Retrospective Tribute to Visual Leadership
After observing and reviewing art in Second Life® for four years, it was sad to learn that the University of Western Australia’s innovative program, the 3D Art Challenges, will come to an end. This is a special issue of tribute to their influence, as well as to their achievement. The challenges were begun by Jayjay Zifanwe, who recognized the amazing talent in-world. He found an unconnected array of artists that worked alone, and had small circles of friends. He discovered small galleries popping up to show the range and extent of work being done. UWA and Jayjay could see the potential and hoped to nurture the arts within the virtual world. To his surprise, he discovered unexpected consequences and influences, as his efforts, along with many dedicated volunteers, not only provided opportunity to artists, but zoomed their programs into prominence.
After the initial exhibitions, FreeWee Ling, a participating artist, often volunteered to help. Slowly, her contributions kept growing, and soon she was administrating the entries, setting up the shows, and creating gorgeous catalogs of each theme. Jayjay managed the several dozen judges, and as a team, their influence grew stronger and stronger. Not only did they evolve their innovative program, they inspired artists in new ways.
Carmsie Melodie is one of the best examples of an artist who’s life was transformed by the UWA Challenges. Having gone to art school in real life, she didn’t really enter the virtual world thinking that it would take over her creative momentum. At first, she experimented with the tools, got her own sim, and became enthralled with creating a virtual garden. But to rise to the UWA Challenges, she found the themes pushed her creativity and skills. The in-world edition of SSJ presents her development and chronicles many of her award-winning entries. Online is a glimpse of her depth (soon the in-world article will be available here as a PDF).
Eleanor Medier, art critic and publisher, has served as one of the judges for the UWA competitions in the past few years. With the Challenges ending, she feels gratitude for not only the stage set by Jayjay and FreeWee, but to the artists who have grown under their leadership. Exploring the highlights from the past few years, the in-world edition, presents analysis of 28 works by 26 artists, and this online edition adds 20 works which includes another 15 artists in “Contrast Within and Without: Achievements from Artists as a Tribute to the UWA 3D Art Challenges”
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RETROSPECTIVE REVIEWS ONLINE INCLUDE:
Brunequildalalinda Birdsong, “Madre Tierra,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Earth
Bryn Oh, “Cerulean,” on permanent display in-world at UWA
Cherry Manga, “Cogito ergo sum,” on permanent display in-world at UWA
Dyso, “Choice,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Reflections
Finn Lanzius, “A Match Made in Heaven,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Fire
Janine Portal, “Pursue Impossible: Leonardo DaVinci,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Pursue Impossible
Krystali Rebeni, “Silent Reflections,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Reflections
Lalexl Devin, “Ephemeral Reflection,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Reflections
Miso Susanowa, “360 Degrees of Freedom,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Transcending Borders
Mistero Hifeng, “I… Io,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Transcending Borders
Nexuno Thespian, “Earth Passion,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Earth
ParkArt Collabortative, “Park Art Gallery,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: The Freedom Project
Rebecca Bashly, “Fruit of Time,” on permanent display in-world at UWA
Roc Furse, “Escape,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: The Freedom Project
Secret Rage, “Primarily,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Triptych
Sevio, “World Peace,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Pursue Impossible
Silent Christen, “Modern Sacrifice,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Triptych
Talia Sunsong, “Examining Different Aspects of Myself,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Triptych
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The in-world edition of Sim Street Journal #18 has articles (soon available here in PDF and on Marketplace, but until then, find in kiosks at advertiser locations and at the SSJ offices):
“Relevant Ripples” commemorates the leadership and consequence of the University of Western Australia’s innovative 3D Art Challenges, page 44.
“Creative Contrast” takes a look back on the artistic accomplishments inspired by the themes, page 46.
“Art Accessible: What Have We Learned from UWA?”explores their legacy and continuance, page 88.
RETROSPECTIVE REVIEWS IN-WORLD INCLUDE:
Ama Avro, “Passage,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: The Freedom Project
Agualgo and MellyDee Magnifica, “Firey Flames of Passion,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Fire
Barry Richez, “Freedom of Creativity,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: The Freedom Project
Barry Richez, “Quantum,” and Bethlise Lorgsval, “Scene Reflexion,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Reflections
Chic Aeon, “I Have Walked This Way Before,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Reflections
Dragon Lord, “Please Recycle,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Earth
Dragon Lord, “Sanctuary of the Hart: A Soul on Fire,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Fire
Fae Varriale, “The Journey—Reflections of an SL Artist,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Reflections
Giorgio Nexen, “Sharing Ideas Face to Face,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Transcending Borders
Glyph Graves, “Crystaline Presence6” and “Reactive Reed Positive,” on permanent display in-world at UWA
Haveit Neox, “PrimChords,” on permanent display in-world at UWA
Herbie Haven, “Earth (The Big Squeeze),” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Earth
Krystali Rabeni, “The Artists’ Studio,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Triptych
Kristali Rabeni, “Tragedy,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Fire
Lollito Larkham, “L’histoire de Petit-Gris,” on permanent display in-world at UWA
Lucignolo, “Universe Tao MIng,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Earth
Misprint Thursday, “Three Card Poker,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Triptych
Pale Illusion, “The Void,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Pursue Impossible
Rebeca Bashly, “Mother,” on permanent display in-world at UWA
Roc Furse, “Set Youself Free,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Transcending Borders
Rose Borchovski, “Susa 2,” on permanent display in-world at UWA
Secret Rage, “Down to My Last Six Tears,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Fire
Shenn Coleman, ”Sunrise Spirit,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Transcending Borders
Takni Miklos,“Windows into Other Rooms,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Reflections
Talia Sunsong, “Traveling the Universe in Balance,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Triptych
Tarquin Evermore, “Belief in Myself,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Pursue Impossible
UA Blue, “Find the Ultimate Blue,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: Pursue Impossible
Willothewisp, “Cyberwings,” from UWA 3D Art Challenge: The Freedom Project
Now that in-world artists have grown because of the UWA challenges, gained a community, earned recognition, and defined some of the characteristics that make virtual art different than real, it is time to continue in this spirit. UWA set a course, innovated the direction, and it is up to FreeWee (continuing with UWA to develop new programs) and the artists to take what is learned, and push the development further.
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Please see the in-world edition of Sim Street Journal #17 with comparative and critical articles that add to this online content.
Available in kiosks and at the Sim Street Journal SL Office (Innu 40, 36, 1650).
— The in-world Journal has topics that relate to those who understand the virtual context, including photographs, parallel articles. It has tabs for more information, landmarks, and web links.
— The online Journal expresses what the virtual world offers the real one. It is a mirror that reflects parallel articles and provides links to supportive content.
Contributions are welcome if covering topics relevant to real world readers.
(Back issues are available on MARKETPLACE).
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PLEASE THANK THE SPONSORS FOR SIM STREET JOURNAL #16
QUICK LINKS:
INDEX for all contributors and articles
Sim Street Journal #1: Virtual Reveals Real
Sim Street Journal #2: The Old in the New
Sim Street Journal #3: Magicians of Meaning
Sim Street Journal #4: Telling Stories
Sim Street Journal #5: Champions of Expression
Sim Street Journal #6: Overlapping Realities
Sim Street Journal #7: Luck Created
Sim Street Journal #8: Facing the Inevitable
Sim Street Journal #9: Motivated Learning
Sim Street Journal #10: Serious Fun
Sim Street Journal #11: Fantasy Fulfillment
Sim Street Journal #12: Insights from Extremes
Sim Street Journal #13: Bridging Boundaries
Sim Street Journal #14: Realities Blend
Sim Street Journal #15: Creative Collaborations
Sim Street Journal #16: Visual Music
Sim Street Journal #17: Retrospective Tribute to Visual Leadership
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Eleanor Medier (avatar of Liane Sebastian)
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EMAIL: eleanormedier@gmail.com
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Liane Sebastian wears an editor’s hat, designer’s coat, and artist’s shoes.
PORTFOLIO: http://www.lianesebastianillustration.wordpress.com
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EMAIL: lianesebastian9@gmail.com
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© 2016 by Liane Sebastian/Eleanor Medier, Sim Street Journal.
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