Art in Second Life (32) FreeDÂme by Vallys Baxter

On March 21st, another gallery was opened at Noir’Wen City – Vallys Baxter’s gallery. The first exhibition is named “FreeDÂme”. I went visiting the next day.

The gallery is in an old storage building. The walls are used to display Vally’s pictures and the rest of the room is filled with decorations, with stuff that piles up with time. There’s quite something to discover. And there are some nice places to sit downand enjoy this particular atmosphere.

Impressions of “FreeDÂme” at Vallys Baxter’s gallery (1)

I have come across Vallys Baxter last year when I saw portraits of her at the Itakos Art Gallery as part of the 2020 Summer Collection (read here).
Vallys is Second Life for more than 14 years. Her artist name is VallysValife. On the occasion of the opening of the gallery, Violet Boa published an interview with Vally and also wrote about Vally’s biography. The interview can be found here:

Vallys is a “sociable loner”. In her “hiding place” in Second Life, she devotes herself to the things she likes most, photography and writing. Often inspired spontaneously, by music, words, situations, emotions, sometimes by a film or a book, she transports her visions into her photos. Vally’s works are often in red, black, white 50/50 shades.

She has been interested in photography since her youth. In her passion for science fiction, she is drawn to Jules Verne’s works. Vallys is heavily influenced by the stories of “Women and Work” by Audrey Hepburn, Vivian Maier and Fran Lebowitz.

“Red is my dark side. Blue is my quiet side.
Purple is my medium side. White is my shadow.
Black is my light….” by Vallys Baxter

All of the pictures at the gallery are very erotic. They show females, naked and dressed, sometimes just the legs, then only the upper body, then only a face or part of the face. And as mentioned in the biography the colours are red, black and white. I could look longer at all of them and immerse into the picture. Vallys’ pictures are quite strong in their expression.

Impressions of “FreeDÂme” at Vallys Baxter’s gallery (2)

The gallery is dominated by one large picture at the back wall of an elevated floor showing a naked female in black and white in a quite erotic pose – an eye catcher of the exhibtion.

Impressions of “FreeDÂme” at Vallys Baxter’s gallery (3)

It is great to see how Noir’Wen City develops more and more to an artist comunity – and now it has a gallery more. I’m curious to see more exhibtions of Vallys Baxter. Thank you, Vallys, for your art and thank you Violet Boa for the P.R. and for the interview. Last but not least, thank you Nieu (nieuwenhove) and Belice Benoir for your efforts to enable Noir’Wen City.

Landmark to Vallys Baxter’s gallery at Noir’Wen City
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Noir%20Wen/127/94/32
Vallys Baxter’s flickr page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/vallys_baxter/
Violet Boa’s interview with Vally’s Baxter in Virtuality blog
https://www.virtuality.blog/interview-with-vallys-baxter/

Art in Second Life 2020 (52) Itakos Art Gallery – 2020 Summer Collection

Since July 30th, the Itakos Art Gallery presents the “2020 Summer Collection” with a collective of talented artists selected from the Soul Portraits – Itakos Flickr group. In total there’re 33 photos with 15 different flavors and style. The exhibtion is in the Black Pavillion.
The featured artists are: Angelika Corral, ARnnO PLAneR, Aver Osk, Caly Applewhyte, ChimKami, David Silence, Joy De’Leon, Moonedembaum, Naiike Pani, Ooxooi, Paola Mills, Poupée Anna, Roberta Barineaux, Tralala Loordes, and Vallys Baxter.

Exhibition poster of Itakos Art Gallery – 2020 Summer Collection

Avatars in Second Life don’t grow old, something most of us do appreciate. Actually all stay between 20 and 30 years old, all have beautiful faces with no wrinkles and many have perfect bodies. What differs is the the haircut, some facial details be it the eyes, the eybrows, the length of the nose, the form of the mouth and chin and yes also the body. But still, most look beautiful and young.

Itakos Art Gallery – 2020 Summer Collection: Naike Pani, Angelika Corral, Paola Mills

That said, portraits taken in Second Life show beautiful people. And we like looking into and at beautiful faces. Hence many pictures (also my own) taken in Second Life are portraits or close-up’s. Akim founded a flickr group for portraits named “Soul Portraits – Itakos Art Gallery“, where people can contribute their best portrait pictures. In the meanwhile there’re almost 400 members in this group and over 7.700 (!) pictures had been uploaded.
There are certain rules:
– The focus is on expression and emotions transmitted by avatars and photographers.
– The group has a partnership with the Itakos Art Gallery in Second Life.
– The raw pictures have to be taken in Second Life
– The pictures may not be just a pure (raw) snapshot. As opposed to the photos must be elaborated and interpretated by the artist.
– The pictures are evaluated and accepted in the group at the discretion of group admin.

Itakos Art Gallery – 2020 Summer Collection: Tralala Loordes, Vallys Baxter

The “2020 Summer Collection” shows a very small selection of the 7.700 pictures of the group. All 33 pictures prove that people in Second Life are beautiful. But they also prove that you can make your face and avatar look very individual. The portraits also tell a story by the background, by the facial expression, the viewing angle, by the light choosen, the hair style, the view, the jewelery and by the way the protrait is presented. You can loose yourself while looking at them.

Itakos Art Gallery – 2020 Summer Collection: Caly Applewhyte, ChimKami, Moonedembaum, Ooxooi, Roberta Barineaux

Some of the artists did ring a bell as I wrote abouth them before, like Angelika Corral, Caly Applewhyte or Tralala Loordes. But most of the featured artists were new for me. I’m pretty sure that I will see more of them.

Itakos Art Gallery – 2020 Summer Collection: ARnnO PLAneR, Aver Osk, David Silence, Joy De’Leon, Poupée Anna

The Itakos Art Gallery is owned and curated by Akim Alonzo. Actually it is a place for arts with 7 exhibition rooms or pavillons: White, Black, Grey, Blue, Orange, Purple, Green Pavillion. There’s also a website where new exhibtions are announced.
Thank you Akim for the 2020 Summer Collection. I enjoyed my visit.

Landmark to Itakos Art Gallery BLACK Pavilion
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ATL/183/171/1009
“Soul Portraits – Itakos Art Gallery” Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/groups/soulportraits/
The Itakos Project and Art Gallery website
http://itakos.it/