where we invite photographers to capture the essence and beauty of this vibrant and creative build, which offers a unique blend of nature with art and music, giving rise to innumerable opportunities for photography. Whether it is the lounge nestled among the ruins, the gallery and bar located inside a mountain, or the dreamy vibes on the hilltop, we’re eager to see how you frame the stories of this place. Show us Artsville through your lens and let its beauty shine!
– Come by the Photo Contest drop box located outside the gallery entrance at Artsville and collect the Submission Notecard.
– Drag and Drop your FULL PERM texture into the Notecard and mention your SL Name, along with the name you’d like to be displayed with your image during the final showcase. Please note that by submitting your image, you automatically agree to let us display it in Artsville.
– Save the Notecard and Drop it into the Dropbox for Photo Contest Entries. We will send you a confirmation of your entry within 48 hours.
– Join the .:: ARTSVILLE ::. Group. Click and paste the following into local chat to join: secondlife:///app/group/a9c33910-c227-416e-450b-1b0e26c2ac58/about
CONTEST PRIZES
1st Place – L$4,000 2nd Place – L$2,000 3rd Place – L$1,000
CONTEST RULES
– All photographs must be taken at the ground level of the current Artsville and uploaded to Flickr between January 10th and March 15th.
– Only ONE entry per contestant is permitted. If multiple entries are submitted, we will only be selecting the latest one.
– Participants are required to join the inworld .:: ARTSVILLE ::. Group. Click and paste the following into local chat to join: secondlife:///app/group/a9c33910-c227-416e-450b-1b0e26c2ac58/about
– All entries should be submitted both on Flickr and at the Drop Box before 11:59 pm SLT on March 15th, 2025
– Closing Party for the Photo Contest will be held between 1 pm SLT and 3 pm SLT on Saturday, March 22nd, 2025. Winners will be announced towards the end of the party.
– Photographs must showcase the beauty of Artsville. Avatars may feature in the photographs as long as they do not overshadow the surroundings.
– Editing is allowed as long as it doesn’t significantly distort the original landscape. No use of AI will be permitted. We will judge on a case by case basis and inform you at the earliest if your image is deemed inadmissible.
Please contact us for any queries or more information
Second Life is a place where dreams come true, and ღ Andee ღ (andee.cooper) has created something truly magical with “The Secret Garden.”
This isn’t just a mini golf course; it’s a doorway to a hidden world full of surprises.
As you explore this beautiful 1/4th sim paradise, get ready to be amazed. The 14-hole course takes you through stunning forests, where old ruins tell stories of lost worlds.
Make your way through dark caves lit by glowing plants, and find hidden spots where waterfalls flow into sparkling pools.
But “The Secret Garden” is not just a beautiful sight. It’s a place where love grows.
Discover quiet, hidden spots perfect for a romantic evening under the moonlight, or simply enjoy the peace of this magical place. Let the soft sounds of nature relax you as you walk hand-in-hand with someone special.
Whether you’re an experienced explorer looking for something new or someone who loves romance and a bit of magic,
“The Secret Garden” is waiting for you. Step into this special world and see where dreams come true.
On January 14, 2012, I opened my account on Second Life and immediately started blogging. I mainly focused on articles about art exhibitions in Second Life. Over the years, I developed various skills. Besides writing, I learned to make videos and create original mesh clothing using various 3D modeling programs. I also improved my photography skills, conducting courses for the Italian community and making YouTube videos dedicated to photography.
I produced several video tutorials in English that garnered significant interest. Now, however, I am at a point in my life where I need to reduce some activities to make them compatible with my real life. Therefore, I had to choose to focus only on a few passions, particularly photography and clothing creation in Second Life. This means I will have to leave other activities, including I Love Events.
I am happy to announce that the new owner of I Love Events will be Violet Boa, starting today. Violet is a long-time collaborator whose passion for art and ability to present events in Second Life I have always admired. I am convinced that she is the most suitable person to take on the role of owner of I Love Events and carry forward this important project for the Second Life community.
Violet will focus on the events of her greatest interest, which might change the approach to managing some parts of I Love Events. These decisions will be entirely up to her. During this year, I will continue to support Violet, especially from a technical standpoint, as she learns to manage the site. However, the decisions on which events to include in the calendar and which to create posts about will be her responsibility.
I am certain that Violet will manage I Love Events with great professionalism, thanks to the passion and love she puts into everything she does. I will always be available to support her if needed. With this, I close my project and wish Violet to continue with the same passion in the years to come.
I recently visited the Nitroglobus Roof Art Gallery, curated by the talented Dido Haas, to see the photographic exhibition “Nude” by Joanna Kitten. I was very impressed by Joanna’s choice to use black and white in a style I would describe as minimalist. In the exhibition, Joanna portrays her avatar in extremely natural poses and, as the title suggests, in a state of nudity.
What I found particularly interesting is the use of black and white along with light and shadow effects that emphasize the forms of the avatar. This emphasis is not just an aesthetic choice related to the nudity of the avatar, but represents a deeper and metaphorical exposure of self, a kind of introspection and authenticity.
Although the images may evoke a certain sensuality, the naturalness of the avatar’s poses suggests Kitten’s desire to express herself genuinely. This is reflected in images like the one of the avatar naturally leaning on a chair, or the one where it is sitting relaxed, or the one where it walks holding balloons and looking back.
This exhibition can be seen as a profound digital self-portrait of Kitten, capturing various moments of vulnerability. Kitten has already held two other photographic exhibitions at the Nitroglobus Roof Art Gallery, “Noir” in 2022 and “Fort Wall” in 2023, showing how she uses Second Life as a true expressive tool.
With “Nude,” Kitten continues this exploration, pushing beyond the traditional boundaries of identity through self-representation in virtual spaces. The images are intimate and universal, telling stories not through dramatic poses, but through subtle gestures and authentic framing.
The exhibition represents a natural evolution of Kitten’s work, which is followed by many through platforms like Flickr. Moving from more landscape photography to more intimate explorations of identity, Kitten uses the Black Dragon Viewer to take photos and Affinity Photo for editing.
Her style is reminiscent of real photographers like Ralph Gibson, who saw the human body not just as an object, but as a landscape to explore.
Starting from January 2, the possibility to test access to Second Life via browser has begun. This option is still experimental, and each user can access for a maximum duration of 10 minutes per session. It is important to remember that the browser version is designed to facilitate access for those with less powerful PCs.
The browser version of Second Life should allow access without lag, offering an experience similar to that of regular viewers like the official Second Life viewer or Firestorm. Even though my PC is not underperforming, I found the browser access interesting. I did not experience slowdowns, and the experiment was positive.
Future and Developments
Looking to the future, a browser version that allows full interaction could break down barriers to entering Second Life. Linden Lab has indicated that the menus and interaction structure will be made simpler and more intuitive, similar to the mobile app. This project is based on streaming, and the price-performance ratio has improved thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence and cloud GPUs.
Economic Considerations
The project costs are still high, but they are expected to decrease over time. Linden Lab will have to assess whether the investment is worthwhile, considering whether a larger number of users will sign up for Second Life and if those with less powerful computers will benefit from it.
Conclusion
This innovation could make Second Life more accessible and attractive to new users. I believe that easier access could break down barriers and attract those who are not yet familiar with Second Life.