I genuinely don’t like self-promotion, particularly when it comes to my Second Life photography ( which I view as blog illustrations rather than “art”). However a couple of months ago Gonzalo Osuna (Jon Rain) asked me to exhibit at his Konect Art Gallery – and was not going to take no for an answer!
So, running from Friday, October 16th through until the end of the month is an exhibition of some of the many images I’ve taken over the years as I’ve explored Second Life, entitled Second Life Landscapes.
Konect Art Gallery: Second Life Landscapes
I’ll admit that it is my biggest exhibition to date – and as such, I’m glad it has had something of a “soft” opening rather than a big splash, as I think I would have been too nervous to do anything more than hide in a corner. When invited, and given past exhibits at the gallery, I was anticipating being one of two people displaying their work – so I was stunned, surprised and deeply flattered (as well as slightly panicked!) when I arrived to set-up this week and find that the entire gallery had been made available to me!
So, the result is some 35 of my images are offered across the two floors of the gallery in a relatively large format and which feature many of the places I’ve particularly enjoyed visiting since around 2014. I’ve even managed to include one or two that haven’t shown up in my Flickr stream!
Konect Art Gallery: Second Life Landscapes
Anyway, I’m not going to prattle on about things here – but I hope you’ll pop over to Konect Art between now and the end of October and have a look around. And while there, why not chill out to the sounds of Konecta Radio?
My thanks again to Gonzalo for the invitation to exhibit!
Cica is back with her October 2020 build, and given the time of year, she’s presenting Halloween. However, rather than going all dark and gloomy with things that go bump in the night and nasty things hiding in the shadows, she offers something very different: a homage to the the genius of a film-maker known for his unique style of fantasy / horror storytelling that’s mixed with Cica’s trademark lightness and whimsy.
That focus of the homage is given away by the quote Cica offer with the installation:
Every day is Halloween isn’t it? For some of us.
– Tim Burton
And indeed, set out across the region is a series of little vignettes, many of which feature characters that may have popped out of the consciousness of Mr. Burton. They are all going about their business in this landscape of graveyards, pumpkin patches and strange little houses that appear to have grown, rather than having been built.
Halloween by Cica Ghost
Round-eyed and slender, these are characters who carry on their skull-like faces grins that appear genuinely happy as they go about their business, be it stroking a cat, pulling a pumpkin-filled cart, riding a swing, playing a piano or some other endeavour. Like many of Burton’s characters, while their appearance may be drawn from the ideas of horror, they carry a natural attractiveness that encourages us to wander among them.
However, they are not the only attraction here. There are lots of little touches that add depth to the setting: flowers that will cause you to consider the term “spider plant” in a new way, crows that watch over everything with mischievous look in their eyes, and footprints that magically creep across the ground whilst eyes stare out of some windows, suggesting menace whilst none appears. And do keep watch for the rooftops that occasionally hinge upwards – they have a little surprise of their own.
There’s also interactive elements throughout the region waiting to be found as well, one of which carries a little touch of the macabre as it brings a whole new meaning to the words “dancing on a grave”, while for those who are taken by the folk occupying the region, a little shop offers the chance to purchase them, together with several of the other characters to be found at various points. And if the pumpkins in the patch take your fancy, they can be purchased directly from there.
Halloween by Cica Ghost
Finished in a semi-monochrome environment, Halloween is another Cica delight. So, if you fancy something a little more whimsical for your Halloween, be sure to pop over – it’ll be there for the rest of the month!
Hidden Lake, October 2020 – click any image for full size
Surrounded by mountains and sitting within a deep rocky bowl, Hidden Lake is the latest region design by Num Bing-Howlett (Num Bing) and her SL partner Clifton Howlett. A Full region that is fairly packed to the gills with detail and touches large and small, it is a wilderness setting that cries out for exploration – although some viewer adjustments might be required in order to fully enjoy it.
The titular lake occupies the middle of the region, an uneven oval of blue water that looks both inviting and cold. It is almost entirely surrounded by rugged uplands that form an inner ring to the off-region mountainous sim surround that lies beyond them. “Almost”, because the rocky circle is broken to south-west, where grasslands roll gently out to the watery edge of the region, offering a low-lying area to explore.
Hidden Lake, October 2020
The landing point sits to the west side of the lake, where a large deck extends out over the water to offer both a welcome and a place for visitors to sit and appreciate the view – the first of many such locations waiting to be found here. Set a little back from this on the lowlands between water and cliffs, sits a rutted track that emerges from a tunnel just to the north-west and points the way towards the south-west lowlands where it vanishes into another tunnel, presenting the impression that this is a place awaiting discovery along a trail perhaps only driven by a few.
Just across this through route from the landing point, there rises a set of wooden steps that climb up a lightly wooded shoulder of rock by way of several wooden platforms and desks to reach a lodge. Comfortably furnished, this peeks out from between fir trees to look down on the lake, while the decks outside also offer a view up to the higher peaks on this side of the region, and the promise of more to explore among them as they sit above the tunnel entrance.
Hidden Lake, October 2020
A path winds eastwards around the toes of these peaks, in part using a wooden board walk, but I’d personally recommend avoiding that route to start with, as it can all too quickly lead you to the region’s major features that should be left until last. Instead, follow the rutted track towards the south-west and the lowlands I mentioned earlier. Doing so will lead you on a journey around the region that allows you to encounter all that should be seen in the lowlands, before you scale the heights to find what awaits above.
This route will bring you first to where the woodlands drop down to the grasslands, and a little setting ideal for glampers is nestled among the trees. Beyond this, sitting with is back on the lake to look out at the surrounding mountains, lies an old warehouse now converted into a cosy (public) home, a sea of grass washing around it and a little brook splashing its way from lake to open waters now too far away. A wide wooden bridge allows the road to pass over this brook so that it might reach the second tunnel, but those on foot can scurry across a pair of logs set over the water if they prefer.
Hidden Lake, October 2020
Past the tunnel, the route is over grassy ground sitting above the rocky shore of the lake. This follows a line that leads east and then north, offering visitors the chance to completely circumnavigate the lake’s shoreline. Along this route are several attractions, but I’ll mention just one here: the shallow cavern within its ornately carved arch. Hidden within it is a TARDIS police box that offers the means (by accepting the local experience) to visit Num and Clifton’s other region, The Empire of Dreaming Books, a place that pays homage Walter Moers‘ Zamonia comic series and which we visited in May 2020 (see: An empire of books in Second Life). With a similar TARDIS located within the catacombs of that region (where visitors from hidden Lake arrive), those travelling through either region are offered a neat way to visit the other.
But it is the northern side of the lake that will eventually draw visitors. Here the path loops its way back to the rutted track, but as it does so it passes by the open-air station of a cable car system as it sits over the waters of the lake. There are two cars operating on the system, which will take visitors up to the higher peaks of the region, and they can be ridden as they reach the platform by touching the red button at the boarding point as one reaches it. This will stop the car to allow your to take a seat, then pressing the green button on the same panel to set it moving. The ride offers a grand view of the lake, and will carry you up to a second platform station (same method to get off) that is linked to a large events stage, which also offers a grand view down and over the lake.
Hidden Lake, October 2020
The upper station also sits at the edge of a small mountain pond from which waters roll and tumble down the cliffs in a series of steps to eventually flow into the lake. These falls pass directly under the path of the cable cars, and are also crossed by three bridges. The first, and lowermost, forms part of the path circumnavigating the lake. The upper two offer the means to explore the lower slopes of the mountains and also to find your way up to the high decks by way of rugged paths and metal stairs that cling to the more vertical faces of rock. The start of these paths breaks sits between the lower cable car station and the waterfalls.
When exploring, there’s a lot of small details to keep an eye out for – all the places to sit, the birds overhead, a squirrel frolicking in the grass, goats grazing, and more, both outdoors and in the various buildings, all of which have been carefully decorated to give a greater sense of presence to them. However, as noted at the top of this article, some may find a little patience is needed with Hidden Lake, as their is a lot within it to keep the viewer very busy with mesh and textures. For those on middle or lower spec machines, dropping draw distance and / or disabling Shadows when moving around might be the order of the day. Nevertheless, making such adjustments is worthwhile, as this is an extraordinarily picturesque region.
Wythburn Art Walk, October 2020 -Mark Steiner (mrcanoehead)
Currently open through until November 1st, is the Wythburn Art Walk (SLurls at the end of this article), an event to help raise funds for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC), and to encourage people to explore Wythburn at Thirlmere, a full Mainland region. Some two dozen artists are participating the event, with their art offered for sale through RFL of SL vendors, with exhibitions spread throughout the region, thus allowing visitors to explore the region as they view the art.
The art is displayed on easels found throughout the location – along the roads and waterfronts, around the town square and along the each of the local lake. Exactly how many pieces each artist has provided appears to be up to individual choice – but taken together this is a rich and diverse display of Second Life art. Several SLurls are offered by which to explore, but I do recommend starting from the town square, and thence out along the waterfront and around the lakeside.
Wythburn Art Walk, October 2020 – Jaz (Jessamine2108)
Meet the Artists
In addition to the art and the chance to explore the region, the event offers unique opportunities to meet with the participating artists and hear about their art.
These events will occur between 10:00 and 12:00 noon SLT on Saturdays 17th and 24th October, when DJ Tani will be playing tunes for people to dance to, between which he’ll read notes the artists have provided about themselves, their work and their techniques, with the featured artists also in attendance.
To help make these sessions a little more special, attendees are asked to dress formally.
Wythburn Art Walk, October, 2020 – Mirabelle Biederman
Selfies with the Breast Cancer Ninja
The event includes a “selfie” contest with three unique statue prizes from artist Harry Clover (ImpossibleIsNotFrench) up for grabs. Those wishing to participate should:
Locate the Breast Cancer Ninja at the town square.
Touch the Fight Like A Girl sign next to it to obtain a competition package containing:
An attachable sign.
Instructions on entering the contest.
A contest entry note card.
A copy of the Ninja statue.
Touch the statue to sit next to it, and then select a pose.
If you prefer, you can also use the copy of the statue and use it to take your entry photo wherever you like, so you’renot limited to just the event region.
You can also wear the sign included in the package if you wish.
Note that the statue supports two avatars posing at a time – so you can include a friend!
Take your selfie(s).
Upload the photo you wish to enter and make sure it is set to full permissions.
Open the contest entry note card and:
Add your avatar name.
Drag and drop your photo into the card.
CTRL-drag the completed card in the mail box alongside the contest vendor.
Entries may be displayed within the region while the contest is open – so check back to see if yours is one of them.
At the end of the event, three of the entries will be selected to receive the prizes created by Harry.
Wythburn Art Walk, October 2020 – Star (Gossamerstar)
Wythburn Attractions
As well as the art exhibition, Wythburn has numerous attractions of its own, including horse riding, a hidden room of magic and spells, a stone henge, The Hall of Faces, a cave to explore, and more.
Participating Artists
GraciAnne Harte (Gracianne), Jaz (Jessamine2108), Jolie (JolieElle Parfort), Max (Maxseagate), Poppy (Popikone), Star (Gossamerstar), Darkstone Aeon, Abi (Abigail Lemongrass), Caly Applewhyte (Calypso Applewhyte), Stevie Morane Basevi (Stevie Basevi), Wildstar Beaumont, Michiel Bechir, Mirabelle Biedermann (Mirabelle Sweetwater), Tour Blanche (Aspen Normandy), Harry Cover (impossibleisnotfrench), Star (Morningstar Finesmith), Tresore Prada Hawkins (Tresore), Skye McLeod (Skye Fairywren), Maya McQueen (Maya Snowfield), Doddy Meiler, Wren Noir (Wrennoir Cerise), Kammy Page (Kambrie Triellis), Mark Steiner (mrcanoehead), and Pavel Stransky.
Walsh County, October 2020 – click any image for full size
When we first visited Walsh County, the Homestead region designed by Randonee Noel, back in August, it had not long opened. Following that visit, it got stuck in my list of places to write about, and so prompted a recent re-visit.
The region takes as its inspiration Walsh County, North Dakota, a place that describes itself as “a land of prairies, croplands, river valleys, and rolling hills.” The primary source of income for the county comes from farming, predominantly small grain, cash crops, forage crops, together with beef, dairy cattle and swine. It’s the first of these – grain crops – is the focus for the region design.
Walsh Country, October 2020
Cupped within a region surround that folds itself into the the setting to give a look and feel of gently rolling prairies with distant hills, the region is given over to a broad field that takes up most of its area, bordered by a the dirt track of a public road along its southern edge, and cut by a farm track to the north. Within this expanse is a small pool of water and a single tree, what might be a mid-field picnic area extending a short distance outward from the tree’s leafy shade.
When we first visited in August, the region was in an early summer setting: a young crop covered the land in a green carpet, whilst a crop duster making periodic passes across the field, painting it in stripes of pesticide – or perhaps in fertilizer, if the aircraft was engaged in aerial topdressing.
Walsh Country, October 2020
Seeing the ‘plane repeatedly passing over the field immediately put me in mind of Cary Grant being buzzed by a crop duster in Hitchcock’s classic North by Northwest, and suggested plenty of opportunities for photographs playing homage to the movie. So much so, that I was surprised not to come across any in the region’s Flickr stream, which made me a little regretful of not producing such a photo myself 😀 .
That said, it is really small details – coupled with the open rezzing (with a 30-min auto-return limit) that meant people could make their own scenes within region – that made, and continue to make, the region so attractive. These range from the poses on things like the boards that cross the stream bordering the field, to the paper boats that periodically pass under it to float by the ducks paddling downstream, to the paper aeroplane that can be thrown into the air with a simple touch (“/3 stop” – minus the quotes – will settle it back on the ground), and more.
Walsh County, October 2020
Since that first visit, time has moved on; the crops have grown and and the harvest is due. And this has brought with it another touch with the region: the fact that it can change not only with the season, but also periodically. The harvester (complete with its own poses), for example, might on one day be engaged in cutting the crop, on another it may be off-loading its grain tank into a tractor-towed trailer, then on another – as with my most recent visit – sitting on the farm track waiting to commence work.
Other details have been added for the time of year as well – geese fly overhead, presumably getting an early start to a southern migration, whilst the little picnic area offers a touch of Halloween with a pumpkin patch. In another touch – which may have been there from the opening, and I simply don’t recall from our initial visit – a small family grave plot marks the fact that most of Walsh County’s farms are family-run.
Walsh County, October 2020
Engaging from the start, Walsh County presents – as numerous bloggers have already noted – an attractive offering for photographers and explorers to visit.
With thanks to Shawn Shakespeare for the original pointer to the region.
October sees Akim Alonzo’s Itakos Project gallery host an exhibition of art that chimed a strong bell with me, thanks in part to my cosmological interest in astronomy, space exploration and science fiction. Located in the Black hall of the gallery, Space Oddity features a selection of 14 images that are predominantly monochrome in tone, with just touches of colour that give them an almost heartbeat-like splash of life.
It’s an exhibition that apparently grew out of a common interest both Caly and Akim share for the beauty of deep space, and also a mutual love of the music of David Bowie. Given Caly’s attraction to things like cybernetic enhancements and the use of prostheses in her avatar images, these interests combine to present a selection of 14 pieces that are framed by two stanzas from Bowie’s 1969 single, Space Oddity, released just five days ahead of the launch of Apollo 11 and which itself drew inspiration from the Kubrick / Clarke masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey.
This is Major Tom to Ground Control I’m stepping through the door And I’m floating in the most peculiar way And the stars look very different today
– David Bowie, Space Oddity, 1969
These 14 images take us on a voyage, one that wonderfully encompasses several elements, all of which could be said to be reflective of thoughts of space – inner and outer – whilst touching on elements of identity and of human progression and the state of the world around us.
Itakos Project: Space Oddity by Caly Applewhyte
Intentional or not, the offered images appear to be split into three groups, each with its own story, each of which it turn goes beyond the subject our deep space.
On entering the hall and turning to the left, the far end features a series of avatar images set against backdrops that seem to offer up views of who we are and what we might become, indicated by the various cybernetic and machine elements evident in some, and also by the almost tribal-like markings, some red and some blue. They also frame both the reality of our place in the cosmos (star fields and black voids suggestive of endless space) and the conceit that once attempted to put us at the centre of the universe (a head at the centre of an orrery, the planets orbiting around it).
A further set show a hardsuited figure on a planetary surface, mechanical hands clutching a posey of daisies. These again perhaps offer a mix of themes. On the one hand, they could indicate the wonder of the universe that somewhere out there, one day, on another world, we may well encounter the beauty of life (represented by the daises), that we will cherish. But might they also tell other stories? One perhaps that not matter how far we progress in space, Earth – as represented by the daisies – will always call to us? Or another that stands as a warning that if we do not start nurturing the world around us, the only way we might come to see its open spaces is from within the confines of hardsuits, the promise of life a scarce an precious find within its barren fields?
Itakos Project: Space Oddity by Caly Applewhyte
For here am I sitting in my tin can Far above the world Planet Earth is blue And there’s nothing I can do
– David Bowie, Space Oddity, 1969
The final group of images take us to the original theme of the exhibition as discussed by Caly and Akim: that of floating in space. But here again the interpretation of the images is mixed.
On the one hand, the presence of the odd little fish, with their translucent scales revealing their skeletal forms suggest some of these images don’t represent outer space, but the inner space of an ocean. But is this again the ocean of another world, and the fish its strange inhabitants? Or is it a reminder that there is a vast “cosmos” around us on this very planet within the oceans that make up the majority of its surface, there is much that we have yet to discover – including the wonder of lifeforms of which we’ve remained ignorant for so long? It is, again for you to decide the narrative – although, as with the other images, selecting one story does not exclude any of these others.
Itakos Project: Space Oddity by Caly Applewhyte
Multi-layered, beautifully presented Space Oddity is a marvellously engaging exhibit that should be seen by all who appreciate art that stirs both the heart and the mind.
