on my website Poi/Fire.