Category: Reviews

Blip Mumfuzz at Black Label in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Blip Mumfuzz: Photographs

Now open at the Black Label gallery is a new exhibition of art by Blip Mumfuzz.  Located in a sky gallery area reached via teleport from the gallery’s landing point, the exhibition can be found both indoors and out, within a large warehouse-like building in keeping with the gallery’s ground level facilities, on its outside walls and across the street. Also note that one of the “backdrops” to the setting is also one of Blip’s pieces.

Blip’s photography started as a means of recording her travels through Second Life in order to help her revisit them through memory. However, as she states in her liner notes for the exhibition, the focus of Blip’s images gradually shifted from capturing settings to capturing individual scenes or objects. In doing so, she started looking at potential subject from a variety of angles – and even as spaces between them to discover the stories they might offer.

Blip Mumfuzz: Photographs

I found that once I found saw something interesting I’d start moving the camera around. Looking over and under, behind and between. I began looking less at the things themselves…but at the visual and spatial relationships between things.

I am an improviser by nature…in life and in my art. My images are typically the result of an unplanned, spontaneous interaction with my environment. Some of the images in this exhibit, however, are more narrative.

– Blip Mumfuzz discussing her art

Blip Mumfuzz: Photographs

All of this is reflected throughout this exhibition, which Blip has opted to simply call Photographs.  Several are what might be called “conventional” images of places Blip has been: Ashemi Reprise, Keleland, Takeuti Town; while others are beautiful abstraction on locations, such as Kekeland Abstract 9, The Last Forever, BL Abstract and Drapes, to name but three.

It is these latter style of image, coupled with Blip’s vibrant use of colour, that perhaps tend to grab the observer’s attention, drawing the eye into them through the richness of colour and unusual perspective.  These show their location through an unusual perspective or offer a remarkable perception of space through their panoramic presentation, marking them as attention-taking pieces. However, among the bright paintings are a number that are more muted, their softer tones contrasting strongly with the bolder pieces. This gives the exhibition an added layering of effect; it is as if the brighter images are the loud extroverts at a gathering, demanding their presence is witnessed and their story heard. Meanwhile the softer toned images scattered among them come across as the introverts; they try to pass unnoticed, content to allow the other make all the noise – but their story is no less compelling when heard.

Blip Mumfuzz: Photographs

I’m not actually clear on when the exhibition closes; I assume it will be around mid-November, given it opened on October 13th. However, I do recommend taking the time to see it before then.

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Blip Mumfuzz at Black Label Gallery (Eternal Posession, rated; Moderate)

Jules at the new Artful Expressions gallery

Posted on by Inara Pey
Artful Expressions

Artful Expressions, the boutique gallery curated by Sorcha Tyles, made its return to Second Life, with a new skyborne location and an exhibition of monochrome photography by Jules (GiulianaNicol).

The new gallery is offered on a rocky platform surrounded by just enough foliage to suggest a garden / woodland setting, giving it a pleasant outlook through the large windows and open front door (the latter guarded by an owl to prevent people walking outside and slipping off the edge of the rock). A little smaller than previous iterations of Artful Expressions, the gallery offers a cosy, warm space for exhibiting art and as a place where art lovers can hang out and make use of the corner coffee bar.

Artful Expressions: Jules

For her exhibition, Jules presents a set of six self-portraits, each of which offers a life study and a broader narrative into which it can be framed. Each is powerful in both presentation and the story to be found within it, perhaps made that much stronger through the use of a monochrome finish.

The narrative for each piece is suggested through both the image and its title – and I do recommend looking at each of these pieces both independently of their titles – that is, before taking a peep via Edit – and after. Doing so can often result each perhaps has two stories within it – one shaped by first seeing it, the second by the title itself; making a visit double the viewing pleasure.

Artful Expressions: Jules

A small, intimate exhibition of some genuinely engaging and imagination-stirring art marks the welcome return of a boutique gallery that has been missed these last few months.  It will remain open through until the end of November 2018.

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Artful Expressions (Niaoupolis, rated: Adult)

The rural delights of The Peak in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey

The Peak; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrThe Peak – click any image for full size

Note: The Peak is no more, as such SLurls have been removed from this post.

A photogenic community sim, with a European-countryside theme. A full sim with a selection of areas to explore, interactive games to play, rides. We are very voice friendly. We provide rentals as well. Tags: Music, open mic, karaoke, blog, carnival.

So reads the introduction to The Peak // Community, a new full region offering – as noted – a mix of public spaces and private rentals. Designed by KaidenTray, the region recently opened its doors to the public, and I was alerted to its presence by Shakespeare and Max, who had dropped in a couple of days prior to my own visit.

The Peak; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrThe Peak

There are a couple of remarkable things about this region. The first is the sheer visual appeal it presents, brining together a mix of elements together in what is as very photogenic setting that makes excellent use of the full 30K land capacity available to Full private regions. The second is, that as he notes in his Profile, Kaiden is a member of the Osbourne family in the physical world, and is not shy about the time he spends in Second Life (where he also runs a landscaping business).

While described as a “European countryside theme”, The Peak perhaps most clearly has its roots in rural Britain in terms of overall approach and styling whilst also casting its net far wider than just the UK and Europe. The country church and many of the houses would not look out-of-place among the rural byways of England, whilst the rugged nature of the landscape perhaps carries with it a hint of Scotland; even the wooden chalets out on the southern side of the region suggest the holiday camps from the days before air travel became cheap enough for almost anyone to enjoy.

The Peak; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrThe Peak

But so too does The Peak carry within it hints of the continental life, thanks to a large Tuscan style villa sitting towards the south-east corner, at the end of one of the semi-paved roads. Just below this sits a little coastal village, slightly separated from the rest of the region by cliffs and rocky slopes. With the brightly painted frontage of the buildings, this could easily be a place sitting on the Spanish coast – as the signage over doorways further suggests.

The more North American feel is evident on the north side of the region. Here, and to the east, a carnival sits, separated from the rest of the landscape by a narrow L-shape gorge. This is marked by the gentle rotations of a tall Ferris Wheel and the twisting madness of a roller coaster, while the derelict walls of a massive industrial-style building have been converted into both a bumper car arena and a gallery of street art, some of which carries a social message. It is here, perhaps that some of the region’s entertainment events will be held: parked within the carnival is a flat-bed truck, ready to serve as a stage for activities, while table games  sit close by as an alternative from for entertainment to the park’s rides.

The Peak; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrThe Peak

Meanwhile, to the west, a large sign points the way to the expanse of a trailer park proudly flying the Stars and Stripes, which also incorporates the wooden chalets mentioned earlier.

Quite excellent us is made of elevation throughout the region, with the roads and paths winding up and down slopes, around shoulders of rock, with cobble footpaths twisting their way down to what might otherwise be hidden walks along the edge of the sea, or by way of public courtyard down to the previously mentioned Spanish-themed village. For me, the winding, rise and fall of the principal road through the region again gives The Peak a distinctly English feel, as I’ve travelled along many such single-track lanes in certain parts of England many, many times.

The Peak; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrThe Peak

Being a relatively new region, most of the properties on the region have yet to be rented. Most are easily recognisable by the presence of a green For Rent box outside of them. I assume these boxes will vanish as places are rented, so a good rule of thumb during visits might be to treat the majority of houses, cottages and cabins on the region as rental / rented residences, regardless of whether a rent box is visible or not. For those who fancy being the lord (or laird) of the area, the rental properties extend to a fortified manor house, the church and manse close by adding to the feeling that this part of The Peak may have once formed a landed estate in the region’s past.

At the time of my visit, some work was still going on within the region, so don’t be surprised if you come across the odd sign indicating this to be the case; there’s also something of a Halloween theme presents as well. But these aside, The Peak is one of the most engaging and considered new regions I’ve visited in Second Life: the wealth of detail, the blending of styles and ideas, the inclusion of a natural and atmospheric sound scape; all of this comes together to present a place well worth visiting, exploring, photographing and simply enjoying. Those who do take photos are invited to share them via The Peak Flickr group.

The Peak; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrThe Peak

 

DiXmiX: CapCat and Meiló

Posted on by Inara Pey
DiXmiX Gallery: CapCat Ragu

Saturday, October 20th saw the opening of a new joint exhibition by CapCat Ragu and Meiló (meilo Minotaur) at DiXmiX Gallery – “joint” because not only are the two sharing the exhibition, they are also close friends in-world. A further connection between them is there respective exhibits share something of a related surrealist / post-modern surrealist lean that offers a subtext on identity.

CaPCat’s exhibition reside in the gallery’s Black Gallery hall on the lower floor. Entitled Fading, it presents a progressive series of images of an avatar’s head and shoulders, each labelled simply as “fading” with a number. Starting with Fading #1, with what appears to be a slightly out-of-focus study, they offer increasingly overlaid images in which the subject’s features are increasingly offset and overlaid, increasingly more detached from one another to become almost collage-like in form.

DiXmiX Gallery: CapCat Ragu

By presenting multiple, overlaid images, each picture raises questions of who we really are: we offer so many faces to the world – even to each other, no matter how well was know one another – that who we really are becomes blurred and distorted; the different versions of self overlaying one another, something almost combining, other times trying to become separate.

Within the gallery, the pieces have apparently been deliberately arranged out-of-sequence, suggesting the order isn’t so important as the commentary each individual piece makes on identity / the nature of self. However, I admit to finding following them in ascending order from Fading #1, gave the pieces an added narrative.

DiXmiX Gallery: Meiló

Located in the White Gallery hall on the mezzanine level, Meiló presents Stranger in a Strange Land, a series of intriguing paintings – self-portraits? –  each bright with colour. They depict an almost albino-like figure making her way through scenes and settings, mostly alone, but sometimes in the company of another – although she tends to always be the focus of the pictures.

Incorporating a blurred, hazy quality, the paintings have a similar surreal edge to them as the photos in the hall below. This not only causes the viewer to focus on the main subject, but also highlights the idea of travelling through a strange land: a world defined less by shape and form and more by colour. In doing so, they again seem to suggest a questioning of self: who we are within the world through which we travel, and what our place might be within that world. In this the albino-like presentation of the main figure adds to the questions raised, perhaps causing us to question who we are within this world – physical or digital.

DiXmiX Gallery: Meiló

When taken individually or as linked collections, Fading and Stranger in a Strange Land present thought-provoking exhibitions, something a little different for DiXmiX, but also something worth visiting and evaluation for yourself.

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Returning to the beauty of Winter Moon

Posted on by Inara Pey

Winter Moon; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrWinter Moon – click any image for full size

Incredibly, it’s been five years since I last wrote about to Winter Moon, the always evocative Homestead region designed by Dream Shadowcry (see here for more). How I’d managed to let it drop from my list, I’ve no idea – so my thanks to Annie Brightstar for the reminder via Twitter.

In 2013, the region was a near-perfect embodiment of a monochrome setting, watched over by the tall tower of a lighthouse and making good use of water and coastline to present a memorable location. The lighthouse is still there, something of a signature piece for Winter Moon, and the use of water is retained, giving a feeling of familiarity after so long since my last visit, but unsurprisingly, everything has changed.

Winter Moon; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrWinter Moon

From a monochrome photograph to a lover’s sanctuary, the transformation is wonderful to see – as are the many details that link this iteration of the region with past versions. The aforementioned lighthouse for example, or the ivory piano and the curve of a rocky arch; the upturned boat on the beach and the elegant use of water and land to present a memorable, romantic place in which to spend time.

Resembling an atoll with its southern aspect open the sea, the region sits beneath a default pink misty sky. Atmospheric when it comes to romance, the environment serves to make walking the ring of the atoll a journey of discovery. However, those wishing to take photographs may want to try an alternative windlight – and I have to say that doing so in no way diminishes the sheer beauty of the design; it can also make finding one’s way through the more wooded parts of the island easier.

Winter Moon; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrWinter Moon

An informal path runs around the island, progressing from the landing point in thee west, not far from the lighthouse, to pass over flowered field and under leaf-heavy boughs. Circling a good part of the inner pool of water, it leads the way to where the land climbs towards a set of high, narrow cliffs forming a curtain on the east side of the island. Water tumbles down three sides of this high divide, which separates the lagoon on one side from and eastern expansion of beach on the other, a beach that circles visitors back to the open mouth of the lagoon, spanned by a bridge that reaches out to the lighthouse.

The beach, with broad sands and cut into three by narrows channels spanned by low bridges, looks out on three compass points, and is reached via wooden steps running down from the northern end of the high cliffs. Scattered across the sands are numerous places to sit in the Sun or under shade, be that shade from a windswept tree or the lacy drapes of an Arabesque pavilion.

Winter Moon; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrWinter Moon

The beach isn’t the only place available for sitting: more chairs and perches can be found up on the cliff top, whilst array around the lagoon and seaward coasts are more pavilions and chairs sitting under the boughs of trees.

There is a wonderful mixing of styles here that increases the sense of beauty and romance. The Arabesque pavilion mentioned earlier, for example, sits on the beach like a tent in the desert, not far from the steam flowing outwards from tumbling falls where African elephants sit and bathe. Within the rounded shallows cupped by the land, and elven-like series of arches march out over the water to form a circle where couples can sit or dance to suitable music from the piano sited there; while from numerous trees chandeliers perhaps suits to the halls of some great Georgian house  hang to light the woodland paths.

Winter Moon; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrWinter Moon

Throughout, there are many little touches that bring Winter Moon to life as a place used by lovers – such as the typewriter to be found in a waterside pergola, a heartfelt letter caught on its rollers or the champagne waiting on ice in another pavilion. Over all this, the susurration of water washing the shore or falling from high rocks mixes with the song of birds and the tinkling of chimes caught on the breeze, combine to add further depth to the setting, bidding visitors welcome and encouraging them to stay.

Beautifully imagined and executed, with a lot to see and discover, Winter Moon comes with a fitting dedication:

You know that place between sleep and awake, the place where you can still remember dreaming? That’s where I’ll always love you, that’s where I’ll be waiting.

Winter Moon; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrWinter Moon

For lovers, romanticists, grid travellers and photographers alike, this is a region that remains an enduring place to visit and appreciate – and return to.

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A World of Soap in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey

Missing Mile - World of Soap; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrMissing Mile – World of Soap – click any image for full size

We are one of the oldest, grunge style, residential estates in Second Life. We feature opt-in community run role-play and events. Our themes range from the supernatural, to everyday urban life.

– Introduction to World of Soap from the estate’s website

I can vouch for the World of Soap, designed by Loch Newchurch having been around a good while, having first visited it in August 2013 – although I didn’t get so far as writing about it. So my thanks to reader Mili Miklos dropping me a line about it and jogging my memory; the note allowed Caitlyn and I to rectify things with a further visit  and (for me at least) the chance to get re-acquainted with this immersive role-play environment with its supernatural / dark tones.

Missing Mile - World of Soap; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrMissing Mile – World of Soap

Founded by Lock Newchurch, the community covers two regions: the township of Missing Mile and the rural Soap National Park. Both are designed to be set within North Carolina, USA, and the national park includes a reservation for the  Oconaluftee Cherokee. Both regions have their own unique character, and are linked via a road tunnel one to another.

Once the host of ritual murders, disappearances and biochemical experiments by the government, Missing Mile holds its fair share of secrets. Some say this dusty old town has become a lawless haven for the supernatural and the insane. Enter at your own risk! You never know what may be lurking among the humans…

– Missing Mile description, World of Soap website

Missing Mile - World of Soap; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrMissing Mile – World of Soap

Unlike most role-play regions, World Of Soap is opt-in, not opt-out. This means visitors are free to roam the town and the park to get a feel for things while those wishing to engage in local role-play are asked to wear tags to indicate they are players.

Given the supernatural theme to RP, it is open to a number of character types beyond human. These are: infected / zombies; vampires; witches / warlocks; animals; werewolves, and aliens (Greys); according to the website, the option to RP ghosts is “coming soon”. There are also a few character types that are not allowed, as they don’t fit the core role-play theme. These include furries, nekos and fantasy races such as elves.

Soap National Park - World of Soap; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrSoap National Park – World of Soap

The core for role-play in the region is based on the books by Poppy Z. Brite (Billy Martin), the humour from which is also reflected with the regions, as noted above.

A great place for fishing, camping and hunting but beware of the mysterious howls that can be heard late at night beyond the trees. Specially on the night of a full moon.

– Soap Natural Park description, World of Soap website

The World of Soap website provides full details on character types, character creation and role-play rules for those wishing to join the community as players, so I’ll not delve into these further here.

Missing Mile - World of Soap; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrMissing Mile – World of Soap

What I will say is both regions have a lot to offer visually, and present plenty of opportunities for photography, which is welcome within them. I cannot speak for the role-play, although during the three visits name in preparing this article, we did see some people wearing RP tags around the town.

Caught under a foggy sky, Missing Mile has the run-down look of a grunge town that has seen better days. Even so; it is still a township – even if it does have the odd ghost walking the streets and spectres hovering in doorways. Under more open skies, the park offers walks and camp grounds to be enjoyed. However, both also include rental properties for those wishing to make their homes on the region, so do be careful around the houses, etc., to avoid trespass.

Missing Mile - World of Soap; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrMissing Mile – World of Soap

Atmospheric, well designed, with the opportunity for role-play as well as offering a range of events (such as the pumpkin hunt on progress for Halloween), World of Soap is well worth visiting and exploring – and for those looking for new role-play opportunities, it might provide a home-from-home.

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