Studio 33 and Gee's Gallery

By Gemma Cleanslate

I love arriving at Art and Galley at Studio 33. The entry is set up similar to the LEA Welcome area . One can see all the artists that are exhibiting at the time. Studio 33 is a long established gallery, but I have not been here in a while to visit.  The main gallery is a delight to walk through. There are pieces by many artists of many different genres and styles. You will definitely see something to fall in love with.

The exhibit of the month is reached by teleport . Donna Giordano (Ohsoleomio Resident) is an artist in real-life and Second Life. Her lovely splashes of color really pop on the walls. Of her work she says in her bio,” My work is a mix of bright bold opaque strokes full of energy and soft, quiet, watery and translucent hues. Some simple, some complex. Layer upon layer, sometimes up to 20 layers or more of colors, textures and forms.

I love to experiment therefore I don't have one set style. No one ever knows what I might come up with next, including myself!”  I saw some lovely quiet subtle pieces among the vibrant ones.

Outside her gallery area is a large vibrating movement piece by Pol Jarvinen whose pieces I have seen in so many places and events. His picks on his profile is an art gallery in itself!  A visit to Studio 33 is always such a pleasure. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rockcliffe%20Conservatory/212/64/22

I next dropped in at my friend, Gee (GeeJAnn Blackadder) ‘s Gallery, Active Interiors Garden in Mooter. It is a lovely building filled with art from Gee and also invited artists. The Gallery has been in Second Life since 2009. Gee has a great sense of humor and is very pithy with her sayings. Her greeter I found beautiful pieces both static and moving on the three floors.

 On the upper floor I found a sculpt that Gee had given me several years ago. I have it on my home roof patio. There it is.

The top floor holds the real-life art work of the artist ,Vandug Resident. The paintings of nature works, for the most part, are enchanting.

Outside the Gallery there is the Art Yard also filled with exhibits of invited artists. It is a refreshing place to relax as you view the the pieces on the wall.

I found Gee, Silvia Ametza and Kimble (kimblecoles Resident) working on a new venture... “evocative skits” according to Gee. They have been working on this since July. If you would like to see the skits come to http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mountain%20Falls/74/128/1502  Thursdays at 6am SL time.

To visit the Gallery and the Art Yard  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mooter/226/68/101 

Gemma Cleanslate

Fractal Insanity and Rose Theater

By Gemma Cleanslate

I received a new Art Gallery Hud the other day and since I have not been to many galleries lately decided to take a look at some of those I have not visited before, or lately. My first visit was the Fractal Insanity where Millie Sharple has her works on display. Many love fractal art. I like it very much and you can certainly get your fill of it in this gallery.

Millie says of her art, “Although I have stretched myself and moved away from fractals somewhat, they are always an integral part of my art, along with my real-life photography.  In my new gallery, fractals are used in a totally different way and some of them are hardly recognisable.  Life is too short to stagnate in shallow waters, using the same tools repeatedly - we need to grow and develop! I love to experiment and the results bring me much pleasure and peace.”

 There are gorgeous pieces , rich and vibrant, both static and moving here. As soon as you land on at the entrance you feel the movement under you and all around. Walking through the extensive exhibit it is amazing to see all the varied patterns , especially the kalideiscope pieces that are almost mesmerizing. Pick up a gallery hud at the entrance.

 http://maps.secondlifecom/secondlife/Serena%20Montecito/220/162/30

I took a random TP off the art hud and went to an old favorite of mine, The Rose Theater Gallery. Here many Second Life artists are displayed in a magnificent setting. In the first room I admired the art of Sisi Biedermann whose works I have seen displayed in other galleries and is quite lovely and eclectic.

There are so many massive gallery rooms displaying beautiful art by many artists. The gallery has been chosen as the best gallery in Second Life for several years .

Upstairs in Gallery 7 I found the splashes of color art by Matt Thomson .

One can easily get lost in this extensive venue of halls and galleries and dining rooms. Have fun!

The decor everywhere is outstanding!  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Angel%20Manor/123/138/29

That gives you too very different types of galleries to visit among all the others offered on your hud.!

 Gemma Cleanslate

The Art of Sisi Biedermann

By Gemma Cleanslate

Sisi Biedermann shows her art in many places in Second Life. I have seen it over in Paris Metro and Starz gallery.  I went over to Whinlatter to see her latest exhibit. Sisi has been in Second Life since 2007 and says of her art,  “Back then I had just started painting with acrylics after a very long break where I raised my children and looked after my family and my work. Today I have been painting several hundred paintings since then and I still get a lot of inspiration from nature, Second Life and northern islands such as Faroe Islands and Iceland. In SL I started taking photos already in 2008, and has developed my style ever since. All this brings me to where I am today and I hope you will enjoy my pictures.”

I certainly do. This particular showing is of Wild Animals of SL. Some of the animals of Second Life are gorgeous and what Sisi does with them amazing.To get to her exhibit directly take this ride. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Whinlatter/246/72/54

While you are in this gallery room take a look at the oil works of earring collection nearby and check out the top floor and the lower floor where there are other artists displaying their works. .This is a marvelous gallery that I have been meaning to write about for a while.

From this location you can TP over to the main TP area. Here you can choose among all the many artists that are on the Complex. There are many buildings to explore to see the varied collection .

The Complex belongs to dj12 Magic. He has other locations in Second Life but this is for the Arts. "The original and still going strong Visions of  Beauty Art Gallery.  It  is shown in its natural surroundings.  The artists and curators provide natural photographic art works and fantasy art pieces.  The collection is rotated regularly,” he says of his Vision.

After you leave the buildings go down the hill to the west to relax in the charming Gabriella’s Grove. This belongs to Gabrielle Magic (Gabrielle Avedon), dj12‘s partner. It seems that both have delightful stories and photos of  their cats.

Be sure to tp up to their area in one of the galleries and enjoy. There is so much lovely art here . Plan to spend some time exploring all there is to see.

This is the central TP area where you can move about to the artists easily, but enjoy walking through the galleries . Each building has its own charm . http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Whinlatter/158/88/50

Gemma Cleanslate

Rasmuson Gallery of Alaskan Artists

A few days ago I visited the Rasmuson Gallery of Alaskan Artists, located at Rhetorica (203, 235, 86).  The SL Rasmuson Gallery eliminates the miles and miles that separate us in RL and lets us experience the people and their art that we might otherwise never get to see.  In RL it is located at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.   In SL, a quick teleport takes you to an open-air, multi-story gallery filled with light and connected by a virtual flowing river.       

The current exhibit highlights the winners of the 2012 Individual Artists Awards.   There was a simultaneous event held in RL and SL on June 5 when the Rasmuson Foundation announced the winners.   This was the sixth year that they have held the event in both RL and SL.    According to their press release, the SL location was projected on a big screen at the RL event located in Anchorage, Alaska.  

 The 2012 Distinguished Artist Award was presented to Kes Woodward from Fairbanks for Visual Arts.  He received a $25,000 Award.  He was born in South Carolina and moved to Alaska in 1977.  He is a Professor of Art Emeritus at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where he taught for twenty years.  In October 2004 he received the first Alaska Governor's Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts.

Fellowship Awards of $12,000 each were presented to   Da-ka-xeen Mehner, Visual Arts; Jack Dalton, Presentation Interpretation; Tommy Joseph, Visual Arts; Karina Moeller, Music Composition; Kat Tomka, Visual Arts; Brendan Harrington, Visual Arts; Sonya Kelliher-Combs, Visual Arts’; Philip Munger, Music Composition; Morris Palter, Presentation Interpretation; and Laura Bliss Spaan, Media Arts.

As you walk through the gallery, there are photos and notecards of the featured artists and exhibits of their work.  The art is beautiful, and the artists are a very diverse group.  Da-ka-xeen Mehner, who was born in Fairbanks, describes his parents as Tlingit/N'ishga (mother) and Hippy/American (father).  His work examines his multicultural heritage as an urban Native American in Anchorage and as a rural Hippy in Fairbanks living without electricity, running water or phones.  He is an Assistant Professor of Native Arts at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the director of the UAF Native Arts Center.

Tommy Joseph, of the Eagle Moiety, Kaagwaantaan Clan, has been a Northwest Coast carver for over twenty years.   He carves totem poles, masks, bentwood boxes, and more.  He is now working on Tlingit battle dress and armor.

Karina Moeller is an Inuit performer from Greenland, but has lived in Alaska for 16 years with her three children.  She has toured all over the world with the Greenlandic Theater Silamiut and with the Alaskan group, Pamyua.

Philip Munger debuted as conductor in 1963, and he also helped start the South Seattle Youth Symphony.  Currently he is Interim Director of the Anchorage Civic Orchestra.  He has been on the faculty of the University of Alaska Anchorage since 1995, and he has also been named to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Bugler Hall of Fame. 

Laura Bliss Spaan is a visual storyteller, journalist, and independent filmmaker whose work has been nominated for Emmy awards.    She frequently focuses on the Eyak people.  “More Than Words” tells about the last Native speaker of the Eyak language while “Parlez-Vous, Eyak?”, her most recent film, follows the Eyaks and a young man from France who is helping them to learn their language.  She is currently working with the Eyaks to create new stories in their own language using archival audio and film.

Kat Tomka is a Professor of Art and the Program Director for the Painting program at the University of Alaska Anchorage.  Her art work has been exhibited in West Africa, London, Germany, Canada, the Czech Republic, and throughout the U.S.   

Brendan Harrington was born in Massachusetts and raised in Kodiak and Juneau, Alaska.  Throughout most of his life he has combined working as an artist and as a commercial fisherman.   He lives in Kodiak, Alaska now, but he lived in Germany for a while.  In addition to exhibits in the U.S., his drawings and paintings have also been exhibited in Europe.

Mavis Muller is a "story weaver" from Homer, Alaska, who combines basketry, poetry, and storytelling. As she weaves baskets, she tells about the plants, trees and landscapes and how they are carriers of messages and blessings.  Her baskets have also been exhibited in museums, art galleries, and juried art shows. 

Rosemary McGuire is a writer from Cordova who focuses on contemporary Alaskan life.  Her work has appeared in Quarterly West, River Teeth and ISLE. She has been recognized by Association of Writers and Publishers and The Atlantic Monthly. She has written two books which have been excerpted in literary reviews.

Last year's event was filmed and will be part of a film being produced by Pooky Media, a SL company.  The film is expected to debut this month and will show how the Rasmuson Foundation is using SL to promote Alaskan art to a world-wide audience. 

Grey Lupindo

A Mountain , An Agave and a Gorilla

Sunday I was pleased to be invited to an opening of Sledge Roffo’s showing of new art pieces at Studio33 Gallery located at Rockcliffe Conservatory. Monroe Snook is the owner of the Gallery of which The Art Yard is one of several buildings that feature the rich and wonderful creations of many of the finest artists in Second Life.

Sledge 's exhibit is called “A Mountain, an Agave and a Gorilla.” His exhibit will be at the Art Yard until March 16. It is very diverse in the pieces you will see. Sledge told me, “This is some primagery and my exploration of pixel art...still evolving.” The Mountain is a collection of marvelous depictions of his mountain in delicate textures and hues. Each piece is called Suspicious Mountain. You see a sculpture of the Mountain that may perhaps show why it is called suspicious I would say. I believe Sledge zoomed in on his sculpture to find the art that is hanging on the wall.

The Agave is distinctly different art work. It is his pixel art, as is the Gorilla. I found it very interesting to watch some of the pixel art as it changed on the wall. It took a while for me to find the Gorilla but I did.The piece is called “Feed the Gorilla” and there is a large banana ready. Around the corner from the gorilla were my favorite pixel art, four faces or masks of different shades and tones of color that I enjoyed studying.

Be sure to drop by to see the exhibit before it closes. It is well worth a visit to see the variety of talent of Sledge Roffo.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Rockcliffe%20Conservatory/182/35/526

Gemma Cleanslate