Crux connects community with map of minds

Originally published Feb. 27, 2008 in The Orion.
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Brian Spitzer and Owen Bettis have never met, but there is a great possibility their lives have crossed paths at one point.

Spitzer is a senior psychology and child development major from San Jose, and Bettis is from Bellingham, Wash., and graduated last year with a bachelor's degree in physical and environmental geography.

It may seem they have little in common, but they will both walk into Crux Artist Collective and try to find a connection between them as well as the entire community.

The Chico Mind Map is a social experiment being conducted from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Crux.

The experiment will map the awareness of the diverse community and try to show every individual is connected through experiences and thought processes, said Ty Gorton, Crux co-director.

The walls of the gallery will be covered with butcher paper for two days, Gorton said. Gallery members, along with their friends and family, will start the experiment by making a dot on the paper and writing down a thought or life experience that reflects their self or world awareness.

From there, other participants will be given a black marker and contribute by finding an existing point and adding a connecting thought, Gorton said. Participants can make up to 20 points.

Participants will be given few guidelines, but only black markers can be used, Gorton said. The goal is not necessarily to make art, but to have as many people participate as possible. By using black markers everyone can participate on the same basic level.

"We're not staying in our small, safe group of people we know will participate," he said.

Spitzer has never contributed to art at Crux but is excited the mind map is open to everyone in the community, he said. He has thought about his possible contributions and thinks he will be able to connect to others' childhood memories.

"I want to write messages about what I feel makes my life meaningful, with morals and values," he said.

Bettis is unsure about the thoughts he will share, he said. He has performed as part of the DJ duo, Anamnesis, for Crux events and is excited to see the connections among community members.

"I am just going to wait and be inspired," he said. "Or I will write about electronic music with the hope that people will realize how much they like it, even though they don't know it yet."

Gallery members hope people will help spread the word about the event and encourage friends and organizations to contribute, Gorton said. Members will print invitations and hand them out at various locations. They expect hundreds of people to attend.

"Anyone we see, we'll hand them an invitation," he said.

Gorton asked Chico State and Butte College professors for help, he said.

Religious studies professor Sarah Pike plans to participate in the event and is offering her students extra credit for participating, she said.

"So much in our society focuses on what separates us from each other," Pike said. "I appreciate the mind map's focus on what connects us."

Gorton wants the event to motivate people to be more inclusive, he said. Events at the gallery have been targeted at certain groups of people, but he wants the mind map to show all-inclusive events can be positive.

Bettis also hopes people will get a strong sense of unity, he said.

"I really hope a lot of people who would not usually go to the Crux will go to this event so that they can see that they are involved and connected whether they want to be or not," Bettis said.

The mapped Chico mind will come to life March 6 at a reception, Gorton said. The finished sheets of paper will be hung in rows from the ceiling. Pulsing lights and strange, atmospheric sounds will move around the sheets to add a sense of claustrophobia and make people feel like they are inside the human mind.