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 

 

More Christmas Shops

 

By Gemma Cleanslate

I have been doing some of the Advent Calendars this year but since I am almost out of groups I decided to stick with those where no group is necessary. While I was at a region I took a good look around at some and saw the nice arrangement of items they had in Kiosks or all over the property. I picked some that had really nice or unusual décor for sale and am passing the along to you in case you are a late shopper or are looking for that special gift.

“Santa Claus dropped his presents through the Christmas Wonderland event. There are free gifts in the large calendar and EXCLUSIVE very cheap Christmas outfits in front of it. Don’t miss them and grab them all – Date: Dec 1 to Dec 24 – Contact Person: Rani Rosenhauch “

Rani said it well. Santa has left some great items all over the region. There are many boxes in front of the calendar for sale really low prices! Then take a walk around to see the nice items for sale at the stands.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Forgotten%20Mountains/21/118/27

LouChara sells Furniture and decorations and has weekend sales right at the entrance . Her furniture is divided in to the various types in each building there which makes it easier to shop. The Christmas area had terrific items on display.

I really enjoyed looking at the variety of styles and ended up buying one new holiday bench.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Tropical%20Bay/137/171/4001

Another wonderful furniture venue with a calendar is C.M.D. Christmas store. All sorts of Christmas décor is scattered over the region. 

 

What caught my eye was a cute little fairy pushing huge snowballs. Maybe it is not unique but I have never seen it before. There is another one throwing snowballs too.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Thee%20Enchanted%20Forest/203/183/21

 

One more super area to visit for those last minute decorations inside or out is Christmas Delights. Again this is a marvelous place filled with sweet décor. I am happy to see a nice selection of flat décor that is only one prim and looks great . It is good if you need to watch your prim count.

Santa’s Closet is a whole wall filled with all sorts of Christmas clothing with a choice of elegant or cute.There is also a rezz area for greeter bots , AI bots and animesh bots so you can try them out before buying. Stop over there to check them out. RAGDOLL/183/193/1801

I hope you are finished shopping now and can begin enjoying all the winter fun areas that I will be writing about for you.

Gemma Cleanslate

 

Christmas Shopping at Dench Designs and Snuggles Holidays

 

By Gemma Cleanslate

 

It is that time again! Christmas shopping time. No sooner did the orange and black disappear than out came the green and red at and bright lights many shops . One of my very favorites opened the Christmas shop the very next day after Halloween and I was so happy to see it.

Amanda Dench has such a fun Christmas shopping area I love getting there to look at everything and pick up all the freebies offered to members of her group and check out the bargain corner where past goodies are offered for only 5 or 10L. You find all these gifts and items on the second floor, always my first destination.

Outside the Christmas store at Dench Designs are charming little winter scenes that fit any parcel or region. I love to see Santa riding a bike in the snow. There is a giant Santa dancing at the door of the shop.

Inside are the wonderful fireplaces, trees, and so many fun animesh dancers. Jump on a dancer and see how you look with that partner for dancing! There are wonderful new full avatars this year too and wearable dancers from penguins to Santa himself. They are great fun to bring to a party. I had to buy one. I always say I am not going to buy things while doing these articles but guess what. The prices are right too!! And, if you join the group there is a 50% discount on many items. 

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rookery/21/36

Another favorite place to visit because it is so organized so you can find your favorite types of décor easily is at Snuggles Holidays, The Christmas at Snuggles . I also love the name of the regions. Gnomes, trees, animals and so much more.

Inside the huge shop there are décorations for your home interior and more. Looking for Christmas cards? There is a generous collection of various cards for loved ones, family and friends.

If you have a friend who loves and collects bears and want to make a gift of one a really good choice is found here too. Look for the teleport to and from inside and outside décor. The place is large so plan some time to look around. I joined the group to get an avatar for Christmas gatherings at a really low price. I will be searching for more good shopping for you in the next days.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Snuggles%20Holidays/163/220/25

 

Gemma Cleanslate

 

The Winter Burn 2022

 *
By Bixyl Shuftan

From Friday January 28 to Sunday January 30, the Winter Burn took place in Second Life. While the main Burn, or the "Octoburn" as it's sometimes called is held in October, there are a few spinoff events at other times in the year. They are based on the real-life "Burning Man" festival held every summer in Black Rock Nevada.

The theme this year was a new and unusual one: Gingerbread Houses. 

Mia Wallace messaged me some days before the event. She was in a gingerbread man avatar.

She showed me around the Winter Burn grounds around Deep Hole.

 This mutant vehicle had a nice large seat.

On Sunday January 30, I dropped in. There was a music concert going on at the event area.

BGSinger Hermit was the performer for this particular hour. 

The audience had a variety of avatars.

Also in the audience were builder Nance Clowes, and artist Moya Patrick.

 Golan Eddie, noted for leading the team of volunteers during the resident-run Second Life Birthday events.

At one point, fireworks went off.

Someone was taking one of the mutant vehicles, a sleigh pulled by a gingerbread man on fig newton feet, out for a stroll. 

Changing my viewer to show a night sky, "The Man" was showing icicles. 

I spent a little time exploring some of the grounds.

Moya's gingerbread house exhibit.

With the theme and the snow, some of the exhibits would have fit right in with a Christmas event.

"Do you wanna build a snowman?"

Gemma Cleanslate was there, and submitted a couple pictures of exhibits as well.

From tires, to dough, to haunted marshmallow to robot.

There was plenty of fun. But we won't have to wait until October for more Burn2 fun. With Spring comes the Burnal Equinox, and another spinoff. Stay tuned for details.

Bixyl Shuftan