Winter Fairytale

In real life Winter often is annoying:  Icy car windows, slippy streets and so on. In Second Life we can enjoy the beauty side of this time of the year.

Each year I am amazed by the beautiful places with winter scenery. On of the nicest is Dawn of Radiance, where I took the photos.  Skating there I felt like a winter fairy.

I am wearing again exclusive items from the upcoming Jewelry & Accessory Expo which opens December 6th. "The Moon and Stars Earring"is created by Maxi Gossamer and the Hair Accessory is gatcha item by Zhen Shou. Snowflake Fairy Dress and Ice Blades: Boudoir (the dress is group gift!).


Taxi to Dawn of Radiance: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lucky%20Paradise/112/74/25

The Drax Files: Rose Borchovski

Draxtor Despres published today his latest Drax Files featuring Rose Borchovski and her real life work and her current installation "The Inevitability of Fate" in Second Life:




Read more about the installation: http://quanlavender.blogspot.de/2012/06/tragedy-of-childhood.html

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cariacou/199/71/171

Jewelry never can be too large...

... this is my version of Wallis Simpson's famous quote: "You never can be too rich or too thin." Therefore I decided to blog the upcoming Jewelry & Accessory Expo. This event has more than 100 exhibitors and the 'Artifact' set (exclusive release for the event) by Eclectica caught my eyes:

In combination with the 'Loving Devotion' dress by Paisley Daisy it reminds of Klimt. The 'Samira Boots' by Luas Urban Style are exclusive items for Jewelry & Accessory Expo too.

The Jewelry & Accessory Expo opens right on time before Christmas December 6th -21st. *wink*

More information: http://sirenproductionsl.com/jewelry-accessory-expo-update/

Winter at Home

A luxury that we don't have in real life is changing the house with the seasons. Since wood looks so warm and cozy I changed to the latest creation of Charlotte Bartlett, the Neva Captain's House. It is low prim and low price and currently available at the current Collabor88 round. I enlarged it a bit for my needs. Due to the name of the house I imagined the home of a captain and hope that you like it:

"Falling For You" Wine Basket: [CIRCA] - Pigeons: Rebeca Bashly - Winter Iced Over Pond: {what next}
Wooden Bench Quilted, Perch,  Tomte: DragansVargh - Snowy Pine: FYN
A.V. Noir Bench: Atelier Visconti - Solis Fire Pit: The Loft
Candy Cane for the Raven:  EBDesign - Clock No10: *chronokit* - Pavement Heavy Snow: Zacca
On Scatter: Buford Steampunk Outfit: DragansVargh , Aviator Boots: Gos - On me: Jenny French: Indyra

Neva Captain's House: Scarlet Creative for Scarlet Apple @ Collabor88
A.V. Noir Double Street Lantern: Atelier Visconti - SnowMan Single Red: *-D&D-*
Sleigh with snowy wood logs: DragansVargh - Fancy Telescope: [DDD]
Winter Snowy Hawthorn, Giant Nordic Pine Snowy: Heart - Romantic Winter Pavillion: MiChiGaNs ShAcK

Wall Mounted Deer Head: ::BB:: - artwork "fade to grey": by Rodriguez Munro - Casanova Book Stack: PATRON
Cat: Raya Jonson - Mayfair Trunk: {what next) - Old Treasure Chest: =Mirage=
Bird Cage with parrot: Aley,  Grizzly Rug Brown: :FANATIK HOME:

shanghai vintga gramophone: *bbqq*- President's Chair, Buffet Table,Thrift Book: encore
Mesh Curtains: =Mirage= -  Monkey: Raya Jonson - Solaris Lamp: MESHWORX - Fancy Telescope: [DDD]

Marrakesh bookcase with book stack: Melino Style - Accent Table - KR: Home
Oceania Couch: Trompe Loeil - Steampunk Map Table, Curtains: =Mirage=

Vintage "Industrial" coffee table set for  two: Aphrodite @ Collabaor88
Cabinet Hutch with Sink: Trompe Loeil - Wooden Chandelier: The Loft - Factory Cabinet: MESHWORX
Art Deco Music Box: Melu Deco - Simple Globe: Kiku's Works - Lantern "SAKURA": * nonino *
Deer Rug: ::BB:: Deer Rug, Cow skin no longer available - zinnia pot: Quark Fallen

Rustic Bed: BD - Book Table: MESHWORX - Mother of Pearl Inlaid Chest: Apple Fall @ Collabor88
medieval wall candles: [noctis] - Vintage Map Prints: Agora - Curtains: Jordan Giant

Washstand and toiletry: Part of "Industrial  Elegance" Massage Table Set @ Collabor88
bennie small chest: Second Spaces -  Kabetogama Floor Lamp: Post - Wooden plate Map: Danyel Blumenthal
Artwork "Cranes at the Waterfall" by Masako: Soraya Till

Taxi to Collabor88: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/8%208/88/188/889

Winter is Here

I love to follow the seasons in Second Life and Winter is here.

Binimist combines skilled landscaping with artworks. A great place to walk,  relax, dance and ice skating. A TP System helps to find all places.

In the photo above you see a Dalek which Bryn Oh yesterday gave in her group along with a second one. They look cute but are actually nasty and fighting until one of them is killed. Great fun! Join the Immersiva group and check the group notes to get them.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mystical%20Falls/14/117/22

Fashion Creators Fight Today Against Violence

According to the United Nations Non. 25th is the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women”.  2Lei in Second Life is a collaborative project between some groups in Second Life, which began in 2010 with the aim to raise awareness and disseminate events related to the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women".Virtual artists, gallery owners, musicians and the cultural figures of Second Life are invited to share the common message of solidarity to the women via their particular Art.For the fourth year in a row, a committee of volunteers has chosen to devote time, energy and ideas together to realize projects and activities to say "No to violence against women in the world."
Art and Fashion are siblings and it is great that fashions designers take part of the 2Lei event which is already tradition in Second Life. I blogged already about the exhibition "Duets in Art" and today the event will be dedicated to art and fashion:

12.30 PM SLT : Second Life Fashion World STAND with 2Lei – Exclusive Art Auction

Violator by Soraya Vaher invited artists and created an installtion with the works. All works are part of a charity auction: The art works include photos, installations and sculptures as well as studio sessions with acclaimed SL photographers.
The exhibit, held in a surreal and avante garde setting, will open to the public on 19 November at the Violator Art Gallery and pre-bids will be accepted for each piece.  The final auction will occur on 23 November at 12:30-1:00 PM SLT.
Proceeds from the auction will go towards ending violence against women via the UN Foundations Fund for Women

Go and bid now!

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Violator%20HQ/204/103/2001


1.30 PM SLT : "Don’t let him destroy you" Photo Contest

Elettra Gausman, owner of Orage Creations invited to a photo contest. The works are shared in a Flickr Group and the best images will be honoured today. As far as I knew the contributors the works mainly came from models and fashion bloggers. This high quality and strength of the works I often miss with "art" photographers.

Taken by BM Serenity. I choose this because I find it a very dangerous trend that the media change violence against women to a part of "normal" sexuality. We should stand up against that! Violence never can be good and normality.

Heartbreaking image by Locuala Madruga. We never should forget that we are role models for our daughters!

Have a look too at this work by Anna Sapphire, which I could not share. Victims often feel ashamed and are not able to share their matyrdom.

Link to Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/_dont_let_him_destroy_you

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Orage%20Creations/226/127/25



2.30PM SLT: "One of a Kind" Fashion Auction

SaliMar Fashion & Art Sim with SoliDea FoliEs owner Mia Tatham organized an auction with unique copies of fashion pieces and accessory. It is running already as silent auction and will end with a live auction at 2,30 PM SLT. Se more details about the pieces in this video by Nicolex Moonwall;


2 Lei We Stand Together from NicoleX on Vimeo.


Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SaliMar/98/123/502

More here: http://secondlife2lei.blogspot.it/

Girl's Heaven

Sadly this winged shoe is not for sale

Currently is running Shoetopia, a shoe fair. A certain part of the sale s is donated to the charity organisation "Soles for Souls". Even if you are one of the few who don't went nuts with shoes, you should have a look at Rebeca Bashly's build in the clouds on 2 sims.

The event ends November 30th. I find it always sad to see beautiful builds disappearing so fast.

official blog: http://slshoetopia.blogspot.ca/
flickr group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/shoetopia/
Soles4Souls website: http://soles4souls.org/

TP to Shoetopia 1: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Shoetopia%201/125/127/496
TP to Shoetopia 2: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Shoetopia%202/127/125/495

Opens Today: "Duets in Art" Against Violence

2Lei in Second Life is a collaborative project between some groups in Second Life, which began in 2010 with the aim to raise awareness and disseminate events related to the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women". Virtual artists, gallery owners, musicians and the cultural figures of Second Life are invited to share the common message of solidarity to the women via their particular Art.  

28 3D artists and photographers have created works drawing inspiration from some Italian songs and the international ad hoc chosen by Viviana Houston, which in duets with 15 singers will play the selected songs. Here are the singers duet with Viviana Houston will present the event.
Altum Neox, Ceci Dover, Cecylia Susanti, Daemon Naidoo, Estrelia Guisse, Giovanni Tomasso, Giulia Elton, Jade75 Ovis, Mario Puglisi, MICHAELJackson Follet, Momi Hallison, Nefer Adder, Pako Ghostaltar, Seleluna Calamity, Tempio Breil.

                                                                           
 The contributing artists are Aloisio Congrejo, anna Anton, Betty Tureaud, Buffy Holfe, Daco Monday, Domitalia Jinx, JadeYu Fhang, La Baroque, Lagu Indigo, Layachi Ihnen, Leo Kottke, Lita Menges, Lookatmy Back, maddomxc Umino, Mathilde Varghon, Melusina Parkin, Minollo Menges, nexuno Thespian, Nino Vichan, Paola Mills, Pol Jarvinen, Sisi Biedermann, Solkide Auer, Tani Thor, Taralyn Gravois, Thea Maiman, ub Yifu and Ultraviolet Alter.

Blog: http://secondlife2lei.blogspot.it/

Art and Music Exhibtion today, Wednesday at  2 PM SLT

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Solaris%20Island/111/60/3601

Taxi to betty Tureaud: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Solaris%20Island/130/45/3737

Taxi to Aloisio Congejo: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Solaris%20Island/130/45/3737

Open until:  December 4th

Second Life Film won Machinima Expo 2013

Machinima (real-time computer graphics filmmaking) is celebrating its 17th birthday this year. It has made possibe in 1996 by the programm LMPC (Little Movie Processing Centre) of the German physicist and Programmer Uwe Girlich for the Game-Engine Quake. That's why they first has been called Quake Movies until the name changed in 1998 to machinima ( machine + cinema). Since 2002 are held international machinima contests. The Machinima Expo is regarded as the the most important machinima event worldwide. It is now in it's 6th year.

Several Second Life artists participated: Catboy Qunhua, Hypatia Pickens, Natascha Randt, Yesikita Coppola, Erythro Asimov, Draxtor Despres, Iono Allen and Spiral Silverstar. The jury nominated 11 works and only one of them has been taken in Second Life. And this film was the winnner:



It is "Narcissus" by Tutsy Navarathna. Congrats Tutsy! His machinma are always of an outstanding level of professionalism. This Work has been filmed as contribution to the UWA contest "Reflections" and made the 2nd place. For me it was one of the best works because the story of Narcissus, who fell in love with his own image in the mirror, covered the theme in a smart way. And upon that, aren't we all somehow in love with our self designed avatars in SL? After a rough look through works in the Machinima Expo which has been created in other virtual worlds I think, nothing can by far match the possibilities and quality of avatar design and movement in Second Life.

Machinima Expo Homepage: http://machinima-expo.com/v3/landing-page/

All participating films: http://machinima-expo.com/v3/expo-6/expo-6-screening-films/

Jury nomitated films: http://machinima-expo.com/v3/expo-6/expo-6l-jury-nominated-films/

Invisible People

That was a busy weekend, I am still sorting out what I have to blog the next days. My highlight was the opening at Lost Town - La Citta Perduta: 'Invisible People' by Rebeca Bashly. I went there several times and always I was distracted by chats with friends that I met there. So maybe my late post is not really news for many. But all others, go and see!

What is it about? Lost Town is very special as gallery location, because Sivi Kilberry and and AKILAE Gant don't squeeze art into 4 walls, they leave the town as playground for the artists. We saw already some interesting installations like Moya, who initiated a revolution or Yooma Mayo, who spanned a circus on top of the roofs.

Rebeca Bashly reflects on the anonymous people who pass by in a town. Do we see and take note of them? Sometimes I don't even remember how the sales staff or the waitress looked, who just helped me and can't find them when I have a question. Rebeca displays the invisible people by mirroring the background on them. That is not only smart, it is fun and challenge for the visitors too.

In Rebeca's words:
This is a story, presented thru camouflage body art,
about all those people that you pass by
on the streets every day and never notice them...

Lets play?

If you Find all invisible people and send me pictures
(sl, flickr or email invisible.people@live.com)
I will give you a sculpture.

There is 21 sculpture to be discovered in city
 part of La Citta Perdutta and only one correct
angle of viewing.

Believe me, it is not easy to find the right angle, especially when you are always wrapped up in chats with friends you meet there. But it is fun. I won't give up :)

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Land%20of%20Glory/36/137/31

The Force of Imagination

Checking old Landmarks I stumbled into Imagination and was amazed. It is a beautiful place to explore and relax.

While I was taking photos I chatted with the owner and creator ARNICAR India. She told me that it took her only 2 days to make the sim design and she is making already plans for a new layout.

She told me that the current design took her only 2 days. That made me tremendously jealous. I admire talented decorators in Second Life as well as real life.  For me it is a long and painful process and I never have the feeling that I am done and it is good. In real life I have the excuse of my two left hands that my mind is seeing it perfect while I actually fight for perfection. But which excuse do I have in SL?

People like ARNICAIR who have the gift to design places and who are so generous to share them with the public make Second Life really rich.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Guana%20Cay/196/166/22

Sneak Preview: Sun to Moon

You are sunlight and I moon
 Joined by the gods of fortune
 Midnight and high noon
 Sharing the sky
 We have been blessed, you and I

The sad and beautiful Musical 'Miss Saigon' inspired Nexuno Thespian to his latest installation. The sun and moon, always watching the other but never can come together. This idea can be found in many mythologies, often as the male and female principle.

This is the song 'Sun And Moon' from the musical:



As always with Nexuno's works the installation is joy- and colourful, a feast for the eyes. It has some interactive parts. Of course it is not that easy to find the way from sun to moon and back...

Nexuno created a short teaser:



I am sure you will enjoy the work.

Opening Saturday, November 16th at 1 PM SLT

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Myhns%20Land/193/122/4002

Second Life Machinima as Part of a Real Life Art Installation

The Dance of Death, Totentanz in German or Dance Macabre in French was a performance which has been invented in the 14th century as an allegory on the fact that death unites all human beings. This idea influenced until today all kinds of art in Europe.

One of the famous examples ist the "Basler Totentanz", a 60m large mural painted around 1440 at a cemetery wall in Basel Switzerland by the church Predigerkirche. The work sadly has been destroyed in 1805. The image above is a part of a watercolour which has been painted as copy of the large mural before demolition.

Peter Greenaway brought the work back to life at the same place for the month of death, November, as media installation with 27 short movies. As I got from the reviews it is a great success, entertaining and spiced with much black humour.

Two Second Life artists contributed machinima filmed in SL: Bryn Oh and Rose Borchovski. Bryn's work is not online yet. Read her blog post here.

And here are Rose's machinimas. She commented: "These Susa Bubble machinima are my contributions for 'The Dance of Death' Installation at Basel. The RL installation is a reinterpretation of the original Totentanz, the famous 15th Century wallpainting in Basel, that reminded people that whether rich or poor, and no matter one's station in life, everyone has to die."

See here a video of the opening with Peter Greenaway's speech:

Peter Greenaway: THE DANCE OF DEATH-DER TANZ MIT DEM TOD, Ein Basler Totentanz
1. to 30. November 2013, daily until 10PM , Predigerkirche, Basel, Switzerland

Website: http://baslertotentanz.ch/

He also wrote a book in German/ English to the installation which is already available at Amazon Germany.

Sneak Preview: The Machine

We have solved all our problems. Thanks to our ingenuity.
We have cured all illnesses. Thanks to our technical savvy.
We have cheated death. Thanks to our code.
We invented the machine.
The only thing left to do:
Keep the machine running that keeps us running.

The monthly installation at LEA6 by  Lilia Artis and Moeuhaine Sandalwood covers an interesting topic. How can mankind become more perfect? What if we all connect our brains to one supermind? That idea is the starting point of the visitors journey through the work:  The creatures have created a perfectly functioning world. They live in the ever present. As a sound community. With joined minds and spirits. Interconnected. Completely. They run the machine – and are run by the machine. They are the machine. The peak of innovation. The end of evolution. Their creation. They are a society without memory. Their history a mere shadow. Because there is no need to remember. Why remember what is of no value. They are perfect.

But exploring the lower levels which has been their home before, one reveals the history which is far from ideal and perfect. My association with companies like Google, Facebook...spying us and cooperating with NSA gave me a goose skin. How far are we from total connection? Who will benefit from it?

Creates a connected world better mankind? I saw today a TV feature about cyber-mobbing and -stalking and how many people are seriously affected by it. and it is known that people are less willing to help victims when they see or assume others around who could help too. The anonymity in groups or online seem to bring out more the worse sides of many. The better world was always a wish so far and maybe at all times the people where thinking that they are more far from it as ever.

The installation is huge and thought provoking. I liked to explore. I would have wished a bit more interactive parts. The work is more like a huge 3D painting. A maze, well done and worth to be seen. If that is our future, is there any?

Opening Sunday, November 10 at 1 PM SLT

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA6/205/61/278

Autumn at Home

I got some great review items that I want to share with you. Aphrodite takes part of the current Collabor88 round, which opened yesterday. The theme is industrial design and I had fun to try the items.

The Vintage "Industrial Coffee Table for two is beautiful and has as all products of Aphrodite a big menu of poses plus tea and breakfast to offer. This version has couple animations too. There is another version with single chairs available. I like the set indoor as well as outdoor.

The "Industrial" Couple Living Room Set is more meant for Lofts but as you see here does it look great in a house too. All items you see here are part of the package.

Atelier Visconti released the A.V. Fountain Trio. It unites 3 pathways, is highly detailed and has nice single and couple animations as usually.

I had the L2 STUDIO South Austin House in my inventory and I think it is a nice match to the other items.

Taxi to Collabor88: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/8%208/39/196/1089
Taxi to Atelier Visconti: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Coraline/157/107/1004
Taxi to L2: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Whispering%20Wind/162/71/24

RL Contest Participation Filmed in Second Life

All things in life are embedded in a complex structure of causes, interactions and results. There has been many approaches to visualize them mostly in 2D. CO3DM is a new user interface for 3D solutions. The name CO3DM derives from CulturalOrganic3D Mesh, which means that the 3D environment is not a fixed structure, but is built up from data entities (media, text, blogs, chats…) relations that are added to and within these entities.



Marx Catteneo (Marc Cuppens in RL)  is photographer, video- and machinma maker. He joined the team and produced this presentation mainly in Second Life.

The Creative Business Cup is the world championship for creative entrepreneurs. Each participating country runs a business concept contest for entrepreneurs within the creative industries and sends the winning entrepreneur/team to the international final in November in Copenhagen, Denmark. The CO3DM project is with the presentation movie national winner of the Netherlands.

Read more here:
CO3DM: http://www.co3dm.com/
Marc Cuppens: http://www.marccuppens.nl/
Creative Business Cup: http://www.creativebusinesscup.com/nationalwinners

Good luck for the project!

A Horror Game

Although SL is not a game, we can play here too.Today I played "The Well", a horror game created by Loki Eliot featuring Draxtor Despres' son Kaleo.

Starting Point of the game, the Slender Avatar is one of the final prizes

After paying 100 Linden for a HUD you jump into a well to save the soul of a boy by passing some horrible situations. If you are able to have Advanced lighting and shadows enabled, the game has some nice optical features.

"The Well" will not take too much f your time, even I was done after 2 hours or so. And the prizes for finalizing are really cool. A ghost shoulder pet, the same ghost as avatar and the large slender avatar.

Another final prize: The shoulder pet

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Escapades/224/236/3002