Halloween: Trick or Treat?

Havenhollow looks like many American towns, just maybe a bit darker illuminated.

With my basket I walked from door to door and received treats or tricks. At the end of the street at the park entrance luckily the friendly man gave me a light...

...and the adventure started.

Have fun! If you find the final goal, some gifts are waiting.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Purgatory/146/238/110

Are you ready for Halloween?

...that asked me today an English friend. All Anglophones might be surprised now, but your culture is not everywhere. In Germany Halloween has no tradition, although it changed a bit in the last 2 decades due to  influence of American soaps and movies.

Pumpkin Cider Tray, Autumn Centerpiece with Autumn Leaves,  "Autumn Dessert" Crispy Pumpkin Ice, Frozen Pumkin Cheesecake, all items found at Aphrodite

But of course, I like seasonal decoration too and nobody can escape the joy of Halloween in Second Life. Isn't the table decoration nice?

Heart Homes Autumn porch set for outdoor by Aphrodite

The Heart Autumn porch set with fireplace in the center is a perfect place to sit with friends in Autumn. Enjoying the beautiful set I got a Halloween subscriber gift of G Field: A cute dress with cat ears and tail.

*GF* 2013 Halloween Cat Dress, subscribe to get the gift

Yes, I am ready for Halloween :)

Gallery Hopping

Yesterday opened two exhibitions which caught my eyes:

"a simple tour into complexity" by Gem Preiz is a tour into the tiniest pixels of a fractal artwork, celebrating the Principle of Correspondence. I asked him about it and he answered: " I didn't know this principle by itself.  I guess this idea is present under different names in several philosophical theories or even in some sciences approaches.I am educated in science and now we know that the Universe is ruled by very few physical laws, and made of a very limited number of particles. So at any complexity level, everything identical is at work and probably also in the behavior of extremely complex individual, such as the ones we are, from a biological point of view. I have been very much interested by Henri Laborit works to explain how our emotions and behaviors are driven by chemical reactions in our body. Yes ... I am sensitive at this principle and in a sense and to a certain extent, I think their is a relation with my installation."

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Timamoon%20Arts/94/100/2001

Kicca Igaly leaves in her installation "At World's End....." the meaning to the visitors. What we see is a man and a womwn at two sides of a water separated by thick fog that they almost can't see the other. He is waiting for a message for a message in a bottle from her. To me a touching allegory of long distance or virtual relationships.

Kicca:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Stellar/193/131/3165

Here another exhibition about unfulfilled desire. Giovanna Cerise about her installation: "SAUDADE is the longing for something beautiful that is finished. The two dancers are caught in the moment of their final tango. One couple that multiplies and that is isolated. The pleasure and sadness multiply endlessly, until the crashing." The bond stays strong.

"Saudade" by Giovanna Cerise open Nov. 1st at 1,30 PM SLT

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Helvellyn/80/245/38
The installation is in the 2nd floor.

Dream of India

The sim Shekhawati is named after a region in India with the same name. It is famous for the rich paintings especially at Havelis, private mansions. If you are interested in seeing more of Shekhawati, I found here a free eBook with 51 pages full of images and information. All textures and prefabs used inworld are from our prefab stores and created after RL model. They make the special spirit of this place in Second Life, which is dedicated to art and explorers. Come and take a tour!

The bridal and groom outfits are from  Glitterati by Sapphire. Of course the fun is only perfect with the right outfit. The new India Bazaar offers beautiful clothes which make the dream of an Indian fairytale true.

The collumns of the dance hall are creatd in mesh after RL and are available in the prefab store. My outfit is Ajala by Lyrical Bizarre.

...as well as the collumns for the Buddha temple. I am wearing a Kameez plus pants and scarf by Apsara.

Flying Carpet

A rest in the Elephant Lounge. My dress is Charu Gold by Lyrical Bizarre.

Playing Rebab in the Palace
My outfit is Charu in mauve by Lyrical Bizarre

For Bellydance click the pink ball
My skirt: Bohemian Gipsy

Have a look at the India Bazaar and check the fashion, jewelry, decoration, textures and images.

This beautiful outfit is my own mix of Charu Red and Ajala by Lyrical Bizarre. Since all items of Lyrical Bizarre are full perm and come with textures, you can create your own style.

The shoulder elephant is part of a Freebie only available in the India Bazaar

All photos taken at Shekhawati, all clothes available in the India Bazaar:
Taxi: sadly gone

Workshop Today: Create Your Own Coded Movie

One of the many highlights at the Mixed Pixels exhibition at Art India Gallery is the Coded Movies installations by Ataro Asbrink. On the relatively small space Ataro installed several places to sit and to enjoy the scripted movies.

But this technique can be used too to create an overview over an exhibtion or a sim.

Ataro has created HUD's and a note card which allows everyone easily to create own Coded Movies. Today at 2 PM SLT he will explain is a workshop how to apply.

Screenshot

More about Coded Movies:
Coded movies are to be seen while sitting on a prim or wearing a HUD, where a camera script is running. 
You see it on your monitor. 

Coded Movies are movies that are written line by line with a programming language. 
Normally individual scenes of a Machinima are grabbed with Fraps and then joined together with a video editor, 
scene by scene. With Coded Movies it is different. 
You write your screenplay, build in SL all the required elements including the sounds 
and then you code scene by scene with LSL (Linden Scripting Language). 
It looks like this:

    Cameraview(<70, 76, 20>,<71, 78, 20> ); // Regional coordinates
    llSleep(6.0); // This means that you can see the scene for 6 seconds
    and so on, as much views you want.

Subsequently, the film is immediately ready for showing in SL or for streaming on/to a website in RL.

The main difference to normal films is that a coded movie has no individual frames anymore, 
but consists of direct views into SL reality.  While the movie runs, you can even take control of the camera and have a look around on the set; with pressing ESC you return to the current movie. The movie consists of individual elements, each of which can be changed. Furniture, time of day, sky, weather, costumes, everything on the set can be changed at any time, without having to change the programming code.

Screenshot

Coded Movie Workshop today, Sunday at 2 PM SLT

More information here: http://codedmovieworkshop.blogspot.de/p/blog-page_9083.html
Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Shekhawati/240/39/34

I am a Berliner now - Invitation to Housewarming + Show

Living at the countryside is nice, but can be a bit boring in wintertime. Therefore we decided to have a mansard apartment in Berlin too. It was not easy to furnish with limited possibilities. Our landlord does not allow more than 35 prims for our small place under the roof.

Friedrichstrasse 7, next to the Volksbad

The apartment has no bathroom, just a toilet at the stairwell. But next to the house is the Volksbad, where we always can take a bath or a shower.

But we wanted to invite all our friends to a housewarming Party at Saturday, October 26th . Although it is small, the living room furniture are dernier cri: Art Deco. Shocking! I will place my cool gramophone with songs from Shanghai and serve drinks. I hope our landlord will not fire us right away. But we invite our neighbors too.

Eldorado

We should be then in the right mood for Berlin's most scandalous night club, the Eldorado to see a show of the Flapperettes. Let's have a wild party!

It could become late, therefore you might prefer to book a hotel for that night. Right around the corner is the famous Hotel Adlon to the left of the Brandenburger Tor. Book an exquisite room there for just a night or longer. That allows you too to rez a car. We already had a luxurious dinner there.

Adlon Dinner

Here some information about Berlin's nightlife:









How to get to my apartment: The address is Friedrichstrasse 7D, right under the roof. Arriving at the Hauptbahnhof (train station for those who come from foreign countries) you hop into the tram. The next stop is Friedrichstrasse/Volksbad right in front of our house. Or you just follow the rails to left once you left the Hauptbahnhof. The Eldorado ist not far either, we will walk there later.

Tram

Housewarming Party: 1 PM SLT
Flapperettes Show:    2 PM SLT

Almost sunrise in Berlin

Important notes: Please have in mind that Berlin1920 is a RP sim. That means you have to downsize your avatar to realistic size and to wear appropriate clothes. Freebies are provided at the landing spot or you can go shopping at the shopping area in front of the RP sim. Inappropriate avatars will be removed.
If you feel you would need some help regarding the outfit, please feel free to contact me. Please have in mind too that flying and doubleclick is not possible. You have to walk into the train station and to sit in the train to get into the RP area.

I know, some preparation is needed, but you will be repaid with a special experience of the Roaring 20s! We are waiting for you!

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/1920s%20Berlin/248/228/751

Opens Today: The Gaia Project

Collaborative art projects usually bring out the best of any artist, T think partly because they help and inspire the others and simpl because nobody wants to contribute a weak work and such is the case in the Gaia Theory Project which opens today. Everyone did his best and every work is worth a closer look. Already a week ago the artist group invited me for a preview and after reopening of the Art India Gallery, opening of Dream of India , opening of BURN2, Floating Islands and others and not to forget the German culture event "Festival of Love", I yesterday took a deep breath and did nothing productive in SL. So I hope the artists will understand that I postponed the post to last minute. I think this installation deserves a proper appreciation and that simply takes time to write.

Nino Vichan shows the results of natural catastrophies in videos

The GAIA Theory Project brings together 11 artists from 7 countries spanning Asia, Europe and North America: Aloisio Congrejo, Tani Thor, Nino Vichan., Cayenne Avon, Melusina Parkin, Chinon Beaumont, Betty Tureaud, Daco Monday, Gem Preiz, comet Morigi and Kicca Igaly.

comet Morigi: Wind Floaters

It is based on the Gaia Theory of Lovelock and Margulis: The Gaia hypothesis, also known as Gaia theory or Gaia principle, proposes that organisms interact with their inorganic surroundings on Earth to form a self-regulating, complex system that contributes to maintaining the conditions for life on the planet. Topics of interest include how the biosphere and the evolution of life forms affect the stability of global temperature, ocean salinity, oxygen in the atmosphere and other environmental variables that affect the habitability of Earth. The hypothesis was formulated by the scientist James Lovelock and co-developed by the microbiologist Lynn Margulis in the 1970s, here a link.

Chinon Beaumont: Mandala

The Gaia Theory Project to me is a smart try of Science to cover the complexity of life, which scientists work (inspecting and understanding every single case with a defined methodology) never can fully  investigate. Gaia is nothing else than the mystical, huge force that is behind, no gives all life and is regarded many religions worldwide as goddess: Maria, Tara, Kuan Yin, Maa Durga... For science it was not the first time to go back to old religions, as for example physicians who studied Buddhism about 100 years ago. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_hypothesis religions Those who still believe in the god Science should slowly understand that just believing in things that can be proved by scientists methods is a religion too! And this religion is responsible for most of the huge catastrophes worldwide in the last 50 years.

Daco Monday - EVOLUZIONE, PROGRESSO?
A "quote" of Futurism is a smart choice, as the believe in a better  future started with it

But back to the project: What I like is that every artist enlightens another facet of the complex theme, as for example Kicca Igaly, who reminds us with her work of the origin of all life in earth in the water. My limited photographic skills did not allow me an attractive photo. At the landing spot you should take the information. In the folder you find a HUD, created by Betty Tureaud. Once worn, you just have to click an artist's name and a vehicle to hop in will rez.

Alosio Congrejo - Amelioration?

Tani Thor

The photo installation of Thani Thor and especially Melusina Parkin is excellent!

You can click the symbol at Melusina's photos and they change:

Another highlight is Betty Tureaud's installation "Gaia from Chaos". A round way leads through gates which give information in local chat.

Don't miss to walk into the center of installation:

Gaia, the mother of all life

More about the artists and works here: http://lindenarts.blogspot.de/2013/10/grand-opening-gaia-theory-project.html

To fully appreciate the huge work, make sure to have sound an media enabled, wear the HUD not to miss anything and take time to watch and read. Highly recommended!

Opening today at 1,30 PM SLT
Concert with Ultraviolet Alter at 2,30 PM SLT

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA13/128/128/21

Eupalinos' Islands

This morning Eupalinos Ugajin invited me for a preview to his latest installation "Moving Islands". It is actually a collaborative work, curated by him.

In font Eupalinos Ugajin wearing a part of Scottius Polkes installation as avatar

And he did well as usually. He invited: Alpha Auer, Artistide Despres , Aston Leisen , CapCat Ragu, Cica Ghost ,Cutea Benelli ,Derek Michelson, Haveit Neox, Kake Broek, Kikas Babenco, Livio Korobase, Maclane Mills, Marmaduke Arado, Maya Paris, Meilo Minotaur, Merlino Mayo, Oberon Onmura, Ole Etzel, Pallina60 Loon/Samira Tammas, Scottius Polke, Simotron Aquila, Takio Ra and Uan Ceriaptrix.

Dancing on Cica Ghost's raft

The installation is not finished yet. Everyone who organized a collaborative event knows, how much work and obstacles is behind. But there is already more than enough to see that he decided to "soft open" the show.

Alpha Auer (Taken by Eupalinos)

The landing area is created by Scottius Polke. Some visitors gifts will be placed soon. You can partly walk and fly around and stand or hop on the islands. Some have funny animations and all are full of nice and crazy ideas. Have a closer look at the eggs at Oberon's raft. Eupalinos: "The raft by Oberon fires eggs that can trigger things on the other rafts." Very interesting is the moving of the rafts: " Most of the rafts are moving at random. They detect each other so as not to "mix". This script was written by Derek Michelson."

Cutea Benelli : Are you Jelly? (Taken by Eupalinos)
A work of her can be found at Mixed Pixels too

You will fall under water. Good! Because 3 artists placed works there. Pallina's fishes "bubbled me up". Too cute! Eupalinos commented: "Fly and then send you in a bubble, stand and they fight you, sit on the ground and hmm...they want to marry you." Try for yourself!

Eupalinos Ugajin: Yes, We Scan (taken by him)

Listen to the music stream too. Eupalinos has handpicked 40 of his favorite pieces. Although the installation sounds are worth to be appreciated too.

Haveit Neox: Mythic Raft (taken by Eupalinos Ugajin)

Congratulations to Eupalinos and all the other artists! You might want to come back to see more addings.

More about the artists here: http://lindenarts.blogspot.de/2013/10/now-open-moving-islands.html

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/26/18/46

BURN2 Now Open!

Due to the Festival of Love I rarely had time to pre-visit BURN2 and to blog it. The event seems to shrink every year, but I must admit that there are quite e few neat builds. So instead of long words here some photos:

The Man after RL model

Carmsie Melodie

Giovanna Cerise

Jedda Zenovka

Kristali Rabeni

Penelope Parx

sarge 72

Ub Yifu

Ultraviolet Alter

delicieux

I saw much more interesting installations, but I am afraid you have to look for yourself :)

Here a link to the list and LM of the contributing artists: http://www.burn2.org/
You find there more information as the calendar of the many events,

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Burning%20Man-%20Deep%20Hole/224/92/25