You are cordially invited to join us Saturday, June 26th at 12pm SLT for the opening of Patrick Ireland's new exhibit in Janus Gallery III entitled, "Ireland of Dreams." Melenda Baptiste and Dude will perform live, making for an exciting afternoon of art and music. We can’t wait to share it with you!
Originally in SL in 2008 and recently back after a hiatus of many years, Patrick found his passion for SL photography a year and a half ago. In this short time, he has become a prolific SL photographer known for his Surrealism and detailed sets, and mastery of post-editing and production. His desire to share the joy of his many interests, including surreal subjects, Asian art and philosophy, civic issues, and, of course, love.
Beneath the noise. Behind the curtain. Want to know what backstage really looks like? A visual ode to Operation Condor, survivor's guilt, a failed civilization, the psychology of deceit, intelligence, the disappeared, the Dirty War, the end game. Do you know what you're walking into? Direct link (no hiking required):
It is an absolute pleasure to introduce you to Bryn Oh. Bryn Oh is the ghost artist of a Toronto oil painter. Her interest in virtual worlds began with an attempt to create an artist unaligned with an RL identity. The idea was to see if a pixel character could become successful and accepted as an artist in "real life" alongside flesh and blood ones. SLE was lucky enough to get some time with Bryn for an exclusive interview.
SLE: Thank you for meeting with us for an interview. We understand you are busy and really appreciate the time to
let our readers get to know more about you and your work.
Bryn Oh: My pleasure.
SLE: Ok then, let's start out with the obvious facts. You obviously have a long list of
accolades and accomplishments in real life as a well-accomplished artist with
degrees in Fine Art and Design, being a recipient of the George A Reid award for painting. Can you
tell us a little bit about your art background and what medium of art do you
like the most?
Bryn Oh: I grew up loving art but my father, whose views were shaped from being an orphan, had the belief that art was a hobby and that I must have a stable job with a good income.I ended up going to university for psychology and one day a roommate said to me “Why do you go to class then when you return home immediately go paint all night? Why didn’t you go to art
school?”And I had no answer to that and decided to apply to Canada’s top art school, and if I got accepted I
would drop out of university and go there instead.I was accepted and to the horror of my parents, I began the long road to being an artist.After four years at OCAD I entered the world as an artist and immediately realized that I couldn’t pay rent.So, freaking out, I went back to school to learn computer animation and a program called Softimage XSI and Zbrush.After this schooling, I had no idea what to do, but as fortune would have it I became represented by an art gallery in
Toronto and spent years as an oil painter having a few exhibits a year and living off my paintings.Then one day I read
an article about a virtual world where someone bought a condominium for
$200,000 USD.I felt this was insane and had to log into this world called Second Life and see what a virtual condominium was.. I have swept away with this virtual world and realized that the virtual medium was the medium of art for me.It was not a snapshot in time such as a
painting, nor was it like cinema where you are told a story but are a passive observer.This medium lets us be active participants in the artwork in an open-ended environment.And as it turned out the perfect
combination of learning traditional art concepts combined with learning 3D
computer programs set me up to thrive in Second Life.Personally, there is not a medium I enjoy most, I love drawing and painting and having something physical in my hands,
but at the same time I love the idea of working on an emerging art medium or movement.There were the
Impressionists, Cubists, Surrealists, Fauvists, and many more over art
history.. and it's possible that I could be part of one I call the
Immersivists and that, to me, is a rare and exciting opportunity as one of the first artists.
SLE: So great to hear you get your talents from your family, I love hearing that. Tell me, Second Life is the perfect platform to display your artistic skills and share them with a global audience. Can you
tell me how Second Life impacted your real-life art career?
Bryn Oh: Well so for example.When I
would have an art exhibit with my paintings in real life, I would have two
openings a year.At these openings
there might be 300 – 400 visitors and each drinking wine with their backs to
the paintings looking at each other.This night was important as many of the sales happen then.People still come over the rest of the
month, but that first night is very important.I have had openings where there were snow
storms and once a tornado threat, and it can be quite stressful to work for
six months on a show and need it to do well because there are hundreds of
other artists who would love to take your spot at the gallery, and then have
a storm keeps people away.To compare,
when I open an exhibit for my work in Second Life there often will be 40,000
visitors from around the world to see it over the course of the exhibit, not
local Toronto people.The weather
doesn’t matter and often opportunities arise such as interviews with Vogue or
Museum exhibitions, even a course created around my artwork being taught in a
university.Perhaps the biggest impact
is being able to receive various Government art grants to support my artistic
pursuits.
SLE: Those that don't know about the business never really think of the Government grants as something to help boost your pursuits great point for those looking for assistance. People from all walks of life come to SL
for a variety of reasons so there is no right or wrong answer to this question. Would you consider Second Life an extension of your real life?
Bryn Oh: Yes certainly it is.It is all
“real” but people decide on the degree of sharing they wish to give.Second Life is very creative and advanced
social media platform not unlike Facebook, but rather than pages we are people,
and instead of cursors, we have fancy avatars.We inhabit the virtual world and design our avatars to be personal
representations of how we see ourselves.Each person can be creative in this manner and overall second life is far more of a creative space than any other social media that I can think of.
SLE: So, aside from RL and SL Art exhibitions, you
have been featured in multiple publications ranging from media sources to
University publications and awards since as far back as 2006. Can you tell us which ones mean the most to you?
Bryn Oh: I have received government grants from the Ontario Arts Council which were rewarding, but the first one meant a lot because I had been questioning myself about my decision to pursue my virtual work.It is not a lucrative decision and on top of that, much like photography when it emerged, it takes a long time for people to accept it as an art form.There is a lot of resistance from curators stuck in their ways or with limited vision and it can make you question yourself.The grants legitimized what I already knew
to be true and encouraged me to move forward.The university course on the art of Bryn oh is equal to that for the reason that when I was in art school I would learn about artists and my dream was to be mentioned one day too.So the idea that students are sitting in a class learning about my art is
bizarre and rewarding.
SLE: You have been sharing your talent in
Second Life for many years. Can you share with our readers what inspires the
art you exhibit in SL?
Bryn Oh: My art is a long narrative.It is almost like a diary where the characters and events represent things in my own life.My artistic focus is on the way modern society is affected by technology, ranging between human/machine and machine/machine relationships.Often we consider technology to open channels for people to interact and engage socially,
however, the opposite can occur where people become isolated within their own personal bubble, separate and witnessing the world from a distance almost as a product with brittle popularity.My work expresses a yearning for meaningful connections within the new technological realm that often contains human remoteness.I build virtual reality environments that
convey the juxtapositions between human emotion and machine sentience. I
combine poetry with a melancholy narrative that explores the themes of
connection and belonging.
SLE: Like with so many other businesses affected by the pandemic, it must be difficult to host real word exhibitions. How has it affected you and your career? How have
you been able to continue to do what you love and share your work in real
life?
Bryn Oh: It has been challenging as there have been no real-world exhibits, which can make it tricky to find income.I am fortunate in that my medium is not
greatly affected by the pandemic and people have supported me through my
Patreon and with the sale of commissions.Interestingly I have discovered that people will see paintings and
drawings from my Instagram and purchase them.Some things dry up and others appear and I kind of adapt.
SLE: Adaptation is a form of art in itself I believe. Second Life is picking up with activity since the start of the pandemic, especially with musicians. Do you see this same pattern in the SL art culture?
Bryn Oh: No not really.If I was to give a theory I
would say that with music the artist arrives in second life possessing their talent already, where it takes a period of learning before new artists begin to build great work.It can take years to become proficient with 3D so maybe we might see new artists just starting to emerge now.
SLE: Your name is well known in the SL art community. What advice would you give to new artists wanting to showcase their work? Are you part of any groups that encourage the arts in SL?
Bryn Oh: When I first came to second life I
would build on sandboxes and make friends with other artists there.I remember building on IBM sandbox beside an artist named AM Radio who was quite popular at the time.I think the SLEA has a sandbox and it’s a
good spot to see what other artists are creating too.They also have links to various art galleries.An active and encouraging
private sim you could try is called Sinful Retreat run by Chuck Clip and
Fallenaurora Jewell.They have put a
huge amount of time into creating a dynamic art space for all to enjoy.Nitroglobus gallery is run by Dido Haas and a good spot to try as well.There are too many places to list here really.I
will try post art openings in my group Immersiva too.
SLE: Your blog ( http://brynoh.blogspot.com/ ) features updates and blog posts to keep your audience engaged. How else do you engage with your followers?
Bryn Oh: Through my group Immersiva,
on my Instagram and Facebook.
SLE: You are also a member of www.patreon.com. It is a platform for artists to showcase their work and changes the way art is valued. Your personal Patreon page is https://www.patreon.com/brynoh. Can you tell us a little about how it has benefitted you and your work?
Bryn Oh: Patreon has been nice in that people can donate towards helping me pay tier for my sim.Often people tell me they want to support me and don’t know how and Patreon has given me a place to point them towards.Essentially they sign up and pay a $5 monthly donation and in exchange, they help my career and also get to see things I post for them.So for example I might post videos or sketches or paintings.Recently I put up an NFT just for the group.
SLE: It has been a pleasure interviewing you and hope the best for you and your continued success. Do you have any
exhibitions or art shows coming up in SL?
Bryn Oh: I will have a new exhibit opening in a month or so on Immersiva called the Brittle Epoch.Other than that Linden Lab has given me two sims to use as Gateway regions for new users.One has the artwork “Hand” and the second I
am using to bring back a story called the Singularity of Kumiko.They are both close to being ready and I
will announce it in my group, blog, etc.
SLE: Your love of art is apparent and we wanted to congratulate you on all your accomplishments. Thank you for bringing your talent and visions into Second Life. It inspires many.
Before we end this interview, is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Bryn Oh: Thank you for your generous words, I appreciate your interest in what I do. I can’t think of anything else to share.
My first visit at Center Ground was that of amazement, you can immediately feel and see the exceptional creative environmental practices, diversity, conservation of arts and culture in this little community. My eyes were drawn to the colorful poster seeking creators of urban & ethnic wear to participate in a fashion event in mid-April during Earth week. I continued down the walkway enjoying the natural scenery and instantly recognized the hard work put into this slice of heaven where pride clearly shines. Near the garden area stands the Center Ground Gallery of Art where beautiful paintings proudly hang in a modern architectural-looking building. Further down is a residential area with Eco-looking homes. It was no surprise to me to learn that the Center Ground originally started by 4 environmentally focused leaders who created this environmentally friendly community to discuss and promote truly sustainable modeling and preserve their ideas and dreams in the SL metaverse. I was looking forward to meeting with one of the original founders, Luchenpur Darwin.
Roxy Mystic: Hello Luchenpur, I am very happy to meet you. This place is amazing! I am not sure where to start as there is so much to talk about. I walked around Center Ground and I also visited your webpage. There is a description of Center Ground that says: "The Center Ground sim is a hub for businesses, residences, arts and entertainment. While many may only know of our world-class venues, it takes only a brief walk to see what else we offer." You were absolutely correct, I walked down the pathway and knew right away everything I needed to know about Center Ground. Let's go back a little and talk about how this all started, the meeting of 4 environmentalists with amazing visions.
Luchenpur Darwin: Hello Roxy, It is great to meet you as well. And thank you for the generous compliment. I can see already you have an eye for detail. Smiles
Roxy Mystic: Why is it so important to you and obviously to your founding colleagues that Center Ground keeps showcasing ways to protect our natural resources and can you elaborate a bit more on the mindset around the synergy of survival?
Luchenpur Darwin: Roxy, My 3 colleagues, Paolo Rousselo, Tatia Andel, and Flower Ninetails
originally met on another sim that excelled in green and sustainable practices. Each of us came to SL with experiences from our first life that influenced our pursuits here. Over time the 4 of us decided to strike out on our own and pursue a vision, while still sustainable. More aligned with the 4 of us.
Roxy Mystic: I am so curious and very much interested in learning more about the upcoming fashion show and exposition of items designed from recycled and sustainable materials. This is such an original idea! Will this be a full week or weekend event? Please share more!
Luchenpur Darwin: The idea for the fashion show came from Reign C. I asked her to be part of planning the event this year and she brought in her organization, The Best Of Second Life (BOSL). Our Earth Week celebration will actually begin the week of April 10th with designers setting up displays along Center Ground Boulevard On Saturday the 17th We will have a
dance troupe perform for the opening. Sunday the 18th we will have the Fashion Show put on by BLVD Fashion House Both events will start at Noon SLT. We will also DJs doing live sets at Etopia and street parties at Center Ground from the 17th through the 25th. I have been involved in “Green Expos” in the past where there were displays that covered everything from persevering water qualities, wetlands, and mangroves to reducing energy consumption. That appeals to a certain group. But when you talk fashion you have widened your scope. If you do an internet search for sustainable fashion, you now see clothing companies that are taking the lead on sustainable practices and reusing recycled and sustainably grown materials in their garments. With a little research, I’m hoping some S L creators may come up with backstories for items they already have or create something new for our exposition.
Roxy Mystic: When I saw the Club Center Ground my first impression was that of a lounge atmosphere. I felt like I was perhaps in Vegas prepared to be entertained by elite performers. You are very good at creating perfect environments of comfort that pull us into special moments in time. What are the plans with the Club Center Ground, I understand there is currently both DJ and live music entertainment?
Luchenpur Darwin: Thanks for the compliment Roxy. Club Center Ground is the result of collaborations between myself and Judilynn India. The club has evolved over time from suggestions by friends and patrons to what you see today. We have live DJs nearly every day of the week comprising over 25 hours of original entertainment. We also have singers on occasion. The club is open 24/7 there is a great stream by WBSR digital radio that plays on off-hours.
Roxy Mystic: I love shopping so we really need to talk about the shopping district! I have noticed there is both a market area and a store section. Oh wait, there is even a restaurant! Your rental rates are quite affordable. Can you describe this area for me and if someone is interested in renting a store would they contact you directly?
Luchenpur Darwin: Smiles, The Center Ground Shopping district consists of small storefronts and the marketplace you mentioned previously. The stores along the boulevard and kiosk in the marketplace allow shoppers a chance to see what they are purchasing in a more physical way. The kiosk gives smaller creators a chance to get some exposure. There is also an extension of Inspiration University. We have Renee’s Bistro, I guess we could call it a supper club. It is an intimate venue with a small stage where singers and comedians have performed. Not to be forgotten is the Sugarhill Lounge, Housed in the WBSR building where we hold scheduled events on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Roxy Mystic: Those eco-homes you have here at Center Ground are so real, they truly reflect life in a sustainable real-life home being compact and efficient as they are. Once again your rental rates are very affordable and it appears most units are rented too. Can you describe the idea behind this close-knit community idea and how your renters feel about their compact homes?
Luchenpur Darwin: Sure, in a sustainable community all resources must be considered. We have been able to place 5 apartments in an area where some would have one huge home. I’m not knocking anyone for their choices. What we have here is an example of sustainable living where everything is within walking distance of your residence. The apartments were recently updated to state of the art (SOTA). Alexis, One of our residents, and business owners came up with a proposal for the remodel and was able to secure the blessing of the original creator. That kind of collaboration is one of the keys to our success. We also took input from the other residents. What you see is the culmination of all those influences. Most of our renters have been here a long time. And even if they are away for an extended period they can count on having their place here when they return.
Roxy Mystic: They say the experience of looking at awe-inspiring art has a positive effect on our physical body and our mental state as well; it enhances brain function and well-being so it is no surprise that Center Ground is highly involved with the art community. Please share with our SL Enquirer readers why the gallery is so important. If someone wanted their art exhibit here what would they need to do and who would they contact?
Luchenpur Darwin: The Center Ground Gallery of Art, was the first major attraction we had here. Judilynn India, our resident RL artist, and owner of the gallery built the first version in 2012. Over the years there have been various iterations of the building. Judilynn is the curator and also the chief builder of present-day Center Ground.
Roxy Mystic: I understand you are offering jobs and looking for bloggers. Can you describe the positions you are offering and perhaps provide information on the blogging opportunities at Center Ground?
Luchenpur Darwin: Center Ground’s employs a number of DJs and Host on a regular basis. In the near future, we will be looking for some men of good character and quality to act as ‘Gentleman Host’ for some of our events, Bloggers are welcome. If someone writes a blog about exploring different places on the grid, visiting galleries, or quaint shopping places please consider checking us out. And please be sure to send me a link.
Roxy Mystic: My last question might be hard for you to answer but if you were to pick one of your favorite things here at Center Ground what would it be?
Luchenpur Darwin: Hmm that’s difficult to say. There are so many aspects. I can say I truly enjoy meeting the various individuals that visit here be it at the club or as explorers or shoppers.
I really enjoyed meeting Luchenpur and I look forward to attending the Center Ground fashion events coming up in mid-April. I think this is a great opportunity for creative designers to showcase their work. The exposition is equally exciting and so original. Imagine items that are created from recycled and sustainable materials! Challenge yourself and make a difference. For more details, interested parties should contact Luchnepur Darwin by notecard in-world or by email at slcenterground@gmail.com subject line, Fashion. On a side note, for those interested, April 22 is the date of Earth Day this year and the theme is “Restore Our Earth.”
DATES: December 8 to 15, 2020 WEBSITE: https://teamdiabetessl.org/2020-winter-showcase-art-show/ SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Water%20Haven/132/135/28 The 5th Annual Winter Showcase event returns
in support of Team Diabetes of Second Life! This event is the last fundraising
event for Team Diabetes of Second Life in 2020 and features a hunt, live
performers, dj’s, an art show, shopping, and lots of winter fun! Team Diabetes of Second Life is an official
and authorized team of The American Diabetes Association. The mission of Team
Diabetes of Second Life is to raise awareness, tolerance, and funds for
diabetes in the virtual world of Second Life. Participating Merchants::Pharmacist::, !!Firelight!!, DBS Designs By
Soosy, Absinthe, Art & Angels, Afantasy, ART & FASHION, Aurora Sky
Designs, Avalon Greene designs, Christmas Delights, Cosmos Boutique, Creepy
Midget Designs, Ev!ldead dollz, Ever Green, HJM Designs, ikr!, Just imagine… by
Vita, Kitty Creatons, LC Fashion, Little Big Designs, Mara’s Mysteries, MMP – Muircastle
Motors & Parts, Myth, Mystery & Magic; Peeps, Pixelancer, Polymorph,
Potomac Signature Homes, Redangel, Sassy Brats, TYLAR’S TREASURES, &
Xplicit Design Participating Artists: archgothica resident,
DreamMakerXDreamBreaker Resident, ettalaineteichmano Resident, Eucalyptus
Carroll, Fawn Vought, Hadiya Draper, Jamee Sandalwood, Johannes Huntsman, Karma
Weymann, Lena Kiopak, Moora McMillan, Myra Wildmist, Sheba Blitz, vida serrari,
Vita Theas, & Xia Chieng About the American Diabetes Association: The American Diabetes Association’s mission is
to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by
diabetes. The American Diabetes Association leads the fight against the deadly
consequences of diabetes and fights for those affected by diabetes by funding
research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes. The American Diabetes Association delivers
services to hundreds of communities and provides objective and credible
information and resources about diabetes. Free resources are available in English and
Spanish at http://www.diabetes.org and
1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2382). For More Information: Team Diabetes of Second Life’s Website: www.teamdiabetessl.org/
Occasionally, in my wandering about the grid, I stumble
across a real gem of a build. Unique among regions, Nirvana is truly an island
of peace and tranquility in the hurricane of clubs, sporting arenas, and combat
sims that abound in SecondLife.There I
met Sky Wildmist, the true inspiration behind Nirvana.
Josh Bellic (JB):So
tell me, Sky.Just what is Nirvana
Island all about?
Sky Wildmist (SW):Nirvana is about providing a place of healing and nurture of the mind-body and spirit. It is a place of peace and serenity open to all who visit
without an emphasis on any single belief system, cult, or creed. Some say
Nirvana is a sanctuary for your soul. Originally conceived as a home for the
Forest of Eye-Blinks Group, it is now evolved and continues to do so.Nirvana is spiritually based... diverse
traditions and systems are harmoniously connected. It is a place where you can
explore divergent pathways at leisure, according to your interest; a place
where, when you seem to arrive at the end of a trail, another begins. Here is what I say to people when hosting events - Nirvana
is a sim dedicated to wellbeing - a not for profit sim.If you are in need of healing, solace, or
sanctuary - you will find it here. You will also discover many romantic areas
with cuddles and dances for you and your lover. Solitary sits for reflection
and group gatherings for a pleasant chat can also be found.
JB:What was it that inspired
you to build Nirvana Island?
SW:I taught a
troubled resident to meditate during my first weeks in SL and realized that my path in SL was to form
a spiritual group. My main avi, Isis Pleides, created The Forest of Eyeblinks on 1 Jan 2010.Now Isis does the talks and I do the building
and management. I built Nirvana Island about a year later as the group had
grown and we needed a full sim to allow access to meetings. Its design came as
a series of visions - based on the development of the mind-body and spirit.
JB:You seem well laid
out.Just what are some of the
activities people can do here?
SW: Well all manner of spiritual practice - meditation,
chanting, Tai Chi, discussion, drumming.We also do Healing.Many
different forms may be undertaken here in the virtual world and especially now
with COVID and social distancing so prevalent, many now are more open to these
things. (I have been doing virtual healing as a RL professional practice for
many years).We also have a games area,
a balloon tour for two, a butterfly ride to explore the floating islands, a
2-person canoe, and riding horses and bicycles for exploration.Many people just come to chill or dance. JB:So tell me.What is this Great Tree in the middle of the
island all about? SW:This is a replica
of my first home in SL - The Great Tree of Elven Glen - I have no breathing
issues personally but when I entered the canopy in the tree, I experienced a
physical sensation of deeper breathing which opened my eyes to the potential the real benefit of the virtual experience. Here
also, there is here a concept of a Mother Tree on which the land's ethos is based
with strong roots in the Earth-loving space and a glorious canopy representing
a stable well-balanced humanity.
JB:What has been
your greatest challenge in operating Nirvana Island?
SW: My greatest challenge? Well, to be honest, the answer to
that question is two-fold. First, there are Financial Challenges. We are not for profit
and the monthly tier relies on the donations of Patrons and a few residents who
support what is here and why. Second, Nirvana aims to be as unconditionally
loving as possible. That means setting aside assumptions and judgment. As we
develop and grow, these things have to be worked on and it is not always easy.
JB:Have you actually
seen lives changed through your efforts here?
SW:I have yes - including
my own. As a professional therapist, I rarely talk about these things.In time people can gain better balance in
their lives at every level when they feel supported by a constant stable
presence.There are very many spiritual
and healing sites in SL but I think Nirvana is one of the longest-running now
on a constant site. People come and go and land disappears and reforms. But when
people need support at any level, they require underlying stability which is
often missing.By maintaining this site
as a constant presence many who no longer visit Nirvana still support it with
just a dollar a month, knowing that I will do my best to ensure that needed continuity
for others. We have been recognized as one constant on the grid.
JB:Can you share any
of your success stories?
SW:Everyone who
lands on Nirvana is part of that success, although we cannot measure it
scientifically. The fact that those who recognize its value sufficiently to
support it financially speaks for itself and there are those who have supported
for 10 years. I send them all LOVE and GRATITUDE There have been those who come here when they are dying and
help to create some areas which enriches their time and quality of life and can
dull pain. One lovely gentleman created a sound garden up at spirit park for
those sight challenged. And now we have offered space to the Gardens of Absentia who
logged in one day to find their land gone. They now have a new home up at
Spirit Park.
JB:Tell us about
some of the events you host here?
SW:We have many
different types of activities here.We
have Open Mic Poetry, Art Appreciation, Music, Dance, Opera, Ballet. Art and
Music are enormously important to wellbeing even if it is not realized. Watching
and participating in the art and skill of the DEJA VU Scenic Group who perform
here monthly is an amazing experience. Musicals, ballet, contemporary dance and opera also is an
experience which can be enjoyed by people in their own way. We have many
different venues for dance, music and performance. Those who are unable to see
can enjoy the music and those unable to hear may be able to use acoustic
processing software that allows them to appreciate beat and identify sounds. at
Nirvana I really try to enable and include as far as possible.
JB:What types of
events and activities do you have planned for the future?
SW:I would like to
encourage more spiritual speakers and events and some art exhibitions and
Charity Events. My new Events Manager will work with me on this as the greater
variety and opportunities that are here will attract those who would not
normally visit a healing spiritual sim.
JB:Is there anything
else you would like to share with our readers?
SW:The whole island
is a model - an allegory for the development of mind body and spirit as I interpret
it. Like all of us, it is constantly
evolving. It is constructed on many levels both below the water and above. Nirvana
is an experience for everyone to share and enjoy in their individual way. Some
fly and miss it all!Others take time
and walk or ride and explore thoroughly to return often. finding what is not so
obvious. There are parts of Nirvana that have never been discovered where there
is a hidden gift for those who find it. Maybe
some of your readers will be the ones who find those places?"
The art scene is vibrant on Second Life (SL), as many creators are experimenting the possibilities of creation in an ephemeral, virtual world without the actual need to go through the painstaking physical process of chipping away at rock or mixing oil pastes to paint on canvas. This process is exhibited in the GBTH Project (Grab the Bull by The Horns), curated by Marine Münter (vivresavie.resident). The GBTH Project is located at a sim organized as a cityscape, and is a piece of art in itself. A central square exhibits sculptures and leads to exhibit halls. Some exhibits can be entered from adjacent streets. Everything is organized as galleries in real-life (RL) art museums, with plaques introducing the artists and the art pieces. There are teleporters in strategic locations to guide the visitor around the sim.
The sculptures in the central square are created by residents with an interest in art, as a collective effort titled “They: Duality of Love”. Rachel Breaker has provided the tools to create the sculptures from set pieces that the participants in the project have then assembled and textured to represent a central theme of love and duality. “Non-binary” aspects of love are also represented in the sculptures. Some of these are very political, others very innocuous representations of loving couples.
Zack admiring Rachel Breaker’s sculpture
The main exhibits in the sim are organized as individual galleries. Wide staircases lead to the entrances of four main halls, with entrance foyers introducing the artists and their works. On the side streets, “off-main” galleries can be found. Some of these are in small buildings resembling converted residences, and others have been erected on empty lots.
Sabotaged Memory by Marina Münter and Smoopa Spinotti can be found on one of the empty lots. Political, current-affairs protest posters and random junk are collected in a wire fence cage. The posters decry current affairs with slogans witnessed in real-life (RL) urban protests in the USA: “Defund cops - prisons - military - racists”. Also, infringement on native tribes’ rights are reflected: “Stop federal invasion on indigenous lands”. The wire fence cage has, on closer look, rococo furniture, wall gobelins, vases and other artifacts from “le belle epoque” with graffiti tags written on them. Other pieces of the exhibit expound the whites’ invasion on indigenous lands, and imperialistic culture appropriating the quaint and the exotic of foreign cultures. The exhibit if an in-the-face exposition of revolutions past and present. A similar aesthetic is present in Marina’s exhibit “Non Perishable” where railroad containers are laden with junk and pieces of furniture, presenting themed views of existence, ranging from ambivalence and home, to wilderness, sea, and sin. You could spend hours examining the containers, getting new ideas on each visit.
New Years Eve by Amanda (aht1981) is one of the main exhibits, with video screens. A blue entrance staircase leads to the dark presentation room. Black and white videos of avatars talking about their New Year celebrations at the turn of 2020 are shown on the screens, by clicking on them. The concern of the virus was already present at the turn of the year, and the videos progress as interviews about the rising concern and people’s attitudes with coping with the isolation. The interviews on the screens concern the virus mostly, but the Black Lives Matter riots area also mentioned. Beautifully done, with eerie ambient music to go with the presentation, the videos have post-production effects that reflect black and white film and analog video from the VHS times.
pic of a screen
Chuanghu (Windows) by FionaFei teleprots you to the middle of an exhibit of Chinese-style calligraphic ink wash landscape in 3-D as a room with different surfaces. The viewer centrally is inside, and changing the point of view, every perspective changes the scene with the intersecting surfaces. The imagery evokes old Eastern silk screen partitions as well as modern urban structures. This exhibit is one example of an effect that a normal art gallery could never produce. It would be fascinating to experience with virtual reality eyewear.
Samira Selvey in the middle of the exhibit
“Swallow” by Vincent Priestley is an immersive space where the visitor becomes eaten, entering into a visceral body cavity with framed paintings on the walls. The paintings feature protruding organs, some are malformed surfaces with canvas texture, as well as reliefs with face-like features. Body fluids ooze from the walls as the viewer passes by the exhibited art. The exhibit is like a dungeon made of organic matter. Walking further down the body cavities, enlarged micro-organism like sculptures appear. The objets d’art are for sale in the gift shop!
Zack inside “Swallow”
“Inferno” by Noke Yuitza is a fantasy dreamscape of nightmarish proportions where a central figure is a dragon gazing on the visitor. Flowers with bulging eyes gaze on the viewer walking on a surface of multicolored crystals as well as a blanket of digital art. The eye flowers turn eerily directly at you as you walk around the space. It is possible to walk around the center of the exhibit, looking in from the outside, creating views with surreptitious effects that you can’t see from the inside.
interior of Inferno
A more traditional display of art is a collection of “furry” images by Tommy Bruce titled “Real Problems”. The central figure is a deer-like creature representing Tommy himself. The paintings hung on the walls as well as the sculptures present this deer furry in various scenes depicting different degrees of violence. The deer is the victim, with external forces imposed on him. The detailed furry texture of the sculptures is evoking realism absent in real-life art such as the Wall Street Bull.
furry deer sculpture
An upcoming exhibit by Rachel Breaker is still under construction in one of the main galleries. Rachel also has a store located on the sim, with pieces of art for sale.
The GBTH Project sim is one of the most evocative and mind-expanding sims to be encountered on Second Life. With the changing exhibits, there is something new to see on every visit, and the space cannot be completely exhausted at one go. SLE gives a “both thumbs up” for the experience, with a strong recommendation for avatars to take the time off their busy schedules to do something different and visit.
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