salt, LEA7, by Eliza Wierwight

Visit Salt here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA7/128/128/19

Once again Eliza came through with an impressive immersive sim over at LEA 7 (Linden Endowment for the Arts) land grant sim. Eliza Wierwight is probably best know for her home and garden decor sim, "Patron" located here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Patron/128/128/21
But I actually have known Eliza the artist even longer.  She has always been very impressive with her art works as well as her quality home and garden items and Patron homes. I've blogged Eliza's products, especially her high end Christmas decor, many times, as well as her past art. This build contrasts her beautiful commercial work. LEA7 tells her story though this very creative build that I recommend visiting. The overall topic is about being broken and surviving, as you progress through the stations of this build.  It's a very deep exhibit and might be a little disturbing to some, considering the subject matters, but so so well done.  At times you will want your media on and there are notes indicating where it's needed and where to turn it off.

After I blogged this I found a link from Eliza's Facebook for this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Plv_Yu7QSS8&feature=share
After I listened to the video Eliza spoke of using real salt in making some of the textures.  The video is a very interesting interview of Eliza by Strawberry along with their tour.

 I grabbed this quote from her note card:
 "★Artist's statement on salt - framework★ As a fuller Immersive piece the philosophy of salt manifests in this way, I invite you to consider the journey through the installation as experiencing dining from a pre-set menu of somewhat unpalatable stories & truths. Some my own, some not, though all important to me irrespective of origin. I've quite deliberately misappropriating the term 'degustation'. This imparted itself as an ideal transition, as each segment-course is a unique work of its own volition. There are however other threads that drift through the work, as I've permitted myself a further interplay of symbolic references in relation to the accoutrements of sustenance. In the context of literal salt, a basic commodity that exists in most kitchens of the world, it became a metaphor for the things that wound us, a conduit​. ​Another​ thread ​meandering​ through this work relates to the Japanese philosophy of Kintsugi, embracing the unique, flawed or imperfect. Life ingratiates itself with such hardship at times. If we are the wounded, then let us embrace where possible those challenges & scars, and in surviving them or in our empathy for others that do, see ourselves as the beauty​. W​e are the fine art. Eliza Wierwight"
Official Poster by Eliza:
 


So, I went to visit with my friend August, took a bunch of pics in this cool sim, followed the story line around, then, rule breakers that we are, (not really) we hopped in the car behind the cordoned off restraint ropes to chat about it.




(to see many more pics click one to get to my Flickr, but better yet, just take the SLurl at the top of this post and visit for yourself!)

Sunny Day by Cica Ghost

Visit Sunny Day here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nowhere%20City/128/128/28

I haven't been in SL as much lately because it's summer and I like to get out and about more RL when the weather is nice, but I can never pass up a chance to explore a new Cica Sim. It's been in the 100's  (F) outside, but inside I can enjoy some SL sunshine in the cool AC.  I"m probably behind everyone in seeing or blogging this latest,  do visit if you haven't already, but I tend to blog things I like to keepsake for myself too. This sim is true Cica, soft and whimsical pure pleasure with her signature cats, happy Sunny skies, more moving parts that her usual fare, but otherwise done up in her same style with a few things to sit/pose on and a touring car to ride around. There are a lot of cool little creatures around  The build is reminiscent of an aged wooden toyland in many ways with its flat cut out characters, faded colors, and planked ground covering.

Cica's sim description box reads: "It is the artist's business to create sunshine when the sun fails.
Romain Rolland"  Cica has created two suns for us which don't fail to please me.   Enjoy.  I took pictures as usual.

WITCHWOOD, Home to Petite Mort and Oubliette, at Desolate

Visit WITCHWOOD, Home to Petite Mort and Oubliette, at Desolate here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Desolate/128/128/48

I always love it when good quality products not only sell on Marketplace but have stores inworold in great builds/sims.  This is the case here. The sim is a gorgeous setting to these two stores so you can visit to explore or shop.  Petite Mort has somewhat hippie/boho style clothes and products and Oubliette is magical and darker.  The sim has many nice photographic resting spots for friends or couples and scenic areas.  You can also find some of their products on Marketplace here: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/157359 and there are Flickr groups for both stores.

Their sim looks like it's owned by Melora Frost (insilvermoonlight) with Petite Mort and Oubliette. The sim info. says: "Witchwood lies nestled on the outskirts of no where. Relax, take photos or shop at Petite Mort & Oubliette."

As a bonus the Titanic is located on the other side of their same sim and this is a great date night location for formal dancing, exploring and photography. If you haven't visited yet, it's a must see in SL.

Here are a few pics:

Rieri Town in Tokyo

Visit Rieri Town in Tokyo here:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SSOC/128/128/2
or try this landing spot: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SSOC/186/21/26
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SSOC/165/141/28

I've been seeing pics and info about this sim build on various blogs and the destination guide and am just now getting to it and it's great as I knew it would be from what I'd heard.  This huge,very detailed realistic looking sim is a great explore.  There is so so much to see with many stores to shop, cafes and coffee shops, library, subway system, lots of roads buildings many of which are filled, arcade, warehouses, club, theater, scenic areas to hang out, homes, aircraft hangar, and so so much more.   The SL destination guide says "Visit Rieri-Town, an incredibly realistic town modeled from Google Maps and real photos of Tokyo neighborhoods. Come and visit to feel the atmosphere of this contemporary Japanese location." The sim appears to be owned by Eripom Moonwall.

2elwe

Visit 2elwe at Daffodil here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Daffodil/128/128/22

This cool artsy rainy greyscale sim is by Miuccia and Squonk with a special thank to Dexter Bogdanovich and to Wendy Xeno, for supplying some of the structures and other stuff..

There are quite a few interesting vinette type areas to explore with a long road running through it all flanked by telephone poles and lines and numerous moving picture billboards until you reach "The End".  There are masked or sightless dancing ladies, trees atop two tower structures, 

At one spot along the road written right into the pavement it says,

 "Stuttering, cold and damp

Steal the warm wind

tired friend

Times are gone for honest men

And sometimes far too

long for snakes

In my shoes, a walking sleep

And my youth I pray to keep

Heaven sent hell away

No one sings like you anymore

Be sure  to use their windlights and wander all around, as there are little areas of interest in various places you may not expect. This sim is getting some much needed rain based on its otherwise cracked earth, birds, and stunted trees. Fun explore, check it out. 

(for more pics, if interested, click directly onto one of the pics to get to my Flickr where I have more)

Together for Toxie

More info. here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1802339123394146/

Visit here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bound%20Beauty/59/64/1504

Toxie's GoFundM including more information on the need for a fund raiser: https://www.gofundme.com/kristinskidneys

One of SL's main singing sweethearts has some RL medical issues and her friends in SL are organizing a SL benefit for Toxie.  I've blogged about Toxie before so you may have heard me go on about how she's one of my fav SL musicians and I actually purposefully try to follow her shows around, which says a lot for me.  Anyway.. there is going to be some great music, special items for auction and other activities associated with the benefit drive Saturday May 12th and Sunday May 13th.  This ad poster was made by Caz, Scarlett Cazenove.

And if you want to hear some Toxie check out her schedule at Whispering Sands Live Promotions here: http://wslpromo.net/

The Ruins of Deepmarsh

Visit here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Beck/128/128/19
Owned by River (Moya Mccallen)
The sim info states:
" tranquil haven for those looking for an out of the way place to hide for awhile, especially with someone special. Great for photo ops. No Grieving or Spamming."

This is a relatively new sim build and a great explore.  It has a ton of photo ops, single and couple poses/animations including some adult rated, a super cool cave, art sculptures, a huge moon great for photos, and fun landscaping and a lot of interesting stuff to see. Check it out for a great time.