SL12B Artist Parcels

SL12B, the community celebration of Second Life's 12th birthday, is in full swing, and there's much to see and do — but only until July 4, when the sims close their doors. Among the many sights are sixteen parcels that were reserved to highlight the arts — which isn't to say that the arts aren't well represented elsewhere in SL12B, either in individual builds or in the massive central displays. In the interests of time, this is simply a quick list of those sixteen offerings, in no particular order.

Artist Asmita Duranjaya exhibits Asmita's Dream (detail above), featuring 3D fractals that create, as she playfully puts it, "a kitschy-pinky-dream-installation" housed in an elaborate palace.

Solkide Auer's build, Tree of Life, shown above, was inspired by a similar structure displayed at the 2015 Milan Expo in Italy. Although it's well lit in the image here, the parcel windlight is quite dark, and that's because Solkide invites visitors to wander among the lit fountains at its base and to teleport to the top of the structure, where you can walk (although it won't appear so at first glance) through a series of interactive lights.

David DuCasse and Leydi Yifu have created the impressive Georges Méliès: The Impossible Voyage, in which a train is barreling straight into the sun (detail above), a tribute to the early 20th-century filmmaker. Photos by Leydi wrap the bottom of this installation.

Giovanna Cerise's beautiful creation, "dream... reminiscences... reality" is a redevelopment of earlier materials (including Chaos, Kosmos), that towers up into the small parcel space. Be sure to find the teleporter at the ground level that will take you to the interior of the upper sphere (shown below from the exterior).

Iso Huet's delightful build, In Dreams Awake (above), begins outside of a graffiti-covered building — but as we step in we find ourselves on fields that stretch beyond view (image below), amid standing stones perhaps reminiscent of Stonehenge (my partner Kinn remarked that the landscape reminded her of Somerset or Wiltshire). The images, which Iso didn't take but stitched together, create a completely immersive environment.

The 1920s Berlin Project welcomes you to miniature reproduction — just walk through the wall of photos that greets you to stroll down the street full of shops. Frau Jo Yardley, the proprietor, is often there in person behind the bar, as she is in the photo above.

Livio Oak Korobase's contribution, The 10 Truths, is inspired by a text by Sidey Myoo (Michał Ostrowicki of Jagiellonian University), that can help "make a common base for the pioneers of virtual worlds" with such truths as "The Electronic World is a human world, capable of accommodating human dimensions: emotions, feelings, and spiritual values." Livio's build is highly interactive, offering poses for individuals and groups throughout.

Loki Eliot has created something really special with Childhood Dreams, which makes use of experience keys to help tell a story. And to make an important point — as Loki says, "Some people wonder why child avatars exist. This exhibit was built with the view to show the creative and fun world that the child avatar seeks ... how Second Life has made the impossible possible, a return to childhood dreams." A frame from his remarkable story is shown above.

Mistero Hifeng offers some of his exquisitely detailed figures and landscapes in Cammino e Vivo Capovolto (aerial image above), which he describes as a surreal journey beyond time.

Ethereal by Pixels Sideways invites you to take the "dreamy cloud ride experience" to see the entire build (above), part of which is hidden below underwater (be sure to read the instructions first). You're invited to share elements of your dreams with others and to see who might share them with you.

Lorin Tone's installation, Audible Dreams, shown above from the air, isn't something to see as much as it is to hear, with a soundscape that constantly changes and invites interaction. "Each pillar has a different series of sound sets installed, along with varying silences between them," says Lorin. The rotating objects above the water and the "ambset emitters," when clicked, preloads and plays a list of sound effects in order, once. You'll need to have your volume turned up fairly high to really have the desired experience.

Visions!, by Djehuti-Anpu (Thoth Jantzen), shown above, is a multi-level multimedia experience that makes extensive use of moving images and sound, so be sure to turn on parcel media. "Visions! takes you on a visit through the Mediamagic Mind, which is composed of 3 parts, each with its own way to be experienced," explains the artist. The three sections — Neovortex, Mediabellum (Kaleidoscopium III), and Hippycampus — offer distinct environments, but there are aspects that can also be appreciated without media running.

In Cosmic Geometry by Wizard Gynoid, shown above in a detail, the ground is covered by a triangular pattern comprising fifteen six-pointed multicolored stars, over which a sphere holds a slowly rotating dreamcatcher.

I was invited to create an exhibition, which I've presented as Matter and Memory in SL12B Astound. These Second Life photographs, dating from 2011 to 2015, capture scenes — ranging from landscapes to “not possible in real life” situations to architecture — all created by residents. This exhibition is a tribute to their imagination, their creativity, and their generosity in sharing their works so that others might enjoy them. Special thanks to Anthony (ADudeNamed Anthony) for designing and constructing the lovely pavilion. A few additional works are on display at the neighboring Dreamitarium Auditorium, and a box of freebies is available, too.

If you adore maps, then walk rather than run over to Maps of Second Life (above), a fascinating display of maps that traces not only the history of the Second Life grid, but also explores smaller areas such as Bay City or Caledon. The travels of the mysteriously lost Magellan Linden are chronicled, and you'll have fun with an interactive thumbtack map.

The City State of New Babbage has on display the Hawksley Pumping Station (below), which serves as a charming introduction to the steampunk town. A display of vintage photographs on the ground floor is topped by the multi-level mechanical room, filled with moving parts, steam and stained glass windows. Thanks to each of these artists for sharing their work with the SL community. I'll be writing about some of the other arts builds at SL12B in the coming days.