This year’s Fire Spectacular, on Sunday August 8, was slated to begin around seven in the evening. The Fire Spectacular is a festival event where fire, dance, art, and music are celebrated. The event had a small festival type of atmosphere. Several vendor booths were set up to sell goods related to the event. Drumsum, a local world music style band, was on hand to provide musical entertainment. The event started slow but gained momentum as people started to set up their sitting area in front of the Southside Park Amphitheatre. Once the entertainment began on the amphitheatre stage it indeed became a spectacular event.

Earlier in the day, as I approached the entrance to the event, three people were preparing a lunch meal for themselves while selling tickets. One of the three, Allen Denault, was preparing sandwiches for himself, his sister and her boyfriend. We chatted for a little while and he was telling me about a similar fire event that had taken place in Reno the weekend before. The Reno event drew several thousand spectatorst. As we talked I asked Allen if he lived in Sacramento. “I used to live in Sacramento and had an art studio in the area” he said. He now lives in Placerville and was telling me about an art project that he will be working on. He’s looking to create a sculpture and has enlisted kids from the area, who have signed up, to collaboratie on the project. It’s always good to hear from artists who want to pass on their craft and hopefully one or more of these young students can acquire the same type of passion for the arts as Allen exhibits.

Scheduled demonstrations and workshops took place as the performers got ready for the evening event. A Hoop Dance Workshop was in progress when I first arrived and a musical group, Drumsum, was setting up on another side of the amphitheatre. Several audience members took up some hoops and practiced their dance skills. Looking around the event area it was interesting to observe the way people interacted with each other it seemed like many spectators and performers knew each other. It had a “communal” type of atmosphere, very relaxing and soothing.

Artists scheduled to appear included Rosa del Fuego (performing dances to celebrate fertility and earth power) . Also on hand was the Kundalin Bellydance Troupe, Sonya Castoe, Vikram Tawler, and the lovely Pika doing a fire dance. Controlled Burn performed a longer fire show and Obsidian Butterfly was the final act of the night.

I sat with Sequoia for a few minutes, earlier in the day, to talk about the show. She’s a founder of Obsidian Butterfly who had 11 people in the group for the night. She indicated this was the first year the event was held at Southside Park but it was the 3rd year of the event. Next year’s event will take place on August 13, 2011 which will coincide with a whole moon day. Obsidian Butterfly has shows throughout the year and is available for special appearances such as birthdays, weddings, and other small gatherings. If you’re planning a special event this is the best time of the year to book the group for special personal events. I asked her what she thought of the evening’s event and she went on to say “It’s something unique because it’s like a large collaboration art piece, with all colors coming together and making something interesting each year.” Her passion for these events and how she sees art came across as she described the event. She ended by saying “It just keeps getting better and better”. I did not ask if Sequoia was her real name, I think it is, I based that observation on the fact that I know people whose real names are Autumn Sky and Sunrise. Also noticeable was the front of the Obsidian Butterfly booth where some paintings created by Sequoia were exhibited.

While at the event I was glad to meet and listen to the sage photographic advice of Andy"Playarazzi" Pischalnikoff. I have admired his work and it was a pleasure to meet him. His fire performance photos, including Burning Man are fantastic. As we sat and photographed the event I was able to learn from his photographic techniques and welcomed his advice. To see more of his work log on to his website.

All the performances lived up to the “Spectacular” name. One act after the other was exquisitely performed and at the end the audience could have savored more fire in constant movement entertainment. Sequoia has worked hard over the years as an artist, as an instructor and fire entertainer and the closing Obsedian Butterfly act put all of this together for a true Fire Spectacular. This type of event is for all ages and although fire conjures thoughts of danger it is all controlled and safety is top priority. Log on to Obsidian Butterfly to see upcoming events and learn more about Sequoia and her art. By combining fire, dance, and music Obsidian Butterfly and the other acts were able to create magnificent art on stage.

Photos:

1 - Me, playing with fire (photo by Andy Playarazzi Pischalnikoff

2 to 14 - Fire Spectacular