I've been inactive in Second Life for about eight months, and in SL, that is almost an eternity! However, there are good reasons for the absence, albeit perhaps not for quite such a prolonged period. After having spent about a year learning the ins-and-outs of the virtual world, and then having developed an event that bridged the RL and SL (a museum exhibit in the real world that used a SL counterpart), my time and energy were caught up into an extraordinary RL initiative that has come to dominate my personal and professional landscape.
It may sound odd, but I think after learning to function in a "reactive landscape", I got busy building super-reactive environments in RL... specifically for disabled children, for whom real life is even less reactive than for most of us. I am now engaged in several projects that are building artistically-inspired reactive and interactive installations that, in many ways, emulate the kinetic sculptures the VAA group has developed and promoted in SL. For example, working with engineers who are specialists, on the one hand, in robotics, on another in physiological sensing devices, and in a third area, in so-called "smart textiles" (fabric that changes shape, color and texture on command), and with installation and media artists, we are constructing a large wall mural that will react to disabled children who roll up to it on their wheelchairs (or walk up to it, depends on the child) - changing shape, color, and thematic configuration. We will be able to measure their heartbeat, level of excitement (e.g. via skin perspiration and blood pressure), and modify the mural also in relation to these characteristics. In another initiative, we are creating a miniature "telegame" that allows children with disability to interact with each other through robotic devices that act as RL avatars. These projects are extraordinarily stimulating but also rather challenging to build (and fund!), and have taken most of my time over the past eight months to develop.
Interestingly, I used my experiences, especially those with the VAA, to "sell" these projects to the two hospitals who are now partners in their development. Using the video clips on VAA artists and the Reactive Sculptures clip, I was able to highlight the power that changes in the environment may have on changing our understanding of the self. One could say that SL got so far under my skin that it has ended up revolutionizing my relationship with RL!
Actually, this hasn't stopped with the creation of reactive environments, either. After developing a line of clothing in SL, and then being involved in the creation of SL versions of real life traditional ethnic garments in support of the museum exhibit we did last year, I decided that, perhaps, I could do the same with RL garments. So I taught myself to sew and am in the process of developing a line of RL garments. I discovered that sewing is an extraordinarily grounding activity for me and it has become an integral and daily presence in my life. I learned the power of fashion within SL, and have not stopped trying to use this power back in RL to do equally interesting things.
I share these observations and reflections, because I believe all involved with SL art are aware of the links between SL and RL and are interested in how the activities in the one sphere may affect or inform activities in the other.
I shall be around SL again on an off-and-on basis, but my engagements with the RL projects that flowed from my SL activities are likely to keep my presence low key. See you around!
February 10, 2009
Press Release: "The Collector"
Galerie de la Vie, Artemisia
February 12th through March 26
Opening Night Reception: February 12 from 4:30-6:00 pm SL time
DJ Eth Tedeschi spinning tunes
Exhibition: The Collector
Submitted by: RobertSteven Smythe, Curator
The Collector: The World of Second Life Sculpture
Starax, Pitney, Fairymeadow, Saarinen, elros, and Tripsa are just a few of the artists whose sculptures will be on display at Galerie de la Vie in Artemisia February 12th through March 26th. This exhibition named “The Collector” is focused around the art collection of Sichel Seifert an art enthusiast who has been collecting and commissioning some of the finest artists in Second Life since early 2005. You will see as never before from the eyes of a collector and connoisseur of Second Life art. Selections from his vast collection will be shown in two consecutive three-week exhibitions. The artists’ works have never before been shown together as one exhibition. This amazing collection represents a historical time line of sculptural work in Second Life. You will not want to miss this once in a lifetime exhibition.
When asked by RobertSteven Smythe, curator at Galerie de la Vie, why he has been such a prolific collector Sichel responded, "Ask yourself: What surrounds you in SL? Just the two: personal relationships, personal creations, and really nothing else (even if someone says SL has is own 'spirit' as well). Since I was rezzed there, I searched for the best of both. Got good friends, got beautiful creations. And I keep searching."
Collecting is a very personal endeavor and collectors must educate themselves on the subject of their passion. The best collectors contend that collecting should not begin as an investment, but that a collector should enjoy and purchase only items that appeal to them. Sculptures in Second Life have an appeal to Sichel that has continued from his first day in SL.
Don’t miss this rare exhibition to be shown in two parts. The show opens February 12, the second on March 6. Please join the residents of Artemisia and the Galerie de la Vie as we present this spectacular gathering of sculptures from Second Life’s greatest artists. Artemisia – Living with Art.
Complete List of artists:
Alizarin Goldflake, Meleni Fairymeadow, Kicca Igaly, Rezago Kokorin, Feathers Boa, Wolf Hartnell, Queen Edman, Steve Kilby, Stella Costello, Sabine Stonebender, Zulqadi Saarinen, elros Tuominen, Cheen Pitney, Colt Parx, Charlot Dickins, Pumpkin Tripsa, Starax Statosky, Light Waves, Eme10 Wind, Masterful Escape, PleaseWakeMeUp Idler and Glyph Graves.
February 12th through March 26
Opening Night Reception: February 12 from 4:30-6:00 pm SL time
DJ Eth Tedeschi spinning tunes
Exhibition: The Collector
Submitted by: RobertSteven Smythe, Curator
The Collector: The World of Second Life Sculpture
Starax, Pitney, Fairymeadow, Saarinen, elros, and Tripsa are just a few of the artists whose sculptures will be on display at Galerie de la Vie in Artemisia February 12th through March 26th. This exhibition named “The Collector” is focused around the art collection of Sichel Seifert an art enthusiast who has been collecting and commissioning some of the finest artists in Second Life since early 2005. You will see as never before from the eyes of a collector and connoisseur of Second Life art. Selections from his vast collection will be shown in two consecutive three-week exhibitions. The artists’ works have never before been shown together as one exhibition. This amazing collection represents a historical time line of sculptural work in Second Life. You will not want to miss this once in a lifetime exhibition.
When asked by RobertSteven Smythe, curator at Galerie de la Vie, why he has been such a prolific collector Sichel responded, "Ask yourself: What surrounds you in SL? Just the two: personal relationships, personal creations, and really nothing else (even if someone says SL has is own 'spirit' as well). Since I was rezzed there, I searched for the best of both. Got good friends, got beautiful creations. And I keep searching."
Collecting is a very personal endeavor and collectors must educate themselves on the subject of their passion. The best collectors contend that collecting should not begin as an investment, but that a collector should enjoy and purchase only items that appeal to them. Sculptures in Second Life have an appeal to Sichel that has continued from his first day in SL.
Don’t miss this rare exhibition to be shown in two parts. The show opens February 12, the second on March 6. Please join the residents of Artemisia and the Galerie de la Vie as we present this spectacular gathering of sculptures from Second Life’s greatest artists. Artemisia – Living with Art.
Complete List of artists:
Alizarin Goldflake, Meleni Fairymeadow, Kicca Igaly, Rezago Kokorin, Feathers Boa, Wolf Hartnell, Queen Edman, Steve Kilby, Stella Costello, Sabine Stonebender, Zulqadi Saarinen, elros Tuominen, Cheen Pitney, Colt Parx, Charlot Dickins, Pumpkin Tripsa, Starax Statosky, Light Waves, Eme10 Wind, Masterful Escape, PleaseWakeMeUp Idler and Glyph Graves.
January 25, 2009
Fresh Musical Art
HD Artists New Music Concerts
HD Artists Concert Hall
Sundays @ 11:00 AM SLT
"Music shouldn't always glide off the ears like soft warm water."
—Flivelwitz Alsop, HD Artists Composer
If you are searching for a completely different type of music experience, then consider the HD Artists New Music Sundays Concert. Featuring artists and composers from Second Life and beyond, these concerts provide a fresh and unexpected musical adventure. These concerts fit well with one of the HD Artists goals to "disseminate new and unusual music throughout the land with a clarion call."
This week's event showcased music for guitars and was a rewarding treat for the ears.
—Sunn Thunders
HD Artists Concert Hall
Sundays @ 11:00 AM SLT
"Music shouldn't always glide off the ears like soft warm water."
—Flivelwitz Alsop, HD Artists Composer
If you are searching for a completely different type of music experience, then consider the HD Artists New Music Sundays Concert. Featuring artists and composers from Second Life and beyond, these concerts provide a fresh and unexpected musical adventure. These concerts fit well with one of the HD Artists goals to "disseminate new and unusual music throughout the land with a clarion call."
This week's event showcased music for guitars and was a rewarding treat for the ears.
—Sunn Thunders
January 15, 2009
Artpounce Gallery Opening
four Yip's Installation "Yiplings"Come join us this weekend for the opening of Artpounce gallery and art center. On display now are works by Oberon Onmura, Selvay Oh, Misprint Thursday, Cinco Pizzicato and four Yip~!
Teleport to Misprint's Aeroport and parachute down... Click Oberons clicky sculptures, and be fascinated by Selavy Oh's installation. You can check out an interesting architecutal build by Cinco Pizzicato too! The Yiplings will warmly greet you in the sky.
Artpounce is sponsored by the sim Ethereality which will have a coordinated sim wide party over the weekend including 8 live music performances
ARTIST RECEPTION SATURDAY JAN 17 3-4 SLT
Cube of Cubes Maker By Oberon Onmura
Gossamer Float Boxes by Misprint Thursday
Billboard House by Cinco Pizzicato
Live Music Venue for the Weekend:
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17th - 11:30-4pm slt
12pm - Digby Smalls
1pm - Phemie Alcott
2pm - CQ Bravin
3pm - Damian Carbenell
SUNDAY, JANUARY 18th - 2:30-7pm slt
3pm - Sylar Morrissey
4pm - Vladamir Lamont
5pm - Stella Silvansky
6pm - Raspbury Rearwin
December 28, 2008
Thorns in the Velvet
Mesmerizing movement, color, and sound will capture your imagination at NMC's Ars Simulacra, which is hosting Glyph Graves's "Thorns in the Velvet" art exhibit now through the end of January 2009. Innumerable kinetic sculptures fill the island with vibrance from the water to the sky. In Glyph's words, the exhibit reflects his "fascination with transformation in colour, space, and sound."
Bring a picnic basket, a blanket, and a close friend, then sit on a hillside and soak in the beautiful hues and motions of these wonderful sculptures. —Sunn Thunders
Pictured below: a digital blend of Glyph Graves's "Odd Spiral Glass" and "Cube3 Soundscape3"
Bring a picnic basket, a blanket, and a close friend, then sit on a hillside and soak in the beautiful hues and motions of these wonderful sculptures. —Sunn Thunders
Pictured below: a digital blend of Glyph Graves's "Odd Spiral Glass" and "Cube3 Soundscape3"
December 27, 2008
Nightbloom
"The nightbloom rewards patience with it's hidden beauty..."
—Solo Mornington, artist and creator of Nightbloom
As described by Solo, the nightbloom is a rare species of sculptural flora discovered on the desert playa of Burning Life 2008. It currently has a safe home at the Man-A-Hatta Gallery through December 31.
"The nightbloom blooms at night, and dies in the morning. It then begins growing again in the evening, with another bloom soon to come after dark. This cycle continues indefinitely into the future and past, perhaps longer than you've been around, and perhaps long after you're gone."
Observers who patiently experience the full life cycle are rewarded with a bit of the nightbloom's energy... —Sunn Thunders
—Solo Mornington, artist and creator of Nightbloom
As described by Solo, the nightbloom is a rare species of sculptural flora discovered on the desert playa of Burning Life 2008. It currently has a safe home at the Man-A-Hatta Gallery through December 31.
"The nightbloom blooms at night, and dies in the morning. It then begins growing again in the evening, with another bloom soon to come after dark. This cycle continues indefinitely into the future and past, perhaps longer than you've been around, and perhaps long after you're gone."
Observers who patiently experience the full life cycle are rewarded with a bit of the nightbloom's energy... —Sunn Thunders
October 25, 2008
Cirque!
Cirque!, A World of Fun and Motion
This month’s exhibition at Galerie de la Vie is something that you will not want to miss. Misprint Thursday and Jeanni Nishi have designed an entire environment around a playful, colorful and interactive world of Cirque! The collaborative work combines fantasy and emotion that will have you remembering what it was like to be a child all over again. Come play with us, ride atoms on a string, hang and dance on ribbons suspended above the floor, be mesmerized by intricate sculptures and let your imagination be captivated by color and motion. Brought to you by the residents of Artemisia the opening gala begins at 1 pm on Sunday October 26th. This day will hold many surprises including a mystery treasure hunt.
Misprint Thursday is an artist in RL and SL. Her work in SL focuses on creating a unique experience through creative content that includes, photography, sculpture, sound and web based media. In SL her direction is shifting to content which is created primarily in world. She "frames" the content of her work with the photographs and machinima of the sculptural installations. Fond of physics and spontaneity, Misprint brings minor hazards to the art world and openly suggests that she brings a sense of humor to her exhibits.
Jeanni Nishi came to SL in February of 2007, and one of the first places she visited was Blekinge Sculpture Park, which is managed by Rezago Kokorin. There she came across sculptures by elros Tuominen, Cheen Pitney, Rezago, Sunn Thunders, and Sasun Steinbeck. The pieces astounded her with their beauty. “I loved how the artists utilized the special capabilities of SL”, she said. She discovered the famous Oyster Bay and spent many hours there considering the works of Dale Innis, Juria Yoshikawa, Madcow Cosmos and others. Jeanni spent many years in RL involved in commercial art as an art director and illustrator. Since that time she moved on to other vocations. According to her, “Second Life now provides an impetus to get back to creative work.”
When asked about their work together, Misprint said, “The collaboration has enhanced my Second Life art making experiences because I got to learn some new skills through Jeanni. She introduced me to Qavimator-the free pose and animation program. Through this new information I was able to create some custom poses for the interactive sculpture and this has been exciting.” Jeanni responded, “She (Misprint) and I both enjoy the play of patterns and light, and neither of us tend towards literal interpretations or realistic builds. We both enjoy incorporating scripts and movement, including avatar movement. Working together in a collaborative project was an exciting premise. Who knew what we could do together? Misprint comes from more of a fine arts background than I do, and even talking to her about what we were doing expanded my sense of what it could mean to be an artist in SL. Her addition of sound to art has provided food for thought and I am considering exploring this in the future.”
Cirque! brings together the talents of two great SL artists. Their collective talents create an exhibition that will delight everyone, art critics, art lovers, art collectors and anyone who wants to remember what it was like to be a child all over again---the innocence of exploration, wonder and fantasy. Don’t miss Cirque! at Galerie de la Vie in Artemisia. The residents of Artemisia proudly sponsor this and all events that come to the gallery. Opening also this night is the new Artemisia Living with Art Annex. You will see works of art from past exhibitions and from Artemisia residents. This evening will prove to be an unforgettable adventure. Please join me, RobertSteven Smythe, curator of the gallery and the Residents of Artemisia in presenting Misprint Thursday and Jeanni Nishi in Cirque.
This month’s exhibition at Galerie de la Vie is something that you will not want to miss. Misprint Thursday and Jeanni Nishi have designed an entire environment around a playful, colorful and interactive world of Cirque! The collaborative work combines fantasy and emotion that will have you remembering what it was like to be a child all over again. Come play with us, ride atoms on a string, hang and dance on ribbons suspended above the floor, be mesmerized by intricate sculptures and let your imagination be captivated by color and motion. Brought to you by the residents of Artemisia the opening gala begins at 1 pm on Sunday October 26th. This day will hold many surprises including a mystery treasure hunt.
Misprint Thursday is an artist in RL and SL. Her work in SL focuses on creating a unique experience through creative content that includes, photography, sculpture, sound and web based media. In SL her direction is shifting to content which is created primarily in world. She "frames" the content of her work with the photographs and machinima of the sculptural installations. Fond of physics and spontaneity, Misprint brings minor hazards to the art world and openly suggests that she brings a sense of humor to her exhibits.
Jeanni Nishi came to SL in February of 2007, and one of the first places she visited was Blekinge Sculpture Park, which is managed by Rezago Kokorin. There she came across sculptures by elros Tuominen, Cheen Pitney, Rezago, Sunn Thunders, and Sasun Steinbeck. The pieces astounded her with their beauty. “I loved how the artists utilized the special capabilities of SL”, she said. She discovered the famous Oyster Bay and spent many hours there considering the works of Dale Innis, Juria Yoshikawa, Madcow Cosmos and others. Jeanni spent many years in RL involved in commercial art as an art director and illustrator. Since that time she moved on to other vocations. According to her, “Second Life now provides an impetus to get back to creative work.”
When asked about their work together, Misprint said, “The collaboration has enhanced my Second Life art making experiences because I got to learn some new skills through Jeanni. She introduced me to Qavimator-the free pose and animation program. Through this new information I was able to create some custom poses for the interactive sculpture and this has been exciting.” Jeanni responded, “She (Misprint) and I both enjoy the play of patterns and light, and neither of us tend towards literal interpretations or realistic builds. We both enjoy incorporating scripts and movement, including avatar movement. Working together in a collaborative project was an exciting premise. Who knew what we could do together? Misprint comes from more of a fine arts background than I do, and even talking to her about what we were doing expanded my sense of what it could mean to be an artist in SL. Her addition of sound to art has provided food for thought and I am considering exploring this in the future.”
Cirque! brings together the talents of two great SL artists. Their collective talents create an exhibition that will delight everyone, art critics, art lovers, art collectors and anyone who wants to remember what it was like to be a child all over again---the innocence of exploration, wonder and fantasy. Don’t miss Cirque! at Galerie de la Vie in Artemisia. The residents of Artemisia proudly sponsor this and all events that come to the gallery. Opening also this night is the new Artemisia Living with Art Annex. You will see works of art from past exhibitions and from Artemisia residents. This evening will prove to be an unforgettable adventure. Please join me, RobertSteven Smythe, curator of the gallery and the Residents of Artemisia in presenting Misprint Thursday and Jeanni Nishi in Cirque.
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