Category: Art in Second Life

You may notice that my coverage of the arts in Second Life often circles back to the work of Cica Ghost.  The reason for this is simple: there is always something beautifully attractive about her work that draws me to it like a magnet.

Open now at Luna Isle, Strings is perhaps the most marvellous installation she has yet produced in a very long line of outstanding works created within Second Life; it’s a magnificent example of why I am so attracted to her art. And believe me when I say, this is not one you’re going to want to simply read about; – it is an absolute must see.

The initial tableau appears simple enough. On what might be the edge of a town, overlooking open country, or perhaps in the courtyard of an old villa now converted into little houses and apartments, a string quartet with piano accompaniment plays as others look on and listen with what seems to be varying degrees of interest – or even attempt to ignore.

Or is it really that simple? Look closer; this isn’t a single tableau; this is a collage of stories brought together in a single quilt of moments caught in time, framed by the music from the little quintet. As you look at the people gathered in the courtyard, on the balconies or sitting in their rooms, you can gain  glimpses into their lives.

I use the plural there not just because there are multiple watchers / listeners. but because the glimpses you catch of any individual or group of lives will change depending on where and how you observe them. Thus, each scene within the overall story is itself made up of multiple threads – strings, if you will – which combine in different ways to tell more than one story.

Take, for example, the woman on the middle balcony; is she actually listening to the musicians, or is she a harried mother seeking a moment’s respite and relative calm from the constant demands of a young daughter as the latter guzzles a glass of milk. Or is the little girl taking advantage of her mother’s distraction to help herself, and if so, what is it that is so occupying he mum’s mind? The music or something else?

The answer may lie on the balcony to the woman’s left, part of the same apartment and occupied by a lone man. Watch him closely; he also is not really listening to those below. Together his actions and the apparent air of pensiveness around her tell a story of their own.

Meanwhile, in the neighbouring apartment, a man sits over a chess board, the game frozen, his companion absent. Is she perhaps the motherly figure looking out of the window of the next room, or the daughter-like figure standing out on the stairway, both now looking out over the musicians.

But if the music was the cause for either of them to leave the game, why did they not simply go out onto the balcony of the room itself? why go elsewhere just to watch and listen? Could the young woman who has placed a distance between herself and the houses, standing alone, a forlorn expression on her face be the cause of their vigil? Or again, has she a story of her own to tell, and there’s yet another story to be found within the chess-playing family?

And thus it is with almost everyone we encounter here; what may at first seem a simple act – a glance, a hand upon another or a face at a window or even a book open on a person’s lap may seem to suggest one thing – but is that really the entire story? There are many threads – or perhaps I might say strings – here, which can be woven into many patterns by the eye and mind; thus we become more than visitors: we become passive participants in all we see; and quite wonderfully so.

Which shouldn’t be taken to mean the scene isn’t remarkable in and of itself without seeking deeper meanings. Strings is a wonderful piece of art whether taken as a whole, or studied at length. The characters inhabiting this little corner of the world all have their own personalities, whatever story you chose to tell, and they are beautifully designed – as is the region as a whole, filled as it is with Cica’s familiar touches and motifs. And if you fancy a dance, do be sure to touch one of the many stone cellos scattered around.

Finally, there is the audio stream, beautifully crafted by Cica to perfectly compliment and complete the central scene with the musicians, showing them to be a really talented group! I mean where else will you get to hear a string quartet offer a repertoire with everything from Queen’s Another One Bites The Dust and Bohemian Rhapsody through the likes of the Rolling Stones, Ziggy Stardust / David Bowie, Level 42, film soundtracks and The Phantom of the Opera, plus more, to arrive at O Come, Emmanuel?

These guys are wonderfully creative in their music – and Strings is a wonderfully created and creative playground for the eye and the imagination. Don’t miss it.

SLurl Details

• Strings, Luna Isle (Rated: Moderate)

Saturday, August 8th, 2015 at 13:00 SLT marks the formal opening on the Windlight Gallery, featuring an exhibition of works by the first round of Windlight Artist Fellowship Programme awardees.

The gallery is owned and operated by Windlight Magazine, the newest monthly magazine celebrating and supporting the art and photography world in Second Life,

Launched on July 1st, the magazine is owned and operated by John (Johannes1977 Resident) and features the writing and photography talents of luminaries Emma Portilo, Shakti Adored, Kara Trapdoor, Jessii2009 Warrhol, Vee Tamas, and Soairse Heart. I’m both honoured and pleased to be a part of the Windlight team as a contributing writer.

The Windlight Gallery is the magazine’s practical outreach to support artists and photographers. Occupying a large, modern building designed by Doctor Zimberman, it offers a series of individual display spaces spread across two floors, all gathered around a central full-height foyer area. It is home to the Windlight Artist Fellowship Programme, and the display spaces are reserved for those artists selected each month as Fellowship awardees.

The goal of the Fellowship Programme is to provide promotional and artistic resources to artists in Second Life, and is open to both new and established artists. Space with the Windlight Gallery is provided free of charge for a period of 30 days. Applications for space can be made on-line, via the Fellowship application form, which includes all applicable terms for the use of space in the gallery.

The August Fellowship awardees are:

Seb Arkright, Sandi Benelli, Ilrya Chardin, Bones Delicioso, Wicca Merlin, Richie Narstrom, Artemis Greece Resident, Bluesrocker Resident, ChrysteRox Resident, Ozymandi Resident, Roffellos Resident, SereneDean Resident and Myra Wildmist.

My congratulations to all!

The official opening will take place in and around the gallery starting a 13:00 SLT on Saturday, August 8th, 2015, and will feature music by Anek Fuchs. A formal dress code will apply.

There will also be a closing reception for the August Fellowship awardees on Saturday, August 23rd, 2015 from 15:00 SLT. This will again be formal dress, and will also feature music from Anek Fuchs.

So, do please come along, and hopefully, I’ll see you there!

Additional Information

• Windlight Gallery SLurl (Rated: Moderate)
• Windlight Magazine website and blog
• Windlight Artist Fellowship Programme
• Windlight Magazine on Facebook
• Windlight Magazine on Google+
• Windlight Magazine on Tumblr
• Windlight Magazine on Twitter
• Windlight Magazine in this blog

Tuesday, August 4th saw the opening of the latest art exhibition at The Living Room, the music and arts venue operated by Owl Dragonash and Daallee. This month, the venue features the work of Jewell Wirefly, who offers a series of images from her travels around Second Life.

Jewell says of her work, “I have been in SL now for almost 9 years and have been taking pictures for nearly 6 years, and I still enjoy it as much as the very first shot.  My art is nearly always inspired by a song and sometimes a quote or a poem.  However, the one thing they all have in common is that they express my emotions.  I like to take a variety of pics, including a lot of fantasy ones, and not keep to any particular type or style. ”

The images displayed at The Living Room reflect this approach to her work; having mostly been captured out and about in Second Life, each with its own particular style and emotive content. However, while she has tended to mostly eschewed the use of studio shots for her work, she does admit to more recently to building her own sets to capture some of the images that come to mind, and this side of her work is reflected here as well.

While there is a narrative and emotional content in all the images, I found myself most strongly drawn to four in particular (seen at the top of this article). I’ve no idea if their relatively close placement was intentional, but individually and collectively, I found them to be very evocative in terms of mood, narrative and image.

All told, another welcome, and personal display from an SL artist which will remain open to visitors through until August 25th, 2015, when there will be a special party to mark the end of the exhibition featuring the music of Laralette Lane, starting at noon SLT.

August also brings with it another night of live music at The Living Room, with August 13th seeing Billy Thunders on stage at 17:00 SLT, followed by The Vinnie Show at 18:00 SLT.

 

SLurl Details

• The Living Room main SLurl (Rated: Moderate)
• The Living Room gallery space SLurl (Rated: Moderate)

Now open at Max Butoh’s marvellous Dathúil gallery, beautifully curated by Lυcy (LucyDiam0nd), is the August exhibition.  Lovegasm features the combined work of Mr and Mrs. S – otherwise known as Saka Infinity and Laura (LauraLar). It is one which continues to mark this venue as one of the more fascinating in Second Life for the range and depth of art displayed within its walls.

The easiest way to describe the exhibition is to quote from the opening of the introductory note which can be obtained at the gallery’s entrance:

What happens when two picture lovers meet?  When art meets love, when love inspires each other, it drives them to Lovegasm.

The result is a series of his-and-her images reflecting the relationship between the two, and sometimes as it intersects with others. All of the images are caught as personal moments in time; many apparently without the aid of specific poses, thus increasing the intimacy apparent in each of them.

The tone and approach of the images can also be gained from the introductory notes, which inform us that she is “a surprise package in the kink department” with an eye for colour composition and angle, while he has “a quest to find the soul hidden behind each avatar”, his particular muse being Laura.

Thus it is that we have an exhibit which offers insight into the lives or the artists which is deeply personal, while also encompassing eroticism, sexuality and a touch of kink / D/s; yet all of them contain a richly intimate feel. However, there’s something else here as well, a very subtle play that further adds to the depth of involvement for the observer.

Unlike earlier exhibits at Dathúil,  the images in Lovegasm are displayed from a series of overhead screens. These flip every three minutes (ish) between images by Mr. S and images by Mrs. S (who have each selected the works of the other for the  exhibit), or which can be manually changed using the selector on the floor of the gallery next to the middle mezzanine floor pillar. More to the point, and in reference to the visitor’s sense of involvement: the screens seem to hint that one is perhaps watching scenes unfolding elsewhere; thus casting us into the role of voyeur on the intimate and the erotic, which adds an illicit frisson entirely in keeping with the overall theme.

Also on the mezzanine itself is the couple’s “kinky shed” – a prop often used in their photography, and which they invite other photographers to use – the theme for the shed will be changing weekly during the exhibition, which will be open through until the end of August.

Another simply superb exhibition for Dathúil, and one which – as with the entire series to date – should not be missed.

SLurl Details

• Dathúil Gallery (Rated: Adult)