Tag: Art 2017

In the latter half of 2017, Ceakay Ballyhoo presented A Watercolour Wander, an exploration of a landscape rendered as a watercolour painting, complete with its own story (read more about it here). It was an imaginative approach to art and storytelling which at the time attracted Seanchai Library’s Caledonia Skytower to present readings of the story during walking tours of the installation.

Given that this melding of art and tale worked so well, little wonder that Ceakay has continued to explore the idea, and recently opened a follow-up environment and story, The Forest Beyond. Only in this case, rather than wandering a landscape rendered as a painting, visitors are invited to explore a painting rendered as a landscape.

Located on Ceakay’s own region, The Forest Beyond reunites us with Ceakay’s little girl from the first story – whose name, we learn, is Elle. As she drifts off to sleep, her eyes are drawn to a new painting on her bedroom wall, a Christmas present depicting mushrooms with faces under their broad, spotted tops, sitting under a starry sky, the warm glow of lights or a fire emanating from the entrance of a cave beyond them – and thus she falls asleep, and into the painting itself, wherein lies an adventure – which visitors are invited to share as they follow a path through the region and the painting.

A story is provided to help people along the way, and can be read in one of two ways: by visiting Ceakay’s blog, or by touching the little story stones located alongside each major scene of Elle’s dream to receive a note card. But be warned – there is more than just one story to be found here!

“The painting was made in autumn 2016. It was part of a small exposition at my gallery,” Ceakay (CK for short) explains. “[Then I]  started to try to make a hollow hill sculpt and once she accomplished that, [I] decided on making a world behind the painting.  The story developed as the build was progressing, fitting the separate textures and sculpts together as a whole.”

“Not all the creatures and trees or scenes have been included in the story of the Little Girl and the Forest Beyond,” she continues, referencing the additional scenes to be found in the forest. “The ones that have are certain to have unmentioned stories to their lives yet, the one that aren’t are waiting for people to add their own stories to them.”

And therein lies an invitation. If you enjoy creative writing, CK invites you to visit the forest and write your own short story or poem or song about what captures your imagination there – look for the reflections in the lake as an example of some of the things not featured in Elle’s story.Sorties submitted to CK via note card or e-mail ceakayballyhoo-at-gmail.com) by February 12th, 2017, could stand to win a L$500 prize!  To help get imaginations turning, there are several spots just off the main path offering places to sit and think, or to simply spend a little time relaxing.

This is another enchanting installation by CK. When visiting, do please consider a donation towards the upkeep of the region, and if you enjoy the story, memorabilia – models of the characters, paintings of the scenes, etc., can be purchased from the little shop area at the end of the trail.

SLurl Details

• The Forest Beyond (Mistwood Isle & CKB Art Gallery, rated: Adult)

Now open through until the end of February 2017 at Virtual Chelsea Hotel’s Gallery 23, curated by enola em (enola Vaher), is an ensemble art exhibition featuring the images and art of Talitha Alice Minx, Vonnie Fox, Dulcis Taurog, Azu O, Miles Elventhauer, Hana Hoo (Hana Hoobinoo) and yours truly.

This is an eclectic and fascinating exhibition which brings together a number of artists of very contrasting styles, yet all of whom complement one another within the confines of the gallery’s walls. I will confess that not all of my fellow exhibitors were familiar names to me – but I will say that having spent time setting up at the gallery and having plenty of time to admire their work has made me something of a fan in some cases.

Take Miles Elventhauer for example. His work, located on the wall immediately to the right of the gallery’s entrance, is focused on caricatures of the famous and well-known, and he offers 8 individual drawings together with two ensemble pieces.  I challenge anyone not to identify all of those featured in the pieces.  However, as eye-catching and attractive as they all are, what makes this works stunning is that no pencil, pen, brush or stylus was used in their creation.

“All were created with the Mobile Sketchbook for iPhone app, ” Miles says of his work. “No stylus, no tricks. Just my finger on the glass of an iPhone 4 or 5.” Given he rarely exhibits outside of his own studio (“I live in New York, so I wanted to do the Chelsea,” he told me), this exhibition marks the perfect opportunity to gain an introduction to his art.

Dulcis Taurog, with whom I share a corner of the gallery space, is another artist whose work has to be seen to be appreciated. Entirely abstract in approach, it may at first appear to be art uploaded from the physical word, or digitally produced through PhotoShop or a similar application. However, this is not the case.

Rather, she utilises her own objects created in-world, or uses viewer elements such as the sculpty image window, the refraction sliders in the environmental editor, using texture from her inventory to replace the viewer’s default wave image,  all to create fabulous abstract images of extraordinary complexity and beauty.

As noted above, this is a fascinating exhibition given the breadth of styles and images on display, with many of the pieces available for purchase. I’m delighted to have been given the opportunity to be part of things at Gallery 23 and the Virtual Chelsea Hotel, and my thanks to Enola for allowing me to do so.

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• Gallery 23, virtual Chelsea Hotel (Lanestris, rated: Moderate)

Open now at Artful Expressions, the boutique gallery curated by Sorcha Tyles, is the January 2017 featuring the art of Uma Sabra and KyRaLy (ElizzaLiza).  As with the opening exhibition at the gallery (see here), these are two artists perfectly suited to being displayed together, their styles complimenting one another perfectly.

Both artists focus on avatar studies, with each presenting pieces which largely – although not exclusively – focus of the face in close-up, with both opting for minimal backgrounds with their subjects. The resulting images are hauntingly evocative in tone, look and emotional content.

“I  think it is simply amazing that one can be able and can have all the freedom in the world to create digging deep into imagination,” KyRaLy says of Second Life. “It is a gift that one can see inside of things, the essence of things…” This is perhaps a perfect reflection of her work; each image is offering us a look not so much at her subject, but into them: who they might be, what they were feeling at the time the photograph was captured.

This is especially true of the images in which the subjects are not looking at the camera; by capturing them in a moment where their focus is apparently elsewhere, KyRaLy has imbued them with enormous humanity and vulnerability. Which is not to say those in which the subject is looking at the camera are any the less captivating for their emotional content.

Uma plumbs similar depths with her studies. However, where KyraLy has apparently chosen a number of subjects / faces for her pieces, Uma has focused largely on portraits of a single avatar. This makes them more intimate in presentation, as we are given the opportunity to share in the changing moods of the one individual cross a number of images – and perhaps, time.

Four out of her nine pieces are not limited to a facial portraits, but offer a more complete study (including on nude shot). These demonstrate a considered use of focus and background to produce pieces every bit as poignant as her closer studies.

As noted above, these are two sets of images by two artists who are well suited to side-by-side exhibition, and the display of their work at Artful Expressions is not one to miss. Bravo, as well, to Sorcha on her second exhibition, and for her choice of artists.

SLurl Details

• Artful Expressions (Adored, rated Moderate)

“When I put on paper or canvas a thought, a dream or something real, seen with my  eyes or perceived by my imagination, my concern is not that the others understand,” Grazietta Blauvelt (Grazietta Cazenove) says of her art. “But that [by] looking at those traits and those colours. they are able to get excited and to give a personal interpretation of what catches their eye from my paintings.”

I was recently able to experience this first hand, having received a landmark to the Ocean Inside Me Gallery, where Grazietta displays her work. I cannot in all honesty remember who passed the information on to me – my apologies to whomever it was; parts of the holiday season have become a bit of a blur so much was going on. But I offer my thanks, as it made for an enjoyable visit.

The gallery sits within a watery location, a set of round stepping-stones crossing the water from the landing point to the entrance. These bordered on one side by a 3D work by Gwen Ferox (violetile), and a story framed by a series of Grazietta’s paintings. Both reflect Grazietta’s love of narrative and in people allowing their imagination free rein.

Occupying the multiple rooms of the gallery’s two floors, Grazietta’s art spans a broad spectrum of formats: crayon, oil, watercolour, digital and pencil, with many encompassing two formats – oil and digital, oil and pencil, etc. The subject matter ranges from landscapes to portraiture to abstract, with many – most? – of the pieces exhibiting a bold use of colour and / or strong contrasts in their content – I found myself being constantly drawn back to Volando (“Flying” – seen to the left of the middle image in this article), for example such is the magnificent contract between what appeared to be a digitally post-processed photograph and an oil painted butterfly in full vibrant colour.

This are pieces filled with stories, ideas, imaginings and more,  as richly diverse as the styles used in their creation, all set within an environment which encourages one to linger. This is not only because of the comfortable chairs and opportunities to sit down found within the various rooms, but because Grazietta has extended her art into the very structure of the building, by re-texturing walls and stairways with some of her art.

All of the art is available for purchase, and a guest book is available for those wishing to leave a comment.

SLurl Details

• Ocean Inside Me Gallery (Meridian Bay, rated: Moderate)