Category: Reviews

Tranquil Dreams in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey

Tranquility Dreams; Inara Pey, September 2015, on FlickrTranquility Dreams September 2015 (Flickr)

Tranquility Dreams is a new region recently opened by Elvira Kytori, the creator of the always stunning  Timeless Memories, which I last wrote about in July. I leaned about this new addition to Elvira’s White Dunes Estate region through Kylie Jaxxon, owner of The Trace Too and a mutual friend to both Elvira and myself, who invited me over to take a look.

Offering a tropical island look and feel, Tranquility Dreams is split between a residential environment – the houses scattered across the island are available for rent – and public  beaches open to all for wandering and relaxing; the overall design having been put together with photographers in mind.

Tranquility Dreams; Inara Pey, September 2015, on FlickrTranquility Dreams September 2015 (Flickr)

The region’s appearance suggests – to me at least – a feeling of it perhaps being a remote part of the US Gulf Coast; a place facing the sea, off the beaten track, and maybe even once a small private estate, presided over by the large, colonial-looking beach house towards the middle of the region. With ivy clinging to its timber-framed walls, broad balconies and verandahs shaded from the heat of the sun, this seems to hint at money having once run through the area.

Around the house sit a number of smaller dwellings, all wood built and somewhat bleached by sun and salt air, their presence giving the impression that as the money faded, so the land was sold, and people hurried in to take advantage of the prime, ocean-facing real estate. Or perhaps those who once owned the big house built the other properties with the intent to rent them out and help offset the running costs of their little corner of the world.

Tranquility Dreams; Inara Pey, September 2015, on FlickrTranquility Dreams September 2015 (Flickr)

Whichever way you chose to let your own stories about the region form and grow, one thing is clear:  this is a tranquil place, just as the name suggests. The houses are all set far enough apart from one another to invite a feeling of cosy privacy when indoors, while all of them have a their own sea view to be enjoyed by whoever rents them. At the same time, the paths and tracks running between them and down to the beach encourage exploration and wandering.

The houses have all clearly been carefully chosen to complement one another and give a feeling of community and togetherness, with the result that each adds its own character and charm to the region. I confess to finding myself drawn to the delightfully named Dust Bunny Daisy Houseboat by Noel Melody (lxlNoel), which sits on a pair of pontoons just off the beach.

Tranquility Dreams; Inara Pey, September 2015, on FlickrTranquility Dreams September 2015 (Flickr)

With ambient sounds, broad beaches to roam with chairs and picnic spots a-plenty, and a landing point located on a small offshore sandbar connected to the island by a wooden walkway, there is an easy charm to Tranquility Dreams which SL explorers will doubtless enjoy. And if you are looking for a new place to call home, you might just find yourself seduced into staying.

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Longing and Grief in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Faces of Longing and Grief - Dathúil gallery
Faces of Longing and Grief – Dathúil Gallery

Opening on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2015 at Dathúil Gallery, owned by Max Butoh and curated by Lυcy (LucyDiam0nd), is a new exhibition by Maloe Vansant, entitled Faces of Longing and Grief.

As the title suggests, this is a series of studies of the human face – mostly female (Maloe herself, I believe), although Maloe’s partner, Burk Bode, is also featured – in which the focus is very much on the emotions either displayed within the subject’s expression, or conveyed by the pose itself.

Faces of Longing and Grief - Dathúil gallery
Faces of Longing and Grief – Dathúil Gallery

Maloe uses quotes to describe the exhibit, of which a short extract from Barnacle Love, by Canadian novelist Anthony De Sa is perhaps the most informative:

The Portuguese call it saudade: a longing for something so indefinite as to be indefinable. Love affairs, miseries of life, the way things were, people already dead, those who left and the ocean that tossed them on the shores of a different land — all things born of the soul that can only be felt.

And indeed, there is a longing and a sense of sadness, a hint of grieving, an echo of death to be seen as one wanders through Dathúil’s hall and examines each of this large format images in turn. But to think of this as a “dark” or “depressing” exhibition would be a mistake.

Faces of Longing and Grief - Dathúil gallery
Faces of Longing and Grief – Dathúil Gallery

There is a raw, emotive power to each of these images – either within it, or in the response the observer has to it, or both. It is very hard, for example, not to imagine learning into one and kissing the worries of the subject away and giving a loving reassurance, or taking the hand of another in comfort  and offering to share the burden of sadness.

The use of colour and of black and white in the images is equally striking in how they bring the emotions of an individual piece to the fore and regulate the observer’s response. A series of four full-colour images on one wall (seen above), for example, tend to evoke a very strong – dare I say “louder” – emotional response when compared to the black-and-white studies, where the emotional content is perhaps more constrained within the image itself, and our own response is similarly toned down by the more monochromatic presentation.

Some of the images balance the use of the colour against a more monochrome look –  as with A touch of Melancholy and Just Want to Blend In (seen below), for example. The result is something of a different texture and feel to the emotion / feeling s captured within the image and in one’s own response. I admit to becoming quite captivated by these two pieces in particular.

Faces of Longing and Grief - Dathúil gallery
Faces of Longing and Grief – Dathúil Gallery

All of which is a long way of saying that these are studies where it is next to impossible to not yourself feel emotionally involved. The story behind each image may not be clear, but the desire to offer comfort, support, love, companionship is unavoidable.

This is yet another outstanding exhibition of an artist’s work which further enhances Dathúil’s reputation as one of the leading galleries in Second Life. Lucy is to be commended for arranging Maloe’s exhibit, and Maloe herself congratulated in bringing together images to present such a powerful and emotive subject.

Faces of Longing and Grief - Dathúil gallery
Faces of Longing and Grief – Dathúil Gallery

Faces of Longing and Grief formally opens at 13:00 SLT on Wednesday, September 2nd, and will remain open through until September 30th, 2015. You can also find more of Maloe’s work on her Flickr stream.

SLurl Details

A farewell to Forgotten City in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey

Forgotten City; Inara Pey, August 2015, on FlickrForgotten City August 2015 (Flickr)

Ciaran Laval was perhaps the first blogger to bring word that Forgotten City, the marvellous mechanoid town, largely the brainchild of Jenne Dibou and Mandy Marseille, would be closing in September 2015.

His article, which also contains a link to Mandy’s SL Universe forum post announcing the news and which includes some of the fascinating history behind the region’s development, was followed by numerous other posts about the region and its closure. As such, I decided to hold off a while and pay a further visit in farewell once I had a little time available to put together a video on the region as (hopefully) a reminder to all of this utterly enchanting build, which I last wrote about in June 2013 (a further visit in 2014 sadly didn’t make it into these pages).

Forgotten City; Inara Pey, August 2015, on FlickrForgotten City August 2015 (Flickr)

If you’ve not visited before, then I strongly, strongly urge you to do so before the gates of Forgotten City close, possibly forever. There is so much to see and charm and delight. Not only is the multi-tiered, steampunkish city beautifully scaled and executed (so much so that it was selected by the Lab as a location for some of the early in-world testing using the Oculus Rift), there really is so much to delight and discover.

Forgotten City; Inara Pey, August 2015, on FlickrForgotten City August 2015 (Flickr)

You can, for example watch its mechanical populace go about their daily tasks, possibly in the hope that the human inhabitants responsible for the city – and them – might one day return. Or, if you prefer, you can board a steamship and journey elsewhere, or, witness the arrival of the cat-a-maran (emphasis on the “cat” – complete with mechanoid kittens!), or you can teleport high into the sky and to the City’s Winter Parkland or visit Jenne’s store, the islands it occupies held aloft over the city by three airships. You’ll also find games to be played and – for the careful explorers – hidden secrets to be found.

Forgotten City; Inara Pey, August 2015, on FlickrForgotten City August 2015 (Flickr)

It’s not entirely clear when the gates will close – although it appears this will be later in September, rather than early on. Even so, if you do want to make a visit or a return visit, I’d recommend not leaving it too long, just in case.

SLurl Details

Santaurio’s summer draws to a close in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey

Santaurio, Cala del Barronal; Inara Pey, August 2015, on FlickrSantaurio, Cala del Barronal August 2015 (Flickr)

It was only supposed to be a summer 2014 setting, but Santaurio, Jac and Romy Mornington’s idyllic and mysterious island (originally sub-titled “The Lost Island”, in a nod to a certain television series), has endured for well over a year.

However, Jac and Romy have now announced that the region will finally be closing in a week or so, as they feel it is time move on to a new project. So, if you haven’t visited Santaurio so far, or haven’t been back in a while, now is the time to don your hiking boots, grab a hip flask of water and set out to do so, as the region is gain open to all for a land visit – no group membership required.

Santaurio, Cala del Barronal; Inara Pey, August 2015, on FlickrSantaurio, Cala del Barronal August 2015 (Flickr)

There have been a few changes since my first visit, back in April 2014; some subtle, and a nod to the passing of time, others a little more obvious and which present new little scenes that add more to any back story one cares to create for the island.

So it is, for example, that while the island’s signature crashed jet remains offshore, so the bodies within it have now gone (as has the scattered luggage on the beach), and over the passing of time seaweed has gathered around the wreck, no doubt sheltered by the ebb and flow of the tide by the ‘plane’s bulk. So to, interestingly, have some rocks grown up alongside the wreckage, providing a nice little sandy area on which the ever-patent stewardess now stands, ready to offer her greetings to visitors – well, it has to be better than a wet, slippery wing! 🙂 .

Santaurio, Cala del Barronal; Inara Pey, August 2015, on FlickrSantaurio, Cala del Barronal August 2015 (Flickr)

Just back from the beach facing the ‘plane, there had once been some strange ruins. These have since gone, replaced by a small encampment which indicates the downed jet isn’t the only aircraft to have wound up here: the wing of a light aircraft serves as a table, a propeller, presumably from the same ‘plane, propped alongside it. A radio set on another makeshift table suggests attempts to call for assistance…

Elsewhere, much that was familiar in the summer of 2014 remains: the beach club further along the coast from the crashed jet; the river winding inland to the secret little pools and hidden places, the numerous camps and places to sit and enjoy the scenery. Watch out or the entrances to what seems to be an old pirates’ hideaway; I don’t actually remember that from earlier visits – but it is entirely possible I missed it.

Santaurio, Cala del Barronal; Inara Pey, August 2015, on FlickrSantaurio, Cala del Barronal August 2015 (Flickr)

Santuario is another example of why I’ve always loved Jac and Romy’s builds; there is a wonderful attention to detail, with everything always finely tuned to flow together perfectly. Hence why they’ve tended to be covered a lot in these pages over the years – although admittedly, I’m so far behind in my travelogue visits at the moment that I have yet to make it to Bella Place – so expect to see that in these pages soon!

In the meantime, Santaurio still calls should you wish to visit – just don’t leave it much beyond the next week or so. And while it may well be going, I’m already anticipating whatever Jac and Romy have planned to replace it.

SLurl Details

Art in Hats set to return to Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey

AinHArt in Hats will be returning to Second Life in November 2015, this year supporting the inaugural Team Diabetes of Second Life season in support of the American Diabetes Association.

Founded in 2013 by Quan Lavender, the initial event offered a means for SL couture designers and artists to present images of hats as statement of art, each with a story to tell.

In 2014, the event saw over 100 hats and their paired images displayed by designers and photographers, with donations made during the event (including a silent auction) going to support the work of Feed A Smile.

For 2015, the Art In Hats even will take place between November 4th and 14th, 2015 inclusive, with Emma Portilo taking on the lead as Top Hat Coordinator, supported by Chloe Seljan as Events Coordinator (particularly for European time zone events), and designer Kimmera Madison a Coordinator and builder, and Johannes1977 Resident as a Coordinator and managing entertainments which meet US time zones.

Art in Hats 2013
Art in Hats 2013

Applications to be a part of this year’s Art in Hats event are now open, and the team are looking for designers, artists, creators, bloggers, photographers and entertainers, as the official announcement notes:

If you are an artist, designer or creator of some sort and want to express yourself through hats, headpieces, attachments to the head of some sort (LOL) then this is certainly the event for you! Art in Hats marries art to fashion and brings about new amazing works! Enter now by using the Sign Me Up! link and completing an application!

Not a creator type? Do you blog or are you a great photographer? We’re also looking for you! Use the Sign Me Up! link to complete the appropriate application!

Art in Hats 2014
Art in Hats 2014

Do be aware that places are limited, so if you are interested in participating in, or supporting, this year’s event, you might be best served by applying sooner rather than later.

For further information and updates on the event, be sure to track the Art in Hats website.

Seeing A Bit of Red in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
A Bit of Rd - MetaLES
A Bit of Red – MetaLES

Over the course of a century, Le Fantôme de l’Opéra’s  cloak has been thrown wide to encompass many retellings and adaptations in every medium – film, radio, stage, television and print – since Gaston Leroux first saw it serialised in the pages of Le Gaulois in 1909/10. Many of these adaptations, such as the 1943  film starring Claude Rains in the titular role, have themselves been folded back into the original story, adding to the legend.

And now, through until October 21st, that cloak has been thrown over MetaLES in the form of a tribute to the original story and some of its many interpretations, entitled A Bit of Red, by Kicca Igaly and Nessuno Myoo.

A Bit of Rd - MetaLES
A Bit of Red – MetaLES

Floating over the landing point on a series of large blocks (between which it is possible to fall if you’re not careful), lay key scenes from the story.  Most will be recognisable to those at least familiar with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1986 musical production (and short notes, indicated by the presence of a rose or rose petal, help give context to each scene), although the influences do go back to the original tale, and reflect some of the other many adaptations.

Thus we have, for example, the motifs of the Phantom’s mask and the opera house itself (although sadly, not the great chandelier); there is a familiar great pipe organ, from which huge spherical notes  float, and there is a the ruin of a boat, and an iron grate through which one can drop to a tunnel below, all representative of the story; the last referencing the labyrinth of tunnels and cellars beneath the opera house and which play a key role in the tale. Finally, raised above the centre of everything, is a dais on which Erik, Le Fantôme and Christine stand, separated by a mirror, symbolically broken on one side, whole on the other.

A Bit of Rd - MetaLES
A Bit of Red – MetaLES

Alongside of these there elements rich in symbolism, such as the broken cage. In it we can see Erik’s desire to hold Christine as his own – captive, if needs be – and also his change of heart towards her in setting her free. It also, perhaps, symbolises his own heart held captive to her and destined only to be broken. Or if you prefer, there is an alter, reminding us on the one hand of Erik’s attempt to force Christine to marry him under the threat of destruction and the death of others, and on the other of her love for Raoul and her desire to be with him.

Then there is the memorial to Christine. It both serves as an affirmation of Erik’s promise to the Persian within the novel that he did indeed set both Christine and Raoul free, and as a reference to the  2004 Joel Schumacher film, carrying as it does Christine’s married title and her dates of birth and death.

A Bit of Rd - MetaLES
A Bit of Red – MetaLES

In all A Bit of Red has been carefully constructed and does present an interesting reflection on Leroux’s work and its various offspring. The intricate design the weaving of the key aspects of the tale into understandable vignettes is undeniable. Nevertheless, in exploring, reading and witnessing, I couldn’t help but feel I was merely that: an observer. I didn’t feel as involved in the installation as I had perhaps hoped on my arrival; the Phantom wasn’t there, inside my mind, so to speak. Perhaps he’ll be in yours.