Italo Calvino Invisible Cities Project

Opening Exhibit
25/February/2012
3:00PM SLT

http://slurl.com/secondlife/LEA15/128/253/24

13 great SL artists involved in this project, builders and machinimamakers

Teams

-Cherry Manga - The Door of the Invisibles Cities  (Ground Floor)
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-Marcus Inkpen-  Cities & The Sky 1-Eudoxia (Floor 1)
-Fuschia Nightfire  Machinimamaker
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-Romy Nayar-Ux Hax- The thin Cities 3- Armilla (Floor 2)
-Hypatia Pickens Machinimamaker
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-Lanjran Choche - MORLITA Quan The thin Cities 1- Isaura        (Floor 3 )
-NicoleX  Moonwall - Machinimamaker
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                    Machinimas  Story                                          (Floor 4 )
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-Rebeca Bashly- TRADING CITIES 5- Emeralda  (Floor 5 )
-Spiral SilverStar Machinimamaker
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Collaborate:
Leona80 Mhia
Nadiemekiere Adamczyk
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Blog Invisible Cities & Channel

http://invisiblecitiessl.blogspot.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/InvisibleCitiesSL?feature=mhee

The Wandering Goddess Explores 'The Order Of Perception' by Harter Fall

A photo-tour of the recent 'Order of Perception' exhibit by Harter Fall. Must be experienced to be believed!
See the Photo Tour Now
Teleport to the Exhibit Now

Aequitas Field of View - Friday Feb 24th, 6pm

Support the arts in Second Life

It is up to you to create your own reality.  Visit LEA26 this Friday night and share your views in the form of a texture added to the texture boxes in the Field of View exhibition.

When - Friday February 24th. 6pm (or whenever you can make it)

Where - Aequitas Field of View at LEA 26

What - Once there you will see a bunch of boxes with pictures flashing on the top.  If you hold the control key on your keyboard you can drag a picture from your inventory in to as many of the boxes as you want.  The script inside will recognize the picture and it will flash on the top of the box with the others. 

Methias Kira's Abstract Soul Midnight Zen Exhibit Opens FEB 18

Abstract Soul pushes art within SL outside of the box and into a vibrant new realm of possibilities. Methias Kira's new exhibit opens SAT FEB 18 at Noon SLT. Don't miss the incredibleopening event!
Note: [-Abstract Soul-] is meant to be viewed at Midnight, so please set your sky to Midnight upon arrival! Thanks!
Teleport Now to Midnight Zen
More About Methias Kira
Methias Kira on YouTube

Aequitas Field of View project

We would like you to be a part of our newest Aequitas debacle and overall unholy mess!

We wanted to make a place for everyone in Second Life to express their creativity together outside of an art environment.  We have rows of boxes with images we’ve collected so far flashing on the top in the center of a hazy watery landscape.  The whole thing looks like its disintegrating, but the first few rows are holding together and we already have some really fun stuff. We hope you will consider joining us.

It's easy to participate; we just need some textures.  You could add any of those great second life photographs you have tucked away in your inventory or  even make textures with messages you’d like everyone to read. The images can be no copy, no mod, no transfer, whatever makes you most comfortable to share what you have.

To get there, just follow this link to Field of View.  Once there you will see a bunch of boxes with pictures flashing on the top.  If you hold the control key on your keyboard you can drag a picture from your inventory in to as many of the boxes as you want.  The script inside will recognize the picture and it will flash on the top of the box with the others.

The more images each box has, the more it creates a really cool changing mosaic or kaleidoscope. Each person who adds something becomes a part of the project.

We will be there to assist at 9am this Saturday after Freewee’s meeting but you can add textures any time. I.M. Sowa Mai or Banrion Constantine if you have any questions.

Thank You
Aequitas

ArtGyro Open Forum: The Cost of Art

Saturday, 18 February, at 8:00AM SLT
ArtGyro LEA sim (LEA18)
http://artgyro.org/
Contact: FreeWee Ling

Following the first ArtGyro open forum on arts sustainability, three general areas of concern emerged: Commerce, Intellectual Property, and Legacy. Our next forum with be in the Commerce track and we will be discussing the cost of creating, displaying, selling, buying, and owning art. Everyone interested in the future of art in SL is encouraged to attend.

In preparation for the forum, here are some questions to stimulate conversation:

-What are the expenses related to creating, buying, selling, presenting, marketing?

-Who pays for what?

-Given the costs, can art be a viable business in SL?

-What are some examples of successful commercial galleries (i.e., those which sell art)?


-How are prices for art determined? (This may be a whole separate discussion.)
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Here are some minumum fixed costs that somebody usually has to pay for art (or anything else) to exist:

In US dollars per month:

Full sim tier: $295.00
Full sim prims: 15000
Exchange rate: L$ 244.22 = US$ 1.00 (Lindex 14 Feb 2012)
The cost of one Linden is approx $0.004
Cost of one prim: $0.019666 (just under 2 cents)
Cost of one prim: 2.08 Lindens

A land owner pays for land whether the prims are used or not. Any unused prims are waste, adding to the cost of the used prims. E.g., if half the prims on a full sim are used, it still costs $295, thus effectively doubling the cost per prim used.

A typical rental parcel can cost 20%-40% above the actual cost to the sim owner, so a gallery owner renting a parcel at a premium price must add that cost to the prim cost.

2D art on a single prim is pretty cost effective. But a single object of 100 prims costs MINIMUM $1.96 (208 Lindens) per month to show. If a gallery owner takes a modest 20% of sales, that object will need to generate at least $9.80 (2393L) in sales just to cover its cost.

Similarly, the buyer not only pays the price of the object, but must also pay for the tier to display it. The 100 prim object will cost $23.60 per year to display.

SANDBOXES: Unless you are using Linden-owned sandboxes, someone is paying the tier to let you work in SL. If you own or rent land, that person is you. If you do not, that person is someone else. Do you know who that is?

Secret Rage's~ A Dream Within a Dream~ Expo Opening

Saturday Night 7 pm sl  (February 18th)

...An earthbound multi-level land  filled with vignettes depicting her nocturnal travels and visions~explore from deep underwater to reaching towards the sky...

Featuring live music by Tukso Okey, a headliner in Second Life (5+ years performance experience), and a performer with vast NYC stage experience (CBGB's, Kenny's Castaways, Knitting Factory, Red Lion, China Club, and hundreds more).  Seasoned multi-instrument musician (drums, keyboard, guitar, bass, percussion, harmonica, vocals ~ *ALL PLAYED LIVE as one-man band during concerts). Genres include funk, blues, jazz, soul, psychedelic, rock on original music created on the spot in front thrilled and delighted audiences.

Front door

Musical venue landing

Call for Curators

The LEA (Linden Endowment for the Arts) is issuing an open call for a
curator to curate a three-month exhibition on a LEA region. It is
possible we will have more opportunities for curators in the future.

We are seeking curators who will:

-- mount innovative exhibitions, installations, and/or experiences
that advance the field of virtual art

-- showcase works of art that are fresh, make use of the specific
possibilities of the virtual world environment, and engage the viewer-
participants in interactive, dynamic, and creative ways

-- creatively activate virtual spaces to attract visitors

-- build relationships among artists within Second Life, introduce new
artists to the attention of the arts communities, and foster
conversation about art within the communities

-- organize at least one event other than an opening during the three
months

-- promote the creative profile of the virtual world Second Life both
within Second and Life and beyond it

DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 24, 2012

Application is HERE.

The Path

The Path was a build based around the Exquisite Corpse concept sometimes used by the Surrealists. Essentially each chosen artist adds to a composition in sequence. I invited eight artists whose work I admire, some have worked in SL for ages and are well known, while others less so but equally talented. Each artist was invited to stand on a coloured box and once all were ready I rezzed a chart which listed the sequence of scenes in a narrative by colour. So if red was first on the chart then the artist standing on the red cube would begin the narrative. The artist who goes first begins a story.
Imagine something like this "There once was a darling little girl named Gretchen. One day while playing in her room she heard heavy steps coming up the stairs to just outside her door. She quietly got up and peeked through the keyhole and saw..." Then artist one passes that off to the next artist in the sequence who reads it and continues the story. Artist two then passes it off to artist number three and so on until the final artist. You can imagine the infinite possibilities and the machinima shows how ours turned out. Below was the random order of artists.

1-bryn oh
2-colin Fizgig
3-marcus inkpen
4-desdemona enfield / douglas story
5-Maya paris
6-claudia222 jewell
7-scottius polke
8-Rose borchovski

Nice post by Rowan Derryth on the Path here
And an interview on Treet.TV.

Fantastic Machinima: misfit Aboma meets Von Johin

Incredible video featuring misfit Aboma's exhibit and the performance of Von Johin (machinima by GeoMeek). This beautiful work will take you on a ride!

See the Video

Teleport to Exhibit now

ArtGyro Gets a Boost

ArtGyro is a project to bring people together to share concerns and ideas for sustainability in SL arts. Organizer FreeWee Ling has been talking with many key people about the issues for several months, quietly building support before launching the first open meeting. On Saturday 11 February roughly 25 artists, presenters, and others, gathered at the ArtGyro kiva meeting space on LEA18. The full transcript is on the ArtGyro website. The group is just beginning to gather momentum and the intense discussion from Saturday was very energizing. While it seemed somewhat chaotic at times, this was, in fact, exactly the process that was hoped for. In just over an hour's time we voiced many issues and were able to identify three primary tracks: Commerce, Intellectual Property, and Legacy; though there was definite crossover among all three categories.

Within the commerce thread, issues ranged from artist/gallery relationships to how to price art, to the cost of land and the viability of art spaces. Intellectual property issues included digital rights management, creator vs. Linden Lab rights, and the implications to value and price of setting various permission options. Legacy issues were largely focused on the desire for a repository of important work that is being lost due to prim limits and costs.

We are planning to hold regular meetings to continue these discussions, each meeting to focus on one of these tracks. The next meeting will be Saturday, 18 February, at 8:00AM SLT at the ArtGyro sim and will be focused on the Commerce track. A short list of questions distilled from the last meeting will frame the conversation and will be distributed ahead of the meeting via ArtGyro, LEA and other group notices, and on the ArtGyro website. Contact FreeWee Ling for details.

Take A Trip to Betty Tureaud’s Art Planet 2012

Art Planet 2012 is a truly transcendental work that must be seen (and heard) to be believed! Betty Tureaud's exquisite environment is a Second Life must-see.
Read a great review of Art Planet 2012
See beautiful photos from Art Planet 2012
Teleport now to Art Planet 2012

Transformation: Feb 26, 1pm

an event
by
selavy oh @ LEA24



made possible by
Linden Endowment for the Arts

Aequitas, Field of View: Sun 2/12 9:00am

This Sunday February 12th. at 9am you are invited to share your views in the form of art or text on textures at Aequitas, Field of View a  Linden Endowment of the Arts exhibition at LEA26.

Field of View is a large scale collaborative, interactive, social art installation,  a sim-wide artwork anchored by a mosaic of changing textures provided by participating residents.  This and other weekly  events provide an opportunity for  any and all to visit the artwork, meet the artists,  and participate in the work by dropping their own textures in to the hundreds of boxes equipped with random, replacing texture scripts.

Much like the artists’ previous project, Field of Voices, on the surface this project  sounds deceptively simple but in execution promises to become much more than the sum of its parts.  The site remains open to public participation 24 hrs a day with  an event each weekend  to meet the artists and connect the art to the participant on a personal level.

Field of View has developed in a world whose changing face has influenced the artists and subsequently the artwork.  The optimism present in the Field of Voices has been replaced by a sense of decline in not only the art community of Second Life but the world in general.  In the face of these troubles it behooves the artist to respond.  The response to our call for textures has been slow.  In the face of this reduced content stream the project has faltered with the original promise deteriorating and floating away.  What once were bright new amusements are now charred remains.  The bones of ideas lie bleached upon the sand. The project has become  a sparse dim vision of decay and dissolution brightened only by the sunny photographs provided by the ever optimistic residents. 

We need you to help Field of View realise its potential. These weekend events will give you a chance to connect with the art and the artists by contributing your views of optimism or pessimism in the form of art and text on textures.   Each event will comprise a snapshot of an ever changing landscape fostered by the participation of Second Life residents and the continued unfolding of events on the world stage. Will Field of View rise from the ashes?  Can the residents revive the dream? A work in progress always promises hope and so we will follow this work wherever it leads and join the community for the ride.

Be prepared to share your textures of art, snapshots, or dedications. Just hold control key and drop your texture in one of the boxes in the middle of the sim.  As many as you want in as many boxes as you want. Any permission combination accepted. Your contribution creates the Field of View as a social documentary artwork.

Am I Dreaming?

Written and Illustrated by RAG Randt (Richard A Goldberg in RL)

This story was inspired by my then 4 year old niece, Hannah. For her birthday, her mom and auntie baked a scrumptious chocolate cake. After devouring a large slice, licking her lips and leaving a good amount on her face, she exclaimed with rapture “Am I Dreaming?”. At the same time, I heard about the LEA (Linden Endowment of the Arts) land grant offerings and quickly put in a proposal to turn a story into an interactive build. To my pleasant surprise, I was granted a half sim. I put together a story outline so I could begin construction and refined the story structure as I developed the 3D story. I believe 3D storytelling has great potential and was happy to explore its manifestation here in trying to capture the imagination of a child in a way adults can enjoy as well. The big moment came when I showed the real life Hannah the story. She was mesmerized and I that was the great proof of concept that I had hoped for.

I wish to thank everyone on the LEA board for the land grant that made this all possible. The timing was perfect. I also wish to thank my LEA neighbor Harter Fall for his generous help and in keeping me company on some long work periods. In no particular order I also want to thank Trill Zapatero, Fuschia Nightfire, Scottius Polke, Taralyn Gravois, FreeWee Ling, Karima Hoisan, Bellavista Eisman, Claudia222 Jewell, Maya Paris for their wonderful help and friendship.

RAG

LEA Full Region Endowment Application, Spring 2012

It's time once again for applications to the LEA Full Region Endowment.

Linden Lab has generously donated 20 sims to the cause of art in Second Life, and it's time to take applications for their use.

Click on through for info and deadlines and all that: LEA Full Region Endowment Application, Spring 2012

LEA FULL SIM ART SERIES (FEB): 'YOU CHOOSE' by Romy Nayar & Ux Hax

 

 The LEA FULL SIM ART SERIES, and 'little brother' UWA SKY SIM ART SERIES, moves to February with Romy Nayar & Ux Hax at the helm for the LEA,presenting a mysterious serving of art called 'You Choose'. For the UWA SKY SIM Series, Giovanna Cerise will be bringing to us 'Cyborg -Nature' where Nature rebels against the thoughtlessness of  man (more info on this later - Launch will be 6th or 7th of Feb). 

 

GRAND OPENING

Date & Time: Saturday 4th Feb 2PM SLT

Location: HERE on LEA 6

http://slurl.com/secondlife/LEA6/251/214/20

 

IN ROMY'S WORDS:

"I think that the best words to describe the exhibit are:

 

You Choose it's a life  trip. You Choose it's the decisions that you take. You Choose it's what you choose to be...

 

Do you think we have a destiny or do you think that all depends in the decisions that you take? Explore your destiny and be careful with the decissions that you will take...you choose.."

 

* The exhibit is best seen with the following Skysettings: Windlight Sky:"Bristol"