Tag: Art 2017

Cica’s Fade Away in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Cica Ghost – Fade Away

Fade Away is the name of Cica Ghost’s latest region-wide installation, which opened on May 5th, 2017. The title is drawn from a quote by Bob Dylan, “Some people seem to fade away but then when they are truly gone, it’s like they didn’t fade away at all.” It’s a quote from his 2004 memoirs, Chronicles 1,  which ostensibly looks back on his arrival in New York and immersion into Greenwich Village life.

It’s a quote which has tended to be used as a reflection of mortality, the passage of time and / or the sometimes transient nature of relationships. It is a fitting foundation for this installation, which is a deeply personal piece for Cica, for reasons those who know her are aware, and which I’m not about to reveal here without her permission. Suffice it to say, the meaning behind it is something with which we all identify at certain points in our lives.

Cica Ghost – Fade Away

Within a ghostly, misted landscape sits a bedroom, part of an old house, where a gaunt figure has apparently just risen from bed. An alarm clock states the time is some ten minutes before six. As we watch another version of the figure fades into view, apparently departing the room, looking over his shoulder, and down along a path, more versions of the figure fade in and out of view, copies of the alarm clock still frozen at ten before six sit close by, until the figure reaches a pair of wooden gates set within a rickety fence.

Nor is this all; outside of the house, and along part of the route, ghoulish creatures appear to watch and mock the figure’s progress, while he also passes through groups of cloaked figures, apparently caught in their own world. One more of these hooded figures sits apart from the rest, before a table, two cats providing him with company. Another alarm clock sits close by, also showing the same time.

Cica Ghost – Fade Away

Symbolism here is heavy – but what does it all mean? Perhaps the answer lies with a lone figure of a woman standing to one side of these various tableaux. She stands separated from them by the rickety fence the lone figure appears to be making his way without ever actually arriving, watching his progress.

Is the fence perhaps a metaphor, the dividing like between the woman’s physical presence in the world, and her memories of someone no longer in her life? If so, this perhaps makes the various tableaux across the rest of the region memories of that loved one, and his passage through (her) life. If so, might the hooded figures perhaps be more distant remembrances of time spent with him, echoes from deep within memory? As Dylan also said, “I’ll let you be in my dreams, if I can be in yours.”

Cica Ghost – Fade Away

Life is transient; however we feel about ourselves and those around us, we – and they – are only mortal. This would seem to be the message within the ghoulish characters gathered around the house. But at the same time, there is more to each of us than our physical presence, although that is often the most missed.  Through memories, we can hold on to those dear to us, however they have moved on from their physical presence in our lives so that, to one again use Dylan’s words, “when they are truly gone, it’s like they didn’t fade away at all.”

Fade Away is a poignant, heartfelt piece, rich in symbolism and deep in personal meaning, deserving to be seen and contemplated.

Cica Ghost – Fade Away

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Kultivate Spring Sensuality exhibition

Posted on by Inara Pey
Kultivate Spring Sensuality exhibition

The Kultivate Magazine 2017 Spring Sensuality Exhibition officially opens on Friday, May 5th at 08:00 SLT (note that any SLurls to the event will not before the opening).

The magazine’s first Adult-rated event (in which images should be considered NSFW), will run through until Sunday, May 7th inclusive in a specially constructed event area in the sky over the Kultivate home region of Water Haven.

Over 30 artists are participating in the exhibition, which will also include several entertainment events as well. The artists taking part are:

Artandsoul Constantine, Beatrice Serendipity, Booyakashaka Resident, Bri Graycloud, ByrneDarkly Cazalet, captainofmysoul, Catalina Staheli, Glitterprincess Destiny, Greg Paslong, Honey Bender Laperrier-Auer, Isis Desmoulins, JolieElle Parfort, Kacey Macbeth, Lanne Wise, Lucia Tophat, lulyboop, Lyekahgood Nighbor, Marcus Lefevre & Hikaru Enimo, Miele Tarantal, Myra Wildmist, Paradox Messmer, Pipit Peacedream, Ramsa Luv, Ricco Saenz, Slatan Dryke, Talligurl Resident, Timaaj Resident , Tintin Tuxing, Tisephone, Tiszo Cioc, Umshlanga Barbosa, Veruca Tammas, and wintergeist.

Kultivate Spring Sensuality exhibition

Schedule of Events

All times SLT, and correct at the time of going to press

  • Friday, May 5th, 2017:
    • 08:00 – exhibition opens
    • 16:00 – Parker Static, live (1 hour)
  • Saturday, May 6th, 2017:
    • 14:00 – Lark Bowen, live (1 hour)
  • Sunday, May 7th, 2017:
    • 12:00 noon – Sunday Sensuality Ball (2 hours)
    • 23:59 – exhibition closes

Please not that dress code through is casual with the exception of the Sunday Sensuality ball, at which formal attire is requested, with masquerade mask or blindfold. A free party pack will be presented to all guests.

About Kultivate Magazine and Brand

Kultivate Magazine is a publication about the cultural aspects of Second Life. The goal of the magazine is to support art, culture, photography, music, and fashion. The brand includes: the magazine, The Edge and The Edge Gallery, The Windlight Art Gallery,  The Red Gallery,  The Kultivate Bailywick Gallery, The Kultivate Select Gallery, Ristorante Ivanna, & The Tribute and Crown Pub.

In addition, Kultivate Magazine is proud to be the media partner and primary sponsor of Team Diabetes of Second Life, an official and authorised fund-raising team for The American Diabetes Association.

Links and SLurl

UWA’s Transformations in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Image courtesy of UWA

In February, I relayed news on what is to be the final mixed-media art exhibition at the University of Western Australia’s (UWA) presence in Second Life,  which is currently scheduled to be scaled back from the end of July 2017.

Held in the tradition of the UWA’s Grand Challenges albeit it on a non-juried basis and as an exhibition rather than a contest with prizes, Transformations ceased accepting entries at the end of April 2017, and all of the submissions received prior to the closing date are now on display at the UWA’s skyborne gallery space.

Transformations: Noke Yuitza – Transcendence Despite Falling Rain

“Our final show is about beginnings, endings, transitions, change,” UWA’s art curator FreeWee Ling said in the original announcement for the exhibition. “The theme is deliberately vague in order to allow for the broadest possible interpretation. It is intended to highlight the technologies of SL as a medium for creative expression. We especially want work that reflects on the past in SL and/or imagines the future of virtual art.”

In all, just under 30 artists from across Second Life responded to the call, producing both 2D and 3D art pieces, and short machinima pieces encompassing the theme, with some offering artists submitting works in more than one medium. As always with a UWA event, the finished pieces are extraordinary in the richness of creativity shown, and the manner in which that acknowledged broad theme has been interpreted.

Transformations: Thoth Jantzen – Transfabulous

3D art makes up the larger part of the exhibition, occupying most of the floorspace. 2D art can be found within a horseshoe display area on one side of the exhibition hall relative to the landing point, and the machinima entries in the opposite direction, against the wall separating Transformations from a display of works from past UWA challenges and exhibitions.

All of the pieces are provided with an artist’s name plate which, which touched, may furnish you with information on the artists and on the piece itself. In a small departure from previous exhibitions, the machinima is provided for in-world playback – touch the associated screen to start a video. Those who prefer, or have a viewer that doesn’t support CEF can still touch the artist’s name tag and receive a link to video on YouTube or Vimeo, where they can watch it.

Transformations: ErikoLeo – A Virtual Wander In Two Dimensions And A Half

Given the breadth of work on display in Transformations, offering a review of individual pieces is not easy – but I did find myself draw to a number of pieces, such as Grow, a stunning time-lapse video by Glaz Decuir in which we witness Silas Merlin taking s raw idea and transforming it into a finished 3D piece – and it is a truly fascinating study. Then there is Noke Yuitza’s Transcendence Despite Falling Rain, depicting the transformation and transcendence which grow from a failed relationship, beautifully and evocatively presented.

Alongside of Noke’s work is  ErikoLeo’s marvellous A Virtual Wander In Two Dimensions And A Half, which uses 2D panoramic images within a 3D model to offer transformative views of Second Life past and present – complete with and interactive element that puts you in to the scenes (take the anywhere door, then touch the arrows and go to mouselook in each sphere). Thoth Jantzen provides a dimensional defying Transubfabulous – be sure to teleport up from the part of the installation in the main gallery.

SLurl Details

Given the number of entries, this is an exhibition which requires time to appreciate – and you can find a full list of the artists involved on the UWA in SL blog across three posts starting here. One thing I would recommend when visiting – set your viewer to midnight; it removes much of the distraction of surrounding spaces and skyboxes.

The Year 3299 in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Art on Roofs: 3299

3299 is a new exhibition by artist and creator Terrygold, which formally opens at 14:00 SLT on Monday, May 1st. However, Terry kindly invited me to have a sneak preview.

“It is my vision of the future,” Terry informed me. “A city were resources are all used up, and the water is recycled.” The result is an atmospheric sitting – windlight instructions are provided at the landing point, and if you can, you should both set them and enable Advanced Lighting Model on your viewer; shadows are also recommended.

Art on Roofs: 3299

From the landing point a fog-enshrouded landscape extends into the distance under a clouded sky. “Pollution,” Terry says of the fogging effect. The landscape comprises plain white blocks stretching over a dry grass land. Walk on the blocks – which might be perceived as city blocks – and they form paths running through the grass. Step down into the grass, and it becomes the path through a low-walled maze formed by the white blocks. Which you take is up to you.

Scattered throughout this space 3D pieces by Terry. Some have a practical application in the setting by transporting the recycled water around. Others are more obviously founded in artistic expression. Every so often tall towers rise up, crowned by fences. “A final defence to protect the last trees,” Terry told me. Alas, the attempt failed. None of the blocks contains a tree; only grass now grows within them, despite the water balloons feeding some of them.

Art on Roofs: 3299

In fact, only one tree remains. It sits guarded by a triple set of gates at the entrance to a structure at the far end of the landscape. Tall and gaunt, it stands alone, devoid of flower and seemingly fragile. Behind it, cast upon the white blocks is its shadow, which bursts with colour in the dim light, looking for all the world like it is in bloom – a poignant reminder of what once was and has forever been lost.

Within this structure, lining the walls, is Terry’s 2D art. Some of the pieces might be considered NSFW, but all feature Terry’s landmark style and each has something of a story to tell about the environment – this vision of the future – in which it has been set.

Art on Roofs: 3299

Featuring a mix of 2D and 3D art, all of which is intriguing and captivating, with a gentle commentary of ecological and environmental concerns, 3299 offers an exhibition which both catches the eye and  – albeit in a subtle manner – engages the brain.

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Portraits and studies in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Maddy, Melania Gallery

We received news on two new exhibitions featuring portraiture and avatar studies that have recently opened in Second Life. The first is at the Surreal Gallery, featuring the work of Lily Summerwind (LiliMango), and the second features the work of Maddy (Magda Schmidtzau) on display at the Melania Art Gallery.

Simply Lily opened on April 23rd and runs until June 23rd at the Blue Room at Surreal Gallery is the smaller of the two exhibits, offering fourteen images by Llily Summerwind. Given the title of the exhibition, the majority of the pieces are self-portraits, which are striking in their use of poses to convey a story or mood.

Simply Lily, Surreal Gallery

Self-portraiture is a form of photography which tends to engage me peripherally; while I can appreciate the artistry that is involved, often times the fact that the pictures are posed and stand as self-studies, rather than carrying a narrative tends to leave me distanced from the subject matter. However, I found myself drawn to number of the images presented in this exhibit, and for numerous reasons.

The first is that narrative is clearly evident in a number, with several offering a sense of anticipation / promise which draws one into them, wanting not so much to discover the narrative as be a part of it –Shhhh being a case in point. Then there is the use of colour, shading, light and shadow, all of which are quite extraordinary.

Simply Lily, Surreal Gallery

In terms of colour and shading, everything from powerful monochrome (again, witnessed in Shhhh) through a joyous richness of colour demonstrated in the likes of Rainbow Bright or the balance of colour and lighting which is so powerfully used in Geisha. The skilled use of contrast is also presented, through pieces like Me and My Shadow, Spring Flower and The Butterfly Effect.

Maddy is the larger of the two exhibits, presenting around 40 images by Maddy on display at both indoor and outdoor spaces at the Melania Gallery, making full use of what is a charming setting, complete with canal, gallery buildings, a bar and canal-side walks built by Terrygold.

Maddy, Melania Gallery

Once again there is a richness of style and approach to the pieces on offer, with a broad mix of subject matter, albeit again with a focus on avatar portraiture. In particular, sitting within the indoor spaces are a series of surreal / collage pieces which are especially eye-catching (see above). Colour is once again used to great effect, with a studied use of depth of field present in some images as well.

Many of the pieces are untitled, making it somewhat difficult to draw attention to specific pieces on  offer, which is a shame, as show really are deserving of recognition, such as the fantasy piece sitting alongside the landing point (and which is to the right of the image headlining this article), together with the aforementioned surreal pieces. There also appears to be some grouping of pictures thematically between the various exhibition areas – although this could equally just be the way I looked at things.

Maddy, Melania Gallery

However, this does underline a small problem with this exhibition:  there are perhaps too many pieces on display. Sometimes, less is more and such is the volume of work on display, it can be a little overwhelming as one wanders through the exhibition spaces. That said, the pieces on offer are undoubtedly striking, and very much worth viewing,

SLurl Details

  • Simply Lily, Surreal Galley (Claressa, rated: Moderate)
  • Maddy, Melania Gallery (White Beach, rated: Adult)

Enchanted Art in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Enchanted Art

Enchanted Art, operated by Oema Resdient and Magda Schmditzau, is based on Oema’s homestead region, Astralia, which I last blogged about in August 2016. The idea is to present artists with the opportunity to display a selection of their work on a monthly basis, with those who apply and are accepted being promoted through the Enchanted Art web pages on Oema’s blog and through the usual in-world channels for art.

The current exhibition features Bamboo Barnes,  Jarla Capalini, Clary Congrejo, Paola Mills, Antarctica Slade, Toysoldier Thor, Lissa, Terrygold, with Oema and Madga rounding-out the numbers. Each artist is provided with space to display two 2D pieces of art, with Toy also supplying one of his 3D masterpieces.

Enchanted Art

The region offers a marvellously enchanted aspect for exhibitions, being decorated using Elicio Ember’s wonderful plants and  creations, which have been brought together under a suitably atmospheric windlight to  present an ethereal, otherworldy setting visitors are encouraged to explore. Within this, there are two areas in which art is displayed: an open-air setting and a separate gallery building.

The landing point delivers visitors at the foot of the outdoor exhibition area, caught in the light of a setting sun, which is periodically eclipsed by the presence of another body in the sky – one big enough to suggest is it a planet, and the gallery and its surrounds are perhaps on a moon of that world. This outdoor space makes for a pleasant walk, platforms for the artists to either side of the path, each clearly labelled and with a Flickr link to the artist’s photo stream. The offer of biographical notes would have been appreciated, but this is a minor point.

Enchanted Art

Close to the landing point sits a teleport disc, part of a network that connecs the major features of the region, including the aforementioned gallery building. However, there is also a set of footpaths winding their way around and through the landscape, and these offer an opportunity to see more than the teleports might suggest is to be found. So an exploration by foot is recommended.

Artists wishing to join an exhibition at Enchanted Art can click on the application boards in-world, which will provide a link to an application form. Successful applicants are selected by Magda Schmdtzau. Criteria / focus for exhibitions aren’t given, suggesting that applications are open to artists from all fields (although the April exhibition does show a strong bias towards avatar studies).

Enchanted Art

Enchanted Art is an eye-catching way of presenting art exhibitions. The use of the entire region to create an environment – and in this case and ambience – is something I enjoy seeing (and something we’ve striven to achieve, environment-wise with Holly Kai Park). Ergo, I have no hesitation in recommending a visit.

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