Are SL Artists becoming scarce?

I was reading an article, actually more a message, yesterday, about Second Life art, and more in particular the art of images. It seems that there are some people who believe the making of art works in Sl is over. People wouldn’t be interested anymore in making images in the virtual world. Instead of that, they look for other challenges as building, scripting, machinima, shops or whatever they think about what would give them more satisfaction than making art images.

My opinion is, that maybe there are less photographers inworld interested to make beautiful pieces, but….to me…it is only a natural change of interest. The “few” that will be left, will be the ones that are motivated to work on images and will try to maintain the quality of their images as high as possible. Others, with maybe more skills and talent, eventually will find their way in building or other activities. It is not always because you have the skills, that you are meant to be an image maker, and perfectly understandable to look for other challenges.

But there are exceptions. People whose life has always been about photography and who want to improve their skills in Photoshop or another post processing program will eventually stick to the pictures enhancements. SL is an ideal platform to take pictures and try out all the tools in your photo program. It is a world that is not comparable, as you can choose which background, which scene, which pose, which angle…etc….what you can not do so easy in RL

I won’t call myself an artist, but since I have registered myself at SL, I have been using the opportunities in the virtual world to enhance my skills in Photoshop. I wasn’t familiar with the program at all at the beginning, and, although I am not posting as much images as in the beginning, I still have fun by surfin’ the net for tutorials or images which I can use to process my pictures. And I see others improving too, and that makes me happy.

We do see a slight change though, and that is that more and more avatars use RL pictures to blend with SL pictures, but as long as the main object is from inworld, I don’t think it would ruin the appreciation of the majority, as being SL images.

I hope I am not alone with my view on this matter, and that we still will have quality SL pictures in flickr and inworld.

Artist of the Month in Vain INC.

I was looking at the kiosks at the Avatrait Gallery, and suddenly I saw the cover of Vain INC. And there it was my name, artist of the month. Although it took me some time to go through the pages to find the article and pictures, it was worthwhile.

Freak Show - GODart - The New Project

A new project is born. That is the least we can say about the next project from Freak Show. Loglady Loon published all about it on this blog.

Are you ready freaks? This the new project of Freak Show.

"Tell me what is your religion.
Religion is not only a spiritual organization with symbols, beliefs and practices. Religion is linked to Trascendental and Spiritual concepts, and also with the consciousness of the Limit of Human Mind. Who believes in no-one over us, who believes in a Thinking Entity that rules the world, who doesn’t care about the meaning of life, who thinks that Religious Institutions are only a way to control people, joined into the same symbol. Who needs Religion to live better, who entrusts all the life to God. In the name of God history took place; wars, homicides, love, humanity, help, solidarity, lies, power, self-improvement.
Religion defines our culture, traditions, hates; Religion creates rules and liberty; Religion can be destructive or creative.
Tell me in what you believe. Show me your personal concepts of Religion. Do it through SL medium, this blank canvas available for you, in which you can explain your idea with freedom.
I know, it’s another hard theme, full of delicate arguments. No censor as always, everyone can explains own vision of Religion and Faith. And I want to underline that a different thought about Religion is not offensive, but only personal. And we have to respect all different points of view. Cause world is various, and this show wants to link all this concepts together.
So, show me your GODart, the art of God, even if you think he is dead
This will be the first Artistic Showroom about the concept of God. God as faith, God as life, God as hate, God as an Entity or as Caos, God as Nature or as Organization. Your Religion: past, present, future. Utopia, Reality, or only.. Myth."

I can't wait to see what art is shown by some of the greatest artists in Second Life.
If you think you are up to it, go the blogpost and join the IW group.

I have never had a piece in the shows of Freak Show, but I am certainly going to try to submit a work of mine this time. The idea is so general, and yet a theme, that it is possible to go in any direction. Whether you're a believer or not, this theme can be expressed in different ways.

Avatrait Gallery Presents: Giving

Yes we are still here, still ready to show you some of the best Artistic Digital Impressionism on the grid. Come join us May 30th for the re-opening of one of the coolest gallery builds on the grid.

This will be a multi artist event which also features the top three winners from our May "Giving" art contest.

There is still some work to do, but I am convinced that we can have a fresh new start with this show, don't miss it!!!

aRa Sheridan at Palacio de Bellas Artes

aRa Sheridan has an exhibition on March 16th , 3 PM SLT at the Art Launch Mexico (Palacio de Bellas Artes). Just click the link to arrive in the middle of her beautiful art.
Her art can be seen for the next 15 days at this location. Don't miss it.

Looker Lumet at the Avatrait Gallery site

As you all should know, Avatrait, the inworld gallery, has a new website. Everyone can join this site, and upload their images to share. So it is not only meant for the Avatrait artists, but also for every SL lover wanting to share their snapshots to the world.

The Avatrait Gallery not only produces virtual art for sale in-world, but creates real-world versions available to order. As popular as the Gallery has been, the amount of Second Life art that can be featured in it at any given time is limited, so we decided to develop a web site that would allow all those interested in this new genre to store, share, and even sell their works.

The new Avatrait web site is, obviously, a "work in progress", with new features and capabilities coming on-line all the time. Currently, there are only two types of membership, the Gallery Artists (who are part of the in-world Gallery collection), and Free Members.

Avatrait is largely a "labor of love" for a small group of dedicated individuals, and they frequently find themselves having to deal with having too few hours in the day/week/month to get everything that they're wanting to have (in terms of both functionality and content) on the site done.

But they are getting there...one thing at the time. A few artists have already their frontpages. You can have a look at mine on this link.

If you're not a member yet , join today, and you will see what magnificent art people can make with the snapshots they took inworld. And who knows, you might be one of them in the near future.

X-mas on Mars

I am honored to see that one of my pictures is being used as a New Year's card in RL. Vint Falken asked me some time ago to use my "X-mas on Mars" picture, and I could not refuse of course. Although it is a pleasure for me to work on images taken inworld, I am pleased to see, as any other photographer is, that some of the pictures I processed are being commented on flickr. When a picture is chosen to use in RL, and on the web, by someone who can easily make a piece of her own, it is really a great honor. TY Vint!!;)

The new "Role Magazine" is out !!!!

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it!

"Role Magazine is a monthly publication dedicated to highlighting the many facets of Second Life™ and to showcase the most interesting people, places and things in a high quality magazine production.

Role Magazine covers fashion news, specific designers and trends as well as artists, entertainment, subcultures, literary and technical aspects of the daily Second Life™.
Role Magazine is produced in Second Life™ and published in-world as well as on our webpage."

A new magazine is born, and I am proud to write for them, as the first issue is really a hit, with a variety of articles as their introduction says. Every avatar will find at least one article of his interest. The quality of this issue is beyond the normal magazines we have seen so far inworld.
I know, I have said that before...of the Twilight magazine, but this one has certainly the same level of quality and even offers you more with the different articles.
As I was asked only at the very last minute to write for this magazine, it was also a big surprise for me to see the result.
I am already anxious to see what next issue will bring us...;)

You can find the magazine in world or on the website with this link.

Opening Gallery Dream Beach

Today, the art gallery on Isla de Bahia ( Dream Beach) will be official opened.

The RL works of Syl Darcy and Blueberry will be shown, as well as some of my SL images.
Don't miss the event, as at 11.00AM SLT, Orangelife will make us swing with his magical voice followed by DJ Greek, who will make sure that the party continues.

It must be a coincident that Orangelife sings at the opening, as he did the same at the opening of my show at Portucalis.

It is worthwhile to visit Dream Beach, and not only because of the gallery, but also will there be almost every day a performance of different great artists in Second Life.
If you like some music, if you like to see multiple artists perform, than Dream Beach is the place to be. Ask for a membership, you won't regret it.

Art Walk III

Just as in the past years, there is again an Art Walk this year, starting today.

Art Walk III starts today, Thursday May 29th and runs through the weekend ending the evening of June 1st.

Artists placed their works at 3 designated areas located on the Raglan Shire, Heron Shire Wharf and Raglan Commons sims.
Each Area has Teleport Kiosks that people can touch to instantly transport to the Art Walk Areas so anyone can get to any of the areas easily.

1/Second Life® Prim SCULPTURE (build) based Art at the Raglan Commons area.
This is a HUGE 8192 sqm Area where all sculpture and prim based art will be displayed.

2/Second Life® "FLAT BASED" Art... IE: Paintings, watercolors, charcoals, drawings, photography, SL based Photography at the Raglan Shire Art Walk location, located on the South East Corner of the sim .
There are hedgerows about this area. There is a hill with hedgerows at the top, where I have put my works btw, hedgerow below the hill, hedgerow on the paths & surrounding the Paw & Whisker Tavern.

3/The next location where "Flat Based" Artworks are displayed is the Wharf & Coastal fortress area on Heron Shire .
This area at the base of the Coastal fortress on the Wharf shopping area has a series of Blue tinted transparent Glass walls where artists have placed "Flat Based" works against.

Over 70 artists will show their works in this years' Art Walk, so don't miss this event, and have a look at the wonderful creations they made.

AVATRAIT ARTIST CORBETT HOWARD BREAKS GALLERY RECORD

PRESS RELEASE

Evanston, IL “ 05/28/2008 “

AVATRAIT GALLERY, Second Life's premier site for
"Digital Impressionist"art, has  recently undergone
a major renovation as part of the on-going upgrades
to the Simuality sim.  Their monthly features resumed
in May with an exclusive showing of images by noted
artist Corbett Howard.

Regarding the show, he wrote: "Corbett Howard exists
within the confinesof a virtual world.  He is piloted
by a rather nondescript fellow, who has drawn and
painted as far back as he can remember, scratching
a living, as we all do, in the day-to-day grind,
occasionally selling a piece here and there, but
always compelled through ability and imagination to
paint and create.  Upon finding this new virtual world
he saw its possibilities for creative expression. Artists
have a certain responsibility, as a place holder in
society, to reflect life - whether that life is the Real
or Second Life."

Corbett is going to have to re-think the "occasionally
selling a piece" part  of that, as, for the first time
ever, an artist sold out the entire stock of "exclusive"
one-of-a-kind images in an Avatrait Gallery show!
Avatrait offers three types of images, unique "originals"
of which only one virtual copy exists, standard "virtual
prints" which many people can purchase and enjoy, and 
real-world high-quality framed prints that are shipped
world-wide, and every one of Corbett's "originals" sold
in this exhibition.  Another first is the "stage set"
of Corbett Howard's poster image where visitors to the
gallery can take pics of themselves, and enter them into
a contest!  Come see what's happening at Avatrait gallery,
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Simuality/38/211/38

A new gallery for new upcoming talents.

Shoshana Epsilon opened a new gallery, but only for new talents.
The artworks, whether they are 2D or 3D may stay displayed for 3 months before their place will be taken by another artist.
The artist have to be maximum 90 days old when they apply or not being displayed somewhere else in SL®.
No costs are involved and the sim is PG, so every art has to be "clean".

If you are reading this article, have talent, are younger than 90 days in SL, contact Shoshana Epsilon in-world and show her your work.

This is an excellent opportunity for starters, as I remember my first days and months on the grid.

AVATRAIT GALLERY INTRODUCES AN EXCLUSIVE SHOWING BY SHOSHANA EPSILON

Press release

Evanston, IL “ 04/11/2008 “ AVATRAIT GALLERY,
Second Life™'s premier site for Digital
Impressionist art, has recently undergone a
major renovation as part of the on-going
upgrades to the Simuality sim.  They are very
pleased to announce the resumption of monthly
features with an exclusive showing of images
by noted artist Shoshana Epsilon, starting
with a gallery re-opening celebration on
Saturday, April 12th, at 1pm SLT.

Shoshana noted on her blog:
"I've been working privately for months to
try to come up with a new set of pictures
that would be unique. I'm really excited about
this show. I've really stretched, as far as the
subject matter is concerned. There will be
topics on display that I've been too sensitive
to touch before."

She notes that many of her images have "a backstory"
and invites attendees to ask her about these, but
also adds that some are just pure whimsy.
Aside from the April 12th opening, Shoshana will be
available for additional "meet-the-artist" events
during the month:
Thursday, April 17th at 4pm;
Sunday, April 20th at 5am;
Tuesday, April 22nd at 4pm; and
Tuesday, April 29th at 4pm (all times SLT).

Shoshana Epsilon'™s images can be purchased both on
an exclusive basis in-world (only one copy of the
image exists), and as high-quality real-world prints.
As always, there is a "freebie" framed graphic by our
featured artist available across from the gallery
welcome desk.
Avatrait gallery,
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Simuality/38/211/38

Photoshop......it is a continuous process of learning.

I started in January 2007 on the grid, and was looking for some challenges. As I was already, from my younger days, an amateur photographer, it was obvious that I would be a photographer in the virtual world too.
Only this kind of photographing was totally different. The compositions stay the same, but the possibilities to move your camera are enormous. The only thing, at the beginning is, to figure out how all these tricks work.
Slowly I managed to learn the tricks on the grid, but saw that colleagues photographers could make their pictures so much more beautiful, with a little touch of post processing.
Although I must admit, that taking pictures without post processing can also be amazing, as you, as a photographer, have the eye to compose your picture in such a way, that it won't need any additional work.
Now I was interested in that post processing. I worked at the time with Paint Shop pro 7 and knew that program pretty well, but saw that there were limits. By surfing on the web I discovered that many people were talking about Photoshop, which was totally new to me. I did not know it before, only that it could not be that different from PSP.
That was my next step and challenge, to start learning to work with Photoshop, as the most tutorials I found were about Photoshop. Little by little, after buying the product, I learned many tricks and tips in PS. Growing each day a little more, I tried it over and over again, on a new picture, but still not realizing, those days, what PS really could do.
Today I may say that I will never know everything about PS. There are just no limits. For me there are still so many tools unknown, that I realize that I will never be able to learn them all. But I am still trying, and succeeding, to learn, every day again, that new trick, new tool, new tutorial that brings me one step ahead, and makes my picture just that little bit more, what the picture needs.
So, I can say, that through the virtual world, I was able to achieve some progress in my skills of making the pictures a little bit more looking like an artwork, which makes my being in this unreal world worthy.

The artist's shit

I have been asked to write for a new upcoming SL magazine, and was thinking about what I should write. It is obvious that my interest is not really in scripting, building but more in Art. Art related in SL, whether this is RL Art or SL Art, whether this is Art or not.
There was lately a lot of fuzz going on about the term SL Art, but this is not the place, nor the time to discuss this issue. I would rather talk about whether and where Art is to be found inworld.
My friend Raul Crimson, wrote an interesting piece about art, and if we can say that art exists in SL.
He took a really good example out of RL, “Merda d’Artista”, with other words, the Artist’s shit. Not that I would buy such art, but that is not to the point.

1/ “In May 1961, Manzoni collected his own feces in 90 numbered cans, which contain 30 grams of feces each. He labeled them as '100% pure artist's shit' in Italian, English, French, and German, and sold them for the price of their weight in gold. Their current estimated value stands at approximately EUR30,500 (US$25,000–35,000). On May 23 2007, an exemplar has been sold for EUR124,000 at Sotheby's.^{[1]” (from wikipedia)}

Another example:

2/ “The readymades of Marcel Duchamp are ordinary manufactured objects that he selected and modified, as an antidote to what he called "retinal art". By simply choosing the object (or objects) and repositioning or joining, and titling and signing it, the object became art. It was the the least amount of interaction between artist and art, the most extreme form of minimalism, and at least in abstract idealism, the precursor to punk. (from wikipedia)

So, the real questions are, does art exists in SL and, are there artists in SL?
I think the answers to these questions are more a personal answer than a general, common well thought answer by any writer of an article. I think you can say that if Art sells, it is supposed to be art, and the person who made it is an artist.
I have seen a lot of things in SL, that is called art, but is nothing more than a picture with a beautiful background. I have seen photographs, which are wonderful photoshopped into a piece of art, which is not even called art.
Are people, who have the skills of post processing artists, and other are not?
I think those people will have an advantage to make some beautiful works, and will have more chances that their post processing is called art. But I am convinced, that people, who does not have those skills, can also be artists.
I also think that contests of SL are not relative to call what is art and what not.
Art is something that you make of it. When you think a piece is beautiful enough to put in your living room, and you would pay money for that, if it is RL or SL, that would be art.
Don’t ask me for a definition of art, you can do so much better. You, the avatar, the person, can define art much better than anybody else, as art is what you see as art.

But, that is ofcourse, just my two pence.

There are definitely artists in Sl, and there is certainly art in SL…..

And that is where my articles in that magazine would be about.

Looker's first exhibition.

As I already mentioned earlier, I had my first solo exhibition yesterday evening. And what I did not expected, because there were other exhibitions too, it was a success.
It was really great to hear how much everybody enjoyed my works.
Thanks to Winter Wardhani, who invited me to do this show, I was able to show more than just a few pictures inworld.
Although there were other events that I wanted to attend, I could not miss my own exhibition, could I?;)
So the evening started with a visit to the Avatrait Gallery, where Daequix Scarborough had her exhibition opening. And I was morally obligated to be present there, and saw that it was pretty crowded with beautiful pictures of Dae. After 45 min. I had to leave for my own presentation, but nevertheless, I had the opportunity to talk to several residents/artists, before I tp'd myself to Portucalis.

I did not expect to see so many people at my show, but was very pleased that they all liked my pictures. Winter told me in the afternoon, that she had a little surprise planned, Orangelife was going to perform at the opening!Orangelife is a Portuguese performer who covered some great songs from well known RL artists.
At the end, some three and a half hours later, I wanted to visit another party, the rezzday of Timothy Lilliehook, but unfortunately, he was already offline at that time.;((
But, the least I can say was, that my weekend was superb, thanks to Winter, Summer, Orangelife and their Portuguese friends, and not to forget my friends , who visited the event!!
Thank you all!!

For those who still want to see the exhibition, it is still possible, until the end of March. And if you want to buy a copy of one of my pictures, feel free to do so.;))

Where Art meets Artist.

I had several jobs to do in SL last weekend. One of them was the photoshoot of Syl Darcy, who has her RL paintings brought over in her own SL gallery (Broadway Live West (227, 111, 46). As I had many crashes (as mentioned in my previous articles), and that the results were not that satisfying to me, I had promised her to make some of the pictures over again.
During our photoshoot, she guided me through her gallery and showed me her paintings.

“I am fascinated with the effects of light and shadow. Many of my paintings incorporate strong contrasts, shadow effects, or mystical effects captured by applying thin layers of colour, one over the other. I enjoy listening to people as they view my work. Most comment on the soft colour tones, and the quiet feeling of peace created in my images. Although I sometimes work in oil, my
medium of choice is definitely acrylic." said the Florida Artist in the 7th Issue of Reveal.
Unfortunately I had not the chance yesterday evening to comment her paintings as I was busy trying to focus on my job, between the known crashes, but it is a good initiative to bring RL art into SL. And that inspired me to turn things around. Why not bring art to the artist, instead of the artist to the art.
I took a picture of her latest work, a painting of the beautiful coloured world of Tuscany, and put the artist, her avatar, in her painting, trying to maintain the beauty of the painting and trying not to disturb the view and the colours. It had to be, once again, one view, one piece.

"Art is a language we can all speak and it knows not the bounds or restrictions of our
lives. Art is uncontrolled and breathing. Separate from us, yet it has the ability to become a part of us forever. As an artist, I am an interpreter. This is my goal, to understand,
perceive, and touch your soul. I capture the moments in time we cherish and give them back to you in dreams on canvas" said Syl, and I tried to translate that very same feeling through my pictures of her during the photoshoot.
Although the purpose of the photo session was in a total different aspect, I thought that this piece of art, with herself in it, was a perfect translation of the photography in Sl combined with the painted art to what we call SL Art.

ArtProject 08

Kunstwand 1994 > Artwall(k) > ArtProject08

"This event with paintings, sculptures, drawings, photo’s, music, poetry, dance, drama, film, performance, … can be seen as a continuing of the KunstWand project in RL, a happening in Schriek, Belgium that started in 1994 and ended in 2001, it repeated each year performing visual art as well as music, cabaret, music, poetry, telling short stories, filmprojections, …

Between 2001 and 2008 it only existed as a website, with some references to the artists who once participated at the ArtWall(k) project.

Now, February 2008, the project gets a revival in Second Life, starting as a small project created by the group ArtProject08 and with the help of several friends. This event can also grow in SL, and change into a future searching to express life through the digital medium that itself is a digital social environment with his own possibilities of creativity and expression, communication and giving power for a living society."

As this is in fact a project that never ends, there will be continuously new artists who will join the group, and express themselves through their Art on Second life, whether this art is RL or SL related . That is also why there is no limit, why this event can be linked to that other event this weekend, the PQE Festival, as there are no boundaries in Art, certainly when there is a possibility to mix RL Art with SL Art.

(Art)Project08
From Saturday the 2 ^nd of February (opening) 3 pm SLT (= 11 pm GMT) until Saturday the 9^th of February 2008 3 pm SLT (= 11 pm GMT)
At the opening a full orchestra will be playing "Reptilian Allure", from Benedict Hickson, Ruben Charleville in Second Life.

ArtProjects are to be found on the locations:(slurl will be updated)
Crescent (Lily Joliat) Lily World, Crescent (63, 106, 49)
Belle Isle (Birdie Newcomb)
Cave (Ilike Fall)

Participants:
Painting

Roodvosje Rosse : http://community.webshots.com/user/josy222
Birdie Newcomb: teen art brought over for an exhibit.

Photo
Anonymus
Bekas Takaaki
Bryce Galbraith will be showing some photographs of San Francisco in his shop.
LadyArwen Demina: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11508840@N04/
Lilly Dilley, photographer from North Carolina
Looker Lumet:: http://lookerlumet.blogspot.com/, http://www.flickr.com/photos/lookerlumet/

Sculptures
Anonymus
Art Camming
Dan Yapungku : http://users.telenet.be/kunstwand/contactpersonen.htm

Music
Ruben Charleville : www.musiccomposer4u.com , www.myspace.com/benedicthickson

Installation
AuraKyo Insoo

This list can be updated, as every artist can join the group and exhibit his/her work in this event.

Just to give you a sneak preview, Dan Yapungku posted a video, at the beginning of this year.

"Second Life Greetings"

Upcoming Art Events in Second Life !!!!

You better watch out for this weekend if you are interested in any kind of art, whether it is sculpture, photography, music, paintings, dancing……etc..

It will start this Friday, February 1^st, at the gorgeous QTLabs Entertainment Center as well as in sim shopping at the 42nd Street Mall, with Live Bands, Live Dj's, Artist and Vendor exhibitions!

Update: Quantum Tribe Laboratories will have live entertainment 24 hours a day starting from 4pm Friday the 1st right through until 12 midnight Sunday the 3rd!

Featured Artists include:
Komuso Tokugawa (playing each night!)
Streeter Nation
Grateful Stryker
Mikelec Criss
RockPianoman Pienaar
Rosdrop Rust
Jaggpro McCann
Mimi Carpenter
Capos Calderwood
03restes Larsson
GRENSGEVAL Belgian Live Band
Edward Kyomoon
The Rails Band
Maximillion Kleene
Starr Singer
Ohmy Kidd
Nikita Lumet
DJ Kay Binder
VLB Virtual Live Band
Mich Rumpler
Matthew Perreult

Live PQE-Js including:
Master DJ Lysander Lemuria
DJ QTLabs Apogee
DJ Hyperbole Beaumont
DJ NTropy Sellers
DJ Shintoryu Allen
DJ GypsyDoctor Donat
DJ Selena Botha
DJ Redminx Winx
In sim shopping with Particules FX; Bella Dutton Designs; Groovygirl Designs; Social Butterfly & X-ist Essentials Home Furnishings!

QT labs, an American full service Virtual Integration company offering all services necessary to successfully integrate any size company or organization into the Second Life environment, is organising this “Positive Quantum Energy (PQE) Festival””

It was Corinna Cortes, from “Snowtigers”, who is also co-organiser for this event, for the European part, who has informed me about this, as it would be linked to another event, which is coming up this weekend, the ArtProject 08.
Snowtigers is a group in Second Life for wintersports, and has a place of their own on the grid. It is an international community with 1200 members! in SL, and has activities such as snowboarding and icehockey. They also have art events, with musicians performing, sometimes DJ parties, and a gallery. Some artists are exhibiting in this gallery, and I have now some of my works too, with a direct link to Lily’s gallery, where I have my exhibition of some of my other works, which are a part of the ArtProject 08.

That is also the purpose, to link the Art at this event to the Art of ArtProject 08, which will be the subject for my entry tomorrow.

AVATRAIT GALLERY EXPANDS FREE CLASS PROGRAM TO INCLUDE ART HISTORY

press release

Evanston, IL
01/24/2008

Following the very popular start of their in-gallery art
classes with this weeks "SL Art 101" presentations by
Ryker Beck, AVATRAIT GALLERY announces the next series
of continuing art programs, this one addressing Art
History.  This program will be presented by new Second
Life resident Hitoshi Mayako, who in real life has an MFA
from University of Chicago and is on the staff of the
prestigious Art Institute of Chicago.

Hitoshi Mayako is an accomplished educator with over
ten years experience teaching, and an articulate
communicator who has effectively brought arts education
to diverse populations of students at a variety of
academic and skill levels. Over the course of these
on-going presentations Hitoshi will discuss the
development of art from the earliest expressions of
human creativity, though the various cultures of the
world, East and West, detailing assorted artistic
"movements" and on into the present with radical new
forms such as Second Life art.

The first of these Art History classes will be on
Tuesday, January 29th, at 7pm SLT, with a subsequent
repeat(date and time to be determined) at an hour more
convenient for European S.L. residents.  Other monthly
programs will also be premièring soon, and schedule
information is available at the gallery.

The Avatrait Gallery
(http://slurl.com/secondlife/Simuality/41/213/35)
features Second Life's most outstanding artists, one
of whose works are featured every month, with exclusive
collectible one-of-a-kind framed images available
in-world, and high quality framed prints available
through the Avatrait web site (http://Avatrait.com)
for real-world display.