03 November 2011

The Far Away

Even though AM Radio's masterful builds at IDIA Laboratories are now gone from the grid, we can still enjoy his smaller though no less beautiful artwork at Dreamworld North, entitled The Far Away. I must admit I hadn't visited in a while, and I was pleasantly surprised to see so many people enjoying this quarter-sim space, a field of waist-high wheat shining in the sun, enveloped by distant horizons. AM's ability to work in a small square while still achieving a sense of panorama and depth is remarkable.

The interior of the space is defined by two large objects—a rusted, abandoned locomotive and a windmill with neighboring silos—as well as smaller items set incongruously in the field—a desk with wireless equipment, a dinner table and china cabinet, all exquisitely textured. Telephone poles and a barbed wire fence stretch into the distance on the north and east. From time to time, a cluster of chairs might reach up into the sky. As always, interacting with objects provides rich rewards: have fun on the locomotive (a classic spot for photos), ride the wind near the windmill, and investigate a map of Union, Illinois, where we seem to look down on rusted train cars. Hopefully this build will stay with us for a while, but I don't know what AM's plans are, so be sure to take advantage of the time to visit.

8 comments:

  1. It's one of my favourite AM Radio's builds. I've been visiting regularly for years, and it's a place full of beauty and calm.

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  2. Thanks, Bradd and Fire. AM told me last night (he so rarely logs in these days because of real life) that The Far Away will be around for "a bit longer"—so it sounds as if its days are numbered, although he did add that he paid up the land for a good stretch.

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  3. The Far Away can be found on creative common licence here:
    http://opensim-creations.com/2010/07/14/further-away/

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  4. Hi Mint. Yes, thanks for mentioning that—AM and I were just talking about it few days ago.

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  5. It's nice just to see that loco again (although when I saw your pictures on Flickr I had thought that miraculously AM Radio was back in SL. That's kind of like seeing Void Singer's name on a post on the Forum, only to realize it's something necroed. Even so, I'm very glad it exists anywhere. Was/is a very special place.

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  6. I am very accessible via my blog if ever the mood strikes. memoryradio.tumblr.com

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  7. Hi Dillon — Yes, a very beautiful place, and I hope you visit soon. I'm there very often these days!

    And yes, AM's blog is a great way to see his current work — http://memoryradio.tumblr.com and there's also his flickr stream — http://www.flickr.com/photos/memoryradio/. Thanks for mentioning, AM! :D

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