Ecological Histories of a Synthetic Future by Poppy Morris

Tags

audio installation, Bounce Greggan, Ecological Histories of a Synthetic Future, Infinite Art Gallery, Maryport, noise music, Poppy Morris, Prokofy Neva, Sansara, virtual art

Ecological Histories of a Synthetic Future is an installation that you may have seen at SL18B in June. It was one of my favorites. Our world here is of an ephemeral nature, and we can miss out on many things. I was delighted to point friends in the direction of the build while it was rezzed.

Now, I’m happy to share that the creator, Poppy Morris, has been invited to set up the visual and audio art installation once again.

The location is in the Maryport region of Sansara, a visitor and newbie friendly area with some long established parcels.

Poppy built the bunkers that holds her 2D art pieces.

ARTIST STATEMENT –

“As an artist, I am concerned with the interplay between class, economics, and environmental collapse. Thinking about our place in history and our possible future trajectories, I consider our relationship to freedom and our submissions to the controls over our time while the environmental casualties pile up around us. Since the period of the Industrial Revolution, our modes of labour and production have radically transformed the way we relate as humans, to each other and the land. I think it is of critical importance to observe the differences between competition and mutual aid as it relates to the organization of societies while considering ourselves in community with the natural world. “

“The music heard on the parcel are the recordings of the real life artist behind the avatar Poppy Morris. These recordings are from two albums being released in the summer of 2021. The sounds are created using contact microphones and effects pedals on a weaving loom and spinning wheel as well as vocals, and light activated drone machines built by the artist (drone machines can be heard on the track titled Persistence Beyond All truth). Poppy Morris performs in world using an exact replica of her weaving loom and effects pedals built by Bounce Greggan.

Debut album FORMS released in 2019 was voted number one on the top ten noise albums of 2019 list by Magnet Magazine.”

The link to the artist’s bandcamp can be found on the notecard from the nc giver on the parcel.  The guestbook is located next to the weaving loom.

I had the pleasure of attending an inworld performance July 3rd on the rooftop of Infinite Art Gallery in Bembecia where the artist exhibits her work for sale.

ARTIST BIO

“Poppy Morris is an avatar representation of a real life Canadian artist beginning her art career working in paint and has since expanded her practice to include textiles, new media and sound. Exhibiting and performing internationally, she currently exhibits installations featuring textile, sound sculpture, and video and performs live as a sound artist. In her practice she looks at the human’s relationship with technology through employing early technologies such as weaving and dying with plants, to building machines using electronics and micro controllers, to most recently developing an interest in creating worlds and machinima in the virtual world.”

A zipline runs from one of the bunker tops to the park-like setting below. The parcel is owned by Prokofy Neva.

I especially enjoy that the installation is located on the mainland.  There are other places of interest in the area.

The hangout area with the campfire is especially lovely at night, with the parcel’s ambient nature sounds.

 

Wanderlust Bench Art Park Sep – Oct

Tags

Quentin, Sansara, virtual art, virtual photography, Wanderlust Bench Art Park

by Kate Silver

It’s autumn season at Wanderlust Bench Art Park, a familiar outdoor setting, while once again some of the surrounding parcels are for sale or have changed ownership.

by Amy Inawe and Klaus Bereznyak

This photo showing Amy’s and Klaus’ art was taken before the land between the park and sea had a clothing store rezzed. While it currently the blocks the view, the building is a non-glowing, neutral texture that would make a good backdrop for murals or more art pieces.

by Quinn

The land for sale is large and expensive, and might attract someone with ambitious plans. Quinn, the park founder has recently renewed his Premium account, and so Wanderlust will continue.

by Elle Thorkveld and Veyot

There were several black and white studies in the mix this round.

by Wheedle and Klaus

Even with the new building so close, there’s a spacious, light feeling remaining.

by Pearl Grey

I enjoyed making another collage, and in the latter half of October I changed the texture to one with ghosts.

by Elle Thorkveld

The destination and event posters are checked regularly and updated. Most are for, but not limited to mainland destinations.

There’s still an open view of the sea from Wanderlust Cafe courtyard.

On exhibit inside the cafe are pieces of asemic writing by Klaus.

I’m displaying mixed media pieces on the ground floor of the gallery, while the floor above has graphic art by Minty Vanilla.

The tango club shown in the background remains quite active. The large wall in the left of the photo is on land for sale next to the road, and has since been removed.

The art will be refreshed for November and December: there’s another week to see the current art. All are welcome.

 

 

Wanderlust Bench Art Park ~ May & June 2019

Tags

Sansara, virtual art, Wanderlust Bench Art Park, Wanderlust Cafe

Serra Qendra, Elle Thorkveld, Kate Silver

The late spring, early summer exhibit is open until June 30 in the park, and Wanderlust Cafe and Art Park Expansion next door.

Wheedle, Klaus, Lil Mint

The art changes every two months, often new works, and some of it is available for purchase.

Pearl Grey, Art Oluja

Ranging from virtual photography to rl watercolor, as usual there was no hard theme or guidelines.

For those participants who like prompts, a poem entitled A Charm Against the Language of Politics by Veronica Patterson was offered.

Veyot

Several of the artists chose to respond to the prompt.

Wheedle

Nothing was harsh. The above poster is free.

Amy Inawe, Klaus

An essay called Grounding, written by Klaus, is available on a notecard; just click on the art photo.

Seraphim Placebo

Virtual photography taken at Mophire.

Lil Mint

Digital art on the  top floor of the gallery at the Art Park Expansion.

Serra Quendra

Serra has an installation in Wanderlust Cafe. There’s still plenty of seating outdoors.

There are 3D sculptures from a private collection scattered about, as well as posters with landmarks for current exhibits and destinations.

We’d love to have you visit.

 

 

The Spirit Blooms Timidly at Ribong Gallery

Tags

Art Oluja, cylent, Lenticular Motion, Ribong Gallery, Santoshima, The Spirit Blooms Timidly, virtual art

The Spirit Blooms Timidly opened three weeks ago at Ribong Gallery in Mieum. It’s a creative and unique exhibit that is well worth a long visit, or several visits to take it all in. 

“THE SPIRIT BLOOMS TIMIDLY is Art Oluja’s latest collection of artwork. This exhibition merges several personally inspiring concepts, beginning with a passage by George Santayana: ‘the world is not respectable; it is mortal, tormented, confused, deluded forever; but it is shot through with beauty, with love, with glints of courage and laughter; and in these, the spirit blooms timidly, and struggles to the light amid the thorns’.”

At the landing, there’s notecarded information about the artist, and the exhibit. There’s also a gift of art. Turning around, you’ll see you’re encouraged to jump into the multi-level gallery space.

“Light-hearted optical illusions, hypnotic mandalas, and vibrant dandelions are some of the elements that blossom within this collection. The show reflects the artist’s perception that ‘nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect’.”

Photographs don’t do justice to the exhibit, and I’ve been having quite a bit of challenges with my viewer and internet connection lately. The pieces are of a large scale and many can be entered by avatars; they are all visually stunning.

Fortunately, flying is enabled. This allows viewing of the art from different angles. There are stairs and seating available, and you can dance inside some of the large, floating pieces.

“To view and listen to the media in the exhibit, please make sure you have your viewer set to allow automatically playing media, and toggle your play media button ON when you arrive. Media is embedded in some wall panels and in some of the artworks.”

I enjoyed finding a coherent, narrative journey for myself in this exhibit, and I shared it with the artist, who’s approachable, and also a friend. The exhibit is in no way prescriptive; enjoy it as you will.

Some of the Cylents are shown above. “A ‘Cylent’ [Cyber + Lenticular = Cylent] is a technique that Art Oluja developed in-world. It is a hand-made process that merges virtual photography with Lenticular Motion printing, and she describes them as being ‘like those fun little animated cards I got in cereal boxes as a kid :)’ They are non scripted objects so you can enjoy them lag-free.”

The above photo gives a suggestion of the scale of the pieces, and you can get a glimpse of the 3D art underneath.

Ribong Gallery is curated by Santoshima. I first discovered it earlier this year while visiting the neighboring Art of Being Gallery, and very much enjoyed immersing in the exhibit at that time.

“ABOUT THE GALLERY: Ribong Gallery is a flexible space within the meta-world of Second Life, whose intention is to host a rolling series of thought-provoking contemporary arts exhibitions featuring the artworks of SL artists. The name Ribong is derived from the Ladakhi name for the Tibetan Woolly Hare, and is a reminder of impermanence, flux, and bounding joy within a world of endless forms most beautiful. We hope you will subscribe for future exhibits (the subscription panel in the lobby entrance), and we are grateful for your support of this gallery and of SL artists.”
 

 

Wanderlust Bench Art Park ~ January and February

Tags

Quentin, Sansara, virtual art, virtual photography, Wanderlust Bench Art Park, Wanderlust Cafe

left to right – by Veyot, Pearl Grey

This exhibit in the park and Wanderlust Cafe next door remains open through the end of the month.

by Kate Silver, Wheedle, Klaus

Some of the artists and photographers change their work every month.

by Lil Mint, Lynette Trinity, Serra Qendra

Lil Mint has established a club; the landmark can be found on the event poster wall. She also has a Cat Cafe nearby. Lynette Trinity has a gallery down the road, which I discovered on a late evening wander. Serra’s piece is one in a series, the rest of which are in Wanderlust Cafe.

by Elle Thorkveld

I requested that Elle leave her 3D Locking piece from the previous round rezzed; it looks perfect for the setting.

by Quinn

Quinn is the owner of the 512 parcel, and can sometimes be persuaded to contribute a photograph.

by Amy Inawe, Klaus

Amy has returned with art that works perfectly in the setting, and would almost anywhere. There is a thought-provoking essay on the notecard written by Klaus in his digital piece.

by Seraphim

Seraphim has set up a satellite gallery; the location can be found in her picks.

by Lynette Trinity

Lynette’s vases and pots often have matching room screens which can be found on the park fence.

by Lil Mint

Lil Mint’s work is on the upper floor of the gallery building. She owns the Wanderlust Cafe and Art Park Expansion.

by Giselle Seeker

On the event poster wall, you can find a landmark to Giselle’s exhibit at Visions of Beauty.

by Serra Qendra

Serra also has a landmark giver on the  poster wall for her live-in studio on Nautilus. The installations there have been changing often.

The Art Park and Wanderlust Cafe and Art Park Expansion have outdoor seating. We love having visitors.

 

 

 

 

Bench Art Park ~ Nov & Dec

Tags

Bench Art Park, Quentin, Sansara, virtual art

It appears to be sunny, early autumn at Bench Art Park for November and December. The various artists had an optional prompt for this two month exhibit, a quote by Kurt Vonnegut.

The image on the lower left in the photo is by Klaus and contains a notecarded essay on Devicefication. 

The Vonnegut quote refers to November and December as “Locking Season”.

From left to right above, by LiL Mint, serra Qendra, Lynette Trinity, Elle Thorkveld and Kate Silver.

“One sort of optional thing you might do is to realize that there are six seasons instead of four. The poetry of four seasons is all wrong for this part of the planet, and this may explain why we are so depressed so much of the time. I mean, spring doesn’t feel like spring a lot of the time, and November is all wrong for autumn, and so on.

Here is the truth about the seasons: Spring is May and June. What could be springier than May and June? Summer is July and August. Really hot, right? Autumn is September and October. See the pumpkins? Smell those burning leaves? Next comes the season called Locking. November and December aren’t winter. They’re Locking. Next comes winter, January and February. Boy! Are they ever cold!

What comes next? Not spring. ‘Unlocking’ comes next. What else could cruel March and only slightly less cruel April be? March and April are not spring. They’re Unlocking.”

~ Kurt Vonnegut – from a collection of essays and speeches, “Palm Sunday: Bits of the Collage” (1981)

From left to right above, by Elle Thorkveld, Kate Silver and Quinn.

Art by Pearl Grey, (moi), Wheedle and Klaus.

A winter photo by Veyot on the right.

The park has had a lovely remodel by our gardener, Art Oluja.

Elle Thorkveld created something for the Locking theme, and there are different digital images on both sides.

Digital art by Seraphim Placebo.

Vase by Lynette Trinity.

LiL Mint has done some landscaping around Wanderlust Cafe next door.

Piece by Klaus, There are also some sculptures from Elle Thorkveld’s 2018 Burn2 installation.

On the roof of the cafe is a Locking themed 3D piece I’ve done, once again inspired by somewhat camouflaging banlines from the correctional facility next door.

The ground floor of the gallery contains a vibrant exhibit by Giselle Seeker.

Upstairs, digital art by LiL Mint.

The art park and cafe have been operating in Quentin for over two and a half years. You’re welcome to stop by to view the art, and enjoy the view and the music streams.

 

 

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.

 

dream: everything is art, Hookton

Tags

3D art installation, dream; everything is art, gacha, Hookton, machinima, Sansara, serra Qendra, virtual art

This parcel in Hookton, on Sansara, was claimed just a little over four months ago; the art and lounge spaces have often been in vibrant change, always worthy of visiting, never being too much under construction.

The land has gone through several name changes too. First binary, then post binary, and maybe some others before the current “dream; everything is art“.

The studio, gallery and mainland lounge are owned by serra Qendra. Currently at the landing there is a group joiner for machinima screenings planned for next month: “Cinema “Sunday Screenings” from 18 Feb >>> 8-10 PM
(8:15 start) playing machinima about sl… “.

Also available is an info notecard on Concrete Poem # 1 Dragons Tears:

“My ‘concrete poems’ are surrealistic assemblages of found objects

(No.1) Dragons Tears: is about the act of crying

The viewer is invited to sit in the middle of the sculpture…to ‘complete its verb’
…to take time from our usual work and let ourselves feel loss
Dragons so hate to lose any of their jewels
some private crying helps wash that away.

The Lounge is currently displaying snapshots by serra taken at LEA last round, mostly of The Plant.

The levels can be navigated by stairs, climbing, teleporter and flying. I’ve enjoyed wandering around the installations which have been quite fascinating.

There is a meditation area, rides, and floating jellyfish; spring has arrived with chickens wandering around.

One of the previous winter scenes here was selected for the cover of the most recent edition of The Antidote, an inworld publication celebrating continuing creativity, activities and community in Second Life in the midst and in spite of very challenging and often discouraging times in the arts and in the world. (Copies of the two editions may be picked up by the Peace Pole at nearby Wanderlust Cafe and Art Park Extension in Quentin.)

Walking all the way down to the water, you’ll find the Hookton Rez Zone close by.

I was delighted to find a gacha for affordable sculptures called “shell-likes”.

I’ve admired how the spaces here have adapted to and worked well with the aesthetics of the frequent changes in the area, some of which have looked unappealing.

There has usually been laundry drying in the sea breeze. At this time it is up on the roof.

A birds eye view looking down at dream: everything is art.

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.

Art Project 3 at Blue Orange

Tags

Art Project 3, Blue Orange, Bryn Oh, Gitu Aura, Ini Inaka, Nevereux, NicoleX Moonwall, Not Possible in Real Life, Rebecca Bashly, Tubal Amiot, virtual art, Xirana Oximoxi

Art Project 3 opened at the Blue Orange on October 15. The SLurl will take you to the music club. Glancing around, you’ll see the poster on the wall, as shown above. It’s important to click the poster for the notecard which has LMs in case you get lost. (I needed them.) Also there’s a heads up about flashing lights in one of the exhibits. Blue Orange is located on the Adult sim of Empire State Island.

Shown above is DONE by Rebecca Bashly. I found it by walking through the opening in the wall as shown in the right of the top photo. The Art Corner has had a renovation since the last project and there are different routes to get around.

Art by Ini.

I enjoyed the presentation of the art and the care put into the gallery ambiance. From the notecard: “No pressure about advanced lights and WL, but it could help.” I don’t recall changing anything to take these photos.

Shown above is work by Xirana Oximoxi.

I walked through a couple of installations and then didn’t follow through into the hallway with the pulsing lights, located in the area shown in the center of the photo above. The area can be approached from another direction too, where I saw non-pulsing pieces by the artist, Nevereux.

Back tracking, I looked into a room behind a blue door and found this vibrant installation by Tubal Amiot.

This is another hallway leading to more art.

By Nevereux.

Mind Game by NicoleX Moonwall and Gitu Aura. NicoleX has created machinima of Blue Orange installations and events which can be seen on the vimeo channel, Gumbo Productions.   

Before the end of my tour, I needed to check the landmarks on the notecard to find the areas I missed. Other artists in this project are Jadeyu Fhang, Theda Tammas, and Chibbchichi.

Bryn Oh installation 51, Photos By You All, is shown above. I’m pleased that I didn’t overlook the note card info about the installation and Bryn’s talk on Not Possible in Real Life.  The hall with the photos, photographers names underneath, is to the left of where I began, shown in the top photo.

There is much to see here.