Moya, The Artist and Location

 
By Gemma Cleanslate

When I was serving as Ranger back at the Burn2 I visited a parcel that was giving away gifts of art. I took the art home and looked at it an wondered who was the creator? I met the artist who was amusing to talk to and became interested in learning more about him.

I came to find out from my friend Lee1 Olson, a fellow Ranger that this artist is most famous in his homeland France. The artist is known here in Second Life as Patrick Moya ( Moya Janus) and variations of that name. He is really one of the most interesting people I have met in SL in a while.

Lee1 has a whole section of his huge museum,  filled with works from Moya that I visited . The works are fun and engaging. I decided to go to see Moya’s own Second Life museum on his recommendation. This museum covers several regions showing  his art here that he has brought in from real-life and created here in real-life also. Amazing stuff! It took Moya Janus 11 years to build up his museum, starting with a floor plan. Moya owns four islands, about 256000m2

What fun we had visiting. My fellow reporter, kayly iali (Kayly Iali), who is also an artist, and I made an appointment for a tour. Moya came himself and took us for a tour in one of his cute cars. and Kamerina (Kamerina Kamala) came along with us.  We went first to a model of  his latest real-life exhibit which was like a curiosity cabinet that he painted in 20 days . Sadly the real life exhibit had to close because of covid 19. But here it is in Second Life though!

 

 We then visited the models of his first works back in 1975. “From 1974 to 1977 Patrick Moya theorizes the consequences of television images on art. He thinks that when the artist is alive the creature hides the creator.” Moya Janus attended the Villa Arson in Nice. The Villa Arson is an art school devoted to contemporary art in France. When Moya discovered Second Life, he realized it had potential to realize his dream. Since he worked in so many different mediums, he is able to show all of his works in its entirety. He believes that Second Life will allow artist avatars to create comprehensive works that will survive their creator.When asked who were his influences were  his answer was “I have none....  me and my name.” 

I came to realize that Moya is his art and his art is Moya. Moya loves dolly the first cloned sheep and she is everywhere.

He calls his works the opposite of pop art but using the same methods. He is an original. It is obvious in his eclectic works  in so many forms, paintings, sculpture, pottery, .His attitude toward Second Life is that it is a place to prepare more art for the future  and gives him a place to work expressing himself using many forms available.Kayly asked if he did all his painting in real life and then brought it to Second Life. He does, and  thinks how can he use it in SL when he brings it here . Second life has given him an extension of his life works . Moya also has a section on his region near his museum for anti-Moya. The anti-Moya avatars are 2D figures who are protesting the 3D avatars of Moya  who has created an area of 3D avatars that he scripted. I had the nerve to enter and check out the area.!

He does much live painting in real life in museums , many in as little as 40 minutes.His works are used by towns for festivals. Now that Covid has stopped these activities temporarily second life gives him an outlet to perhaps prepare for real life presentations when they are possible again. It is easy to see he is much loved in his homeland, France, and popular in other countries in Europe, and Asia.  Check out his  website that show so many past exhibits everywhere .

To see his museum it will take days, weeks maybe since you will have four regions of art in so many forms to wander through and experience. There is a marvelous teleport center where one can pick and choose which part of the museum they would like to visit that day .. some samples, Ceramics, Fashion, Street art, special exhibits of real life art such as his exhibit in Korea, The Hospital, his real-life  home,
( where or when or how he sleeps I have no idea),  and so much more. He told me that I would be writing ten pages to cover it all and he is right!  I will let you discover all that I did not write about. The tp center is here :  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Moya/118/108/22

I bet if you want a personal tour it will not be hard to get Moya to take you all around, just ask. You can find free cars to rezz if you like. I did see some construction going on in case you find that a TP might not work or looks different than you expected. 

If you would like to watch the curiosities cabinet being created in real life you can see it all here. 

 
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oeb8Lp4FeDE&feature=youtu.be

 His website,,,  http://www.moyapatrick.com/

Youtube channel : https://www.youtube.com/c/PatrickMoya/featured

*Waves*: Kayly Iali

Gemma Cleanslate

"Air" at LEA 27

By Gemma Cleanslate

“Without music life would be a mistake”:....."there are no facts only interpretation,”  admonitions you hear at LEA Air by FreeWee Ling on LEA 27. This region will be ongoing and changing until May. I found it both an experience and a real education. 

There is an eclectic collection of areas. In one place I wandered through a gateway into a tunnel passing  by a bloody giant monster raging bull and through a bone yard to find myself at a Greek temple. Outside there stood a Greek Chorus where I heard the above quotation among others. Inside there is a collection of ancient art pieces of Greece and some lovely sculptures.  I found the one of my favorite sites there is the Theatrum Instrumentorium. This is  a wonderful collection of information about many superb instruments that will rezz for you in front of a picture and give you an information card to explain the history behind it. Some may be fictional ,some real but you will learn so much with each card. I found it absolutely fascinating. 

I moved from that museum on up a winding slope to find a massive statue named Liberty chained which I found rather ominous. I passed up a ramp to the roof of a building where I became part of an shimmering globe and part of a story. I will leave it at that. 

Freewee says of herself in a statement, “I'm not really (an) artist. More like a  kid in God's Legoland. I'm an idea manipulator.  A conceptual cubist. Most of my work is clearly derivative. I see something interesting and I want to know how it works, so I deconstruct or reconstruct the idea or combine it with some tangential idea to make something new. I am often working on some random project with no particular purpose in mind.” 

I have seen Freewee’s work at many events and places  and always appreciate it. I plan on making return visits to see the additions and changes and it sounds like there will be many. I have been there three times so far and finding new things to look at and interact I found a chameleon flyer to ride this morning. This region is right next to the Madtone by Lorin Tone,  also so full of instruments and fun.  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA27/38/105/27

Gemma Cleanslate

Mcarp Land in LEA

When I spent time talking to Aley in her sea at LEA, she told me she was sharing the sim with her friend, Mcarp Mavendorf. I had seen Mcarp’s giant avatar image over looking the sea from above. But on closer inspection she had just stepped on a church like structure and ruined it. Well, it was one of her own builds so I guess that is ok. 

There are several more buildings on the sim, all seeming to be cathedral or castle like  buildings. Each is lovely . In each you find clocks, all set to the proper SL time. Each clock is more interesting than the other. If  you open the large map while you are there, you will see the sim is actually a clock itself! The most magnificent building is filled with interesting clocks. Someone said to me when we visited,  “this is a temple to time.” 

I met Mcarp in the cathedral and she took me for a tour of the clocks and explained her thinking in creating them. She admitted she is obsessed with clocks.  She is evidently a math wiz and loves to script, some scripting based on calculus. That was the end of my understanding. I know she would like to have more but is running out of ideas on new creative ways of making clocks. “my problem is I don't do clocks where the face is some picture, in those you can do a million of them ... to come up with some new mechanical concept so each clock is about a different mechanical look.”  

Her favorite center piece is in the sanctuary area of the church. That is not a clock but a counter based on AND gates (complicated) .  We took a tour of the rest of the building where you will find a lovely organ that you can play. There is a gorgeous fountain in the middle which is a fully functioning carillon on top.  The windows are beautiful and enhance the cathedral. We then moved over to the castle where there are more clocks. In the kitchen Mcarp turned on the dishwasher, one of Aley’s creations and immediately plates began falling to the floor and smashing. We went out to the lift and met Aley and we all took a ride over the sim where we could see all the churches and the mount with faces that they called "Mount Lag."   When I sat in the lift, I was left holding on the outside desperately not to fall. “this is our special 'hang the reporter out to dry' sit target” said Mcarp. On the way back I was able to sit on the roof. 

There is not room enough to write about all I saw or learned. Be sure not to miss the garden gnome at the draw bridge . Fascinating!  This exhibit will be in LEA for about four more months. I know you will love and understand everything if you are a scripter. but if not you will love just to gaze at it all and enjoy. The first time I went there I climbed a long set of stairs arising out of Aley’s sea. You could go that was but  I will make it easier for you to get there.

 
http://slurl.com/secondlife/LEA11/39/155/21  Have fun!!

Gemma Cleanslate

The Magic of Enchantment Island

The name intrigued me, Enchantment Island, and so it is. This is a place to spend some time visiting all the sights. The owner has made it easy for you to move about. Rather than teleports, Bambitwice Nitely has made a notecard with all the landmarks you should not miss and you will find them easily.

The first on the list is the Bubble Ride. Hold on to your hat when you take that ride! It is a thriller, and make sure you do it because it gives you a blast. At the end of the ride you can actually walk to the Museum of Amazing Illusions. What a treasure. It is filled with amazing art, many magical interactive pieces to explore. I lost my head there for a while, literally! The Hall of Mirrors will astound you with its reflective beauty.

From there you will move on to the second, The Museum of Surrealism. Again you will encounter amazing art pieces, reminiscent of Dali, Miro and other surreal artists in real-life and some followers in Second Life. Study the works carefully to discover their inner imagery. Many are donations of SL artists to the museum. I asked Bambitwice about herself. She has been building in Second Life for 4 years and spent many years in the entertainment world in real-life. I can see her knowledge of that entertainment world in the Museums.

From there, for a change of scenery, you can take a tour of the undersea called Incredible Deep-sea Marine Life. Luminous fish are circling in the sea around you. From there you want to go to the Great Marine Adventure and treasure hunt. Try it! I found the treasure. I took off on the boat ride to the Land of the Pharaohs that was almost as harrowing as the Bubble Ride. While here, you will have to work a bit to find more lovely treasures to see and take. Take a dip in the pool (hint ) to cleanse yourself. It took us a while but it was worth it!

Then you can visit Alice's Tea Party and enjoy all the decor and characters. Right now in the Tornado Gallery you will find Cherry Manga's art pieces. Some, or maybe all, were winners of the UWA challenges. While in the sim you may want to do some shopping. There are fascinating shops with interesting items for your avatar use or for your home. I found a collection of one prim plants and trees and a lovely selection of fish for your pool or aquarium . Take a walk around and you and you will find more little nooks and crannies with fun activities.

Start with the bubble ride which you will find here: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Enchantment%20Island/146/33/1000

Gemma Cleanslate

Raglan Shire, and the 2011 ArtWalk

In May, the Raglan Shire area had it’s annual art show, or “ArtWalk.” The sims are most noted for being the home of Second Life’s best known community of “tinies,” but the ArtWalk attracts attention throughout the grid. The “sim cluster,” as the Raglan region called itself, boasted an open-air art show with “the works of 120 artists over two sims. ... Artists gridwide have converged to exhibit their RL photography and art and SL photography and sculpture in this annual arts festival.”

It was the final day of the ArtWalk in which I was able to port over to see things for myself. Raglan itself has an appearance that reminded me of a storybook with it’s treehouses, small homes and furnishings, and all that greenery. There was quite a bit of hedgerow around, which the two-dimensional art was displayed on. At the spot I ported to, there was a rezzer for a “hedge boat,” with one seat for tiny avatars, another for normal-sized. One could use it to take a little tour around the part of the sim with the show’s paintings and photographs. There was indeed *a lot* of artwork on the hedges.

Besides the paintings, drawings, and photos, there were also some examples of three dimensional artwork. In the Heron Shire sim, there were a number of sculptures. Some looked like what one would find at an art museum. Others were designed in part to be interactive, such as a four-chambered meditation chamber. I would later be told there were about “70 sculptures from 24 artists.” The third part of the exhibit was the Director’s Show in the Raglan Tree Gallery. There were two artists featured there, Teal Freenote, and Tia MacBain, both from the Tiatopia sim (which featured an autism event last year). Among the art was a hollow globe which was cracked open and a crystaline figure peeking out.

While looking around, I ran into one of the tiny feline residents, Jillian McMillan. Talking about the art show, and it’s hedgerows, “we love our hedge!” she mentioned the greenery had it’s origins from a real life art show, “The entire ArtWalk idea was inspired by Raglan owner Zayn Till's visits to Seattle's Art Walk. He wanted to recreate the experience, art in a park.” Another tiny, a bunny, soon stopped by, Karmagirl Avro. Asked by Jillian if she knew more about the art show, “Yes, I know a ‘ tiny ‘ bit more. (grin) That a joke.”

Karmagirl told me a little more about the displays, “I myself have a few pieces of real-life photography, one real-life painting, and several Second Life photographs up.” Karmagirl also mentioned some artwork was up for sale, and she had spent quite a bit, “anything that makes me smile and laugh out loud, I buy.” She pointed to one section, which had a number of elephant faces, including a spoof of “American Gothic,” “ I bought this whole collection here. It’s just so whimsical, it catches the spirit of the Shire: funny, creative, silly, very well paw crafted. Two paintbrushes up. Wayyyy up!!”


Karmagirl offered to teleport the artist over, saying of the elephant faces, “that is her avatar,” saying she had worked herself virtually into the artwork. And soon the tiny elephant appeared, with a golfing bag over her shoulder, “oh, she was golfing, look at that.” The tiny pachyderm introduced herself as StainlessSteelRat Solo. Karmagirl commented, “StainlessSteelRat is one of the newer tinies here, but fits in quite nicely. She won the ornament contest for the Winterfest. ... we here in the Shire encourage everyone to participate, explore, and create.” “Especially flaming cheese!” StainlessSteelRat commented. When I asked what she meant, the small pachyderm produced a stick with a wedge of cheese stuck on the end with tongues of flame licking from it. It seems peppers worse than habenaroes were mixed in. “On a stick!” Jillian quipped, “keeps the fur on our paws clean.”

There had been something else going on besides the art show, Karmagirl saying, “Today we had a SL weddin’ of a couple who met in Second Life and got married in real life a few weeks ago.” They also mentioned a “Prehysterical” event, “ Prehistorical - but in Raglan, everything is a bit hysterical.” “It was basically dinosaurs and cavetinies.” “We have events continuously.” “We always have something new.” They mentioned a “Haiku Speed Build” event, and a “prim charades” game.

They also mentioned they had classes available at a building christened Raglan U, “Loads of classes n’ stuff. Last class I went to, was to make your own fireworks.” There was also a place at the Artwalk in which freebies and near free items were available, including freebie tiny avs, “... our assimilation of the grid is nearly complete!” “One of us ... ONE OF US!” “Your culture will adapt to service us, resistance is futile.”

There was a bit more funning around with the three tinies before we parted ways. For those interested in the next event in Raglan, there isn’t much longer to wait. June 10 marks the start of the “Tiny World Fair” in Raglan Shire, which lasts until June 26th.

“Tinies are the most creative helpful bunch in all of Second Life.”

Bixyl Shuftan

AM Radio to Close His Places in Second Life in Six Months

AM Radio is an artist in Second Life whom has worked several places like a canvas. Some of his builds are small, others larger which take a little time to go about. His wheatfield, also known as The Far Away, is perhaps his best known work, and was shown to me by a few friends when I was new to Second Life, notably in Voss’ Second Life Tours. It was at the tour group I saw the artist himself, a tall avatar dressed in a rustic black coat and stovepipe hat.

Unfortunately, these classic places now have a time limit. In the Prim Perfect blog, it was announced AM Radio had made a group statement saying his places would be gone after six months time.



Dear Friends,

I know there are folks who visit my sims daily, weekly, or monthly and that these spaces have become a part of their experience in Second Life. I am announcing the closing of my spaces 6 months in advance so that it won’t come as a surprise, drama, or rumor.

It is merely the end of a series of artworks. I continue to paint, sketch, photograph and write about my time here on this little rock collection that’s spinning and hurtling through space.

IDIA Labs of Ball State University has been gracious to host my work without demand or requirement. The sunsetting of the IDIA Lab sim is the result of positive and thoughtful input from IDIA, myself, and many of you.

I have archived the work already, and I appreciate the impulse to want to save the work.

The work though was as social as any avatar in SL, making friends with many of you and enabling so many positive experiences many of you have let me know about. ALL OF YOU are what the artwork really was. It isn’t in the prims, the textures, or scripts. It was in your willingness to explore and experience the world in a way I tried to share it. My time in SL has been like having hundreds of people analyzing my dreams every morning. I have learned so much about many of you, but truly learned so much about myself.

Please feel free to continue to visit. Please encourage anyone you know who will miss the spaces to visit them with you. See my picks in my profile for landmarks. The extent of my estate is a foothold by the water. All are welcome to the infinite within it.

Sincerely,
AM Radio

In an interview by Rowan Derryth, AM Radio described his grandfather as one of his major influences, working on the Gemini space program’s fuel cells, “He was doing a lot of the prototype work in his own basement.” His father’s interest was in old time tube radios. In many of AM radio’s places, one can find an old radio in a corner.


AM Radio has places at the following:

The Quiet – IDIA Labratories (150, 79, 23)

The Far Away – Dreamworld North (220, 130, 22)

A Little Further Than Before: IDIA Labratories (145, 229, 3476)

Superdyne: Surface: IDIA Labratories (164, 183, 3024)

Surface: IDIA Labratories (137, 110, 2058)

The Ferry: IDIA Labratories (133, 160, 1309)

Checking out these places for myself, they certainly had the feel of a work of art in three dimensions. One on which one can walk about, and sometimes be a part of. In the Wheatfield (The Far Away), by touching part of the windmill one can float around, for instance.

Perhaps not as large as some places, but Second Life stands to lose a classic.

::: I never stopped sketching you.
::: The smooth flesh on your cheek,
::: the gentle wave in your hair
::: dictating calculations of graphite onto paper.
::: The blurry trees behind you
::: drawn like baby's breath
::: in a wreath around your portrait
::: growing like vines
::: in stop motion animation
::: until you're gone.
::: The memory is left behind,
::: imprinted with a chemical mix
::: in a grand collection
::: of landscapes upon a life
::: of sketches as memories
::: looking to incorporate the next.

::: -- AM Radio

Source: Prim Perfect

Bixyl Shuftan

A Visit to the Criss MCA

I am always happy to get a notice of new artists being displayed at the Criss Museum of Contemporary Art . It is a pleasure to visit the Alajuela sim and the Museum building itself is intriguing. Go inside and you will find three floors of exhibits, each dedicated to one artist. They are usually very varied in their works and that is true of this exhibit.

On the first level you will find the the fascinating art of Sedge Roffo. His pieces are all created in SL and not in real-life. I recall some of his builds from the SL birthdays and Burning Life 09. He has created a process called primagery. Some of his “sculpts” are in the exhibit for you to enjoy. Climb the stairs to the second floor and there you will find a very different atmosphere in the midst of the works of JadeYu Fhang. JadeYu’s pieces are ethereal in my eyes. She says,” There is no split between the "virtual " universe, and the "real" one, as they are commonly named.” And that is the feeling I get when I gaze at her works.

Archibald Sideshow had his pieces on the third floor so don’t miss the stairs. His art is stunning and each takes some time to absorb. As you move from floor to floor you can pick up a note card about each artist and their philosophies of art as well as their backgrounds. I see that Scotj Criss the CEO is opening some galleries in the rear of the museum building for rent by artists to display their works so take a walk out to check the new area. A good starting point.

The gallery is located at Alajuela (184, 76, 22).

Gemma Cleanslate

Cape Able Gallery

Feathers Boa sent an invitation to her opening at the Cape Able Gallery and I arrived a little late but made it. To my surprise there was my friend Gentle Heron of Virtual Ability. Little did I know that this is a sim related to promoting the disabled in SL.

I found out that the Cape Able sim is owned by Virtual Ability. The Gallery is lovely and the exhibit hosting four SL artists is definitely worth a visit. On the lower floor, you will find vibrant fractals by Piaget Hax in one hall. His note card explains it all! In the next hall is an exhibit of John Brewster’s 19th century portraits of the early American citizens, brought into SL. There are note cards about the gentlemen and ladies in the portraits and numerous children’s portraits with some history of the child.

Moving in to the next hall you will find the haunting SL photos of Kirk Smythe, photojournalist. Each of these artists is disabled in RL, but oh so able. You can pick up a note card in each hall about the artist and their SL and RL. Above on the second floor you will be able to view and interact with the enchanting works of Feathers Boa. They are very intricate and in some cases as I have learned, have deep, intense personal meaning.

After touring all the exhibits I was introduced to Treasure Ballinger, the estate manager. She told me she is always seeking disabled SL artists to display their works in the Art Gallery and if you know of a deaf or disabled artist they are asked to contact her. The present exhibit will be there until the end of February so you have time to get there.

If you would like to learn more about Virtual ability you an visit the website http://virtualability.org/default.aspx. Before you enter the Gallery pick up a note card that gives a wonderful explanation of what Cape Able is all about and a thought provoking statement about who is the disabled.

To visit the gallery you can use this entry point: Cape Able (103, 147, 23).

Gemma Cleanslate