One may not realize the network of hula hoopers, jugglers and other flow artists who fill the town and work to perfect their art forms.
The Kinetic Arts Academy is working to change that this week.
The first annual FlowMotion Chiller, a festival celebrating the kinetic arts both in Bloomington and nationwide, will begin ?6 p.m. Thursday.
The main goal of FlowMotion is to spread awareness of the art forms that fall under the umbrella of flow arts, said Paula Chambers, one of the co-founders of the Kinetic Arts Academy.
“Our mission is to educate the greater community on the flow and movement arts,” Chambers said.
Scott Myers, another co-founder, elaborated upon those goals.
“Building the awareness of these arts in Bloomington is the immediate goal of the FlowMotion Chiller,” Myers said. “We wanted to host an event in town that invited the best flow artists in the area to spread the fun and challenge of motion and play to our ?own city.“
From Thursday until Sunday, attendees can take their pick of workshops from various kinetic art ?instructors.
The workshop instructors are from around the Midwest and even as far ?as Texas.
Along with the workshops, guests can enjoy art exhibits as part of the First Friday gallery walk.
The event will as have two documentary screenings on the Flow Arts as well as a variety show showcase on Saturday.
Myers said he looks forward to the variety show showcase.
“It is an opportunity for the instructors who are teaching all weekend to perform for the Bloomington public and show just how exciting the flow arts are,” Myers said. “The lineup includes some of the most respected artists and teachers in the flow arts, and it’s a treat to have them all converging upon Bloomington in a single weekend.”
Chambers said people should take advantage of the opportunity to learn from and watch some of the most skilled flow arts instructors from around the country.
“Bloomington should be prepared for really top-notch people coming,” Chambers said. “Our theme is ‘Come play with us,’ and we think it’s going to be a really amazing ?experience.”
The theme ‘Come play with us’ is one that Chambers said she takes very ?seriously.
“Play is defined as an activity where the ?participant is completely engaged where the process outweighs the outcome,” Chambers said. “We feel that play really enhances people’s quality of life.”
Chambers said that since she began hooping, the flow community has become an important part of her life.
“I’ve been doing the flow arts in Bloomington since 2009,” Chambers said. “I’ve always done theater and dance and hula hooping, and I’ve meet an amazing community ?of people.”
Stephanie Poppe, the other co-founder of the Kinetic Arts Academy, said her first flow experience during her stressful graduate school days inspired her to spread her wings and start practicing in ?flow art.
“I was working too much and my friends were like, ‘There’s this festival happening, and you’re so close, you need to go,’” Poppe said. “I didn’t know about this whole culture at all and we went and I was just hooked from then on. Everyone was so willing to share their knowledge. Someone gave me my first hula hoop there.”
Poppe said the kinetic arts brought out a part of her she never knew about and that she is grateful for its role in her life.
“To me, it means family, it means acceptance, it means expression through movement and freedom,” Poppe said. “I was in a really deep rut and this art form lifted me out of it. That’s a common story for a lot of people.”
With such passionate people by her side, Chambers said she feels confident they have planned a great event.
“We really are a team and we really work together to bring all our skills into play,” Chambers said. “That’s the whole idea, it’s a community venture. It involves everyone, no one person is at the head or in charge. Scott, Poppe and I try to guide the flow but we are a very open to new people coming in ?and helping.”
Scott Myers said everyone is welcome to take part and learn more about these up-and-coming ?art forms.
“The FlowMotion Chiller workshops are a unique opportunity to exercise both your mind and your body while learning with some of the best instructors and performers in the Midwest as well as the country,” Myers said. “We are committed to providing a comfortable, safe, and friendly environment to students of all levels of skill including those trying flow arts out for the first time.”
For information on how to purchase passes, go to flowmotionfest.com.
