PAD! Not So Common

Pop Art, ”The transformation of the Commonplace“. We see it every day. It is used in advertising, in the comics, in magazines, in museums, just about everywhere. Some is funny, some very serious, but it is all real Art.

I was invited to attend the opening of a new exhibit of Pop Art Display, PAD, in SL on Tuesday. It was an amazing opening with 45 avatars there at various times and for most of the tour. The tour was enlightening as Matteus Taurog, one of the principles behind the exhibit, narrated the vision of the exhibit in Italian. And Ramona Halsey translated for the English Speakers. He described some of the 176 works with 40 in 3-D. Eros Boa, famous for his 3D work in Second Life, has placed some duplicates of famous pieces that you allows you to join with costumes and avatars he has placed there for you.

The exhibit building is 10 stories, so be prepared to stay a while to view and interact with many of the components of the exhibit. We moved from floor to floor by either flying or falling through appropriately marked openings. I know I will be going back several more times. There is so much there to appreciate.

Many of your favorite real-life artists and celebrities are represented in this magnificent exhibit. I saw Zorro Hirvi, another of the creators looking surprisingly like Andy Warhol, as did Eros. One floor is a complete re-creation of Warhol’s Silver Factory, his studio and the gathering place.

You will find an information card as you move through the museum at floor 1 that will give you a concise history of POP Art. The exhibit plans to stay in Second Life for a long time. At my last visit Eros was arranging a machine that had gum balls rolling all over the floor so it is still a work in progress. There is no closing date.

The Pop Art Display is located at the Solaris Island sim at (46,167,486)


Gemma Cleanslate

Burn2 Ending: Crystal Lotus Temple Burn

On Sunday night October 24th, Burn2 was winding down as this was it’s last day of events. But the crowds were still present, attending music events, and of course seeing the exhibits. And as 8 PM SL time approached, people began gathering in the two northern sims, Burning Man-Bordello1 and Burning Man-Rabbit Hole. It was almost time for one of the closing events, the burning of the Lotus Temple which was located on the border of the two areas.

As people gathered, those trying to get into Bordello1 were unable to, and found themselves waiting at the edge. Eventually, the resident limit was raised, and more were allowed in. Even though almost all the avatars were human shaped, there was still a great variety among them, some dressed like your regular man on the street, others were in white and/or had white turbans, others painted blue, and more. A number of them were playing bongo drums.

Finally the hour arrived, and the blue structure went up in flames. Then something happened. The eastern half of the temple seemed to vanish. But the crowd continued to watch enthralled as the remaining half burned. After some moments, the missing half reappeared. Then the temple began to disintegrate, the pieces breaking off and falling down. But instead of evenly falling down, the half which had briefly vanished lasted longer as the half which remained began to crumble.

The event seemed slightly surreal, with the lamplighters and others either painted blue or dressed in exotic garb playing the bongo drums to the burning and the fire, it seemed almost like some ancient tribal ritual. Others were twirling around sticks of fire. Everywhere, there was the excitement of the event.

One of the Burners came to me to talk, “Wizzy (Wizard Gynoid) is as close to a genius as I’ve found. Wizzy built this at my place. ...well, it’s hard to find a sandbox where you can rezz 700 prims ... and leave it up (laugh). I put up a platform at 3800 and she and Nur spent a week up there.”

Among the celebratory atmosphere, a couple people expressed a bit of sadness that Linden Labs had withdrawn their support of the event. But they were a small minority in this festive crowd as the remains of the temple burned and vanished. The parting words of one Burner, “... it’s light shines on us all. Time to go Aloha. Keep the burn in your soul. Farewell Burners. Keep the fire within.”

And so, this mega-event of Second Life officially came to a close, at least it did hours later with the last burn at 4AM SL time. Although there are no more events, the structures will remain up for the rest of the week. This includes the Lotus Temple, which was resurrected for those who missed the celebration.

Bixyl Shuftan

Feel the Burn!

Burn2 offered a lot to see over six sims, both at day,

and at night

The event attracted a number of musicians, such as Debi Late in the red dress. Pooky Amsterdam was there as well.

There was no end to the oddity of the exhibits.

And even the President dropped by ... sort of.

Just a few scenes from Burn2.

Bixyl Shuftan