With the assistance of Lemonodo Oh, artists Douglas Story and Desdemona Enfield have resurrected StormEye, subtitled A Meditation on Waves for the month of December. For those unfamiliar with the piece, it first appeared in Second Life back in 2009 – the time before mesh – above the New Media Consortium campus where it proved to be a popular attraction.
An immersive, visual and aural installation, StormEye invites visitors to pretty much do just that – enter the eye of the storm, literally and metaphorically. It has been brought back to Second Life in pretty much the same condition as when first exhibited at the NMC campus seven years ago.
In order to fully experience StormEye, it is essential you enable full streaming media (not just audio – use the film camera icon). The instructions provided with the installation refer to using the latest version of QuickTime. However, as I’ve reported in these pages, QuickTime for Windows is no longer a viable option for people on that operating system – but any up-to-date Windows viewer utilising VLC (as provided by Linden Lab) or GStreamer should manage the audio and video in the installation.
StormEye release comprises two parts: an undulating red landscape built from sculpties using manufactured using mathematical data derived from Desdemona’s work using real-world data from the US Geological Survey and NASA. These have been overlaid with macro flower photographs by Douglas. Over this ruddy, almost Mars-like landscape floats a gigantic eye, optic nerve trailing behind it. constructed of around 1,000 prims with their surfaces used to display video, sits the Eye – and it is into this visitors are invited to climb.
On entering the tube of the “optic nerve”, which undulates gently in a waveform, you are surrounded by a gently changing cloudscape (if the video surfaces aren’t in motion, toggle the media (film camera) button a few times) together with the sound of brds carried on a gentle breeze. But wait a few seconds and the collective scene will change: the wind rises as the rumble of thunder can be heard and the birds fall silent. Around you the clouds move faster and darken to swirl around you as lightning catches up with the roll of thunder, accompanied by a torrential downpour across the surfaces around you. Then, almost without warning, everything changes: the storm vanishes and white clouds move across a blue sky; you are in the eye of the storm. Wait long enough, and the cycle will repeat as you pass once more through nature’s fury.
The shifting scene can be witnessed from within the tunnel of the “optic nerve” or from within the eyeball itself (both are recommended, as is watching the changing scene in Mouselook). When you wish to return to ground level, touch the semi-transparent tornado in the eyeball – and take a close look at the window pane where you’ll land. A nearby teleport spike will return you directly to the Eye if you wish to experience it again.
Opening at 12:00 noon SLT on Saturday, December 3rd, 2016, is the last Art at the Park exhibition at Holly Kai Park.
Joining us to see out the year are Owl Dragonash, Kayly Iali, Frankx Lefavre, Kody Meyers, Bluesrocker Resident, and Caitlin Tobias, and I’m delighted to have all of them appearing at the park through until the end of December 2016. And here’s a little more about each of them.
I’m particularly delighted to see Owl Dragonash at the Park. I imply no favouritism here, but I’ve been wanting to have Owl join us ever since I took on curating the exhibition spaces at Holly Kai. But circumstances have meant it’s not worked out – until now.
Owl’s art – and her writing – are always thought-provoking, evocative, and beautifully conceived and presented. I’ve been in awe of her work for a long time, and through it, she has taught me a few things which I hope have improved my own attempts at SL photography.
For her time at Holly Kai, Owl presents a series of images which reflect both her love of places in Second Life, and her exploration of personal expression through her avatar. When not photographing, exploring or writing, Owl host art exhibitions and handles booking live music artists for Commune Utopia. More of her work can be seen on her Flickr stream.
Physical world artist Kayly Iali both presents her work in Second Life and promotes the art of other artists through her galleries. I’m particularly in her debt for introducing me to Silas Merlin and Sheba Blitz, so her appearance at Holly Kai Park is a genuine delight.
Kayly entered art in 2009, and started exhibiting in Second Life in 2010. Her pieces are expressive oil paintings which she produces in one or two sittings, allowing them to appear as fresh as her subjects. She was recently selected for entry into a major regional art competition, the Crocker/Kingsley Art Competition – and was just one of 75 selected to participate out of 1200 applicants.
I’ve admired Frankx Lefarve’s immersive 3D art environments ever since his debut appearance at the Linden Endowment for the Arts in January 2014 with Glass and Light. There is a spectacular beauty in his use of light, colour and form which is exquisite; his installations often incorporate elements which look as if they have been spun from glass and transported in-world.
Whether full region installations, such as those presented at the LEA, or smaller pieces such as those produced for the UWA or SL Birthday celebrations, Frankx never fails to stun and delight the eye. His art can also be deeply personal. With Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor for example, he explores his experiences in dealing with anxiety and depression; it’s an evocative piece, one I sought to try to capture in both words and film.
For Holly Kai Park, Frankx presents his interactive Reflections at Midnight – please follow the instructions on the board leading up to it in order to enjoy it to the fullest – and Oracle.
“Capturing the wonderful ambiance and environments created by so many talented landscapers in Second Life is my way to relax and explore my imagination,” Kody Meyers says of his photography. “Each picture depicts a story or is a reminder of an experience one can reflect upon when admiring it. As a perfectionist, I take the time necessary to capture the picture, experimenting with different angles, framing and windlights, until the perfect shot is created — the one that comes alive.”
The result is work which, whether focused on an avatar or a landscape or piece of art, never fails to captivate the eye and hold the attention – as can be seen from his Flickr stream. I’ve long admired Kody’s work at exhibitions in Second Life, and am very pleased to welcome him to Holly Kai Park.
“I’ve been involved in the arts most of my life,” Bluesrocker Resident says of himself. “Coming from a musical background, I have had a very keen appreciation of the creative process, whether it be in music, the performing arts, painting, writing or photography. Having that interest sparked my involvement in the artistic possibilities of Second Life.
“I much prefer shooting out on location in the multitude of amazing sims which populate SL than in a studio, as I feel I get much better results that way,” he continues. “Since starting seriously taking photographs in SL about two years ago, I have broadened my horizons in what wonders this virtual world has to offer. Really, the only limits are those of the imagination.”
I’ve shared a number of exhibitions with Bluesrocker, and have always been intrigued by his work. His involvement and fascination with the creative process is readily apparent in his work, which is richly diverse in content and approach. This latter point is illustrated by the selection of images he has brought to Art at the Park, and can further be seen throughout his Flickr stream.
Caitlin Tobias has always lived her Second Life to the full. A former C:si combat player, specialising in the katana, she has been and active blogger and photographer since 2012, and has gained a rightful reputation for emotive, evocative, richly layered images which not only illustrate her blog and Flickr stream, but have also graced the pages of the RFL Fantasy Faire website.
“Taking pictures in Second Life is a hobby and I do not consider myself an SL Artist,” Caitlin says modestly. I’m not sure I agree; the artistry in her work is readily apparent, and amply demonstrated in her exhibit, Come As You Are.
“I asked six good friends one simple question, would you pose with me? And the answer to their question on what to wear was: ‘Come as you are’. It is not just posing, it is about accepting friends – as they are. I have used the same pose (by Del May) for all six and the men in them are: Almost Finished (nearly.doune), Temperance Haalan (tem.haalan), Huckleberry Hax, Grabriel (gabriel4botto.resident), JC Underwood and Brad Zeurra, and I want to thank them so much for their time and patience!”
You can also try your hand at photographing yourself and a friend using the provided poses and backdrop.
My thanks to all of the above artists for participating in Art at the Park, and I hope you’ll pay them a via at Holly Kai Park between now and December 31st.
Artful Expressions is a new gallery opening at 12:00 noon SLT on Saturday, December 3rd, 2016, and which is curated by Sorcha Tyles, an artist and photographer we featured in the November exhibition at Holly Kai Park. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity of previewing the upcoming inaugural exhibition for these pages.
With a 30m x 40m footprint and high ceiling, gallery is ideal for presenting images in a large format. Sorcha has used double-side room divider with built-in frames for images to divide the floorspace into three distinct areas: a front lobby area with seating and where Sorcha displays pieces of her own art, and to exhibition spaces, separated by a central walkway leading down to them.
“I wanted to offer a place where those artists who seldom get the chance to exhibit,” Sorcha said, as we chatted about the gallery over coffee, “Or are too shy to volunteer their work to be displayed in an ensemble exhibition.” The two display areas are well suited to this role, offering artists displaying here an intimate space for their work, whilst also allowing them to be part of the gallery as a whole.
For the opening exhibition, which will run through until the end of the month, Sorcha has invited Hayael Bracula (Flickr) and Ninna Dazy (Flickr). Each presents nine pieces of their work for the exhibition, all of which richly demonstrate their eye and talent, and it is fair to say they are perfectly suited to a joint exhibition.
Both women focus there work on avatar studies – although not exclusively so; but their approach is strikingly different. Where one stays with colour within her images, the other leans towards monochrome; while one opts for what might be called a “traditional” approach to her studies, the other in places presents studies which run close to being surreal. However, there is no denying the evocative essence in their respective pieces.
I confess to not having come across Ninny or Yaya prior to seeing their work at Sorcha’s gallery – and that’s to my loss. However, it also perhaps demonstrates that she is achieving her aim from the start in bringing those SL photographers and artists who may have escaped wider public attention to the fore. As such, I hope other art bloggers will also provide coverage of Artful Expressions and the exhibitions held there. “We’ll be changing exhibits monthly,” Sorcha said, “And people are always welcome to come, view, hang out.”
The latest exhibition at DiXmiX Gallery, which opened on Wednesday, November 23rd 2016, features the art of Fingers (Fingers Scintilla) and Maloe Vansant, together with a new display of work by gallery owner and curator, DixMix Source.
Maloe and Fingers are ideally suited to be exhibited together: there is something of a similarity in style and vision in their work, and the pieces displayed at DiXmiX underline this perfectly, presenting a combined, yet highly individual pairing of studies.
Maloe’s pieces, drawn from DiXmiX’s personal collection of her work, are on display in the foyer gallery space, on both the lower and mezzanine levels. In all, ten images are displayed, two of them in a very large format, with a focus on the female face. All are striking, using light and shadow, colour and tone to extraordinary effect, to produce pieces with incredible emotive depth.
What particularly struck me about several of the pieces is the way they might be seen not only as studies of the human face, but also as the face as a landscape. A place where colour and shadow mix with the rise of cheek, arch of eyebrow, pout of lips, sweep of nose and covering of flowers, to impart a feeling that the eye is travelling over a new country; a place steeped in emotion, memory and feeling. Look again, and the emphasis shifts, as we are drawn to a particular feature: lips and eyes particularly; and with that shift comes new interpretations.
Walk through the gallery from the foyer, and you’ll pass through the Black and Grey Galleries, featuring images by Gaus (Cicciuzzo Gausman) and DiXmiX Source respectively. Again, these present images on a similar theme: the female form; both artists offering a series of sensual and in some instances, erotic studies.
Finger Scintilla’s work occupies the White Gallery. Here are twelve images which again offer facial studies and employ a vibrant, living use of colour, tone and light to quite remarkable – might I say startling – effect. Several of the pieces have a feeling of abstraction about them, others a suggestion of collage. All are powerful in content.
Take Electric Fervour and The Future Is Mine Only, both seen at the top of this article. Each is incredible in its presentation and depth. Each reaches out us and hold us in a way which is not just down to their sheer size; there is life within them; a life most clearly expressed through their eyes. Nor are these two images alone. There is an expression of life which permeates all of Finger’s images displayed here. Each of them leaves one with the unshakeable feeling that if the eyes are – as the old saying goes – the window of the soul, then Fingers is giving us a glimpse into the souls of his subjects.
Together, these are two fabulous exhibitions of work by two remarkable artists. Neither should be missed while on display at DiXmiX Gallery. Fingers’ work will remain on display through until the beginning of January, and Maloe will be at the Gallery through until the end of February.
On Sunday, November 20th we held the final Stories at the Park event for 2016; commitments being what they are in the run-up to Christmas, we’ll be skipping December and re-convening the story telling sessions designed to coincide with our art exhibitions at the park until January 2017.
Stories at the Park also offers a unique way in which the art on display at Holly Kai Park each month can be interpreted – through the words and eyes of others. For me, the stories and poems presented at each session never fail to open a whole new world of perception and narrative around a piece of art. And when there are two or three pieces written on the same piece, then the floodgates of thought and viewpoint are thrown wide.
November’s session made this latter point really apparent: several of the pieces had two or three stories written to accompany them, and each one offered a unique perspective on the piece and – if I’m honest – the thought processes of the writer! I was particularly fascinated at the ways in which The Rains of Kastamere, an image by Shakespeare (Skinnynilla) was interpreted by this month’s contributors.
Those offering stories this month with Caledonia Skytower, R. Crap Mariner, Aoife Lorenfield – a skilled weaver and reader of tales from Seanchai library, who was joining Stories for the first time as both writer and reader, and also Robijn, who submitted four beautiful pieces, all of which were read by Trolley Trollop.
The Rains of Kastamere by Shakespeare (Skinnynilla) had no fewer than three pieces written about it
I actually didn’t get to hear all the stories until after the fact – RL meant I had to spend a portion of the session away from the keyboard, but it did then give me the opportunity to walk through the current exhibition and listen to the recording of the readings whilst examining the pictures which inspired them, without any distractions of watching recording software, keeping an eye out from new arrivals, etc., which usually occupies my time at these events.
As this was the last of the 2016 Stories event, Cale and I – this being a joint idea between us – spent a little time mulling the sessions held to date, and I think we’re both pleased with how things have gone; submissions for each event has been strong (32 pieces for one session!), and the readings have been well received by our audiences – so much so, that I might have to expand the current cushion seating for future events.
Our artists, as well, seem to be pleased with the events and hearing how other interpret their words through story and verse. Offering your work to be included in something like this can be nerve-racking. It’s one thing to have your images interpreted privately by those viewing them; it’s quite another to entrust them into the hands of others whose words could go on to forever frame your work in the minds of those who see it whilst reading or hearing those words.
So, my very genuine thanks to all of our artists throughout 2016 who have willingly allowed their work to be included in each of our Stories at the Park events. My equally sincere thanks as well, to all of the writers and readers who have participated this year. Without you, Stories in the Park couldn’t take place.
Our November writers and readers for Stories at the Park: Robijn, Trolley, Cale, Crap and Aoife
If you’d like to listen to the November stories, written to pieces from our guest artists Sheba Blitz, Maxie Daviau, Shakespeare (Skinnynilla), Sorcha Tyles and Terrygold, I invite you to hop over to the Holly Kai blog, where you’ll find all of the stories, images of the pictures which inspired them, and some audio extracts from the event. Or you can use the links below 😉
If you’d like to try your hand at writing a 100-word short story (a “drabble”) or a poem of up to 100 words for one or more of the pieces of art featured at our next exhibition to include a Stories at the Park event (which will likely be opening around Saturday, January 14th) then please refer to our Stories at the Park guidelines. Remember, if you’re not comfortable reading your own work or using Voice, you don’t have to: one of our readers will happily read your submissions.
In the meantime, the current Art at the Park exhibition will be open through until Sunday, November 27th, so if you haven’t already done so, I hope you’ll pay a visit.
Now open at Split Screen, curated by Dividni Shostakovich, is From Here On There Be Dragons by Alpha Auer. It stands as a celebration of these mythical, mystical beasts and much of what they represent both culturally and in terms of our own psyche.
Within an abstract environment of ornate towers lit from within and semi-transparent floors, sit the dragons of the title. From Alpha’s notes, they stand as guardians of self; that this strange structure is perhaps – if I might borrow from the current British television incarnation of a certain sleuth) – a “mind palace”, in which is hid the wonders and terrors contained within our deeper selves; countries of the mind through which we might only travel with care, and having accepted the challenge presented by the dragon standing before each one.
More than just a guardian, however, the dragon can be seen as a symbol of the challenges we might face in travelling those countries of the mind. As the protector of treasure, it stands as the guardian of Self; as a creature of power, harnessing a primal element – fire – it is a reflection of our own force of personality; it can also stands as a symbol of the fears we might want to overcome and of our own self-courage in doing so; and it may also reflect our baser emotions: anger, selfishness, temper.
But there is more here that introspection. As notes, this is a celebration of all that dragons can represent. Hence why the floor of this “mind palace” is inlaid with a leaf from Abraham Ortelius’s Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (“Theatre of the World”), considered to be the first true modern atlas. It is, as Alpha notes, a reminder that dragons once represented the unknown and the need to take care in the world at large: that there were limits to our knowledge and understanding of all that lay around us.
Then there are the dragons themselves, a mixture of common western and eastern archetypes, all vibrant and alive in this ethereal setting. Within their claws many hold an egg; a further symbol of the dragon’s role in many creation mythologies. Of course, in some religions the dragon symbolises the End of Times. In fact there is hardly a culture in the world, east or west, north or south, where the dragon doesn’t resonate in some way.
Hence why Alpha notes, “Dragons have always been with us, although we have come to deny their existence and their potency.” Hence why, perhaps, she also includes an extract from T.S. Eliot’s Little Gidding, allowing it to stand as an echo of the fact that dragons have always been with us, and always will be.
From Here On There Will Be Dragons will be open through until the end of January 2017, and you can also pick up one of alpha’s free avatars during a visit.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 