Call it a virtual showroom for expression. Call it artistic therapy. Call it a revolution. The founder behind Central Elements believes that “every minute you can just recreate yourself.” As such, the concept of Alexx Thompson’s online art collective is just as fluid. Just one common thread ties together the eclectic hodgepodge of Central Elements artists: “pulling from the inner self.”

The motion picture set painter originally created Central Elements with the idea of offering talented, burgeoning artists a platform to showcase their work to an interested audience. Social media sites like MySpace were only just beginning to develop and Thompson recognized a need for a virtual venue of expression because – as the adopted, half white, half black artist puts it – art heals:

“I think a lot of people are pent up,” he said. “A lot of people hold a lot of things inside and … art and personal expression are just enormous healing methodologies when it comes [all] that’s going on in the world… It’s almost like a release valve from a ticking time bomb. It’s a form of revolution as much as throwing a brick through a window.”

Alexx Thompson

Yet, from the beginning, the concept of Central Elements was also more.

“My dream was for it to be a traveling show,” Thompson said. “Not as big as Lollapalooza but like a group of super diverse artists, musicians, poets and people from different backgrounds coming together who would never normally cross paths.”

And Central Elements has put on a show, a fashion show. Fishbone singer Angelo Moore, also known as Dr. Madd Vibe when reciting his poetry in spoken word performances, provided the pulse for models strutting down a catwalk on Hollywood Boulevard. The event showcased clothing featuring artwork designed by Central Elements artists. A progressive step toward what Thompson ultimately envisions “a traveling showcase of art and music and just insane diversity. Big rigs full of artists and musicians all traveling around setting up shop somewhere and putting on a show.”

The evolution of Central Elements has had its highs and lows as Thompson has rolled with the ups and downs of maintaining a disposable income to pour into his project. But that is more than okay with the self-professed Gemini. In fact, it is all part of the concept – constant re-creation, constant shape shifting.

“I never made any money on any of this and I’ve spent thousands on it,” Thompson admitted. “But that never mattered… [what matters is] moving forward and not being stuck in one thing. Always being willing to be reborn tomorrow or next week and be taught something totally new… just progressing artistically from your soul… checking in with yourself and asking ‘who am I today?’ and not being so concrete in this is who I am.”

Thompson – who was featured on “L.A. Ink” when he tattooed the Central Elements logo to his arm – says the art collective is currently a virtual showroom where people can explore the “authentic” artistic expression of specially selected musicians, poets, videographers, painters and more.

“Stuff that just makes you think about things other than what’s happening with Lindsey Lohan and just kind of be aware of stuff that’s affecting us on a human level,” Thompson said.

What role does art play in your life? What technologies do you use to express your craft?