Artemisia: Living with Art

After some aging pains the lovely island of Artemisia is renewed, but with some of your old favorite features still intact. We still have the submarine rides and hang gliders and smiley spacecraft. We still have Artemisia Bay and boardwalk with lush undersea life and free scuba equipment. And we still have our beloved Treehouse music venue where Shannon Oherlihy has been performing live on Sunday nights for over two years.

New to the island are a few new art galleries and a few other surprises. Here’s a list of what you’ll find here:

The Treehouse at Artemisia
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Artemisia/135/129/94

Look up. In the middle of the island, on top of the hill, is the giant Treehouse club. This is a popular ad hoc gathering space for the residents, but it is also our venue for some of the best live music in SL. We have hosted performances by Freestar Tammas, Montian Gilruth, Harper Messmer, Matthew Perreault, and others. For over two years the beautiful Shannon Oherlihy has been performing here Sunday evenings to wrap up your weekend and make you feel good about life for the week ahead. Watch for more great events in our unique space.

FreeWee’s Laboratory
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Artemisia/185/84/2508

Come see where this peculiar artist does strange things in the name of art. You will be surprised. Often. FreeWee’s Lab is on a high platform covering half the sim.

Tuscania Gallery
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Artemisia/215/45/29

This Tuscan-inspired villa houses a permanent collection of selected pieces from FreeWee’s personal collection.

artFiona
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Artemisia/37/183/22

The remarkable work of Fiona Blaylock is engaging and delightful. A rl artist who has brilliantly expanded her palette in the virtual world.

Tidepool Gallery
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Artemisia/99/204/22

Fiona’s second gallery features changing exhibitions by other artitsts worithy of your attention.

Artemisia Bay
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Artemisia/174/174/25

The open water surrounding the island looks peaceful from above, but it holds lots of surprises underneath. Grab a boat and sail around, or pilot a submarine and hit the depths. Free scuba equipment is available on the dock and several very cool modes of transportation are available. (Not responsible for shark bites.)

Cosmos Hi-Tech Disco
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Artemisia/195/136/2651

Built by FreeWee as an experiment in special effects, Cosmos is total sensory overload. Be sure to attend one of the rare live music events in this extraordinary venue.

The Sunlight Museum
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Artemisia/202/114/2549

FreeWee built this place as a combination of art and science. Learn and enjoy as you explore the meaning of sunlight in a world without shadows.

Elven Drums
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Artemisia/147/37/33

Artemisia has a complete set of Robbie Dingo’s Elven Drums in a tropical hut on the southern shore. Grab some friends and have a drum circle under the full moon.

This describes an exceptional opportunity for an artist, gallery or consortium to rent a very large portion (one third) of a full island at actual cost. I’m not looking for a profit. I just don’t want this resource to go to waste. Please read this and pass it on to anyone you think might be interested.

-FreeWee Ling, Artemisia
- – -
The Artists community of Artemisia has been a vital creative place  in SL for about 4 years. Things change and the long-time residents have had to move on, so we are now looking for new partners to rent large portions of this amazing place AT COST. No profit is to be made in this transaction.

Here’s the deal. The island was a gift to me by Zephyre Zabelin in service to art.  I can only afford about a third of the cost myself (about $100 of the $295/month tier). Because the land was a gift in service to art, I am determined to honor that gift, as I have for nearly 3 years, by offering  the other 2/3 sim AT COST. I already have an artist committed to renting the second third, leaving one third of the sim available.

This is an exceptional opportunity to rent a very large share of a sim without having to buy in. You simply have to pay the actual continuing cost for your share.

Here are the numbers:

Available share: 1/3th of a full sim (this is NOT a homestead sim).
Square meters: Approx. 21,845 (65,536/3)
Prims:  5000 (15,000/3)
Cost: $100 US ($300/3)

You can have a partner or whatever you need to make it work on your end. You may not subdivide or sublease the property. You will be solely responsible to get me the rent on time every month. There is no better deal available in SL. It costs what it costs. If SL lowers their prices (yeah, right) then you still only pay the actual cost of tier. I am willing to redesign the island to accomodate the vision of my partners. I’ll teraform to your needs.

CAVEAT: The essential issue is that I have to live there, too, so if I don’t think your idea for the island is in keeping with service to art and something I can live with, I won’t rent it.  But if I do like your idea, I can do a lot to support you.  Please contact me ASAP to talk about what you think you’d do with this opportunity.

I urge you to visit our beautiful island while you can. My remaining residents are beginning to pack up, so things will be gradually clearing until the end of the month, after which we will transition to the new partnership, which will dramatically change the look of the place. We will continue to have regular concerts by Shannon Oherlihy, Sunday nights at 6PM SLT in the Treehouse venue (though the treehouse itself may shift position a bit).

Thank you for your attention.

-FreeWee Ling

SL Surreal: the Collected Works of Eves Rodenberger
Opening Sunday, August 29 at 11:00AM and showing through October
Galerie de la Vie (SLURL)

Eves and Galerie curator Apollo Reinard have installed a wonderful selection of the artist’s inworld landscape and still life portraits. Many of the scenes are familiar to long-time SL residents — from AM Radio’s Far Away to Sextan Shepherd’s Nemo sims — but the images are manipulated to give a feeling that is at once both more true-to-life and yet more strange and remote.

Eves Rodenberger’s childhood was filled with intense wonder of the world around her.  She found a creative joy in taking pictures to capture the beauty in that world.  Her passion for expression developed into a desire to tell stories and show everyone how amazing things are when viewed through the perspective of her own personal lens.

She entered the world of SL with that same passion of exploration.  After some time, it became clear that there were stories to tell which were only possible in this world of dreamy virtual landscapes. Exploration once again has infused her with a desire to tell stories.

Eves’s work can be seen in several galleries in SL, as well as on Flickr.

Galerie de la Vie is provided as a service to art by the residents of Artemisia.

Artemisia is about living with art. We are a residential cooperative sim whose members live here because it is beautiful and engaging and it provides inspiration for their own work and lives. The qualitative difference between living with art and visiting art is the foundation of our community.

Most of our residents have lived here for over three years — an eternity in SL and a tribute to their commitment to our sim. Now there is a unique opportunity for you to become a part of this amazing place. Due to economic realities and rl obligations, we regret that a few of our residents are having to leave. We don’t rent to just anyone who can pay. We want to know you first and to be sure you understand the opportunities and limitations of our sim before you decide to join us.

We have a few interesting and varied parcels available to rent. There is a 2X prim bonus that allows each parcel to have over 900 prims for personal use in 2000 square meters. We also have a residents’ sandbox platform and we encourage you to work on large projects if you wish (as long as we have sufficient prims available). We do not rent partial shares, but if additional space and prims are needed, this is negotiable.

Whether or not you are looking for a rental property, please look around this website and come visit Artemisia to enjoy the many activities available here. If it seems like something you want to be a part of, IM FreeWee Ling or email freeweel@gmail.com.

The residents of Artemisia are happy to present live music two nights a week:

• Saturdays at 7:00 PM: MrMulti “Mic” Writer (pajamas optional)

• Sundays at 6:00 PM: Shannon Oherlihy

MrMulti “Mic” Writer writes thoughtful, reflective lyrics, adding smooth melodies with flowing harmony. His music is always easy on the ears with lyrics that can be probing, personal and psychological, yet written so that we can use the symbolism and find the message within. The songs are about relationships, love, life, death, the future and the past. Great covers and astoundingly good originals with guitar and keyboard.

Shannon Oherlihy‘s voice is pure feeling, soft and sensual with tones resonating from a calming celtic peace. Her songs are soul-baring testimonies to love, loss and living one day at a time.  Inspired by the music of John Denver, Gordon Lightfoot, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins and Bob Dylan, Shannon found her musical roots in contemporary folk and the Treehouse is the perfect place for an intimate house concert with this beautiful artist.

Whirli Placebo is an amazing new singer-songwriter in SL who is really making an impression. He has been called eclectic, strange, neurotic… Be among the first to discover this artist who can be melancholy, sentimental, upbeat, downbeat, or just beat… Folk-rock-blues influenced originals and covers with a Whirli twist.

NOTICE: The Treehouse at Artemisia is looking for a manager! It’s a pretty simple job, really. We book acts and get the word out. What we really need is someone to handle the publicity and to play host at the events. We have two acts regularly booked every week. We don’t particularly need more unless you want to manage it. The Treehouse would basically be your space to book. This is not a paid position, but you can keep the venue tips for events you host. IM FreeWee Ling for info, or email freeweel@gmail.com.

Where: Galerie de la Vie, Artemisia
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Artemisia/186/104/26

Grand Opening Event: March 30, 2010
Time: 7-8 pm sl time
Curator: RobertSteven Smythe
Entertainment provided by Eth Tedeschi

RobertSteven Smythe returns to Galerie de la Vie to present a very special exhibit of images by well-known photographer Monroe Snook. We are delighted grateful to Robert for bringing this show to us.

Hidden Treasures Are Inside All of Us
by RobertSteven Smythe

“..that is one of my interests. How to make a flower not seem like a blossom…but something deeper,” says Monroe Snook while discussing the concept of the new exhibition “Hidden Treasures,” opening at the Galerie de la Vie in Artemisia, Tuesday March 30th at 7 pm sl time.

Monroe Snook, one of SL’s premier still photographers, will delight you with her whimsical, playful and thought-provoking images. Her insight into photography lies within her real life work as a floral photographer.  She creates images that show the sensuality of the flower. “Many of my floral images are indirectly sensual, the deep detail of real life is wonderful,” says Monroe.  Her Second Life photography is more illustrative in nature.  In my conversation with Monroe that December afternoon she had an idea and a concept for this new exhibition. I was privileged to see the creative process at work by one of the most creative artists in Second Life. “What I want to do ….is combine the two in one image (RL and SL), let me explore this idea with you first…see this image Sustain, see the way the two petals on the left create a pocket, they almost come together and touch. Now imagine an SL Avatar, black and white…nuzzled in that space, but so well done that you really have to look to see it and then look to see if it is real. I think that would be very unique.”

I agreed with Monroe and I am sure you will as well. Her new work called “Hidden Treasures” captures that enthusiasm and creativity that I saw when she talked about her vision for this show.  I know you will be amazed by the images, the blend of Second Life and Real Life — where does one life begin and where does one life end?

“Some of the most profound things in life are those you don’t notice right away.  They are very faint, often times difficult to see, the fleeting images of life that almost pass us by.  Once we see these “Hidden Treasures” our mind opens up to their possibility – they are suddenly all around you.”

Monroe Snook has loved photography from as early as she can remember.  Her first exhibits in SL showcased her RL floral works depicting macro images of sensual structures of nature’s plenty.   In early 2008, she became passionate about SL photography — growing her skill and range within this medium until today she is seen as one of SL’s top photographers.

'Wet Wind' by Monroe Snook (© by Snook 2010)

She uses all topics and ideas for her pieces with no one central theme.  Curiosity and exploration unify her work.  You can not predict from one piece to the other where Monroe’s work will lead, what thought will be provoked or emotion conjured from within. Her art consists of  vistas, period pieces, landscapes, seascapes, skyscapes, and fantasy. Her signatures are in color, lighting, and movement while using her SL photography and skill with the SL viewer to create stunning and emotional works.  In addition, Monroe uses digital dark-room technology when a piece calls for textures or layering beyond what the SL camera can provide such as lens blur, distance, and pure black and white.

In addition to fine art, Monroe is a top SL fashion photographer – with works for top designers and models.    Monroe marries her work with detailed hi-resolution fashion work with her love of SL locations to create custom, one-of-a-kind emotional pieces.  These may be commissioned or at times are on limited exhibit.  Many are in private collections.  You can also see many of Monroe’s piece at the Museum of SL Photography where she is a featured artist, Orange Island, the SL campus of Marymount University, and as a featured artist of Avatriat.

Don’t miss this new and exciting exhibition by Monroe Snook, “Hidden Treasures” at the Galerie de la Vie in Artemisia. March 30, 2010 at 7 pm sl time. Eth Tedeschi will play jazz standards live for your enjoyment. Curator is RobertSteven Smythe.

After a phenomenal run, the wonderful images by Hepahistos Semyorka are leaving the Galerie de la Vie. The mythical stories told in Hephaistos’s art will engage your imagination and stimulate new connections in your mind. Three large panels on the upper floor depict a journey through birth, life, and death. A special piece on the first floor was created especially for this show at Artemisia. They are all brilliant and vibrant masterpieces. Come visit with the artist Saturday Dec 5 at 10:30 SLT.

It has been such a privilege for the residents of Artemisia to have spent quality time with this beautiful work.  It has added significant depth to our experience of “Living with Art.” We thank Hephaistos for her generosity in sharing these images. And we thank curator Apollo Reinard for bring her to us and displaying her work so nicely in our space.

Opening Event: September 13th 2PM SL time

SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Artemisia/180/105/25

In the premiere show for the gallery’s new curator Apollo Reinard, Galerie de la Vie at Artemesia is proud to present the extraordinary art of Hephaistos Semyorka.  Her compositions are image/text collages that invoke mythical meaning and thoughtful contemplation.  ‘Heph’ will be present on Sunday to unveil several new works at 2:00.  There will be music and dancing following the opening event, hosted by Artemesia’s own DJ  Eth Tedeschi.

About the artist:

Hephaistos Semyorka’s “Mythworks” is an ongoing project of creating digital image/text collages. The works are dedicated to her namesake, Hephaistos, the fiery god of art and technology whom the ancient Greeks invoked to bring good things to human life. Mythically, art and technology are potent forms of sorcery, and they elicit both fears and fascinations for the ordinary mortal.

In the workings of the unconscious, images arrive first, trailing synchronistic textual connections to mythic gods and goddesses, to artists and scientists, to astonishing discoveries, and to seemingly mundane events of daily life. These connections affirm the truly mythical linkage of art, technology and physical incarnation. Consciously and unconsciously, the relation of art and technology touches all aspects of our embodied life on earth. It is an archetype, an energy field that generates powerful stories and fateful creations. The process of researching and collage is a psychic dialogue with this archetype.

In real life, Hephaistos is a working artist with a doctoral degree in mythological studies. For two decades, she has been a specialist in individual and organizational creativity, working with Fortune 100 and 500 companies, in North America and Europe, designing events where people in their personal and work incarnations experience radical creativity and living life as a work of art.

In her Second Life incarnation, Hephaistos is an AngelGate artist-resident and workshop leader and collaborator. Her AngelGate sky platform, Mythomorphosis, is designed for restful reflection and conversation. You are welcome any time. There, you may also choose to sleep in the circular Asclepius temple, to dream and be awakened by the dawn light!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/AngelGate/186/30/442

Artemisia Residents Exhibition 2009
Opening Event: June 18, 300 pm sl time
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Artemisia/176/109/26

Our wonderful curator, RobertSteven Smythe, is leaving his position at the Galerie due to rl obligations. This is his last opening as curator and the residents of Artemisia wish to publicly thank him for his excellent service over the last year. He has not only brought in landmark exhibitions by some of SL’s top artists, but he has also remained keenly aware that the Galerie would not exist but for the generous support of the residents of Artemisia.  His service to art and to us has been incalculable. He will be sorely missed. Here are his words about this new show:

The residents of Artemisia have long supported Galerie de la Vie. They are the embodiment of a true artists’ residential community in spirit and in what I truly believe is reality through a virtual existence. Artemisia – Living with Art.

As curator for the gallery the past several months I have come to understand that art and the exhibition is not about the number of people who attend the opening event or whether or not you have been selected by a blog to be “the show to see this week”, but the sustainability of the art to bring joy to those who see it over a long period of time. How many times did I as curator come back to look at the exhibit and notice something new and interesting that I had not noticed before—how often did visitors return to the same exhibit over and over again—and the best of all is when an exhibiting artist asks, “when can I exhibit again.” Art for the enjoyment of those who see it and appreciate it, the true meaning of what it meant to me as curator of Galerie de la Vie.

I have learned many things about SL from FreeWee Ling in my tenure here. One notable thing is to ask her early on when you have scripting questions or troubles. She took a chance on my inexperience and I was able, with the help of the residents and Free to bring Artemisia some very interesting and spectacular installations. We have had well known and not so well known artists exhibit in Galerie de la Vie in my tenure. It is now my pleasure to end my time at Artemisia and Galerie de la Vie with the Artemisians creative expressions. The people who have supported me and allowed me to take over a part of their community for the benefit of all SL art enthusiasts, I thank you. Please join me in presenting the Artemisia Residents Exhibition 2009 opening June 18 at 3:00 pm sl time.

Residents of Artemisia talk about what it means to live in this wonderful world that was created by Zephyre Zabelin:

Chinook Anatine:
Not being an artist, I am nevertheless continually challenged and inspired by the things I see as I walk about the environs that make up Artemisia. Be they large or small, simple or ornate, something is gently stirred to life inside me by what I chance to happen upon.It is an amazing waking dream where thoughts and whims can take flight and shape. That is my Artemisia.

Liddy Babenco:
I feel fortunate to have found a home here on beautiful Artemisia. Zephyre Zabelin, a RL artist, had created Artemisia for artists. When Zephyre left SL, FreeWee Ling was able to build on what Zephyre started. Since then I have found Artemisia to always be a place where an artist is free to create and exhibit. When there is time to play, there is always something to do – whether alone or with the great friends I have made here. For artists, art lovers, or builders there is no better place than Artemisia!

Allister Philbin:
I roamed SL for two years. No where that I visited is better than right here in Artemisia. Always something to do – from the bottom of the Bay to the concerts in the Treehouse. Interesting people living here, visitng the Galerie here. Room to build your dreams. Good friends. What more could you want?

Bittitee Benigni:
Artemisia has become a beautiful sanctuary and chrysalis. In its serene beauty I can reflect on my direction, find new paths and renew my confidence and strength. When I listen, truly listen, I can experience the gifts of learning, growth and meaningful change.Here I can safely struggle to move toward new heights, to learn to keep my heart open to see with those eyes the excitement and refreshed wonder that gives me full feelings of beauty and love. It is here that we can savor the sweetness of beauty by inspiring others, through devotion, to think, to feel, to believe, to hope, to live their lives in Art.

Mace Hawks:
I have lived in many places during my time here in SL. Under a dock, neath a waterfall, even on the tip of a mountain, but there is no place I have seen or lived in SL, that compares to this wonderful island. There are few places in either world where one can go to experience the finest in creative masterpieces and the simple pleasure of sitting in a field of flowers with a friend on a lazy afternoon, or wander into the tree house and be wooed by masterful musicians.

Artemisia was created by a wonderful woman named Zephyre. Her vision was to create an island in the midst of the ocean of commerce that is SL, where creative and talented artisans could live and produce their created ideas, and not have to worry about being a commodity of the land owner. This is one of the most wonderful things I have seen done in any world.

Today, sadly, Zep is gone from SL, but the dream lives on thanks to the wonderful guardianship of FreeWee Ling. She has taken the torch for Zep and continued to keep Artemisia from being a commercial venue.  So today, I wish to thank Zep and FreeWee for their ongoing contributions to the art world of SL and ask that if you see either of them that you thank them as well, for this gem we call Artemisia.

Eth Tedeschi & Zylina Straaf:
Coming to Artemisia has placed us amongst a real and living community in which we already feel right at home. It’s a beautiful place to exist, and there is inspiration all around to create. Put simply, Artemisia makes us smile – whether enjoying a performance at the treehouse, relaxing at home or creating new art.

FreeWee Ling:
Zephyre gave me this amazing opportunity to live in a place that serves art. I once told her I believe that our highest purpose is to serve the muse. To live a life in service to the creative energy that is the foundation of all creation. Zep’s idea was just to give people a place and to watch what they did with it. She was always so awed by creative people. And sharing that awe is serving the muse. That’s what I have tried to do with Artemisia — Continue to give people opportunities to share the awe. I am so blessed to live among with these beautiful, supportive, and passionately creative individuals. I love you all.

The residents of Artemisia, home of Galerie de la Vie, invite new artists in SL to apply for a small gallery space on the island, free of charge. There are three or four such spaces available. Please contact FreeWee Ling for information.

Conditions

• • You must be a new artist who has not yet exhibited in a gallery in SL.
  • Your work can be from SL, rl, or both. 2D or 3D.
  • You and your work will be evaluated for potential to benefit from this program before an offer of space is made.
  • Total prims vary by site, but are pretty limited.
  • Spaces are temporary. You should expect to have it for no more than three months.
  • You should keep your gallery fresh and interesting. We expect to see you around occasionally. If we suspect it has been abandoned or you’ve lost interest in it, your items will be returned.
  • We will promote your openings or other events to our group lists if you wish.
  • Galleries may be vacated at any time without notice and for any reason at the discretion of the management. We will do everything possible to give reasonable notice if we need the space.
  • Explicit representations of sexual situations, violence, or BDSM are not appropriate for display in these galleries.

Application

Please contact FreeWee Ling to arrange an interview and to show your work.

Acknowledgement

Any promotion you do must acknowledge the residents of Artemisia, e.g.:

• • Presented by the residents of Artemisia: Living with Art.
  • Brought to you by the residents of Artemisia: Living with Art.
  • Supported in part by the residents of Artemisia: Living with Art.