The 2016 Winter Showcase and Winter Art Show.

By Gemma Cleanslate

2016 Winter Showcase and Winter Art Show. Both events are in support of Team Diabetes of Second Life and will take place December 8 to 18, 2016.  Kultivate Magazine ( formerly Windlight)  is a sponsor or this event for the second year . 

I wandered all through the region where the event it taking place this year in Meadow Gardens. The booths house some of the very fine artists in Second Life displaying their works and offering some  pieces for your walls . Both real life and Second Life art is on display and for sale with many benefiting the cause . There are rows and rows of so many artists I cannot name them all. When you land you will be near the information booths and will be able to pick up a list of artists and their locations. Meander down the rows and stop in to see what you may like to add to your art collection.  

The 3D art area is open and easy to access to get a good look at  each  installation. I saw a few of my friends’ pieces on display . Take a good look at all the work and pick up a biography of the artist from the photo of the creators at each piece. I am always amazed by the detailed work I see in each build. 

Near by you will see a quaint area of shops just chuck full of wonderful goodies to buy for yourself or home . I saw some of my favorite merchants and gave in to another couple of outfits! I know the proceeds go to a wonderful cause. Keep an eye out for some naughty or nice gifts in some shops and booths where the art is displayed. It was great fun skating along the snow laden walkways with the bright colorful decor all over the region. 

While I was there John Brianna (johannes1977 Resident), owner of Kultivate and co-founder of Team Diabetes was busy checking out the area to be ready for opening on December 8.
This is a good place to start your visit.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Meadow%20Gardens/106/159/23

Gemma Cleanslate    

Raglan Shire's Art Show

The weekend of May 24th and 25th were the last official days of the Raglan Shire art show. For those who don't know, Raglan Shire, and it's neighboring several sims, are the home of Second Life's most well known "Tiny" community. Most whom have been in Second Life for a while have seen them, these small avatars just a few feet high. Those of the Raglan community are known for their lighthearted ways, playfully greeting one another in ways like beeping one another on the nose, cheer at the sight or mention of waffles, and have a seemingly complete absence of drama (probably because they're too busy having fun). While some might find them a bit silly, others find them a delight to be around and find their cheerful manner contagious.

On Saturday the 24th, I dropped in as a music concert was going on. Two "biggies," as tinies sometimes call human (and furry & neko) avatars, were performing for a crowd of tiny locals and normal-sized visitors. Grif Bamaisin and Drutim Bates sung on stage for the crowd, "luvs da Live Musicians." When it was over, the tinies cheered, and invited others to see the art show while it was still up, "yay for raglan!!! yay for art!!!!!" There was also an air combat match elsewhere, "Jay iz dog fightin in planes - wants to go?" The musicians left in good spirits, "Thanks again everyone - you guys are great to play to."

While there, I ran into Zayn Till, the magistrate. He greeted me, "Helloz Bixyl (smile). Good day to come! last day of Artwalk." Asking him how it turned out, he answered, "It has been wonderful (smile), so much fabulous art, YESH!"

Zayn turned to a nearby artist, "Skyblue, loved your watercolors." When I asked which art had gotten the most attention, he wasn't sure, "with so much art that would be impossible.. its all about self expression and art of coursed.. is subjective. You'd have to walk about and see yourself. (smile)" One local nearby suggested, "Esops fables on Athen's Shire?? The giant flower with book pages for petals on Morning Shire, or the giant carrot sculpture on Heron?? We'll go see it all! hah!" "Enjoy the arts!" Zayn would say again, "ART WALK!!! Its INTENTS!!"

There was quite a bit to see. There were a number of paintings exhibited.

There was also a table where visitors could pick up some tiny avatars, outfits, and animations/gestures. Some were for free.

There was more than just paintings, but also 3D sculptures.

One display needed a teleport to get to. It showed a couple in an ever twirling dance. 

Some sims had no, or few, paintings, but just sculptures. 

Black rat magic?

A pink tree? Was there a lorax nearby?

Why do I get the feeling Jack Nicholson is nearby with an axe?

Deep meanings

This was the Aesop's Fables exhibit mentioned earlier.

This was meant to be seen at night.

When artists clown around.

A faceless figure hugging a critter.

Juggling robot bunny.

Just "dragging" along.

Floating ink, as if squirted by an octopus.

Not everything that looked appealing was an art exhibit. The neighborhood itself was nice to look around in, one place having an eye-catching aurora.

This resident obviously wants to "keep it cool" despite the summer.

One resident showed me one of the community trees. Note the acorn elevator.

It'll be another year until the next art show, but Raglan has events every month. And Saturday May 31, the Giant Snails drop by for their cross sim race, taking place on the last Saturday of each month of the Relay season.

Bixyl Shuftan

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

Tart Gallery Celebrates 3rd Anniversary

It's hard to believe Tart Gallery is 3 already! The Gallery, owned by artist ByrneDarkly Cazalet, is a gallery with an aim toward showcasing new artists, both from RL and SL.

Artists have showings on a quasi-monthly basis, with some exhibits holding over into a second month. Each new exhibit is highlighted by an opening party to browse and meet the artist, complete with DJ music and dancing.

On 14 July, the Anniversary Party took place. This month's featured artist is Lisa Petrucci with her exhibit "Kickass Kuties."

Lisa was a gallery curator in Portland, Maine and Boston, Massachusetts, eventually relocating to New York City where she was the director of the Pat Hearn Gallery and later the Bess Cutler Gallery. Disenchanted with the contemporary art world, she moved to the west coast, where she got involved with the burgeoning lowbrow art scene and eventually settled in Seattle after meeting her partner in crime and soulmate, Mike Vraney.

Over the years Lisa’s obsession with pop culture grew. Collecting old toys, pin-up art and vintage magazines ultimately inspired her own artwork and she found the perfect format for her imagery – the round bark border of the souvenir wood plaque. "Each slab of wood is lovingly painted with the things she enjoys most and celebrate femininity and all that is cute."

Lisa is now considered to be a part of the Pop Surrealism movement and has been featured in many diverse publications, including her own deluxe art book “Kickass Kuties – The Art of Lisa Petrucci” published by Dark Horse.

For more on Lisa Petrucci, visit her website at http://www.lisapetrucci.com. Her paintings can be viewed inworld at the Slustleria sim at (68, 234, 28).

Shellie Sands

Creative Challenges and Innovative Ideas at the UWA

The University of Western Australia (UWA), founded by Sir John Winthrop Hackett, is a leading Australian research university and has an international reputation for excellence, innovation and enterprise. A member of the Australian 'Group of Eight' research universities, it is also among Australia's leading research universities. Sitting on the banks of the Swan River, the UWA Crawley campus is the oldest in Western Australia and among the most picturesque in the nation with its grand sandstone and terracotta buildings sitting among elegant heritage-listed gardens. The UWA in SL consists of three sims, including UWA, University of Western Australia and WASP Land.


Two competitions are running simultaneously through August 2010, the Imagine Challenge and the Flagship Challenge. The Imagine Challenge focuses on Arts and Design, while the Flagship Challenge focuses on Architecture. The competitions are taking place monthly with prizes awarded each month.

I recently visited the 3D Art & Design Challenge for the Imagine Challenge segment of the competitions. Even the landing point is unique in it's design with a swirling circle of color and an image resembling an eye. The Imagine Challenge focuses on limitless imagination. The challenge is to create a work of art using any form, shape, influence or medium. Awards are given in multiple categories. All non-winners will receive a share of the monthly pool beginning with $L6000 and increasing with donations to the tip jar at the Imagine Gallery.

The artwork is absolutely incredible! The designs range from ethereal to surreal to abstract. Skillful use of color and sculpties applies to these magnificent creations. There are sculptures both real and abstract, 3D pictures, a solar system complete with rotation and sound, and a piece which at first looks like colored pole lamps but is really shapes connected to five the effect of flowers in glass--at least that was my interpretation, perhaps not the intention of the artist. There is even a cosmic egg with what looks like an circular embryo in the center. All are very ingenious and creative pieces of art and a must see for all.

Shellie Sands