2008 Woodie Awards
Lights, Camera, TION
Crux volunteers hope to enhance venue by showcasing wider variety of talent
By: Shea Cardinalli
Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: Entertainment
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When: Nov. 8
Where: 2280 Ivy St.
Chico has seen many venues and art factions come and go, but until now there hasn't been a place for all types of artistic creativity to convene under one roof.
For close to five years, Crux Artist Collective has served as a repository for musicians and artists to showcase their talents in an organic and underground manner. Fueled by a passion for artistic creativity, volunteers have engaged in a project to enhance this vision.
The opening of a new four-story venue at 2280 Ivy St. will mark the expansion of the state of mind behind Crux, which aims to incorporate many aspects of art into one location, said Ty Gorton, who provides operational oversight for the new venue. Until now, many artistic facets in Chico have been scattered at various locales downtown and elsewhere.
The new venue, Tion - pronounced "shun" - aims to be an artist's best friend by providing rentable spaces to create, house and showcase works of art, Gorton said.
The studios will be used for physical art and graphic design, and there will even be a full-fledged film room, he said.
The venue's name is a derivative of words that exemplify what the new venue will incorporate, such as production, and evolution, according to a Crux press release.
Sean Cummins, Crux booking agent and promoter, described the Crux as having always been an evolutionary creature. He will continue his duties as booking agent for live music at Tion. The grand opening is slated for Nov. 8, and will have a capacity of about 200 people.
"The Crux was never really a business - something that made it hard to stay afloat without a lot of income to rely on," Cummins said.
Though it will continue to host live music, Tion will limit live shows to three or fewer a month, Gorton said. The idea is to focus on quality rather than quantity and utilize a slew of multimedia capabilities to create the mood and add emphasis to events.
When other productions are taking place, resources such as lighting equipment, artwork, video projectors and space will all work to enhance the events, Gorton said. Staples of Crux, such as spoken word, fashion exhibits and anything else art-related, will benefit greatly by having such resources available.
"We want people to know from the moment they walk in the door that the atmosphere has been designed from the ground up," Gorton said.
Part of the focus for Tion is to accommodate the growing film movement in Chico with space and equipment that has otherwise been scarce or unavailable, Gorton said.
The grand opening will incorporate all aspects of what Tion will be implementing in one art-infused festival.
Clothing designer Chikoko will also showcase its abstract clothing line with garments so colorful and polarizing they stand in a league of their own, boldly fusing art and women's fashion.
Techno and break beat outfit Anamnesis, which has performed in the past at Crux, will perform opening day. The two-man DJ group is looking forward to being among the first acts to grace the new venue.
"Energy (from the Crux) is really just being moved around a little bit and some new ideas and ventures will be appearing," said Anamnesis member Billy Hopkins.
Shea Cardinalli can be reached at
scardinalli@theorion.com
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