Coping Mechanisms; Horizons, Andromeda

Tags

art, Art Oluja, Coping Mechanisms, Horizons, Second Life, secondlife, virtual 3D installations, virtual worlds

Horizons looks to be mostly residential to me. I’ve spent a little time there, mostly wandering around or visiting the Cafe D’Art when it was in existence. In Horizons Andromeda, Coping Mechanisms, is a 1024 parcel well worth exploring.

Some of the stacked storage containers are open. There are carefully chosen items stashed inside. Outside, you can bounce on the trampoline, with a miniature cardboard house and a giant avocado nearby.

An opening in the fence allows you to wander over to the parcel next door, owned by the group, Innocent Young Throat-Cutters.

The land description:  “Escapist loner shoving inevitables and unspeakables behind the clutter of nostalgic blah.”

These photos were taken with the windlight of the sim; Andromeda is A rated.

Click on things when you’re there.

Coping Mechanisms is the creation of Art Oluja; those familiar with her work will recognize remnants of some previous installations.

Some art pieces from her personal collection are on view as well.

When you arrive, you may want to grab a landmark for your inventory.

The LM is to aid your escape from the padded room, should you choose to wander in. Enable media for an immersive experience. Be patient; media usually doesn’t work for me and I found this worth any wait.

The padded room was originally installed in the opening exhibit at the club/gallery/refuge, Blush Response.

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Contours by Klaus Bereznyak

Tags

art, Contours, Klaus Bereznyak, Montara Bridge Works Gallery, Sansara, Second Life, virtual art

The February through April exhibit at Montara Bridge Works Gallery is Contours by Klaus Bereznyak.

“The pictures in this series came about because I was curious about how monochrome pictures shaded by depth rather than color within Second Life could be used artistically, and I wanted to explore digital techniques for imitating real life materials, especially collaged paper and fabrics. I have always been seduced by the simplicity of silhouettes.”

“These works are therefore the by-product of playful experimentation, manipulating inworld photography in Gimp. Reducing pictures to silhouettes and outlines has been a meditative process of trying to find and keep the essence of an image while simplifying it.”

“Textures bring our virtual world to life: a well textured prim beats a badly textured mesh creation any day (to my mind at least). The most satisfying textures seem to find a sweet middle ground of “virtual real” that is neither photo-real or cartoonish. I wanted these pictures to look like they belonged in SL. Some of the textures incorporated are handmade, and others are full perm freebies or culled from public domain sources.”

Klaus Bereznyak

Klaus is a valued contributor to Wanderlust Bench Art Park and the curator of

Shoshin Acres Art Space. He has exhibited at Chelsea Gallery 23 and The Cultured Goats Gallery, participated in numerous collaborations and group projects and is a freelance contributor to SL Newser.

 

Route 2 ~ Manduca to Consular

Tags

Heterocera, mainland, Second Life, The Atoll

It’s been exactly three months since I left off exploring Route 2 on Heterocera which I posted about here.  In some ways it seems like a very short time ago, in other ways it feels like my human has lived a lifetime since then.

We begin again at the rez zone in Manduca.

Some of these photos will look similar but the route is interesting with signs of life on the left, along the coast. This post is about the infrastructure; so the bench and trash bin by Garden Mole appear here, rather than the mansion on the left.

Still in Manduca, there’s a retaining wall on the right. I like seeing that the land is not jagged and irregularly chopped up like so many areas of the mainland.

The road and retaining wall continue into Modesta. Moving into Girdier, there’s much more vegetation on the right and a rez zone on the left near a Bikers Bar.

The road paving changes for a bridge. There are lamps by Garden Mole along the sides.

Still in Girdier, this space on the right is not a rez zone or pod stop; there’s no bench or trash bin. There are many occupied residences on the left, quite a few with banlines.

Moving into Echo, the paving changes briefly for a raised area in the road.

Still in Echo, there’s a bench where one can stop and enjoy the sea view.  The cave on the left of the photo holds a club; the place on the right is also open to the public.

A rez zone in Echo.

Next you pass through Dahana, then Scoopwing.

An old wood seat by Bloomin Mole just before entering Sedge.

There are several areas with trees and benches on the right where you can pause and view the sea.

Still in Sedge, we turned left to continue Route 2. There is a small park.

The road right is the Inland Cutoff where you would shortly see a pod station if you’re tired of walking or driving.

The rez zone in Oakworm.

The appearance of the road changes while still in Oakworm and on into Consular.

And here is where we end our journey for now, in Consular, where the wood plank road changes back to stone paving.

 

 

 

Exodus ~ A Trip for Life

Tags

Exodus A Trip for Life, immigration, Kicca Igaly, Linden Endowment for the Arts, Nessuno Myoo, refugees, Second Life, virtual art, virtual worlds

Round 13 of Linden Endowment for the Arts is ending December 31 and I’m making time to see some of the installations when I’m able. The current installation at LEA 24 has drawn me back several times. At the landing, there is a notecard available with viewing instructions. I did increase my graphics and draw distance but the recommended windlight is not on the Lab viewer. I chose something in the environmental editor; some of these photos are dark but you can likely locate some pictures that show the sim as the artists intended.

Exodus A Trip for Life, by is by Kicca Igaly and Nessuno Myoo; the first set of photos here is of Myoo’s installation.

Nessuno Myoo:

“At the origin of this new installation, called Exodus, there is a vision, small but powerful,
that which I have always had before my eyes every time I found myself listening or assist to debates
that in my judgment deal with the immigrant’s not easy question, or about immigration in general,
incorrectly mode and sometimes even instrumental mode.
It almost seems that all the evils of our society, unable to find effective solutions
to the problems that which from time to time appear to him, they have found the perfect scapegoat
in the dark threat of the foreign invader. The most grotesque reference and contradictory
that remains the huge amount of money that this real traffic of human beings generates,
and that filling the pockets of criminals who organize these crazy crosses of death, and criminals who
at the table with the “democratic” institutions they plan a lucrative welcome,
deprives of all fundamental rights and personal dignity…”

I like the colors (on my viewer), the shapes, the composition and the sense of substance here. There is an ongoing narrative, one we are all creating because the issue of immigration and refugees affects us all.

Like in many arenas of life, now and throughout our history, there are those who exploit the circumstances, pain and suffering of others.

I personally believe that those countries who find a way to include and value immigrants, which is a complex process, will be better poised to thrive in the future.

The photo above and the rest in this post are of the installation by Kicca Igaly. There is an openness to contemplate and explore one’s own views.

The more fifth dimensional we are becoming, the more I’m appreciating shape, form and narrative, a sort of boots on the ground approach to moving forward.

Kicca Igaly:

“After a life of suffering and persecution, after a long and horrible trip paid at a very high price and with the ever-lurking death that has already taken many of them, they, rich only of their own want to survive, they came to the beaches of an unknown land. They have gathered them in reception centers that, in line with an optimistic prediction, have quickly become too narrow and suffocating to hold them all. And other places of welcome are not enough or will ever be enough for the biblical exodus that takes them to the civilized West. But even the West goes into crisis, seeks alibi, can not fully understand what is happening in the Mediterranean and fights to find impossible escape. The shift politician inaugurates the new reception center and boasts of the little that others actually have given. Meanwhile, refugees and immigrants are moving towards a long road that will lead them to an unknown future, seeking relatives or friends, or simply a job that allows them to survive again.”

Exodus: A Trip for Life by Kicca Igaly and Nessuno Myoo at LEA 24, open through December 31.

Route 10 ~ Lill Burn Valley to Haetae

Tags

Hetae, Jeogeot, Lill Burn Valley, mainland, Route 10, Second Life, secondlife

Continuing over the bridge, where I stopped in Lill Burn Valley on Route 10 in Jeogeot, which I posted about here, I noticed the striping on the paving changed to indicate where it is, and is not, safe to pass as the road goes through rolling hills.

The photo above was taken in Katipo.

The next sims are, very briefly, Wetas, then Craggen Maw for a longer stretch of road, Busby and then Brouwer where photos number 2, 3 and 4 were taken.

This bridge is by Mighty Mole of Linden Department of Public Works. The steps lead to a border of banlined land and land that was abandoned a month ago. These photos were taken September 19, 2017.

Above, also in Brouwer, shows guard rails by the side of the road going briefly into Moa. Then the terrain is flatter through Mouse Point, which is very sparsely built on at this time.

Otaki Gorge and then Bandicoot are populated with many shops on the ground, close to the road. There are what appear to be parks and private parcels as well, some things towering into the sky, lots of foliage and ambient nature sounds. From what I recall of travels during past years, there’s been a lot going on here for some time.

In Numbat there appears to be much more open land.  Further on, still in Numbat and then Drews, there’s a guard rail on the left side of the road. In Drews, residents have constructed retaining walls in the valley.

Next in Oolamoo, guard rails are on both sides of the road and then there’s another bridge.

Still not any water except far in the distance.

The bridge is the same style as one I’ve recently shown on Route 10.

The road is fairly straight through flat land in Arang.

We rest again at this bus shelter by Michael Linden in Hetae. (“bus fares are very low”)

There have been at least two bus shelters rezzed by residents that I’ve noticed on this Route 10 journey so far.

Hopefully we’ll pick up the journey looking at virtual mainland infrastructure next week again.

Wanderlust Art Truck at Sunset Garden, Wyrd

Tags

Klaus Bereznyak, Pearl Grey, Satori, Second Life, secondlife, Veyot, virtual art, Wanderlust Art Truck Tour, Wyrd

The Wanderlust Art Truck made its 10th stop about two weeks ago, this time at Sunset Garden in Wyrd. The welcome area is at nearby Wyrd Watchtower.  The exhibit will be available for about another week or so. 

Each exhibit on the tour, which has included parcels on four continents plus Caledon, has been unique. This Sunset Garden location has been partially curated by the project creators, myself and Klaus Bereznyak. Additional pieces have been added by creative friends of the host, Veyot.

Marcus VanDouser made a Youtube video of the grand opening called Wanderlust.

There’s a Flickr group, Wanderlust Art Truck Fans, just created; you’re welcome to add your snapshots of yourself at this location.

There are other things to check out in the area, the previously mentioned Wyrd Watchtower, Saul’s Place Cafe and Library of Landmarks. Sojourners Ground is down the road in Erzulie. Wyrd and Erzulie are on Route 8B on Satori.

There will be at least one more stop for Wanderlust Art Truck before it retires.

 

 

Route 10 ~ Silvercreek to Lill Burn Valley

Tags

Jeogeot, mainland, Route 10, Second Life, secondlife, Yavascript Pod

Beginning where I last stopped on Route 10, Jeogeot which I blogged here, I crossed this bridge which was not nearly as long as I expected. I approached the bridge in Silvercreek and walked off it in Aberhart.

There are some very noisy gulls around the bridge which weren’t nearly as challenging as the security orbs while I was snapping photos.

Not much further on is this small bridge over a dry gully in Cambrian.

Trees and shrubs are very sparse along this stretch of road. There is Linden foliage mixed with resident purchased trees and shrubs a little ways off the road shoulder.  I didn’t investigate as the first bridge took much longer to photograph than I anticipated.

In Sien Lok I saw a bench by Garden Mole. The description promises (naughty poses!).

On the other side of the road, close by is a guard rail.

In Dalhousie the road paving changes.

I continued on through Crowfoot and arrived at the Route 9/10 Intersection Rez Zone in Quenloo.  There was an avatar standing by the side of the road, perhaps waiting for a passing POD.

There are trees, bushes and flowers near the intersection. The crossing beacons are by Garden Mole. The large tree is an 11 Li sculpt also by Garden Mole. These trees are constantly moving which is very noticeable  from quite a distance away.

Across the intersection, continuing Route 10 in Deltide, the paving changes again.

There’s another rez zone in Hangflame Ridge. Next, in Quiet Mile, the name of the road changes to Protected Land, Quiet Mile, then back to Route 10 in Blue Hound.

Route 10 continues through Badly Moor, Trumbull, Auriga, Wollendilly and Lill Burn Valley. (I especially like the names Badly Moor and Wollendilly.)

What stood out for me on this stretch or road was the very sharp edged terrain on the shoulder. This photo was snapped at the rez zone in Trumbull.

I ended this part of my journey in Lill Burn Valley at a bridge by Mighty Mole.  It’s possible that by riding a POD through the area you might learn info and history in local text that is offered on many POD tours.

These photos were taken on September 12, 2017.

Route 10 – Jeogeot; Falkor through Silvercreek

Tags

Jeogeot, Route 10, Second Life, secondlife

Shown above is a rez zone at Route 10, Falkor. It meets Route 9 here on the continent of Jeogeot.

Very soon one arrives at Route 10 Bridge in Ninereeds.

Linden Road and Waterfront, Ninereeds. The public part of the waterway in this view seemed narrow.

Moving on, the road goes through Fymatigue and Fyre Maven.

There is a small bridge in Fyre Maven. I have kept my draw distance down and focused on the infrastructure for these photos. There are quite a few buildings in this area.

This is the road paving and ground texture for the sims covered in this post. You can see the speed bumps in the road. These photos were taken 9 – 9 – 17 and I repeatedly sunk down into the paving as I was walking. The photo above was taken in Black Drake.

Route 10 continues from Black Drake through Chapala, Applewood, Lynnwood, Pinemont, Grimm, Glenmore, Templegreen and Taravista.

The photo above was taken in Martindale. Further on is Oakfield, Cedarbrae and Flint.

There’s an underwater tunnel in Flint.

Fortunately it isn’t very long because it’s closed in.

When I exited the tunnel in Silvercreek, I flew up, turned around and snapped the photo above.  I continued on until I came to a large bridge, still in Silvercreek.

The trip continues here.

Virtual Mainland Infrastructure

Tags

blogging, mainland, Second Life, secondlife

I’m introducing a new category to my blog, virtual mainland infrastructure, which will include what seems to me to fit. I don’t really give much attention to tags and categories but I want to gather a type of post I intend to begin in some sort of better order than usual.I enjoy the creativity of avatars on the mainland and will continue to post about places I like there as well as continuing my usual art coverage, the occasional designer sim or event.

I’m using random photos from my collection in this post, no SLurls. The picture above was taken in North Keswick in Coniston, Sansara. 

I have been considering doing this for years. The bridges, the types of roads, different terrain, roadside foliage, signs, rest stops and such, things I’ve not heard many people mention.  The photo above was taken while driving in Ribeata.

I recall searching online for photos of the bridges in Second Life and finding little info. There is an abandoned 10 year old Flickr account with no SLurls and I recognized very few of the bridges. The photo above was taken in Anma.

The posts will be mostly photos, names of sims and some SLurls. I won’t be looking at the Wiki or doing other research. Wandering the mainland is a balancing sort of therapy for me. It’s a relaxing distraction that aids my fundamental creativity.

Some photos of bizarre land formations may be included.

The above photo looks like it was taken on Heterocera.

I don’t have any sort of schedule in mind; there are simply so many things to do.  I have used up 69 % of this free WordPress account; the future is very unpredictable as we all know.

The first post is scheduled for tomorrow, beginning on Route 10 in Falkor, Jeogeot.

Le Reve de Jaques Cafe, New Toulouse

Tags

Le Reve de Jaques Cafe, New Toulouse, Second Life, secondlife

Less than two months old, Le Reve de Jaques Cafe is a wonderfully detailed, welcoming public place located on a street corner in New Toulouse.

The ambient background sounds of New Toulouse, with the occasional rain and the streetcar passing by add much to the carefully selected and placed decor.

There is a small side room for 1920’s New Orleans stoners.

There are treats and a few board games.

There’s plenty of seating and a backdoor with a view of water and the trees of the bayou.

The Cafe is on a 512 parcel with more than the usual Li allowance.

Vintage paraphernalia.

Early sunrise in New Toulouse.