Raglan Shire Art Walk Does it Again

For a Lucky 13th Round

By Klaus Bereznyak

Open to be enjoyed until June 17th, The 13th Annual Raglan Shire Art Walk serves up an impressive cross-sectional variety of artwork for all tastes sprawled and nestled across four sims: Raglan Shire, Heron Shire, Morning Shire, and Athen Shire.

This is one of the highlights of the year hosted by the Raglan Shire tinies community who just entered their 11th year together. For five weeks, their home territory is inundated with biggies, stomping all over the place, and we are grateful they continue to host this event. Somehow Artwalk Director Karmagirl Avro, and her assistants Kayak Kuu and Shadow Marlin, ensure that the work of over a hundred artists is seen to be enjoyed. It's a "walk" so take your time.

Anyone can sign up and display their work: all levels of artists may show their works, and the only thing that seems to be excluded is photographs of real-life crafts. Artists arrive early on May the 11th to grab some hedge space and set up.

The variety of styles and subjects to be seen all at once is therefore one of the most striking things about this event. Here real-life photography by SimiXiamara1 faces SL photography by Lo. Coeur.

It would be rare in this world to see digital and real photographic work side by side along with real-life watercolours and manipulated Second Life pictures. This picture shows adapted SL photography by Free Dawn Voix and fractal work by Kraven Klees.

Several tinies have contributed exhibits to the mix. This picture shows 'My Tiny Life', a series by Kitty Huang, along with a watercolor by SkyBlue Earthboy.

Visitors can wander from sim to sim through the maze of levels, travel on a slow-moving 'hedgiepillar', or use the teleport boards provided to hop to the different areas, but it's easy to miss something. Each time I have been back in the last week, I have spotted something new. Most of the art displayed is for sale at prices fixed by the artists and ranging from 5L$ up into the thousands. There's something for all tastes and income levels.

The 2D work is concentrated on the network of hedge walls on the Raglan Shire Sim. Wild animals keep an eye on things. Here, a giraffe gazes hungrily at Tea Gupte's vegetable paintings.The 3D work is found mostly in the woods and along the water in Heron Shire, where it brings a magical aspect to the landscape.

Through the trees here can be seen the glitching triangles of Gravity by Elle Thorkveld, Stillpink's (pink) Memorial Tree, and Head + Brain by Otcoc.

Further along, with their feet in the water, can be found a build by Asmita Duranjaya, housing reliefs of carved Bactrian figures, alongside Terra Merhyem's Constellation of the Shaman.

Crossing over into Morning Shire, the visitor walks a path flanked by the canvasses of Kayly Iali and works by Giovanna Cerise before it opens out into parkland with more 3D installations such as the sculptures of Alander Starostin and SkyBlue Earthboy's immersive Healing Color Temple.

More 3D spills over into Athen Shire, where the eye is greeted by kienetic light sculpture by Slatan Dryke and iSkye Silverweb's Marble Dancers and purpose-built ArtWalk 2018 ColoursTower.

With so much on offer, it would be very hard for me to pick favourites. I blew my stipend pretty quickly, favouring affordable work by artists who were new to me and perhaps not seen every day on the grid. Filtered SL photography is probably represented more than any other approaches. However, close to where I first landed, I am glad I did not miss the portrait treatments by Caissa Amat.

The 13th Raglan Shire Art Walk is open until 17th June.

SLURLs:

Raglan Shire Art Area #1 - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Raglan%20Shire/34/221/77
Raglan Shire Art Area #2  - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Raglan%20Shire/68/148/58
Heron Shire Sculptures - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Heron%20Shire/125/132/22
Morning Shire Sculptures - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Morning%20Shire/206/166/22
Raglan Shire Art Area #4 - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Raglan%20Shire/75/245/23
Athen Shire Sculptures - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Athen%20Shire/69/245/23
Raglan Tree Art Gallery - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Raglan%20Shire/122/59/59

Klaus Bereznyak

The Philosophy of Furniture

By Gemma Cleanslate

I found a gem at the LEA 18 for you to visit. It is called The Philosophy of Furniture, and is based on an essay by Edgar Allen Poe written in 1840. Poe is well known for several of his novels and of course his poems. ‘The Ravens” is one that most people have had contact with around the world in one form or another. Since Poe relied on his writings for income, he did many essays and articles for varied magazines over his too short life. . Evidently Poe was very critical of America’s decor in homes, and possibly the homes themselves.  He wrote with a certain disdain of them. Actually as you go through the entire essay there is criticism of almost every decor in many lands.

When you arrive in the region at the entrance there are posts that will link you to the essay itself and to a analysis of the essay. Or if you would like to listen to it there is an audio for you .A large events board is set up for coming events.As you look around in the distance there are many homes with posters behind them . Now you can teleport to a house and begin your tour there or just start walking.

At the entrance of each house  is an easel that holds a pithy saying about the particular home you are entering and its interior.

Each home is meticulously adorned with furniture of the day mid 1800‘s. It is fun to read the description then view the room. I walked most of the sim entering each home and chuckling at the posters.

I took a walk on the roadways and came across a  penny-farthing bicycle with a large front wheel of the time. Then I took a ride around the sim. It is easy to maneuver so don’t miss that thrill. The ravens fly and caw throughout the sim  listen to their call.

This wonderful exhibit was put together by three Second Life artists, Daark Gothly, Mazie Halpern, and Cienega Soon. The opening was at a ball of the 1800‘s held on May 19th and I am sorry I missed it. It is an amazing installation when one considers the essay on which it is based. It took an abundance of decorations from all over the world that would fit the essay. I applaud all the work here and really enjoyed my visit. Don’t miss it.

 If you are a poet or in one of the poetry groups and would like to bring your poetry to the sim check out the poetry corner information at the entrance too. It seemed to me that Poe was being satirical at times in the essay. But I am not that familiar with many of his essays, so perhaps that is just me.  It might be fun for you to listen to the audio reading of the essay as you explore the homes. 

.Take a look at the stages as you pass by. I believe one is the poetry corner, on the main party stage and the other I am not sure. I will be going back for more visits to check out more .This exhibit will be here until June 29. Daark has been having internet issues, but said to watch the events board at the end of the first week of June for events.  Here you go!  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA18/171/199/22

Gemma Cleanslate

Scenes From The Kultivate Spring Art Show

By Gemma Cleanslate

I must applaud the wonderful art show that was just held in Water Haven. It was the third annual Kultivate Spring Art Show . I hope you were able to get over to see it . The press release was in the SL Newser  http://slnewser.blogspot.com/2018/04/press-release-third-annual-kultivate.html. All the participating artists are listed there .

Saturday the prizes  were awarded. I was invited to be a judge and found it really difficult. There was so much wonderful art to look  at and and make decisions. I am glad I said yes . It was an experience I really enjoyed. This link will take you to the magazine blog and all the winners.
https://kultivatemagazine.com/blog/  

If you missed it  you can always visit the Windlight Art Gallery. It is there all the time and open to visit. Some of the artists who exhibited in the art show have pieces there as well as may other artists.Stop into the charming small galleries that surround the Windlight Gallery while you are there  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Water%20Haven/141/139/22  

Gemma Cleanslate

Scenes From the Burnal Equinox

By Bixyl Shuftan

From Saturday March 24 to Sunday March 25, the "Burnal Equinox" event was held inworld. Held every year, it is a spinoff of the "Burn 2" event taking place in October, which is based on the yearly "Burning Man" festival in real life. Yours truly dropped by the get a few pictures.

The event took place in the Burning Man Deep Hole sim. At the entrance, one could pick up a translator.

Here was where one could get a link to the Facebook page, and grab a few freebies.

A schedule of events.

 There were a number of exhibits around.

 In this exhibit, "What Emotional Planet Are You?" one could sit on the planets.

There was a tribute to the recently deceased Stephen Hawking. Although a physicist and not an artist, he was a hero to many, including to at least one Burner.

At one point, I noticed some flames and activity.

 The Burners had set a structure afire, and were now dancing in it.

Skye Silverweb was among the Burners there.

A look at the sim from above during the burn.

I later came across the structure when it wasn't burning.

That was the Burnal Equinox for this year. Stay tuned in October for Burn2.

Bixyl Shuftan

Curei's Floating Gallery

By Deaflegacy

I met with Curei at Curei's Floating Gallery. "What inspired you to do the floating gallery?" I asked her. Curei answered, "I thought it would be really refreshing to create something that was very different and was not like the usual gallery, with little pictures hanging on walls."

Curei also said that the meditation place is so beautiful and peaceful.  She wanted the place to be a work of art in itself, even without considering the creative works hanging in the gallery. Curei's Floating Gallery has a wonderful and very original spiral fountain, as well as the strutting peacocks and the little model sail boats in the other pond. There is a hidden mystery object that I have yet to find.

Curei's Floating Gallery is a beautiful place, full of art and many wonderful things.  I have been to the floating gallery at least three times and have enjoyed each visit. I would urge people to go to Curei's Floating Gallery.  It is a good place to experience.

It's not just a good place to be, by the way. It's also a beautiful location, full of nature things like vines.  Everywhere you turn, you will see something from the nature itself.  That's why I definitely recommend Curei's Floating Gallery to people who are interested in visiting the places of nature. Meditation place is not a place to be easily forgotten.  You can go there to relax and meditate.

There are more to the story as well as there are arts at Curei's Floating Gallery.  They are in a spot, where arts are being displayed.  I would suggest you give this place a try. It is truly remarkable. Why don't you give Curei's Floating Gallery a try because it's full of beautiful nature and arts.

Curei's Floating Gallery is at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Inspiration%20Island/195/118/1003

Deaflegacy