Kondor’s Art Café

 

By Netera Landar

Hermes Kondor arrived early to greet guests before the art café opened.

A Facebook invitation announced the grand opening of a new space for Kondor’s Art Cafe on Sunday, Jan. 11. Hermes Kondor’s artwork was featured in the Dickens Project Art Show last month, and I learned that he has an art center. Arriving early to the event would allow me to take pictures of Hermes’ collection without disrupting the event. To my surprise, Hermes was at the center. 

Hermes explained that the art café is a transformation of an old concept called “The Terrace,” which had functioned more like a club. His notecard explained the concept and intention of the art café.  It would serve a small but meaningful purpose as a Sunday cultural and elegant salon. The terrace would motivate people to meet in an art and cultural environment, to socialize, listen to good music, and to dance. Thursdays would feature exhibitions, and Sundays would focus on connection and atmosphere. 

As Hermes started greeting other early guests, I clicked on the sim’s music stream and began walking through the realistic art center. Sydney Couerblanc was greeted by Hermes. She explained that she couldn’t attend the 1 p.m. opening but was interested in seeing his new materials. She told him she liked the tight color palette and the highlights and shadows in one of the photographs, then continued her self-guided tour.

From the stairway, interior view.

My own tour was one of observation, appreciation, and a desire to speak with each photographer and artist about their composition. What were they trying to capture and express? Art is like poetry; you can try to interpret it, but it’s more than a personal point of view. The poet feels compelled to select the right words, while the photographer waits for the perfect angle and lighting to capture the image he/she desires. 

Before I knew it, artists, photographers, and art supporters began arriving. Thirty-three at my last count. They gathered on the terrace and listened to DJ Pris and then DJ Medea. The majority were dressed casually. All commented positively on the collection and said they couldn’t wait to see future exhibits.

Artists represented in the art center/museum.

Here are a few pieces from the collection.

 

“Waves Roll in My Thoughts” by Paola Mills.

 

“Fighting the Dark” by Duraya.

“Tangled” by ilyra Chardin

“Shoot Speed Kill Light” by Traci.

“Distortion 24” by Angelika Corral 2023

“Failure” by Margherita Hax.

“WOS Away” by eta Mae

 

“Relativeco” by Selen Love.

Slurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Royal%20Tea/159/82/30

Netera Landar
 

The Lost Gallery

 

 By Netera Landar

 

At the entrance, there was a candy booth, a grand piano inside a Christmas gazebo, and a walk-through Christmas tree. Strands of twinkling lights wrapped around light poles, tying the scenery together. 

The Lost Gallery is hosting its 3^rd Annual Holiday Exhibit, featuring over 20 artists in a whimsical landscape. The opening weekend celebration was on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m. with entertainment by DJ Sam. On Sunday, Dec. 14, at 1 p.m., Sax Player Steve Who performed. The event runs through Saturday, Jan. 3.

An art exhibit and entertainment. That’s a perfect combination when hosting an event.  

The exhibit’s setting was beautiful and realistic. Photographs and paintings were showcased on easels along a long, snow-covered pathway. The work was easy to find and well organized. Each artist contributed three pieces for the exhibit. 

I teleported there early Saturday night before the contributors, organizers, and Lost Gallery’s supporters arrived. Harlo Jamison was already on the frozen pond dance floor, ready to greet people as they carefully stepped upon the ice. Harlo and Maggie Magenta are the event’s organizers. 

The exhibit’s setting was beautiful and realistic. Photographs and paintings were showcased on easels along a long, snow-covered pathway. The work was easy to find and well organized. Each artist contributed three pieces for the exhibit. Some provided bio statements, and a few offered gifts for the art patrons to take home. At the entrance, there was a candy booth, a grand piano inside a Christmas gazebo, and a walk-through Christmas tree. Strands of twinkling lights wrapped around light poles, tying the scene together. There’s even a Santa in a hot-air balloon.

Eager to know more about the gallery, I asked Harlo if Lost Gallery had a building for exhibits.

“The Lost Gallery is more of a concept than an actual building. Though we sometimes do use a building. We tend to move around the grid, sometimes doing art walks for other sims. Maggie and I both have our own small galleries, so Lost Gallery is a partnership more than anything else. The only thing permanent about Lost Gallery is that we always do a holiday exhibit!” said Harlo.

Asked who was involved in building the setting, Harlo replied, “I do the building…Maggie is our people person. I’m a slow builder…it took about 3 weeks for this one.”

Participating artists include:

Mikal Angello, DragonAngelvs, Michiel Bechir, Zia Brenner, Duraya, Prins Evergarden, Dante Helios, Johannes Huntsman, Georgie Iceghost, Harlo Jamison, Sparkly Mc Baubles, Maggie Magenta, Serena Marabana, Vixen Reigndeer, Alex Riverstone, Rosie Riverstone, Reign Rolfs, Doc Romano, Jamee Sandalwood, Giselle Seeker, Gayle Sweetwater, Kika Yongho, and Mary Zimmer.

 

DJ Sam and Aya Intikhab dancing together.

During the first entertainment session, DJ Sam played holiday music, and Aya was the hostess, while everyone skated or danced. Loved the sparkling lights beneath the ice and the giant snow globe. A few songs Sam played were, “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow” by Harry Connick, Jr.; “Almost Christmas” by Chris Isaak; “Christmas Lights” from Coldplay; “Come On Home for Christmas” by George Ezra; “Baby It’s Cold Outside” by Dean Martin; “Mistletoe and Holly” by Frank Sinatra; and “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” by Small Town Titans.

Everyone enjoyed dancing to the holiday music.

I asked two of the contributors about their work while they were dancing. I hated bothering them when they were having fun.

 

“I did a holiday photo and set it for just 10L, mostly as a gift,” said Vixen Reigndeer. “The other two are winter scenery and a hot chocolate stand…it’s all about the feeling the holidays bring.”

Mary Zimmer describing her work to GMetal Svartur. Left to right: Winter Refuge, Winter Sunset, Snowing While the Sun Shines. 

Mary Zimmer said her three photos are of Winter landscapes. “Winter Sunset is one of my most popular photos. They were taken a while ago, so the sims may not still be there. Snowing While the Sun Shines was taken at Blue Finch. Winter Sunset was taken at Echo Ridge.”

Serena Marabana’s Echoes of Snow, Snowdrops, where winter comes to rest. Pictured are a gazebo, a frozen pond, and a lighthouse.

Make sure you check out the exhibit before Jan. 3. Help support the contributors by purchasing their work.

Johannes Huntsman, Winterscapes 25, in blue tones, gives you the winter vibe. Johannes is the creator and owner of Kultivate Magazine and galleries.

Vixen Reigndeer's photography. I see adorable snowmen on the side of the road, frozen branches endangering a tree, and warming up with a cup of coffee.

Zia Branner’s Zale, Liberosis, and Cascade.

Gayle Sweetwater’s Winter’s Spring, Wandering Snowman, and Winter’s Winter watercolor paintings.

Giselle Seeker’s Through the Trees, Holiday cheer, and Arctic Sun. 

Holiday Candy booth and grand piano in a Christmas gazebo

Kika Yongho, Think, Early Bird, and Travel in Time.

Slurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Moran/78/193/53

Netera Landar 

 

Interview With Ambri Jung

By Bixyl Shuftan

A couple months ago, Gemma Cleanslate wrote about a photography exhibit by Anibrm Jung. Recently, I had the chance to meet up with her. We met up at the Little Red Door Chapel Gallery and Retreat, where she has an exhibit. Anibrm told me the exhibit had opened July 8, with about twenty people being there are the start, "I was really surprised about that many people."

So how did she find out about Second Life? "Ohhhhh long time ago," Anibrm answered with a smile, "I was curious about it and never left. 2006 I started." Of her first days, "If I remember well; I felt lost, but on my second day I met Lorenzo. This guy stayed with me my whole Second Life. He showed me around. ... In that time I met some great friends. Second Life was different than. It was more a community. Nowadays it is like real life. Everybody for there own. I think that is a sad thing. Second Life needs a place for people to hide, run away too and be themselves and meet people and become friends without any obstacles." She felt there has been less community spirit lately, "SL became a business instead of a community"

When arriving, a notecard handed to me automatically by an auto-greeter informed me that Anibrm in real life was a real-life "award-winning photographer for her sensitive and vibrant portraits of nature's works of art," using a Nikon D60 digital camera. Asking her about it, she referred to herself as an amateur, "It`s a great hobby to have." I asked how she got the idea for displaying her work in Second Life. She answered, "That has been some years ago. This friend I talked about asked me to show my photo`s in SL. So I did (smile). He made a gallery and I showed my photos. (I) Didn`t expect any one would come to have a look at them. But they did, and even (bought) some." The exhibit at the Little Red Door Chapel Gallery, Amicus curiae (134, 161, 24), will be up until the end of July.

Asking her about the other location she had pictures, she told me, "Graine Macbain offered me her gallery for showing my Art for a long time now. She is awesome for doing that!" The Graine Gallery and Riverside Cafe is in Blue Curacao (29/44/23)

Noticing she was carrying a satchel, I asked if she carried her camera in anything like that in real life. She warmly told me she had, saying she had been looking around Second Life for one just like it, and had found this only two weeks ago.

For now, Anibrm has no further plans for showings of her work, at least for the time being, "I had a lot of exhibitions in here the last three months and had my plot at SL14th Birthday. So for now this is it. That a love Second Life in all it`s way, but I think the Lindens are taking to much control about it, which will lead to a competitive SL. Where business is more important than fun, shelter, friendship etc." She thanked the Newser for it's coverage of art and artists, "I really like you doing this for artists in Second Life!"

Bixyl Shuftan

Mellowdee’s Art Show at the Panorama Art Gallery

by Grease Coakes

One of the many things that people use second life as a tool for is to show off art. One day Mellowdee or her resident name melody1778 teleported me to an art show at Velequez (234, 76, 23). Mellowdee is a nice lady so I said sure.

With support from Timo Dumpling and Samantha Chester, Mellowdee created art outside the small clear dome. In the center of the dome Yukithepianoplayer Hutchinson played piano music to add positive energy to the event.

Inside the dome though were many pictures of various mediums of art. A lot of the pictures were pretty and professionally done it was hard to pick a favorite. Various artists drew the pictures in the dome. Mellowdee did the scripted artwork in the gallery found easily by walking through a sliding glass door.

Watching the scripted artwork was fun as it constantly changed shape like an ocean wave or a lava lamp. By hitting refresh on my snapshot option in firestorm phoenix I saw many variations of the same artwork as the color lines flowed this and that way on the black background.

Mellow came to her own art gallery after Yuki’s live piano show. She showed me the mandala which place in a space art show by popular vote and 3rd place by jury vote. With only ten prims to work with that must have been a major challenge.

Samantha Chester came up to meet with me and Mellow soon after. She mentioned a Virtual Harlem that is no longer in Second life. She mentioned that LL took away an educator discount on sims. I said that’s too bad an art gallery could be shown to kids and adults online as a school fieldtrip.

Timo Dumpling came to talk to me when the other guests had left and he complimented me on my new avatar, "Incredible avi that a bit of everything (laughter)."

Grease Coakes, "My avatar? Thank you it was rather expensive."

Timo Dumpling, "Had the gallery just on four years now and it is just starting to work."

Grease Coakes, "I've been on SL six years so you had this gallery 2/3 of my lifetime ... That’s a long time."

Timo’s gallery used to be at info island which was a place for newbies to get their bearings in second life. Sadly he said it no longer exists. He now found this new sim which is less restrictive.

Art inspires us whether in second life or if you visit a museum in real life. With all the bad things that are going on in real life it’s a nice escape to look at eye candy around yourself or at an art show. Something to keep in mind when you log into Second Life it’s one of the many things that the grid has to offer. Mellow dee and her art show will be up until July 31st.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Velequez/228/70/23

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Timamoon%20Arts/30/226/55

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Velequez/211/47/22

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Velequez/217/120/23

Grease Coakes