Art in an Ice Palace

Olympe (Olympes Rhodes) is one of my favourite SL photographers. Her images are of a unique sensuality and beauty. I was happy that she committet for a wintry themed exhibtion at Paris METRO Art Gallery.

 My job as curator was to create an evironment in the gallery that supports the works and fits to the wonderful Winter scence with ice pond in front of the building at the nice Paris sims.

At  Christmas Expo: .IlluminationPlant White by Alchemist,  Wire Frame Reindeer  by Dekute Dekore, Cloud Christmas Tree Mesh by Spyralle

Luckily the Christmas  Fair was about to start where I found some icy and dreamy accessory which gave the exhibtion an feeling like the palace of the Snow Queen.

For every exibtion, gallery owner, artist and SL fashion designer Rose (rfb Morpork) creates a gown with a textures of theartist and inspired by the artists works.  For the period of tie of the exhibtion the gown is available as visitors gift at the gallery entrance. I am wearing Paris METRO Couture: Artist Series Olympes Winter, a gown with matching boots. You should not miss that stunning dress.

At Jewelry & Accessory Expo: Rolled Link Necklace by POMPOSITY
At Christmas Expo: Pose Sugar, Rum, Cherry by NANTRA
Mesh Nail Diamond snow by Pulcino,  Hair Nicole by D!va

At Christmas Expo: Crystal Sleigh by United InshCon

The Jewelry & Accessory Expo as well as the Christmas Expo are running the last weekend. You should hurry not to miss the events.

Taxi to Christmas Expo: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Expo%20Entertainment/71/194/23
More here: http://slchristmasexpo.wordpress.com/

Taxi to jewelry & Accessory Expo: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Paris%20Couture/131/24/22
More here: http://sirenproductionsl.com

The exhibtion at Paris METRO Art Gallery is running until January.
Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Paris%20Couture/131/24/22

Creations

Now open at LEA 21 is "CHAOS, KOSMOS" by Giovanna Cerise. In her note card she explains that according to the Greek term "is the immensity not measurable and unlimited of the primitive space (and so the blend and the disorder and the fortuity) in which the kosmos originates, that is the beautiful, good and rational order of the world, which always comes from a messy background." The structures a defined by mathematics or physical formulas.

I guess Giovanna had not the Bible in mind when she created the installation, but I was reminded of this: The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. (Genesis 1:2)

God must not be consiered as an old white bearded as t sitting somewhere in heaven. It can be regearded as the creative force in everyone of us. And here we enjoy the creativity, the Komos of an artist. As so often with Giovanna's installations I could have taken countless photos as the interferences of the prims give new impressions from every angle. Bu this has to be experienced. So come and see for yourself!

Let the compass at the landing spot guide you trough the work.

Taxi:http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA21/122/239/26

The Eternal Hieronymus Bosch

I am wearing:  Murdered  Bride Halloween Costume by Miss Canning, Hair Seagrass - Blood and  Death's Devotion Eyes - Basic 5 - Romance, both by The Stringer Mausoleum

Looks as if life does not want to see me inworld that much.  After some time consuming changes in my RL my computer decided to break. I spent many hours in trials of fixing them, but nothing helped. This is my very first post with the new computer which has neat graphics.

Byrnedarkly Cazalet is one of the interesting gallerists in Second Life as she always brings artists inworld to her Tart gallery, which never would have been seen here otherwise. Her focus is on artists which concentrate on female portraits in different modern styles. Now and then they appear sexist to me, but usually I am amazed. Another interesting topic are her monthly Kamera Club events, which always attract a bunch of interesting people taking photos and sharing them at Flickr.

The Setting for the last event was very special. A tribute to the famous Dutch Renaissance painter  Hieronymus Bosch. His works are timeless scaring and inspire artists for more than 500 years now.

The Bosch-Setting offers a lot of poses and invites the vistors to become part of the artwork. The poses are partly created by the pose-designer team NANTRA especially for this event and only available here.

Open until end of October!
Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Terre%20Des%20Mortes/166/109/50

Gallery Hopping

 "GENTERIO" DE  DORIAN D. AGÜERO

When I walked into the gallery the cows immediately conquered my heart. They are made funny, cute and smart. I hardly could decide which I like most. but when I got the note card, I was even more impressed: "In Cuba the cow has become an icon of prohibitions and legal problems. Its illegal slaughter has led people to meet very long stages of incarceration. From the 1990s, with the arrival of the special period in the country, the crime of theft and illegal slaughter of cattle, was increased more and more until today.

The animal was becoming very important due to fear of her disappearance, and the damage it could cause in the Cuban economy. This importance has been given, has jumped many barriers, reaching to think that the life of one of these animals is more important than a human being.

My interest in these pieces is to give a personality or humanization each of my characters .Because all draw me a target to do my work, which is to increase and exceed this importance has been given to the animal, taking it to the end until you reach the ridiculous, so I pose a new visuality of the cow, and placing them maquillándolas jewelry and others. To turn them into models or characters with great importance within society. People show up and make a way of culture, folklore because of its attributes, or simply fashion." (Dorian Daniel Agüero).

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Leenas%20Retreat/106/160/21

Appunti di Viaggio

It's while that I have an exhibtion by La Baroque. The beautiful images prove her qualities as SL photographer.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Serena%20Imagine/94/19/22


Paintings by Liza Lemondrop

This in an exhibtion of a painter, which is much better than just average. I am sure, that many will like her works. Worth to be seen.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Jeffrey/163/74/22

Rust in The Colder Water

It would be a shame to call Alia Baroque just skin designer. This full avatar is a piece of art, created for "A Clockwork Spiral", which closes after tomorrow. I amd fascinated by the rusty surface, but used my own shape and hair. Many other combinations are possible.

The wonderful sim "A Colder Water"  designed by Jordan Giant is a pefect match. It is formed like an atoll and has a dark mood. The sand is almost black like volcano ash. After a theory by Charles Darwin atolls are the tops of volcanos in the sea.

At Clockwork Spiral: ANNA full avatar by Fallen Gods; other: FRANCINE hair by Lelutka

Taxi to The Colder Water: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Daydreams/168/134/21

Taxi to A Clockwork Spiral (only until Sept. 30): http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cursed/78/128/1001

Two Gallery Openings Today

1 PM SLT: VALO Gallery is back!

That is good news: Instincta and Stem van Helsinki reopen their gallery with and exhibtion by Kikiri Tuquiri ans artist from San Francisco, California. Her works in different techniques and themes are worth to be seen. For the opening Dj Graavi Kaupas will play his set deep house & urban music.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Taygete/33/80/1000


2 PM SLT: LTD Gallery shop reopens with a live act

After a summer break the next Love To Decorate magazine has been released and I collected again 12 art pieces which are be presented in the latest issue and shown in the gallery shop at Aakriti Arts with works by Bryn Oh, Fuschia Nightfire, ohsolemio, Milly Sharple, Firlefanz Roxley, Louly Loon, Mistero Hifeng, Kubbrick and others: http://lovetodecoratesl.com/2014/09/24/ltd-art-scene-septemberoctober-2014/

The opening today features a live music act: Echo Starship is live ambient/ experimental/ electronic music performer using live synths, loops, drum loops, guitar and other gadgets he finds lying around. Every show is a different story and sound hence it's all improvisational music, done with an empty set and recorded over the course of one hour. Similarity with bvdub, Brian Eno, Tangerine Dream, Sigur Ros, Thom Yorke etc...

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Amadora/204/185/22

Gallery Hopping

For a strange reason people often more focus on that what they lose insteast of that what they win. I often hear people complain that so many artists and gallerists left, I never hear compliments of those who are new on the scene. I think for some artists thevirtual techniques are loosing their attraction after a while or RL changes and time is limeted. We have to live with constant changes and I sure you find in theiy post places or artists you never heard about before. Enjoy!

Ini Inaka: Long way down

This photo artist is the second time guest in the Nitroglobus gallery for a good reason. Her images are always of a great sensitivity, mirroring many emotions and make us feel strange and familiar at the same time.  All mesh sculptures shown in the main hall were made by the gallery owner, the artist Nitro Fireguard.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Costa%20Blanco/198/117/770


Pink

I like themed exhibitions. They bring artists together , which habe not much in common and inspire artists to works they probably never have thought of themselves. Gallerists Holterand Wayne asked for pink. Ok, Fuschia Nightfire is more or less a must with the theme, but also the others are worth to be seen: Awesome Fallen, Bianca Xavorin, ByrneDarkley Cazalet, Tomais Ashdene and Ziki Questi

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Holtwaye/82/113/54


Oil versus Glas

For a while I follow the work of Uleria Caramel. Her exhitbition Oil versus Glas in the newly opened Timeless Grace Art Gallery is beautiful and ist is interesting to hear about the techniques she used. I just miss that she includes the  possibilities of virtual art in her work. Of course it is possible to upload RL works to have a platform for a multinational audience, but SL offers artists so much more. And as you see with the oil paintings above. SL never can reflect the surface of an oilpainting. But the show is worth to see as well as the other displayed artists: Aurora Mycano and Kandece Weißbrod.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Shoals%20dAlliez/211/215/1502

Albo Artist 

Every time I see a new artist in Second Life I am happy and hope that he/she gets caught by the virtual art. Here is a new RL artist exhibtiting the first time in Second Life: Albo Artist, painter in real life as well as a teacher of art. Born in France from an Albanian family, he lived and studied in Italy before moving to the US where he continued to study art and education obtaining a Master of Fine Arts in New York. All paintings exhibited by him on SL are his real life paintings.
Let us give him a warm welcome and to wish him a long, productive virtual life :)

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Han%20Loso/204/36/76


Aakriti Arts

Next week the Gallery Shop will come after the closure of the wonderful exhibtion of Lilia Artis and Moeuhane Sandalwood back to live. They had to refill a lot of holes in the walls and let's hope that the stucco is drying on time ;)

In the meantime opened new exhibtions at Aakriti Arts with ChapTer Kronfeld, Creativesam India, Spiral Silverstar and Toysoldier Thor. All are very talented artists but I must admit that I especially fell in love with the anumated fractals by Spiral. But the works of all artists should be seen!

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Amadora/198/189/22

APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE!!!

Amazing how things get together! When "Art in Hats" came to it's end it happened that I got the chance to become curator of The Paris METRO Art Gallery. Owner and designer of Paris METRO is Rose (RFB Morpork), who generously creates a gown inspired by the current artist as visitors gift for every exhibtion. And the next artist to display has been already committed when I started: My dear friend Bianca Xavorin. By watching her first drafts we fast knew what we wanted for the exhibition.

"LAAADIIIEEESS AND GENTLEMENNNNN! AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES. WELCOME TO THE MOST EXTRAVAGANT EXTRAVAGANCY THE HUMAN EYE CAN BEHOLD… WELCOME BIANCA XAVORIN'S MOST SPECTACULAR SHOW ON EARTH: LE CIRQUE DE LA MAGIE NOIRE!!!

THE EXTRAORDINARY GRANDEUR OF THE SPECTACLE – EVERY ACT, EVERY ANIMAL PARADE IN FULL REGALIA FOR THE AUDIENCE AS THE BAND PLAYS. WE SEE CLOWNS, JUGGLERS, ACROBATS, EXOTIC ANIMALS, FORTUNE-TELLERS …IT IS TRULY SPECTACULAR!”

This beautiful dress inspired by Bianca Xavorin's Art is visitors gift. Photo: RFB Morpork

And the actors are you, the audience. Therefore the dress code for today should be clear. Wear anything "circus or magic" in theme.

APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE for the Art of Bianca Xavorin and Gown and Tux by Paris METRO Couture

But first you can relax end enjoy the show! These photos has been taken ass teasers at the rehearsals:

taken by Babypea von Phoenix

~ Elysium Dancers New Special Performance
~ Celebrating Bianca Xavorin's NEW Art Exhibition
~ Today, August 31, 2014 - 3 PM SLT In Paris Couture

The exhibtion is open through September.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Paris%20Couture/126/31/22

Up To The Sky - Updated with Machinima

Betty Tureaud is known for her fun installations in bright colors.

"My Space" offers a flight by rocket and then by UFO (if you are fast enough to catch one of them. The UFO flies throough a typical "Betty-Universe!

At the opening event I had time to explore the build and want to share some nice features. After the first rocket flight I caught  an Ufo that brought me in one flight up to the stage level. But you should have a look for this green square:

The green frame is a TP that brings you from level to level upwards. Each level has different features and is worth to be explored. And the small pyramid has a gift for you on click: The Rocket Hat.

Catlin Tobias had a hard time when she took  this photo with the hat for "Art in Hats". Wear the hat and find out for yourself. And never, I repeat NEVER click the hat ;)

Last but not least don't forget to open the music stream. The tunes has been composed by Ultraviolet Alter especially for this installation.

NicoleX Moonwall took two machinima:


Going - up from NicoleX on Vimeo.



Going - down from NicoleX on Vimeo.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA24/125/118/21

Mixed Reality Show Today: San Francsico and Second Life

Events, especially in the art fields, that cover Second Life and real life are to me always interesting and the only chance to get more attention for and a better reputation of Second Life. Three avatars worked together for a long time to make this project happen. The premiere has been last Wednesday at US time. Today is the only show for Europeans. Since I haven't seen the show yet, I post the press release here:

"August 20 marked the first ever mixed reality ZEROG SkyDance opening at Little Boxed Theater in San Francsico. The virtual SkyDance set was projected on a 14’ x 8’ rear projection screen inside a fully darkened theater space with an incredible sound system playing the original musical score composed for Avant Garden by Swedish composer Juivers Stockholm. Dancing in a "follow spot” in front of the projection screen was Kathleen Moore (of Dance Generators) playing the character “Rose Gardener” the caretaker of the Avant Garden. Before the show, artist and creator DC Spensley (DanCoyote in SL) spoke briefly about the production giving historical context to the 8 years of SkyDance productions and a primer on virtual worlds as context for the event. Most people in the audience were not initiated into virtual worlds and found it very helpful to understand what was going on. The show was very well attended with about 60 people crowded into a theater space designed for 50.

These will be the only two shows possible since DanCoyote’s stay at LEA SOVA (School of Virtual Art) comes to a close on September 1st. The SkyDance “Avant Garden” is presently looking for another sim and discussions are under way to produce another mixed reality showing in San Francisco in late September or early October. Please IM DanCoyote Antonelli in SL or send email to dc@dancoyote.com to be added to the list for this one of a kind event in San Francisco.

Avant Garden is a mixed reality theater performance by Artistic Director and Virtual Worlds Producer DC Spensley. Mixed reality in this sense means a combination of live and virtual reality dance performers interacting by means of a rear projection screen. The virtual team is called the ZERO SkyDancers, an ensemble that has been performing professionally since 2006 at art biennials, festivals and commissions, log in from all over North America using their computers to rehearse and perform together in simulated space. Imagine people controlling puppets over the internet all together on a stage similar to a video game environment. The live dancer (physically present) Kathleen Moore (of Dance Generators) performs in front of the screen allowing her to interact with the virtual performers and stage set.

Avant Garden is a combination of avant grade and walled garden and refers to the challenge presented in offering virtual reality theater to a physical audience. Avant Garden is an experiment in doing exactly that: sharing virtual theater with a live audience."

RL photo from the first event last Wednesday

Avant Garden, a mixed reality performance presented by DC Spensley featuring the ZEROG SkyDancers and Kathleen Moore as “The Gardener”

Original Musical Score by Junivers Stockholm

Technical Director Sasun Steinbeck

Live dance meets virtual reality spectacle for a unique form of experimental theater

AVANT GARDEN today, Saturday August30th at 12.45 PM SLT

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA9/140/34/2539

Odyssey

Giovanna Cerise is an artist that never is easy to cover in a blog post, because she is damn smart and has a hude knowledge. Her art tingles the mind and she is always exploing new techniques of building. her art looks always detailed, fresh and different.

The enchantress Circe turned men to pigs, She fell in love with Odysseus and he stayed a whole year.

I know artists who works just after their feelings and leave the interpretations to the audience. This can be interesting, because art like this can express subconcious moods which may move the audience.

The Sirens sing so beautiful that they drive sailors mad and let them wreck their ships. Odysseus wanted to hear it and let his friends, who had wax in teh ears, fixed him at the mast. 

This is not the kind of works that Giovanna does. She invests a lot of thoughts before she starts building..Today opened "Il Folle Volo" (The Mad Flight). The installation is referring to the Odyssey, an ancient greek saga about the many years lasting travel of a man calles Odysseus back home after a long war he took part. Osyyseus was one of the heroes of my youth and I know hos adeventures in ans out. If you don't know them, you should read Giovannas notecard. The Odyssey inspired artists century after century.

The Mad Flight after Dante's Inferno. He was right seeing Odysseus as an eternal adventurer. 

It was interesting for me to see all the red lines at the works, symbolizing the forces that hold a person in place and which makes it hard to break out. To me Odysseus where always a symbol of freedom, he saw so many interesting places, but sure, he had no others choice besides making the best of it. And isn't that what life is about? I had the impression that Odysseus did. He was not really in hurry to get back home. I guess I should read the Odyssey again.

Not to be missed!

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Land%20of%20Glory/111/164/27

The Space of a Gallery

Many things can be an inspiration for artists. Lilia Artis and Moeuhane Sandalwood are both known for artworks in many styles and with many themes as singles artist or team, but a structure as inspiration is new.

The building, that Aakriti Arts owner Ranadeep allowed me choose when I have been invited to curate the small Gallery Shop, ist very special, with curves and different angles. Not meant as gallery it is a perfect and interesting place to present art.

Lilia and Moe digged holes in the walls and offer new perspectives. Amazing how a small building can become a place to discover. You should not miss to see how they explored the space and changed it.

'in between spaces' is open until September 19th

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Amadora/204/185/22

The Drax Files: Flokers

This Drax Files has been released in June when I was so busy with Art in Hats that I missed to post this:



For an interview I had the chance to get in contact with Flokers Resident and was very impressed. She is autistic and the protected world of Second Life helps her to get in a closer contact with others as she would be able in Real Life. She paints portraits of avatars in SL. For that she has to do a close  look on the portrayed avatars. Something that would be impossible for her in RL. This practise helps her to improve the interaction with others in RL. I learned that an autist does not suffer of autism. She feels ok to be alone.

It is sad that medical science still totally overseas the countless possibilities in virtual worlds to enhance the lifes and diseases of people not only with mental illness. My best friend for example had a bad stroke which left her one side lame and with many more handicaps. At the beginning when she was back she could not do anything. She needed help to rez an object or to dress and often she did not see items which where inworld. I often logged in with her avatar to fix something. But over the months and years it becomes better day by day and I am happy to see that progression. In RL she still sits in a wheel chair but in Second Life her freedom almost back. And I think it is a mental training for her and helps her to improve in RL too.

But back to Flokers: Draxtors machinima explains as well her Synesthesia, a rare ability to see letters and numbers as colors and why Flokers has chosen to be child avatar. Very impressive!

If you are interested in her portraits - here is the LM of her gallery:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Huron/51/234/25

And if you are able to read German, find the interview here at page 85: