by Emily Martin.

For those who do not know junior Matt Wyles as a personal friend, they may know him as something else: street performer.

He began practicing unique performance arts about three months ago. Inspired by his friend, now something of a “rival,” Wyles decided to take up performing.

“He’s really good at everything,” Wyles said, in reference to the arts, “and I want to be even better. And it looks awesome.”

Poi, one of Wyles’ many acts, is a form of juggling that involves swinging tethered weights in a variety of geometric and rhythmical patterns. Wyles plans to move on to the highly visually impactive “fire poi” only after becoming very well-acquainted with the original, fireless variety, so as not to damage his hair.

Wyles can also be found performing a type of gyroscopic juggling with his “devil sticks,” a set of two control sticks and a baton. This, too, can be performed with an interesting accent of fire. The simple secrets of weight and inertia behind these sticks create an illusion of broken laws physics, never failing to draw in curiosity and intrigue.

In the future, Wyles hopes to become a street performer and fire spinner anywhere and everywhere his feet take him. But for now, he will keep practicing.