Like many of us who have become engaged with Second Life, Stevie Basevi has seen her involvement in the platform grow over the years, branching and flowering in numerous directions; from content creator to estate holder (she has been responsible for the 3-region Sanctuary RP Community, for over 16 years), to working extensively with the American Cancer Society (14 years), One Billion Rising, and Seanchai Library’s Special Projects Creative team.
In all of this her appreciation of, an involvement with, the Second Life art scene has often featured in her in-world activities. As a result of this exposure to the broader community of SL artists, Stevie has come to see in-world photography as a means to explore a new avenue of creative expression, and an opportunity to connect with SL on more of an emotional level as she travels the grid.
Stevie Basevi at BOSL, January 2025
A growing confidence in her work, complimented by studying via the Visionaire Institute, encouraged Stevie to start exhibiting in Second Life for herself, joining in with ensemble exhibitions as well as presenting her own solo exhibits (and launching her own gallery in 2022).
Several of the latter have been within the BOSL Innovation Pavilion curated by Jamee Sandalwood, which has featured Steve’s work in exhibitions within the main gallery space, as well as a solo exhibition within the smaller (and cosier) Waterfront Café gallery. And it is at BOSL where Stevie now has a new gallery space.
Stevie Basevi at BOSL, January 2025
Located within the region’s shopping precinct, Stevie’s gallery space sits alongside that of Jamie Sandalwood, allowing visitors to witness works by two very excellent Second Life photographers who have each made a name for themselves in landscape photographer (although both Stevie and Jamie’s portfolios cover much more).
For her first display at the new gallery, Stevie presents a collection of images celebrating both winter and the holiday season. These are engaging pieces, presenting scenes we can all appreciate, often offered with muted tones which reflect the season as much as the settings captured within them. From reindeer grazing in the snow to brooks and streams bubbling through snow-frosted landscapes and avenues white with winter’s delights, and which include Santa enjoying a little off-duty fun, these are all pieces ready to engage the eye and offer unique and beautiful views of familiar places within Second Life.
Stevie Basevi at BOSL, January 2025
And when you’ve visited it, why not hop over to her main gallery?
After the Rain, January 2025 – click any image for full size
Note: After the Rain has been updated to become Sous Les Oliviers – read here for more, and the SLurls here have been updated to the new landing point.
Ely (Elyjia Baxton) recently opened a new Full region design entitled After the Rain, and as always with her work, it is an absolute delight to visit, explore and photograph, being packed with detail. It is also a setting with a couple of related venues about to come on-stream, although at the time of my visit, one had only “soft” opened, and the other was still being finalised.
I’ve covered Ely’s work extensively in this blog – all the way back to some of her earliest co-designs, in fact; and it has been an absolute pleasure to be able to witness and share in her growth as a noted and visual region designer in that time, and After the Rain continues to demonstrate her skill in presenting richly engaging and photogenic locations.
After the Rain, January 2025
This is a place offering everything from a bustling little town through quiet country walks and rural retreats to a coastal fishing harbour, passing by way of livestock farming, natural parkland and cosy homes, all without ever feeling overcrowded or cramped.
Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of After the Rain, a place of tranquillity and beauty. Discover a quaint little town, a charming harbour, and welcoming homes. Stroll along trails that wind past picturesque farms and peaceful rest areas. Whether you’re looking for a place to relax, explore, or simply admire the view, After the Rain is the ideal retreat. Every nook and cranny is designed to offer you an immersive and soothing experience, away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. Let yourself be swept away by the magic of After the Rain; here every visit is a new adventure.
– After the Rain Destination Guide description
After the Rain, January 2025
The Landing Point sits in the south-east corner of the region, where lies the little town. Small it might be, and with the buildings largely unfurnished, the town still has a feeling of life about it, and (Land Capacity allowing) it might yet see a little décor entering some of the shops. This aside, the streets are certainly decorated and offer nice touches of detail.
Follow the cart track north from the town and you’ll pass by the park offices and the hilltop park with its cosy places to sit. Winding on, the track reaches to a covered bridge passing over one of the many channels and bodies of water breaking up the landscape. It is here that the farmstead might be found. With the house furnished and plenty of little details scattered around the horse meadow and barns, there’s a lot to take in here.
After the Rain, January 2025
Carry on westwards along the track, and a slightly rickety bridge provides access to another farmstead where sheep and chickens are being raised, prior to the track reaching the little fishing harbour.
However, before carrying on the the harbour, take a moment to wander through the garden of the farmhouse; you’ll find stone steps rising to a rugged and wooded headland carrying on it signs of abandoned use: a broken greenhouse, abandoned furniture and a deserted cabin and outhouse crouch among the trees and rocks, largely ignored by the stream tumbling and bubbling through the headland to drop into one of the region’s larger bodies of water, overlooked by a comfortable camp site.
After the Rain, January 2025
A second way out of the town lies under the umbrella-hung archway down the steps from the Landing Point. Here, the cobbled street passes an outdoor market and up to an impressive covered square and its nearby stone bridge standing tall over the same body of water as the covered bridge mentioned above. Beyond this stone bridge one might find a cottage with a charming view over another body of water, the region’s lighthouse (again furnished), and walks among the trees and uplands on this southern side of the region.
All of this barely scratches the surface of After the Rain, given I’ve skipped over many of the little touches – from wildlife to places to sit, indoors and out – some of them on the water or tucked away – to cats and horses and sheep, to a richness of flora throughout. However, two I really should mention are the café and music venue, both of which, at the time of writing, had yet to formally open – although the café is available for visits.
After the Rain, January 2025
The Loulou Café sits on the north side of the region on square of land which, but for the two short causeways reaching out to it, is close to becoming and island in its own right. Presented within a wild garden and offering its own indoor and outdoor seating, the café is available for people to visit, and its terraces and ivy-hung walls, welcome visitors who find it by watch of the parkland or the horse farm. I understand from Ely that it will be used for a music event venue in time.
Located in the sky over the café, Loulou club. Yet to open to the public, this presents a fusion of avant-garde and art deco stylings with a fusion of techno and retro in a manner which both captures the eye and reflects the kind of music it will offer once open: deep house, prog house and electro, and will feature DJs and live performers.
After the Rain, January 2025
I’m not sure when the club is due to open – the best way to find out is perhaps to visit the region and see when the club is accessible (or ask Ely – there is no Group to currently join).
That said, whether or not you’re interested in joining events at the club, After the Rain is a must-see setting for anyone who enjoys exploring Second Life; you’re not going to be disappointed. My thanks to Cube Republic for the pointer!
Dreamworld is the name Cica Ghost has given to her first installation of 2025, as just as the new year tends to be a time when we look positively towards the bright promises of the incoming year and all we might dream and achieve, so Cica offers a bright, happy setting that puts a spring in the step and a smile on the face.
This is a setting sort-of dominated by the feline form – I think that like me, Cica has a love of cats -; but one that comes in a light-hearted and whimsical way. The cats in the case are of enormous size and come in a variety of forms: literal catfish, equally literal cat houses, kitty seats … There’s also a little touch of Jerry among the Toms, including a mouse house and little mouse buggies to drive around in.
Cica Ghost – Dreamworld, January 2025
Among all of these, and within the patchwork landscape might be found long-horned cows, lama, and birds – and a rather large frog, complete with crown, as if waiting for a prince (or princess?) to come along and land it a kiss.
As might be expected with Cica, there are opportunities to sit and pass the time, to dance, to enjoy times on the water aboard a little boat – even to blast off in a rocket and experience some weightlessness.
Cica Ghost – Dreamworld, January 2025
The installation is accompanied by a quote from Brazilian lyricist and novelist, Paulo Coelho de Souza:
Love is what dreams are made of!
It’s a marvellous sentiment – one reflective of much of de Souza’s writing, much of which has been born of a life rich in experience: from being committed to a mental institution by his parents at the age of 17, through forsaking his dream of being a writer in order to meet the approval of those same parents, to being deeply involved in the hippie culture in the 1960s to his career as a lyricist and – eventually, procrastination being one of his strong suits, a writer.
Cica Ghost – Dreamworld, January 2025
Here, the quote reminds us of the power of love – and the need to show it; as does the brightness of Cica’s setting – indeed, of Cica’s library of work. So, why not hop along and share in Cica’s love and enjoy your own dreams (and don’t forget to pick up your gift!).
Poetic Moon, January 2025 – click any image for full size
Beloved is the name Anu Papp has given to the latest setting presented on her Homestead region of Poetic Moon. Designed by Dandy Warhlol (Terry Fotherington), the setting is – to me, and for various reasons – potentially one of the best he has produced thus far.
There is a genuine and natural flow to the landscape which is captivating, and the placement of building and structure within it, the form of the island, just draws the eye through it, offering both a photogenic beauty and a sense of tranquillity and wholeness with nature, the industrial elements scattered about notwithstanding.
Poetic Moon, January 2025
A creative talent herself, Anu is perhaps best known for founding and leading the Muse Dance Company, however in-world she is also a designer, photographer-artist and builder. These are all talents reflective of her physical life presence and talents, which extend into music, spiritualism, yoga and more, as noted within her Second Life Spotlight article, published in May 2023. All of this is also reflected somewhat within Beloved.
The setting itself forms a rugged temperate island, its coastline mostly cliffs of hardened rock or softer sandstone, the later carved by time and tide into shallow bays or ribbons of low-lying shoreline. Whilst hardly what one might call beachy, the latter offer opportunities to walk alongside the push and pull of the tide, splash through pools of seawater temporarily cut off from the rest of the waters surrounding the island.
Poetic Moon, January 2025
This is a place with a high water table of its own – across its rugged back are two large and one smaller bodies of water (one of which carried subtle hints of perhaps being man-made rather than a natural occurrence. It is close to the largest of these bodies of water that the Landing Point is located (although it is not enforced), and it was on arrival that I immediately felt a comforting sense of Deja-vu; despite it being my first visit to the setting, I felt I knew it. As I cammed around, I quickly realised why: with the windswept ruggedness, the large body of water with a trail running alongside it, Beloved bought to mind an old-time favourite those who are long in the tooth (like me) might recall): Roche.
Now, to be clear, there is nothing intrinsically linking the two designs; in fact when taken as a whole, there are utterly different; but the fact that Beloved did bring memories of my multiple visits to Roche between 2012 and 2015 nevertheless gave me a sense of belonging as I started to explore Beloved. Many of the buildings scattered across Beloved perhaps aided that sense of the familiar with me, again not because of any similarities with Roche, but because they offered a similar sense of space between them, a space visitors can wander and absorb in quite solitude or in company.
Poetic Moon, January 2025
Anu has a love for the works of Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, the 3th-century poet, scholar, theologian and mystic; she quotes him in her Profile and with Beloved, she offers part of A Great Wagon, a poem associated with spiritual growth. In particular, the verses she has selected offer with might be considered a pivotal truth on the journey to spiritual awareness: that we are not human beings sometimes having moments of spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings travelling through a human experience.
In stating this truth, Rūmī, notes that as humans, we function in dualities: beauty and ugliness; truth and and lies; good and bad; black and white; and this duality of mode is the cause of all our conflicts. But as spiritual beings, we should recognise that nothing is either one or the other; that within the void of being, everything flows – there is no black and white to divide us; no sectioning of thoughts or emotions, we are simply one.
Poetic Moon, January 2025
This is a concept that can get the grey matter working overtime to try to understand – and in this, Beloved is an ideal place in which to consider Rūmī’s words and the notions of self and oneness. As well as the region’s rugged beauty, there are multiple places to sit in contemplation, listen to the local sounds, to enjoy the ebb and flow of the waters surrounding the island – and the ebb and flow of shared company, if desired. Places where we can – as Rūmī might have put it – see beyond our physical bodies and understand our true essence as beings of the spirit.
In acknowledgement of this, and – if I might be so presumptuous – I would add to Anu’s use of the poem, I would perhaps offer a further quote:
In the body of the world, they say, there is a soul and you are that.
But we have ways within each other that will never be said by anyone.
Poetic Moon, January 2025
For those who prefer to focus on the region’s picturesque beauty, there is certainly no disappointment to be had. Dandy’s attention to detail here is superb, with many touches to draw the eye and the camera lens, from the cost interior of the brick cabin by the lake through the egrets gathered above the northern cliffs to the little birds gathered on a powerline – something which might, except for the absence of a shoebill, put some in mind of a certain Pixar short and thus raise a smile – and more besides.
An engaging and visual setting, ideal for exploration, contemplation and appreciation – kudos to Anu and to Dandy – and my thanks to Susann De Cuir for the hat-tip.
Hermit Gallery, Saint Elizabeth’s University, January 2025: Michiel Bechir
In 2009 I embarked on my journey as a Second Life photographer. I like to share the richness of the creations from various sims, by trying to show all their aspects in my pictures. During my in world travels, I encounter numerous individuals from around the globe who share their backgrounds, passions, and interests with me, for which I am very grateful.
– Michiel Bechir
With these words, Michiel Bechir introduces himself – if such an introduction is even required, his work being well known with in the SL arts community as both a photographer-artist and as the owner of his own gallery where he promotes other artists – and his latest exhibition, which opens on January 6th, 2025 at the Hermit Gallery of Saint Elizabeth’s University.
As a fellow traveller across Second Life, Michiel has done much over the 15 years he’s been recording his travels to capture the beauty of many places across the grid, sometimes casting his photographic net wider to include avatar-centric photography. In that time – as do so many of SL’s talents – he has refined his technique and learned to use editing tools with a fine touch in order to enhance his images and imbue them with further sense of mood and/or genre / and uniqueness.
Hermit Gallery, Saint Elizabeth’s University, January 2025: Michiel Bechir
Within Beyond Borders: A Visual Journey, he offers a selection of his work as both a demonstrations of his art and as a mini retrospective of his photography over the years. And when better than to hold a retrospective than, perhaps the beginning of a new year, thus offering a look back even whilst eyes might be set on the future?
Spread across the gallery’s three levels – with some also out on the roof terrace, the collection is focused on a given theme within each area of the gallery: Animals, History, Landscapes, and Flowers. While the collection is bracketed within the period 2009-2024, the majority of the images lean towards the latter years, being particularly focused on the period 2020-2024. Whilst this is far from a negative per se, I would have enjoyed perhaps seeing a wider spread of images in terms of years, so as to better appreciate Michiel’s evolving style; but this is a purely subjective comment.
Hermit Gallery, Saint Elizabeth’s University, January 2025: Michiel Bechir
As it is, what is presented is engaging and rich display of Second Life photographic art, the use of sub-themes split between the different galley levels allowing each to stand as a mini-exhibition in its own right, and I have no hesitation in recommending Beyond Borders for a visit.
Luminara, January 2025 – click any image for full size
Luminara is a Full region lovingly designed by Sedona (Sedona Starchild) to offer the peace and tranquillity of a woodland setting, mixed with touches of whimsy, all of which offer might offer more than first appears to be the case, as the setting’s entry in the Destination Guide hints.
Luminara is a space created with care, where every detail holds a deeper meaning if you’re open to it. You’ll find mirrors, keys, and other interactive elements designed to spark reflection; alongside peaceful surroundings meant to calm the mind. Whether you uncover deeper insights or simply enjoy the beauty of nature, may your time here feel meaningful in its own way.
– Luminara’s Destination Guide description
Luminara, January 2025
However, this description barely scratches the depth of meaning one might find within the region, because this a a setting of a very personal nature. It is both a reflection of Sedona’s journey through life and a visualisation of the kind of questions many (all?) of us may ask when all the noise, bustle and distractions of everyday living fade into the background, and we have the time to contemplate is this all I am?
This isn’t just a virtual space; it’s a piece of my heart, filled with the thoughts and questions that have shaped me. Every detail, every message, holds something I’ve discovered along the way.
I want to be honest: part of me created this space to connect, to feel seen, and to share something meaningful with others. There’s a vulnerability in opening up my inner world, and I’ve come to accept that my motivations aren’t always selfless. But my deepest hope is that Luminara offers you something—a moment of reflection, a sense of peace, or even a little inspiration to take with you.
– Sedona Starchild
Luminara, January 2025
The Landing Point sits on the west side of the region. Close by is a general information board providing hints about exploring the setting, and also a Greeter which should offer you group membership together with a notecard from Sedona. If these are not offered then touch the mirror sitting alongside the tree above the noticeboard. Standing opposite the footpath is a deck with an over-the-water view and a tree of wisdom “sharing insights inspired by Naval Ravikant”.
The path here runs north-south, with another arm running inland. Which you take is entirely up to you: just be sure to keep an eye out for the mirrors and keys along whichever route you take – and other items and creatures offering themselves as advisors or presenting opportunities of reflection, introspection and / or affirmation.
Luminara, January 2025
Whilst contiguous in nature and presenting a naturally flowing landscape, the region is designed such various locations within it have a sense of privacy and seclusion such that they are both a part of the whole and also apart from it. This is achieved through the use of curtain walls of rock, bodies of water, screens of trees and bushes, and considered use of elevation. EEP settings are also used to offer environments in keeping with aspects of the region – so be sure to have Used Shared Environment checked.
The paths winding through the region will lead you to the majority of the locations to be found within it; however, I’m not going to describe everything the region offers here; a major part of Luminara is that of discovery both in terms of personal discovery through the aforementioned mirrors, keys and advisors, and in terms of the beauty of region itself.
Luminara, January 2025
That said, some of the more obvious areas to look out for include the Luminara swamp with its summer house; the open-air theatre, the music deck built over one of the bodies of water and which has sitting alongside it a modern lounge in the form of the Scarlet Creative Hoxton Loft, while the deck itself offers access to a more secret hideaway for those who can find it.
Elsewhere there are follies where couples and individuals might dance, a hilltop retreat, a terraced pool, and places to sit under trees, on the water, alongside the coastline, most of which will be found as one wanders the paths an trails, whilst the Tatra Dance circle holds a particular magic.
Luminara, January 2025
Throughout all of this are the touches of detail and whimsy which both bring a smile to the lips and perhaps offer further symbolism. The former might be found on the water, where racoons are enjoying themselves with a little skinny dipping (or is that furry dipping?) whilst taking a trip on a little rowing boat. Elsewhere unicorns add a sense of dream whilst deer, foxes, bear and rabbits might be found throughout the landscape.
The whimsy comes in many forms, some clearly intended to attract attention and stir the brain cells – such as the White Rabbit; others are more curious, such as the figure rising from the water near the music deck – it is simply seeking Seymour, or indicative of disquieting thoughts and reflections? You decide.
Luminara, January 2025
Finished with a subtle soundscape, Luminara presents an engaging, richly evocative and through-provoking setting with multiple opportunities for discovery and exploration. It is also a place given to evolution as well – and as much about what we put into it as find within it, as Sedona notes. So, ensure your curiosity is engaged with dropping in.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 