Creatures of Light is an exhibition of images by Harbor (Harbor Galaxy) which opened at MetaLES, curated by Ux Hax and Romy Nayar, on July 8th.
“For those of you who are familiar with my work through Flickr or shows here in-world. Creatures of Light may be something of a departure from my usual style,” Harbor says in introducing her work. “My objective was to use an avatar devoid of ornamentation and to only utilize poses, light and colour to create these pieces and to give myself permission to play and to step outside my comfort zone.”
I cannot speak to Harbor’s work on Flickr – no link is provided, and Flickr’s search doesn’t appear to recognise her as “Habor Galaxy”, making a targeted search difficult. However, what I can say is that in the nineteen images presented at MetaLES, Harbor has produced some quite extraordinary art, which in places encompasses abstract expressionism and in others seemingly touches on fractal patterning, whilst in all of them is a study of the human (or in this case, avatar) form.
In this latter regard, and considering the lack of facial features, some of the images are quite exquisite in their portrayal of mood and emotion, easily matching more traditional portraiture. Take Contemplating the Standards Beauty, for example; there is a wonderfully layered narrative to the image – the heads of the subject may only be wire frame, but they carry with them the sense of expressions, while the body language of figure contemplating them – the artist? – speaks clearly of her or his contemplation of the images. Further along, The Body wonderfully presents action, the swirls of colour, sweeps of lines all suggestive of motion and the power of sinew and muscle, tendon and ligament.
Opening on Wednesday, July 19th, 2017 at 1:00pm SLT is a new exhibition at Solo Arte entitled Not Only … But Also. It features the art and images of Boudicca Amat and myself.
Receiving an invitation to display my images always comes as a mixture of thrill and nervousness. Thrill, because I don’t regard myself as any kind of Second Life photographic artist – my images are primarily concerned with illustrating the posts I write about the places I visit. Nervousness, simply because my work, as illustrative, tends to be a little “plain Jane” when compared with the true masters of the SL landscape.
I mention this not out of modesty, but because I’ve previously written about exhibitions at Solo Arte, and the idea of filling the space there with only my work actually filled me with a feeling akin to panic. Hence the suggestion to Solo Arte’s curators, Terrygold and Melania, that a second person is invited to share the available space. And to me, this second person could only be Boudicca Amat.
Boudicca’s work is, in a word, exquisite. Beautifully composed and executed, the artistry encompasses not only the image itself, but the vision and creativity poured into the entire process of producing such richly evocative moments in time, including, often, are care pouring over poses and sets. As such, I’m genuinely delighted to be sharing the Solo Arte space with her. Her avatar studies also – I hope – form a counterpoint focus for my landscape images.
As Solo Arte is a mixed indoor / outdoor venue, offering pleasant walks along a canal, a little bar and outdoor events area, Bou and I have split the space up between us in with the aim of making a visit more of a mix for people. On the landing point side of the art space, my own images can be found outside around the garden area, while further along the canal, Bou has a display inside one of the two exhibition halls. Across the canal bridge, the positions are reversed: I’ve used the second of the exhibition halls, and more of Bou’s would can be found in the courtyard behind the hall, which opens off of the events courtyard. We’ve add exhibition posters to help point the way to the different locations.
When visiting, do note that Solo Arte is presenting two exhibitions: not Only … But Also, and Riflessi Sul Nero (which you can read about here). As such, you may be directed to Riflessi Sul Nero when teleporting. If this is the case, please use the teleport disc alongside the landing point to reach the main Solo Arte exhibition area to find us.
Update: July 28th: Zoe Connolly produced a video of Welcome to Somewhere, which say says was inspired by this blog post. It’s a delight to watch, and I’m embedding it at the end of the post with thanks to her. I’ll hopefully be back to making my own videos at some point in the not too distant future!
It’s a catchy name for a place: Welcome to Somewhere, the Full region designed by DarkDesire (Stefan Salmson) and Petra Teatime (Petra Hienke) – and it is certainly appropriate. This is an enigmatic location; on the one hand strange and new, on the other, containing just enough familiarity about it to suggest is it somewhere you may have been to or seen before. Caught in an eternal twilight which adds to the general atmosphere when exploring (although I admittedly opted for daytime pictures in the hope of showing a slightly different face to the region), Welcome to Somewhere is a place of charm and mystery, where hints of dark secrets lay without ever their true nature being overtly revealed.
If you follow the given SLurl, your visit will start on the north side of the land, marked by houses, cottages, a house boat and a warehouse place of work. Everything is a little run-down, suggesting this is a place that’s seen better days – there’s even the sad hulk of a sunken trawler partially blocking access to the quayside for other vessels.
Find your way ashore, and a dirt track points west from the back of the wooden warehouse-come-store / place of work, directing you along the coastline before turning south and delivering you to what remains of a fun fair. Overgrown, the rides broken and decaying, the fair has the edge real edge to it: the clown’s fang-filled smile at the gate not entirely a promise of jollity within. A Ferris wheel, long broken and rusted, stands sentinel over two foot bridges. One faces east, towards some old stone ruins where sits a little tram-car converted for use as a tea shop, its innocence standing in contrast to the darker hints of the fun fair. Deeper within the ruins is forgotten outdoor stage, resuming the air of foreboding about this place.
The second, smaller foot bridge leads to two imposing houses facing one another across paved and ordered gardens, complete with an orangery housing a harpsichord, a little outside café alongside it. Sitting between low shoulders of rock, these distinguished houses and their gardens give a sense of money and order, their status perhaps once the dominant feature in this landscape.
Another track winds its way east from here, skirting the edge of the large lake occupying a far portion of the land before passing a slightly dilapidated farmhouse and over another foot bridge to where tall Scotts pines grow, the path gently undulating between them. At the end of this path sit more buildings, exuding an air of menace – something greatly increased by the puppet theatre parked at the water’s edge. There is something disturbing about this; it appears neither friendly nor welcoming – one could almost imagine the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang waiting to usher unsuspecting souls inside, before dropping the bars across the entrance and trapping them.
It is this air of menace – or at least the feeling this place has a darker side to it – which adds greatly to the overall feel to the region when exploring it under the low light of dusk. It sharply contrasts with the beautifully picturesque nature of the landscape (best appreciated in daylight). The latter presents calm waters, shaded walks, gentle hill climbs to follies and a little hilltop function room (perhaps once the scene of happy Sunday afternoon dances), but as one travels, so the delight the the landscape become tinged with that frisson of discomfort, the urge to look over your shoulder when walking the path to the odd little puppet theatre.
Just where is everyone? Some of the region feels as find it has been run-down a left to decay for a long time – notably the fun fair. Other parts feel as if they’ve recently fallen on hard times. But so too is there a feeling that the locals have only fled, leaving only the wildlife – and the dolls. These are to be found scattered around, indoors and out. do they mean anything? That’s for you to decide. And what of the strangeness of the little hamlet where explorations of the region begin? Why is it that it has a roadside auto shop where no road has seemingly ever run?
Whether you seek to answer these questions, and any other which might occur to you as you explore Welcome to Somewhere is entirely down to you. One thing is undeniable about this place, however. It is an enigmatic delight to visit, offering numerous opportunities for photography and lots of room for meandering discovery of all it has to offer.
I often discuss the idea of narrative in images when review art in these pages. Not every picture has to tell a tale beyond itself, but for me, depth is added when it does; when the image before you becomes a glimpse caught in time of a far broader canvas, inviting the imagination into it and consider all that might lie beyond the window we see.
When it comes to the art of Cybele Moon (Hana Hoobinoo), we are given not so much a window into a narrative, but a doorway into entire realms. Her work is, in a word ethereal; there is a beauty and depth to it which is magnificently and hauntingly moving – and you can can witness this for yourself at the meadow art area in Commune Utopia, where she has been invited to exhibit her work. She presents 15 pieces (16 if you count her enchanting bio giver) and as always, all are truly marvellous pieces. To enjoy them to the fullest, be sure to set your time of day to midnight.
Cybele’s Second Life work is a reflection of her photography in the physical world, where she captures landscapes – sometimes using an infra-red camera – and produces mythical scenes of extraordinary depth and life. Many of the pieces she displays in-world combine the physical and virtual worlds to create wonderfully layered pictures which – as noted – are richly narrative in nature.
Her muse for her work is a combination of history and myth – some of her work is inspired by Celtic and Icelandic mythology, for example, and other pieces are inspired by her own travels in north Africa and Central America. She describes her work as constantly evolving, and one of the attractions of the Commune Utopia exhibition is the breadth of her work on display – composites, colour and monochrome all share the space, offering the visitor a marvellous view into the various forms her worlds can take.
The will be an opening event for Cybele’s exhibition at Commune Utopia at 12:00 noon on Saturday, July 22nd in the art meadow. Also, no visit to Cybele’s work is every complete without also visiting her websites. In Runes of the Gatekeeper’s Daughter, she presents tales and photographs inspired by her travels. Meanwhile, Virtually Yours presents her images from, and musings on, virtual worlds.
Commonwealth Village is a Mainland located Community themed on the looks and climate of New England. Developed by Derek Boston, it offers residential rentals, village shopping and an expanding arts and music programme.
Built around a central square without outlying rental residences all in a New England style, the communal heart of the community is a tavern-side meadow where live music events are held, together with open mic sessions. Friday July 14th will see Nikita Mortenwold performing on the stage from 14:00 SLT, followed by Ian Bleac at 15:00 SLT.
Also opening at 14:00 SLT on Friday 14th July is a new art exhibition at the Commonwealth Village. An open-air event being held on the paved piazza in front of the village’s imposing pavilion, I’m quite delighted and honoured to say that the display is of work by …. me!
It was a genuine surprise and pleasure to receive an invitation from Derek to display images from my Exploring Second Life series of blog posts in these pages, particularly as art is one of the newest additions to the Commonwealth’s event calendar. I was equally delighted to be able to chat with Derek in June in my role as a gallery space curator to discuss art exhibitions in SL.
For the exhibition, I’m offering some 16 images from some of the more recent travels Caitlyn and I have made across the grid, and I hope people will find them pleasing. I’d also like to offer an open invitation to anyone do minded to join us at the Commonwealth Village for the music and the opening from 14:00 SLT on Friday, July 14th.
Ash Falls is a homestead region build by Leaf and Birdy Moone, and it is an absolute delight to visit. Softly lit by the last rays of a lowering Sun, setting slowly to the south, such is the sheer beauty of the region it deserves to be seen both under its natural windlight (Bryn Oh’s Mayfly) and something a with a little more daylight.
A v-shaped island facing the south-east, cradles a broad, flat beach within its rocky, wooded arms. But this is not the familiar sandy beach so often seen throughout Second Life; it is a cinder beach, the sand dark and course, suggestive of having been created over the ages from the aftermath of many volcanic eruptions. Behind it to the north and east, the rugged backbone of the island offers paths and tracks to be followed, shaded cuddle nooks to be found – and more besides.
The landing point sits at the end of the northern arm of the island’s rocky V, a stone terrace of some age, with walls partially bracketing it on two sides. A short walk from here in the evening’s light, are wrought iron gates offering access to a broader terrace, complete with parasolled seating, quiet water features and a splashing fountain.
A grassy avenue points the way eastwards, lit by tall lamps and bordered by thick bushes. A set of wooden steps just to the right at the start of this path presents a way down to the beach, while the end of the trail is marked by a wooden platform overlooking a deep, square quarry, long disused and now semi-flooded. Water drops free and clear from falls to one side of this square basin, while lanterns drift and turn on eddies of air, floating over another platform built over the waters of the quarry.
A coffee-house sits at the edge of the small inlet cutting into the beach, straddling sand and the gentle wash of the tide. It offers seating inside and out, and is watched over by cuddle spots further up the beach towards the rocky uplands. Head east along the beach, and you’ll pass a narrow opening cut through the rocks providing access to the old quarry. Not far from this is a slope leading up to an old shack and barn, perhaps once associated with the quarry, but now evidently a home to someone. Follow a grass path between tall fir trees from here, and you’ll discover another snuggle spot and steps leading down to a little cove caught in a very localised rain storm!
Further around the beach, east of the slope leading to the old shack, are wooden steps offering the way up to another path. This runs up between a line of rock on one side and a high-banked slope on the other to where a much grander house sits upon the eastern headland. Both this house and the shack are open to the public to explore, and a further trail curls away from the area in front of the house, leading the way to a cosy outdoor theatre, surrounded by trees and bushes.
Ash Falls is a beautifully scenic setting, perfect for photography, exploration, and simply wandering / sitting. It’s perfect for a getaway, and ideal for resting the mind.
