2013-05-25

Sneak Preview: Love and Other Bruises

Everyone who enters Second Life is surprised ho intense we feel others, although we just have words and the avatar. I personally think that we even enhance that ability when we are open for it. It is not surprising that we always are in danger to fall on stronger emotions with others, if not in love. But we always have to have in mind that the avatars is an idealized self of the others plus the restricted ways of communication give us in the other person a projection screen of our own dreams. Sooner or later the hero(ine) shows the true face and falls from the pedestal we once placed him/her.


But if friendship or more,  of course I experienced like everyone else the bad and deeply hurting sides of this "game". Starting from lies and betrayal over different expectations to losses due to real life reasons. And, you all know that too, the worse is that you can't talk about your feelings to anyone in real as all world is already convinced that you must have a screw lose with your childish playing with pixel dolls, right? Only other residents have an ear for us and can understand when we are sitting in a corner licking our wounds.


It was a brilliant idea of Morgana Nagorski to curate and exhibition with that theme. The artist line up is  really impressive: Amona Savira, Annie Klavinham, Belba, Burk Bode, Corinne Helendale, Dantelicia Ethaniel, Harbor Galaxy, Isa Messioptra, Kato Salyut, Leeleu Lemondrop, Maloe Vansant, Morgana Nagorski, Miuccia Klaar, paola Mills, sare Ethaniel, Senna Coronet, Stephen Venkman ,Tess Falworth , Whiskey Monday, Zandy Oh.

Opening events 
6-8 PM SLT Saturday 25 May + 10 AM-12 PM Sunday 26 May.

Open until July 21st,

Taxi:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Gardenia%20Islands/113/76/2501

2013-05-24

Opening Today: Danger in Evolution Reloaded


Even if you have seen the LEA installation of Kicca Igaly and nessuno Myoo you should not miss the reopening at Inspiritum Gallery. The artists have changed the work and added some media with information. Make sure to have media enabled.


Opening today, Friday 24th at 2 PM SLT with Viviana Houston in concert.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Inspiritum/149/142/2002


HOME AND GARDEN EXPO 2013 Landmarks


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The next RFL event you should not miss is ready to open. or in the fair blog.

Here the landmarks:
Home Expo 1: Sponsored By: Roawenwood:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/HOME%20EXPO%201/134/116/23

Home Expo 2: Sponsored By: Cheeky Pea:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/HOME%20EXPO%202/78/145/23

Home Expo 3: Sponsored By: Park Place Home Décor:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/HOME%20EXPO%203/38/119/23

Home Expo 4: Sponsored By: Stonewood Homes:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/HOME%20EXPO%204/163/93/23

Home Expo 5: Sponsored By: Galland Homes:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/HOME%20EXPO%205/68/186/23


Home Expo 6: Sponsored By: Prim Perfect Magazine:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/HOME%20EXPO%206/173/151/35

Home Expo 7: Sponsored By: PRIME:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/HOME%20EXPO%207/75/155/23

Home Expo 8: Sponsored By: Home & Garden Market:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/HOME%20EXPO%208/77/173/23

Home Expo 8: Sponsored By: Wonderful World of Meeroos:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Entertainment%20and%20Activities/164/187/23


2013-05-19

Shopping Mall



The most beautiful and maybe most expensive shopping mall I ever saw is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milano. It was designed 1861 by Giuseppe Mengoni and built 1865 to 1877. A great idea to have a rebuild as shop in SL. You can explore the sim with a rusty airship. Just jump in by the side of the train station.



Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dominus/22/125/22


The Drax Files Part 6: Abranimations

Interesting as always. This time how animations are done:

2013-05-18

Gallery Hopping

Today I have 2 recommendations for you, both are great bloggers exhibiting inworld:

Nurnude @ Nitroglobus


Usually I find nudes of avatars unsexy and boring. Just the best are able to take images with say something - as Nur Moo! The installation is worth a closer look. You should check her blog Vintage Metaverso too.


Opening party May 20th!
Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Costa%20Blanco/189/112/771


E-scapes @ Kelly Yap Art Gallery


Another great blogger shows a choice of her photos: Whiskey Monday. Her works are special as Whiskey creates her own settings. She is a writer RL and her images always tell a very personal story too. I highly recommend her blog Whiskey Shots.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife//130/21/119


2013-05-17

AVENUE May: East Meets West and Dryland

This issue will be one of my alltime favourites of AVENUE as the theme "East Meests West" is close to me. I study Ancient Chinese Metaphysics (BaZi, Feng Shui, Yi Jing, Miang Xiang, Xuan Kong and now also TCM) for many years now and was countless times in Asia. RL I look totally European and Second Life gave me the chance to see how it feels to look Asian. Now you know why I am Quan.


To my Western readers: Don't you think that all Asians look the same? But do you know that Asians think the same of us? I learnt from my Chinese friends that their focus  in seeing another person is different from ours, they look a lot to the expression of a face.

And what I learnt too is that both cultures have their good and their bad sides. That they grow together in a smaller world is a chance for both sides. In medicine it is ridiculus to cure a broken leg with Acupuncture and herbes and the Chinese give Western medicine the same importance as their Traditional, but for many chronic diseases only TCM has answers and cures. Young doctors in China study both. During my Feng Shui travels in China with my teacher I studied more than 1.000 years of Chinese architecture and art together with landscape. Always the same structures and motifs are the effects of a static society without progression. And despite the revolution there a still many behaviors, I think, which don't fit in a modern world like the overly obedience to superiors. The Western world shows that the other way allows much faster progress. In BaZi (Astrology) I learnt from my Indian and older Chinese friends, that a given marriage can be happy too, but not to be able to be divorced can be hell on earth. One day in a BaZi class our teacher asked us about our feeling how many marriages are unhappy. The Westerners believed 60% to 70%, the Asians said over 90%.

Currently the Asians learn faster I think while the Westerners stuck more in fears. But one thing can't grow together...my roundish Western shape never would look that beautiful in a Qipao like an Asian. And if you happen to travel in Asia, never go shopping clothes if you don't want to ruin your self confidence! It is really a shame to be urged in Asia to buy sizze xxl, if that even is large enough :( 

Therefore I am happy to have Quan!

But now to my article: Dryland is a real succes story in SL. It already had more than 50.000 visitors. Owner Anita Witt told me that she never dreamed of so much attention. Anita is photographer RL. I talked with her about photography in both worlds and how it influences her. Ziki Questi took great photos for the article.

Find the article on page 264:





Find here my post about the current exhibtion at Dryland: http://quanlavender.blogspot.de/2013/05/sneak-preview-water-and-dryland.html

2013-05-16

Application Deadlines in May

This month are ending several application deadlines for event participation in Second Life:

May 20th: SL10B



SL10B, the celebration of the 10th birthday of Second Life is running from June 16th to June 23rd.
Last year the Second Life community proved that she is able to run this large event successful after the sudden step back of Linden Lab.This year was much more time for preparation and I am sure that this will be again one of the most important events of the year.
May 20th ist the last days for applications as exhibitor presenterperformer or volunteer.


May 30th: Reflections: The UWA Centenary 3D Art Challenge


This is the 4th of the UWA Grand Art Challenges with a L$600,000 prize pool. A quick summary. One artwork per artist. 150 prims max to the theme REFLECTIONS. Submit entries here at the UWA main gallery. The earlier the work is submitted, the greater the chance for the artwork to feature in one of the Machinima for MachinimUWA VI, which will launch on the 1st of March with the same theme. Entries will go on display immediately! The sooner the works are in, the longer they are on display.
OVERVIEW
This is a single round only lasting 4 months, 1st Feb 2013 - 30th May 2013. The biggest difference between this and previous major art challenges is that unlike the first 3, this one has a theme.

The theme is "REFLECTIONS"
This art challenge in OPEN TO EVERYONE. The theme is REFLECTIONS with a 150 prim limit per artwork, and limited to ONE ENTRY PER ARTIST.

36 artworks entered and now on display so far! Do visit the UWA Challenge Gallery to view them. CLICK HERE TO TELEPORT TO GALLERY!

Read more in the UWA blog.

P.S.: The deadline for REFLECTIONS - MachinimUWA VI with L$1.1Mil in Prizes is June 30th.


June 1st: Art in Hats and Hats in Art
 
Taken by Annough Lykin

Art India Gallery in Cooperation with Allure Inc. Fashion Agency are planning a joint art / fashion event.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
Art and fashion meet in hats. Good hats are art to wear and subsequently many artists love to create fantastic hats. Fashion designers often show an explosion of creativity in hats. Hats turn to fashion with the styling. 

The basic idea of the exhibition is to present hats built by artists and fashion designers together with photos. In the photos is shown a small story around the hat. More details below.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Artists, fashion designers, builders are invited to submit their hat creations. Fashion- and art-photographers are invited to submit their scenery taken with a hat. The works can be created and taken by the same person or they apply as designer/photographer-team. There is no submission or participation fee. 

WHEN IS THE EVENT?
Exhibition/Sale will be open from June 7th until July 21st.

Taken by Falbala Fairey

REQUIREMENTS FOR ATTENDING CREATORS:
Each builder/designer/artist can submit up to 3 works. At least one of them should be a new creation which is exclusively available at the event. The price will be defined by the creator and they are sold with a split profit script. 70% for the creator, 20% for the gallery and 10% for the costs of the event organizers. In case the designer does not wish to sell, the hats can be provided as freebies. After the event finished, the creations are free for own sale.

It is mandatory that each exhibited hat has at least one image. We will organize a combination of photographer and designer. however you are free to drop us a wish, or to make a team with the photographer and to apply as a team.

Taken by Kynne Llewellyn

REQUIREMENTS FOR ATTENDING PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Each photographer can submit up to 3 works. The photos shall tell a little story. Simple sale shots will not be accepted. The images are exclusively available at the event. The price will be defined by the creator and they are sold with a split profit script. 70% for the creator, 20% for the gallery owner and 10% for the costs of the event organizers. In case the photographer does not wish to sell, the images can be provided as freebies. After the event finished, the creations are free for own sale.

It is mandatory that each exhibited image shows a hat provided at the event.We will organize a combination of photographer and designer. however you are free to drop us a wish, or to make a team with the designer and to  apply as a team

MEDIA/PUBLICITY.
Art India Gallery and Allure Inc. are well connected to art and fashion networks. ART IN HATS will  invite important bloggers for reviews. The creators should be open to provide blogger review bags.

For the public will be several fashion shows with professional models featuring the hats. A Hat Decoration Contest with a fullperm sculpt will further attract visitors. The winner, nominated through public voting plus jury will get a full range of all exhibited hats as gift box.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
For creators and photographers June 1st.
Please contact Quan Lavender,  Annough Lykin.,  Nala Kurka or Falbala Fairey.

Taken by Falbala Fairey
ABOUT ART INDIA GALLERY
Art India Gallery is hosted by Veekay Navarathna and curated by Quan Lavender.
In the past years, the gallery hosted many well known artists. To name a few: William Weaver, Melusina Paerkin, JadeYu Fhang, Thoth Jantzen, Fiona, Leitner, Gabrielle Swindlehurst, Betty Tureaud, ElrosTuominen, London Junckers, Secret Rage, Bryn Oh, Rose Borchovski, Igor Ballyhoo, Kicca Igaly, Eliza Wierwight, Ub Yifu, Rebeca Bashly, Pol Jarvinen, Haveit Neox, SaveMe Oh, Pallina60 Loon, Eupalinos Ugajin, Gracie Kendall, Alizarin Goldflake, Trill Zapatero, Silene Christen, Penelope Parx, Toysoldier Thor, Louly Loon, Fuschia Nightfire, Chuckmatrix Clip, Nessuno Myoo and Oberon Onmura.
Our last and current exhibtions:

ABOUT ALLURE:
Fashion Agency
by Nala Kurka & Annough Lykin
founded Jan. 2011
Allure Inc. organizes shows, events and individual performances. We focus on professionalism and high quality not only for the shows we do but also from for models, who are chosen amongst the best in SL. Our demand is to create concepts on a high level, which stands as synonym for elegance, style and uniqueness. The goal is to develop a full package and combinate music, fashion, storyboard and feelings. If you want to know more about Allure Inc. please have a look at:  www.allure-inc-sl.de

QUESTIONS?
Please contact Quan Lavender,  Annough Lykin,  Nala Kurka or Falbala Fairey.

2013-05-15

Sand, Salt and Heat


The destination guide is not very complete and one often  needs other resources to find them. This time Flickr was my source. The natural environment, the tasteful decorated structures and the wonderful cactuses gave me a naturalistic holiday feeling.


From the land description: "Experience the beauty of Northern Baja California in its natural state. Beach, Dunes, Surf, Surfing, nature, ocean, and goats;)"



I should add AND HEAT!


Photographers will love that visitors can rez. Autoreturn 10 minutes. Don't forget to donate for that great region.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Salt%20Water/183/149/22

Gallery Hopping

I was a bit lazy with blogging the last days. But not in travelling Second Life. I visited quite a few of galleries and exhibtions. Here is a choice of some favorites:

Fae Varriale @ Ce Soir



Ce Soir is one of most beautiful art and event locations with always interestting artists. Fae Varriale is skilled in SL photography and creates sculptures which are worth a closer look. To show you the delicacy of "Daughter of Wind" I took a photo of my own copy which I have more than a year always rezzed at my virtual home and I still love it.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ce%20Soir/208/224/1002



Miuccia Klaar@Colore Gallery


Photography in Second Life had a breathtaking progress in the last one or two years. The quality of Miuccia Klaar's images is a good example. Her works are detailed and rich.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Despina/188/129/22



Fuschia Nightfire @Paris METRO


I already wrote about this installation. Fuschia has uploaded a new video. In the structure at the other side of the stage area is the collection of all gowns which has been created in the past as part of the artist exhibitions with a design inspired by each artist. And again in front of the door is a new gift for the visitors. A cocktail dress - of course in Fuschia.

The current free gift at Paris METRO

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Paris%20Couture/126/27/22


Ohe53 @ Space 4 Art


"i was born in colombo
lived all my life in sri lanka
travelling all around the island
...
suffering
it's all around us
it's in your conscience
it's in ones genes
we carry suffering within us
even if we have never suffered in our lives

and it is not quiet
it's screaming

no there is no message in my pictures"

Thistext is taken from the artist statement of Nelun Harasgama, For having no message, her images are damn touching, Maybe because most of us knows well how suffering feels.  Look for yourself.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Space%204%20Art/75/25/1055


Reopening: Paradise Gallery + Charity Auction


I found a nice gallery with interesting works. In front of the building is a silent Auction in favor of RFL. The auction is running until June 2nd and worth a look and bid.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Despina/188/129/22




2013-05-11

Saturday evening in Second Life

Each day are lots of great events in SL. Here is a choice for today. Come and have fun:

12-4 PM SLT: Ascension: Orange Event 
*official sim opening party



For all who like Techno this event is a must. Mantis Oh (Cari Lekebusch in RL), continues his series of online DJ sets as part of his new virtual art project entitled Ascension. Streaming in real life from Stockholm, Sweden and at the Sphinx Club in Second Life, this is the first major event to celebrate the opening of ‘Ascension’ at LEA 16. This time he is joined by fellow sound architect, Dj and producer Gragee Pikanen, so prepare for four hours of pure undiluted techno straight from H-Productions HQ! 

I wrote about the installation here.



12 PM SLT: This ArT is MaDe for WaLkIng Party


...wear your best boots!! Prizes to be awarded for: Most Artistic Boots, Best Boots for Walking and Weirdest Boots!!



2 PM SLT: FiveWays Opening Party


Racheal Kutenai (photography), Om Kikuchyo-Charron (floating paintings), Paula Cadin (paintings), Helene Lytton (photography "from time to time") and Orca Flotta (photography "into darkness") are opening their joint exhibtionw ith a Party. Some works really caught my eyes.



  

2013-05-09

Come and Help Saving The Grand Place Brussels


The Grand Place in Brussels is one of the most beautiful places in Europe and UNESCO World Heritage. The virtual Grand Place of Brussels is one of the most beautiful places in SL. If you have not seen yet, it is a must to visit.


Although the place is visited well it always struggles with money. Builder Pascale Boucher does not have ugly shops in the structures as other places but that means she has to rely on donations.


Please help to keep that space and donate by paying the organ at the landing spot, or even better, buy it for 150 Linden. Just pay the box. The Organ has all included only 9 prims, plays music by click on the handle and is of course built by Pascale too. Pascale loves to do custom work as well. She spends all gained Lindens to keep the Grand Place.

The organ for only 150 Linden

Come and help saving the place!
Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/La%20Baule/161/96/2253

2013-05-07

Scheherazade: If you want to be loved - talk!


The heart of a man was broken by his wife so badly that he feared to fall in love again. He was a rich man - a Persian king and to avoid to be hurt again, he decided to have each night another virgin and to have them killed after only one night before they had a chance to hurt him. But then it was the turn of Scheherazade. She was not only beautiful  - she was smart. And she made it to find his interest. He wanted to listen her, night after night. And not only to listen. She gave birth to 3 children. After 1001 nights he had forgotten that he did not want to fall in love again.


Isn't that a wonderful story? Everyone knows how much a broken heart is hurting and how hard it is to learn reliance again. The patience of Scheherazade helped to open up his heart again. I don't see her as a victim or prisoner. I see the frame story of "One Thousand and One Nights" as an allegory.


And it is the frame of a more than 2.000 years old compilation of many stories from the Arabian and Indian world. As with the Bible the texts has been collected over the centuries. I was fascinated by the richness of the old Oriental culture as it represents in the many stories: Aladdin, Ali Baba, Sinbad, Harun-Al-Rashid, The Barber of Baghdad and so many more.


Mimesis Monday, the RL storyteller Heidi Dahlsveen, gave 4 artists the opportunity to visualize their idea of" One Thousand and One Nights". Cherry Manga, Capcat Ragu, Meilo Minotaur created the ground floorin combination with beautiful sounds by Takio Ra. Capcat and Meilo of course also created 3 avatars, Scheherazade, the king and a cute Birds avatar, consisting of 5 birds. The title of this post is my variation of the installation title "Sheherazade: If you want to survive - tell a story."

Scheherazade Avatar

Take the TP here (hard to find otherwise) to the work of Giovanna Cerise in the sky.

I must admit, the works are not "my" 1001 Nights, but that shows the endless richness of 1001 Nights, which influenced art in the Occident a lot over the centuries.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Companion/102/117/22