Art in Second Life 2021 (6) Artists’ Village at Campbell Coast

20 Jan 2021 4 Comments

by diomitamaurer in Art in Second Life Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

When I scrolled through scoop.it SL Destinations on Monday, January 4th, I came across an entry which led to a post from Inara Pey “A new home for an Artists’ Village – Campbell Coast“.

I read the post and had to have a look myself.
The Artists’ Village at Campbell Coast is operated by BJoyful and Doc Rast (rasterscan) and curated by Owl Dragonash. As the name implies it is a village (located on a sky platform) that offers 42 studio spaces in a really nice environment. Inara wrote in her post (January 3rd):
“29 of the 42 studio are already occupied or reserved by the following artists: Dhyezl, Etamae, Jaz, Gidgy Adagio, Shakti Adored, Caly Applewhyte, Whimsical Aristocrat, Ceekay Ballyhoo, Michiel Bechir, Thomaz Blackburn, Giovanna Cerise, Rey Charles, Owl Dragonash, Apple Fall, Johannes Huntsman, Uli Jansma, Suzen Juel, Lena Kiopak, Anouk Lafavre, Dimivan Ludwig, Radagast Malaprop, Kitty Mills, Nympheas Nogah, Inara Pey, Blues Rocker, Tempest Rosca, David Silence and Skip Staheli. They are joined by musicians Jed Luckless, Lexus Melodie, Larree Quixote, and writer GoSpeed Racer. All of whom amount to a rich selection of artistic expression.
Those interested in obtaining a space at the Village should contact one of Bjoful, Doc or Owl in-world.

Impressions of the Artists’ Village at Campbell Coast

The studios are presented in town house style units with two floors of exhibition space (artists will need to install their own teleport systems between floors), with the studios laid out in blocks separated by cobbled streets and open spaces, complete with an open-air bar / event space at the southern end of the village.”

On my fist visit I had a look at the studios of Inara Pey, Thomaz (Thomaz Blackburn), CK (Ceakay Ballyhoo), Dimi Ludwig (Dimivan Ludwig), Suzen JueL (Juel Resistance) and Giovanna Cerise.

Impressions of Thomaz’ studio at Campbell Coast Artists’ Village

Thomaz is a SL photographer and processes the pictures he takes only a little or not at all. He is focused more on getting the right windlight setting for his pitures

Impressions of CK (Ceakay Ballyhoo)’ and of Dimi Ludwig (Dimivan Ludwig) studio at Campbell Coast Artists’ Village

CK (Ceakay Ballyhoo) presents both, only minimalistc processed pictures taken in Second Life and also highly processed pictures where the you can’t know if the original picture was taken in Second Life or in the physical world. Dimi Ludwig (Dimivan Ludwig) is working as musician in Second Life since February 2006, I assume that is why the guitar is in his studio. He presents very nice pictures of animals and nature from the physcial world.

Impressions of Suzen JueL (Juel Resistance)’s studio at Campbell Coast Artists’ Village

I’ve never seen anything of Suzen JueL (Juel Resistance) before, yet I really like of her café/studio, the colourful art at the walls that catches your eye and the atmosphere in the café that is particular. Suzen has her own website with an event calendar and more examples of her art and her music. I was quite impressed.

Impressions of Giovanna Cerise’s studio at Campbell Coast Artists’ Village

Giovanna Cerise is not unknow to me. I visited Flash Back / Flash Forward in 2017 (read Simploring 2017 (42) Flash Back / Flash Forward), in 2016 I visited her LEA-installation Monochrome (read here), in April 2015 I saw Otium (read here: A visit to Otium) and in May 2019 she participated in an exhibtion at La Maison d’Aneli (read here). Giovanna is an Italian literature teacher and musician. In Second Life she’s active since Ende of 2008 and had many exhibtions and installations. She particpated in the LEA program participations and her list of activities and appearances is long. For more information look up her website. At her studio she presents pictures and 3D sculptures that are real eyecathers and look very different depending on the viewing angle. It’s a feast for the eye to explore these scuptures.

Impressions of Inara Pey’s studio at Campbell Coast Artists’ Village

Last but not least I visited Inara Pey’s studio, actually it was the first sutdio I saw during my visit. I know Inara’s way to create artful pictures in Second Life from the many post I read in her blog. She developed her own and very typical style. As I know many of the places she visited myself looking at her pictures also brings back lovely memories.

Thank you BJoyful and Doc Rast (rasterscan) for this initiative and Owl Dragonash for curating the Artists’ Village at Campbell Coast. I had a pleasant first visit.

Landmark to the Artists’ Village at Campbell Coast
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Erazor/132/61/2002
Inara Pey’s blogpost “A new home for an Artists’ Village – Campbell Coast”
https://modemworld.me/2021/01/02/a-new-home-for-an-artists-village-in-second-life/

Simploring 2021 (4) White Binemust

18 Jan 2021 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , , ,

For my simploring tour on Saturday, January 2nd, I picked White Binemust from scoop.it SL Destinations. The entry led me to post from Maddy Gynoid “Simtipp: White Binemust – (Winter 2020)” (in German). After reading the post I had to see White Binemust. I haven’t been to Binemust for quite a while. I visited the sim in 2016 (read here) and a revisit is on my list of things to do as I read that it has changed a lot.
White Binemust is part of Binemust, a full adult region owned and built by Biné Rodenberg.
Biné Rodenberger has a seperate Winter installation on a platform every year. I saw the installation of 2017/2018 (read here).

White Binemust – overview and orientation map

For 2020/2021 Biné has built something very different to the Winter installations that I saw so far in Second Life. Her Winter village is embedded a high mountain area. The sim surround is really large and the village is small inbetween the mountains. When you visit you have a great view on the mountains and feel like being there – and that’s something we miss these days. But in SL we can make short trips to dream destinations!

Impressions of White Binemust (1) – The village embedded in the mountains / at the landing point

As you can see on the overview White Binemust has two levels. The landing is in the forest on the higher level. A trail leads you to a chapel, that is really picturesque settled at one edge of the forest. Here you encounter two of the nice oddities that Biné has added to her White Binemust: One is a steampunk dragon flying circles around the Chapel, the other is a greenhouse used for a Christmas model train.

Impressions of White Binemust (2) – The chapel, the steampunk dragon, the greenhouse with the Christmas train

White Binemust is a little village with just a few houses, some of them are small, some of them are large and at least one is an architectual gem in my opinion. After visiting the chapel I saw the Christmas tree farm and a larger and a small house in the forest. At the larger house you can stroke a deer that lies there in the snow. The smaller house is the prove that no house is too small for a Christmas tree. The tree fills the house.

Impressions of White Binemust (3) – The Christmas tree farm, a large and a small house in the forest

At the edge of the forest is a modern house that stands out by its architecture. It is built above an artificial waterfall and has two levels. The house has large windows and from the rooms you have a great view to the mountains.

Impressions of White Binemust (4) – The modern house overlooking the mountains

I left the forest and went down to the second level of White Binemust where you find a cattle farm and three more houses. The house close to the cattle farm is a large American style lodge. It was open and I went inside. It is furnished like all houses at White Binemust. What caught my eye most inside is the Christmas decoration placed on a cupboard.

Impressions of White Binemust (5) The cattle farm and the lodge

The house next to the lodge is comparably small yet it looks really comfy inside and is also decorated very nice. There’s a steampunk Christmas tree inside that can be switched on and off. Maddy has a picture of this “tree” in his blogpost and you can also switch the tree on and off in his post (!). Well done, Maddy.

Impressions of White Binemust (6) The small house with the steampunk tree, the A-house

I finally visited the A-house at the other end of the lower level. The bedroom on the 2nd floor offers great view on the mountains. Image to wake up looking into such a panorama!
In front of the A-house is another oddity that made me smile: a snowman holding a bottle of desinfectant “Sanitize your hands”.
Appropos oddity. If you go to the edge of the lower level, you can see the wreck of an old Viking ship down in the valley.

Thank you Biné for this great installation. I enjoyed my visit a lot!

Landmark to White Binemust
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Binemust/138/140/890
Maddy Gynoid’s “Simtipp: White Binemust – (Winter 2020)”
https://echtvirtuell.blogspot.com/2020/12/simtipp-white-binemust-winter-2020.html
Binemust Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/groups/binemust/pool/
Biné Rodenberger’s blog
http://bine.se/

Simploring 2021 (3) Snoweeta

16 Jan 2021 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , ,

For my simploring tour on New Year’s Day I picked Snoweeta from scoop.it SL Destinations. Snoweeta is a general homestead owned and designed by Kaja Ashland. She wrote in the landmark description: “An endless winter walk over the vast cloud-covered fields in Skåne can look empty and devoid. But when you look around closely, the snowy scene has many stories to tell…“

Snoweeta – overview and orientation map

And yes, already at the landing point you are in an almost endless Winter landscape. The landing is at a farm track leading to a house that you can barely see from the landing, but the trees on both sides of the track lead your view to the house. When you look around the second time you see a bit more details. There’s a high cell tower somewhere on the horizon, a large single tree admist the endless snow covered fields, a broken tractor also in the middle of nothing on the field, a truck with a snow plough right behind of you, a long road leading to Ystad and Simrishamn, a police car standing on the road side, there’s an hot air ballon hoovering and there’s a little hill close to the house.

Impression of Snoweeta (1) – the tractor, the boar tree, the cell tower

Before I started my simploring tour, I read Kaja Ashland’s profile. There she wrote a bit more about her sim:
“Snoweeta, a Swedish (Skåne) winter painting you can walk around in, welcome to explore. See my Picks for more info.
An endless winter walk over the vast cloud-covered fields in Skåne can look empty and devoid. But when you look around closely, the snowy scene has many stories to tell. Who got stuck with the tractor? Is it safe to walk close to the wild boars? Was a crime committed here? When are the Christmas dinner guests arriving to the magnificent table and who are they? Will you manage to walk over the muddy fields up to the hill and the warming fire? Will you visit Skåne, Swedens richest agricultural region, in a magical winter sleep?
Bring boots, warm clothes, and your camera. Welcome to the winter in Skåne, Sweden.“

Impression of Snoweeta (2) – a walk from the main road to the house

I looked up Skåne in Wikipedia. Skåne County (Swedish: Skåne län) is the southernmost county of Sweden. It covers around 3% of Sweden’s total area, while its population of 1.3 million comprises 13% of Sweden’s total population. Ystad and Simrishamn are towns in Skåne.

Impression of Snoweeta (3) – the house, decorated for the season

Back to Snoweeta. The endless snow covered fields enforces you to look at the details and of course you ask yourself the questions that Kaja brought up in her profile text about Snoweeta. Why? Why is the police car standing on the roadside? Why is the tractor admist the fields?
You will have to answer that questions for yourself, you can spin your own little story about every detail. It is fun to let your mind wander and spin stories.

Impression of Snoweeta (4) – at the hill & pond

But Snoweeta has more to offer. There are the many deatils in the house, that is lovely decorated for the season. There’s the hill and the pond that offers great backgrounds for pictures. There are some animals in the little forest on the hill, like an owl. You can sit down at the campfire or start ice-fishing on the frozen pond. You can watch the scenery from a balloon (just “sit” on it) or you can use one of the small balloons close to the campfire to explore Snoweeta leviating.

Impression of Snoweeta (5) – at the hill & pond

Snoweeta impresses by it’s simplicity – and by the beauty that comes with the simplicity. The eye can focus on the details even more and better. Thank you for creating Snoweeta and for sharing it publicly, Kaja. I enjoyed my visit.

Landmark to Snoweeta
https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Noweeta/50/146/3502

Simploring 2021 (2) The Isles of Ice

11 Jan 2021 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

For my simploring tour on Wednesday, December 16th, I picked “The Isles of Ice” from scoop.it SL Destinations. From what I could find out “The Isles of Ice” exists at least since 2014 and is owned by Linden Lab itself. Annie Brightstar (anniebrightstar) listed on her scoop.it SL Destinations the Linden Department of Public Works (LDPW) Moles Crazy Mole, Sylvan Mole, Squishy Mole, Silent Mole, Naughty Mole as builders and creators ot “The Isles of Ice“.

“The Isles of Ice” consist of 5(!) full regions (Aerodyne, Byrd, Periscope, Crankshaft, Vernier) with 20000 prims each, but the only a few of the total 100,000 are actually used. They are all built in a row and I was not able to make a full overview map for orientation. Hence I splitted the overview.

The Isles of Ice – bird’s eye view on orientation view

The landing in this icy environment is close to the see next to a penguin colony. They are lovely. The lighthouse caught my eye first and I went there. I walked up to the observation deck from where I had a nice view over “The Isles of Ice“.

Impressions of “Isles of Ice” (1) – around the landing point / the lighthouse

The most impressive building is next to the landing point as well. I first thought it was a power plant. But it must be something else. What is it? I have no idea. At the entrance is a huge “Ice Roboter”, inside are a few control screens from surveillance cameras of different spots of “The Isles of Ice“. And the machines inside? I have no idea. Outside of the central plant are some crytals ..is that a stock to be processed in the central plant?

Impressions of “Isles of Ice” (2) – the central plant

The landmark description did not reveal the purpose of the central plant but there’s a hint what “The Isles of Ice” was built for: “The hangout, headquarters, and laboratory for the people working on Magellan’s plan to save the world!“

I looked into all buildings near to the landpoint. One seems to be used for a control center, another is built to park the vehicles of the employees. In the control center I found a blue print “Anti Mind Control Project” – and one building seems to be kind of a laboratory with strange equipment and a cage with an animal? inside.

Impressions of “Isles of Ice” (3) – the control center

I continued my simploring tour walking over the “crystal bridge” to the huge center iglu. Here I found some information and a background story. The iglu is named “The Ice Hub”. In the center is the start point for a scavenger hunt – Magellan’s Grid Scavenger Hunt.

“Hello my brave adventurer. Your help is sorely needed. I received an urgent message from my dear friend Tyra. She was investigating missing crystals from Linden Realms when she discovered Mole people, (Not to be confused with our own beloved LDPW moles, who are quite a different kettle of worms), hauling crystals underground! I too have seen this for myself! So strange as the Mole people are normally so shy and un-aggressive. It seems as if they are being controlled by an evil mole named Dr Talpa. I first saw him in the tunnels under Nova Albion. Do not for any minute, underestimate this mole! He is highly intelligent and highly dangerous! Approach him with caution!

Impressions of “Isles of Ice” (4) – the vehicle garage, the laboratory building

After some preliminary investigations, we discovered that the evil Dr Talpa has been stealing crystals from the Linden Realms, to power a machine which will place Rock Monsters under his control. The machine hasn’t been perfected yet, but when it is, Doctor Talpa’s Boulder Beasts will erupt from below the terrain and take over Second Life!
The Moles seem to be under some sort of spell. We think they are being mind controlled. I have been testing my theory in my laboratory on The Isles of Ice, and I am trying to make an anti Mind Control Machine in the hopes of foiling Dr Talpa’s evil plan. So far I have made two special hats that seem to resist the mind control effects. My first prototype was the Tin Foil Hat, and a more advanced version is the Suckerfish Hat. Wearing one of these hats seems to resist the mind control effects.
We need your help, brave adventurer. We need you to collect the parts we need from around the grid to help construct our Anti Mind Control Machine, free the Mole people, and stop the evil Dr Talpa from his plans of total grid domination and destruction of Second Life as we know it!

Impressions of “Isles of Ice” (5) – inside of the laboratory

For now I have established a base of my own for the creation of this defense, and for the gathering of brave volunteers on the Isles of Ice. I have some theories to where the parts we need are located. To help you in your journey I have created snow globe teleports, located in the server room and I have also made a HUD with some clues to guide you on your travels
Proceed with caution!“

Impressions of “Isles of Ice” (6) – The Ice Hub

On the second floor of the “The Ice Hub” is a detailed instruction for the hunt. I didn’t look into that too but continues simploring. I came across another ice roboter and explored a a builing that is obviously used to meet and socialize.

Impressions of “Isles of Ice” (7) – The Event/Meeting building

“The Isles of Ice” provide a great background for taking pictures and it is it inspiring to see the different builings. A lot of creativity has gone into them. I had fun simploring “The Isles of Ice” although I didn’t understand all. My thanks go to the involved LDPW-Moles and to Linden Lab.

Landmark to “The Isles of Ice”
https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Byrd/34/103/30

Simploring 2021 (1) The Isle of Elar – Still Memories

08 Jan 2021 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , ,

For my simploring tour on Saturday, December 26th 2020, I picked “The Isle of Elar – Still Memories” from scoop.it SL Destinations. The landmark profile is quite fitting and sums up perfectly what it is about: “Elar is a woodland themed sim depicting natural beauty all around you, Here you can explore, be romantic, spend time with friends, or take creative photos!“

The Isle of Elar – Still Memories: overview and orientation map

“The Isle of Elar” is a full adult region. It is group owned. From Maddy Gynoid’s post “Simtipp: The Isle of Elar – Still Memories” I learned that The Isle of Elar was designed and is owned by Shayn Mackenzie.

Impressions of The Isle of Elar – Still Memories (1) – Landing pier, Welcome hut, Residential home, Diomita simploring

The landing point is on a pier with a sailing yacht. Right next the landing point is a little welcome Christmas hut and several boards. I got welcomed by a bot: “Welcome to Elar. Our Sim is designed for exploring, romance and photography. We may be an adult sim, but we ask that you refrain from sex while visiting. Artistic nudity is allowed Suggestions welcome. All prims will be auto returned after 2 hours.“

You can explore the sim on foot or rezz a horse right next to the landing. I rezzed a horse, rode a bit but then continued my simploring tour on foot. There’s a long trail leading to the center of the island.

Impressions of The Isle of Elar – Still Memories (2) – Chess park, Waterfall, Meditation cave

The Isle of Elar is coined by its many waterfalls that make great backgrounds for pictures. And there are really countless places to sit and cuddle and to enjoy the beauty of this virtual paradies. There’s a residential house and a park with a chess board not far from the landing point.

Impressions of The Isle of Elar – Still Memories (3) – The elevator

One outstanding feature is the wooden elevator quite in the center of the island. A bot explains how to use it: “Hey You!! If ya need the elevator., just stand on it and click it to go up. If ya don’t see it, click this wheel thingy here to get it to come down…..Ya that’s it!!!!”
I went up and found another little paradise overlooking the island – and again places to just enjoy.

Impressions of The Isle of Elar – Still Memories (4) – Cathedral ruins, Christmas tree shop, Beach, Waterfall

On the ground level, right opposed to the elevator is a passage to a meditation cave, a place to take a little break.
What else? There’s a Christmas tree shop, there’re the ruins of a cathedral, there’re trails from which you get great views on the waterfalls, there’s a nice large beach and …. places to sit and enjoy.

Impressions of The Isle of Elar – Still Memories (5) – a small collection of the many selfies I made enjoying my visit

The Isle of Elar is just a great place to enjoy the nature and take a little time-out. I enjoyed my visit a lot. Thank you Shayn for creating it and for sharing it with the public!

Landmark to The Isle of Elar – Still Memories
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Elar%20Imerra/143/232/22
flickr page for The Isle of Elar – Still Memories
https://www.flickr.com/groups/14782016@N22/
Maddy Gynoid’s blogpost “Simtipp: The Isle of Elar – Still Memories”
https://echtvirtuell.blogspot.com/2020/11/simtipp-isle-of-elar-still-memories.html

Simploring 2020 (85) Walsh County in Winter

26 Dec 2020 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , ,

For my simploring tour on Saturday, December 13th, I picked “Walsh County” once again, when I saw a pciture of it on scoop.it SL Destinations.

Impressions from my revisit to Walsh County in Winter (1)

Walsh County is a general homestead owned by Randonee Noel. I visited the first time in August 2020 Read my simploring report here. Randonee told me that the sim will change according to the season. I missed Autumn and the harvest. Now it is Winter. And Winter is cold and  hard at Walsh County. At the landing in the middle of nowhere on highway 17 you can grab a notecard by clicking on the highway sign. The notecard provides some information:

“Up near the Canadian border glaciers have leveled the earth to where you can see that it’s curved. The winds move across the landscape interrupted only by the lines of trees planted there to interfere.
Agriculture is the cornerstone and the crops are gold. There are fewer than 9 people here for every square mile, but most will share a cup of coffee and a smile if you’re polite.
Welcome to Walsh County, North Dakota.”

Impressions from my revisit to Walsh County in Winter (2)

Walsh County is not a fiction. Walsh County lies on the east side of North Dakota and has a population of about 10,000 people. You can read more about it on wikipedia here. Also the highway 17 is not a fiction. It is 139 miles in length and its alignment was established in 1939 (see wikipedia here).

Altough everyhting is covered with snow and although Wash County is quite glat, I did recognize it immediately. I walked along the lonesome road watching the aurora beorealis at the horizon. Almost at the end of the street was car, an old Fiat, with a Christmas tree on its roof. To my surprise the keys were in and I got into the car and drove back the way I came from. But the road ends at a road wirk site, so I had to get out. Hence the car might now still stand three *winks*

Impressions from my revisit to Walsh County in Winter (3)

There’s not that much to do, just get the atmosphere sink in. It is a great, realistic place. By the one tree, where the ducks where swimming in a litte pond during summer, is a campfire now so that you can warm up up. And on the only small hill is a sledge rezzer – of course I tried that.

Walsh County in Winter

Nothing else to write here …. just a great place for taking pictures or to wind down.
Thank you Randonee Noel, for creating this fantasic sim and for sharing it publicly.

Landmark to Walsh County
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Campton/48/52/23
My first visit to Walsh County “Simploring 2020 (69) Walsh County”
https://themaurers.me/2020/10/16/simploring-2020-69-walsh-county/
Walsh County on flickr
https://www.flickr.com/groups/randomlyspiffy/

Simploring 2020 (82) Grauland December 2020

12 Dec 2020 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , ,

Once again I came across Grauland when I was scrolling through scoop.it SL Destinations. My last visit was in August 2020 (read here). And yes, Grauland was fully redesigned once again.

Grauland is an adult homestead owned by JimGarand. He runs a shop for poses (M-1 Art Poses) in the skies above the sim. You can reach the shop by several teleporter signs spreaded across the sim.

Grauland December 2020 – birds-eye view and orientation map

Again the current version is not comparable to any of the previous designs. And this time the name “Grauland“, which is a German word combination and translates to “Greyland”, does really fit as all buildings and structures are made of grey concrete. The main objects are:
– a tall high building that looks like a horizontal mill with 4 wings, I called it “The Mill”
– a villa with pool and garden, which I named “The Residence”
– an strange building on a hill, I named it “The Octagon”
– 5 artfull memorials

Impressions of Grauland December 2020 (1) Landing point, a room above The Labyrinth, The Mill, inside The Mill

The landing is on a pier and through a arc walkway you enter “The Labyrinth”, a complex with many walls and some dead rooms. It’s not really a challenge to find the exit as that is not the intention of it.
If you ever have been to Berlin you might know the “Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe” (see wikipedia entry). You find 5 different memorials on Grauland. I named them: The Labyrinth, The Blocks, The Hollow Blocks, The Walls and The Waves. As The Blocks looks quite similar to the Berlin mermorial, my first idea was that all 5 memorials might be drafts for this memorial. I don’t know .. what I know is that they are all quite impressive, offer great backgrounds for pictures and it is fun to think about their meaning.

Impressions of Grauland December 2020 (2) – inside of The Mill

I went to the building that looks like a horizontal mill, The Mill, first. You can walk up in the center and find 4 different rooms, each of them is special and each offers a great view on Grauland. What a cool building!

Apropos cool… The Residence is another cool building, not only because of the cold contrete that is used to build it and to build the surrounding garden. I found several nice spots in the garden, even a nice and cosy room. The building istself is furnished with style, a bit minimalistic with a touch of Bauhaus.

Impressions of Grauland December 2020 (3) – The Residence

I have no idea what purpose a building like The Octagon might have. Is it the welcome center for aliens? Is it a leftover from aliens? Is it a temple? No purpose can be seen, yet it is impressive from ourside as well as from inside, where the light comes in and throws shadows by the walls, that are folded like paper. Intriguing!

Impressions of Grauland December 2020 (4) – The Octagon, The Blocks, The Hollow Blocks

I enjoyed scrolling through the 5 memorials, making pictures, playing with the light and the shadows and I walked up to the scenic outlook, which is nothing else but an open hut built of concrete.

Impressions of Grauland December 2020 (5) – The Hollow Blocks, The Waves, The Walls, scenic outlook

You find quite some places to sit and watch and to literally inhale this outstanding different design. Chapeau, Jim (JimGarand), you created once again something impressive. I did enjoy my visit. I appreciate it a lot when shop owners combine their business with a place to visit. Thank you Jim for creating Grauland and sharing it publicly. Great work!

Landmark to Grauland
https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mobile/28/161/22
Flickr group Grauland
https://www.flickr.com/groups/4560078@N24/pool

Simploring 2020 (81) Oblivion

10 Dec 2020 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , , , ,

For my simploring tour on Saturday, November 14th, I picked Oblivion from scoop.it SL Destinations. The entry led to a blogpost of Susann Decuir “Simtipp: Oblivion (Adult)“. When reading the post I remembered why the name rang a bell. I was there before when I tried to get to the DixMix Gallery while it wasn’t yet opened. Oblivion is in the same region and it was mainly built by Megan Prumier who is also involved in the DixMix Gallery.

Oblivion – Bird’s eye view / at the landing point / crossing the bridge

Oblivion occupies a quarter of the region. It’s rated adult. Oblivion is owned by Dante (Gian Fetuccio) und MAYA (mayamoxie). As mentioned above Megan Prumier built most of it.

From the landing point you have to walk over a long bridge to get to Oblivion which is located on a seperate island. There’s a sign “Trepassers will be violated. Can there be anything more inviting in Second Life, in particular in an adult sim?

Oblivion – The Main Event Dome (1)

On the island are three buildings and a couple of places to cuddle, sit or meet with friends. I called the main building in the center of the island “Main Event Dome”. It is a huge building and has one big round room inside, perfect for events. Along the sides are several opportunities to sit, play billard, expose a slave or sub, meet and talk with friends, read or cuddle. I tried out some of them. Opposed to the entrance in a dj desk, hence i suppose that the dome is or will be used for events.

Oblivion – The Main Event Dome (2)

On the left side of the Main Event Dome is another larger building formed like a cross. The light inside has a green touch and makes it look a bit mysterious. In the center ot the cross is a round meeting place which looks very luxurious, almost like a room in a palace. From here doors lead to the 4 arms of the cross and in each of them is one room with a BDSM furniture in the center of it: A cross, a bird cage, a lounger and a doll cage. I couldn’t resists and tried out each.

Oblivion – The Luxury Playroom

The third building in a small tower which is used as a bathroom. The three buildings are surrounded by a park with several opportunities to sit or talk. The whole scenery looks quite neat and luxurious. It might be a secret club meeting here, maybe a circle of doms who enjoy some time with their subs here … or are there BDSM events celebrated here? I don’t know, yet what I know is that the place excited me and that I might come back to see what happens here.

Oblivion – Bath-Tower and places to sit and meet

Thank you Dante (Gian Fetuccio) and MAYA (mayamoxie) for sharing your place with the public, thank you Megan for building it. I enjoyed my visit.

Landmark to Oblivion
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Madori%20Bay/136/112/21
Susann Decuir “Simtipp: Oblivion (Adult)”
https://mein-zweites-leben.blogspot.com/2020/11/simtipp-oblivion-adult.html?zx=e9c0f1915588b964

Art in Second Life 2020 (80) FOCUS

08 Dec 2020 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Art in Second Life Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

When I was looking for a destination for simploring on scoop.it SL Destinations Sunday, November 15th, I came across a picture of FOCUS. It led to another post of Maddy Gynoid “Simtipp: FOCUS“. After reading Maddy’s post, I decided to visit myself.

The installation “FOCUS” is built in a full, moderate region named Coppelia, Coppelia is an artist cooperative sim where the primary objective is to provide studio space for artistic exploration. As of now the cooperative consists of: Jo Ellsmere, Glyph Graves, Penumbra Carter, Dekka Raymaker, Ultraviolet Alter, DB Bailey und Cuirec d’Erc.
FOCUS is a joint work of David Denton (DB Bailey), Bob Johnson (Thoth Jantzen) and Jane Leffer (Jo Ellsmere).

FOCUS – the start on the surface / zooming out from the landing point for an overview

The landing is on the ground but the installation FOCUS itself is on a platform at 1.600m. Upon landing you get some information how to set your viewer in order to play media. You get to the installation with a teleporter – choose FOCUS LP.

As you can see in the overview picture where I zoomed out, FOCUS is a very complex installation built of countless structures, a lot of light and which is very colourful. The first views were just overwhelming,
There are several ways to get around within the installation. With the teleporter pads you can go the predefinded points: Cathedral, Roller Coaster, Hippycampus, Media Magic, The Marble and VortexTop. I began my simploring tour using one of the bicycle trainer right next to the landing. The bicycle began to move and to fly and I could look around while I was moved – the impressions you get are simply WOW. I took way more pictures than I can publish here.

FOCUS – at the landing point / my trip with the bicycle trainer

I returned to FOCUS LP and used another “vehicle”, a pad that put me into a green cyclinder and moved me around a bit. This tour ended close to an Egypt sculpture. Funny, the sculpture follows you with her view. FOCUS is permanently changing, most elements are not fixed but move around, depending on your viewing point, cam distance and angle what you see is unique, temporary and the pictures I took are unique as well for this reason.

FOCUS – using the cyclinder / the Egypt sculpture

I continued exploring the world of FOCUS on foot and walked through tubes, went upstairs and downstairs. On the ground of the isntallation I found a carousel and a chessboard with the head of Donald in the center “Covfefe! The New World Disorder” – funny (and hopefully history very soon).

FOCUS – exploring on foot / the carousel and the Donald chessboard

I arrived at the Cathedral and had a look inside. It seems to be used for events as well. It’s a really impressive structure. I continued my tour using the teleport pads. I visited Media Magic and danced surrounded by all the lights and structures.

FOCUS – Cathedral / Media Magic

I visited Hippycampus and the VortexTop, where you can rezz a ball, sit on it and roll down. The ball becomes invisible and this way your roll down making yourself as small as possible. That was fun.

FOCUS – Hippycampus / rolling down from the VortexTop

I visited the Marble and finally the Roller Coaster, which is another highlight of FOCUS. Enjoy it in mousellok if you can handle it – or simple enjoy the views!

FOCUS – The Marble / Roller Coaster

FOCUS is a great art installation. I was thrilled and did enjoy the views for more than an hour and I took far over 60 pictures. Thank you David Denton (DB Bailey), Bob Johnson (Thoth Jantzen) and Jane Leffer (Jo Ellsmere) for this great installation which proves once again the endless possiblities for virtual art.

Thank you all others in the cooperative of Coppelia for enabling FOCUS.

Landmark to FOCUS
https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Coppelia/133/123/22
Maddy Gynoid’s “Simtipp: FOCUS”
http://echtvirtuell.blogspot.com/2020/11/simtipp-focus.html

Simploring 2020 (80) The Apartments

04 Dec 2020 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , ,

For my simploring tour on Sunday, November 8th, I picked “The Apartments” from scoop.it SL Destinations. The entry led me to a post of Maddy Gynoid “Simtipp: The Apartments” (in German) which I read before visiting myself.

The Apartments is built on a platform in the skies. Creator and owner is Paradox (Paradox Ivory). I saw Paradox’ sim “Tokyo Street and Umi” last year (read here). Tokyo Street was a big city installation and Umi was a Japanese village. And now she created “The Apartments” which is also somewhere in Japan, just in the future, yet it is no a scifi installation.

The Apartments – bird’s eye view

The Apartments is a quite smart installation of a big city, done with less than 5,000 prims. Zooming out you see the layout. A labyrinthine building extending over 2 floors surrounded by skyscarpers. Inside you feel like in a big Asian city. You enter the one building and get lost in hallways. The hallways are used as additional living space. At most entrance doors there’s stuff stored, be a bottle boxes, chairs, sofas, table football, garbage, a bike and many tools (amost a whole garage), etc.

Impressions of “The Apartments” (1) another bird’s eye view and around the landing point

You see a lot of cats. They occupy many chairs and couches and in particular the window benches. They seem to love seeing out of the window and watching the rain falling and all the raceways. From the windows you also see the traffic … flying cabs and flying police cars. If you have your sound turned on you often hear the sirens of the police cars.

Impressions of “The Apartments” (2) cats on window benches / in the gym

You will find almost everything within the labyrinth of hallways .. a fitness studio, a laundry, a sushi bar, lots of vending machines, parking, a gathering room and much more. There’s a lot of stuff to dicover and I’m sure I didn’t see everything.

Impressions of “The Apartments” (3) parking garage / hallways

There are also some fully furnished appartments that you can visit. They are packed with stuff, tiny appartments with large windows so that you are admist the city and have something to watch. The rain, the raceways and the traffic, the infrastructure and so many other things can be seen through the windows. For me it is one of the highlights of The Apartments that the city looks very busy.

Impressions of “The Apartments” (4) inside Apartments / public meeting point (lower left)

Appropos busy, during my visit there were a lot of other people visiting. Maddy wrote in his blog that The Apartments is listed in the SL desination guide and hence it gets a lot of traffic. The upside is that the hallways are not empty, the downside is that I had to wait with my pictures or that avatars ran into my picture when the textures had just cleared up.

Impressions of “The Apartments” (5) views outside into the city (left) / Sushi bar (right)

“Hallways, endless rain and cats lots and lots of cats” – The Apartments is a place you shouldn’t miss when you enjoy simploring (like I do). Thank you Paradox (Paradox Ivory) for this great place and for sharing it publicly. Well done!

Landmark to The Appartments
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cuscus/122/59/2060
Maddy Gynoid’s “Simtipp: The Apartments”
http://echtvirtuell.blogspot.com/2020/11/simtipp-apartments.html
The Appartments flickr-page
https://www.flickr.com/groups/2984011@N23/pool/

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