As yet another year starts drawing to a close, heralded in the northern hemisphere by autumn’s fade into winter and a time when thoughts inevitably turn to snow-covered landscapes, frosted streets, heavy coats and foggy breath, I decided to spend a little time drinking in the autumnal – or fall, if you must – beauty brought forth by nature by visiting two similarly-themed art presentations currently in progress.
The first is that of Willow (Cutewillow Carlberg), entitled Fall Splendour, which opened at the Monocle Man Gallery on November 10th. I’ve encountered Willow’s art at various ensemble exhibitions over the years, but this is the first time I’ve seen her landscapes offered as an individual exhibition.
Spread across the two floors of the gallery’s main hall, as well as in the foyer and side room, these are pieces captured from within Second Life to provide images of autumn’s many faces, from golden-hues fields and tries crowned with leaves turning to reds, browns, oranges and yellows, to overcast days when drizzling rain catches us unaware; or in which sunlight plays through rolling cloud caught on the wind to fall as fingers of light to touch castle and tower, and bursts of shadow dim the land, causing it to brood moodily until sunlight returns.
In places seemingly untouched by post-processing, save for cropping and framing, whilst in others looking as if the lightest touch from tools external to Second Life has been felt, Fall Splendour is an engaging series of images perfectly encapsulating the many shades of autumn’s passing.
At BOSL’s Waterfront Café Art Gallery, meanwhile, is a smaller but equally engaging exhibition by Reign Congrejo Capalini (Reign Congrejo). Entitled Falling into Love, and with each of the eight pieces appended With Fall, this is a simply exquisite series of images which appear to be from both Second Life and the physical world which also capture some of the many faces of autumn in all of its rich, vibrant colour – and most particularly with the sense of romance the season can so easily present.
From woodland walks where sunlight slants through tall fingers of trees to dapple the path ahead, to the shimmering beauty of water and trees caught in the light reflected by the mirror of a full Moon to drape itself gently over the landscape, these are images celebrating that many faces and emotions autumn offers. Within them, we might also find reflections of the simple pleasure of sitting under a rustic canopy of leaf and bough as wind and sunlight play across the waters of a still lake, or memories of the promise of warmth and comfort as we walk home under darkening evening skies as light pours forth from windows warmly lit from within and doorways illuminated by lamps as we pass.
Taken together, these are to visually expressive exhibitions presented through very different lenses and eyes, but which are unified by both their beauty and the love of the season felt by both of the artists. With both (I believe) due to run through until early / mid December, their natures allow them to be viewed individually or jointly, depending on your preference.
SLurl Details
- Fall Splendour – Monocle Man Gallery (Club Hub, rated Adult)
- Falling in Love, BOSL Waterfront Café Gallery (Innovation Pavilion, rated Moderate)
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 