Once again the University of Western Australia’s Second Life presence has pulled off a brilliant Art Challenge, and for the second year in a row I’ve had the privilege of being a judge. This year there were a lot more entries, making the judging both more challenging and more fun. It also showcases the improvements to Second Life as far as the detail of art works submitted.

You can check out the list of finalists below, but first here’s a few visual snippets that stood out for me during the judging (click on image for the full size version):

Have a look for yourself – it’s a few hours very well spent.

Once again I’d like to thank the UWA’s Jayjay Zifanwe for the chance to play a small role in what remains one of the pre-eminent virtual worlds art installations in the world.

Finalists

FINALISTS FOR UWA 3D OPEN ART CHALLENGE OVERALL PRIZE

(in reverse Klingon alphabetical order):

ONE OF THESE ARTWORKS WILL WIN L$100,000

1. FLY WITH THE WIND by Josina Burgess
2. FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE by Miso Susanowa
3. THE GLOWING SERPENT by Ginger Alsop
4. LAZER BALLS by Betty Tureaud
5. DREAM OF THE COLD SLEEPER by Typote Beck
6. IL PLEUT SUR MON COEUR COMME IL PLEUT SUR LA VILLE (“It’s raining in my heart, as it’s raining in the town”) by Cherry Manga
7. TRAVEL IN THE SHADOW OF TECHNOLOGY by Anley Piers
8. PARANORMAL FROTTAGE by Misprint Thursday
9. THE ILLUSIONIST by Gleman Jun
10. LIGHT TOWER by Betty Tureaud
11. TURNING THE TIDE by Nish Mip
12. CHOOSE YOUR BLOSSOM by Suzanne Graves
13. SYMPHONY IN THE BARREL OF A GUN by Arrow Inglewood
14. PLANET CENSORED by Anley Piers
15. STRANGE PLANT…UGLYNESS & BEAUTY by Claudia222 Jewel
16. THE RHYTHM OF MOOD – Lea Supermarine & Jarapanda Snook
17. DIGITAL GLOVE by Misprint Thursday
18. THE WILD WILD WORLD OF ILLUSION by RazorZ & Olga Soulstar
19. THE MINOTAUR OF CARTON by Typote Beck
20. ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND by Cherry Manga
21. SHATTERED by Ginger Alsop
22. THE FRAGILITY OF THE SOUL IS NOT A DEFECT by Gleman Jun
23. SPANISH BULL by Silene Christen
24. TROIS PETITS TOURS ET PUIS S’EN VA (Three little turns and it goes away) by Josiane Sorciere
25. JUNGLE CHALLENGE by Dusty Canning
26. THE DOCK SPIRIT by Scottius Polke
27. ULTRA VIOLET by quadrapop Lane
28. THEATRE OF WAR by Miso Susanowa
29. VENUSTRAP by Claudia222 Jewell
30. ONE AND FOUR TIMEBOARDS by L1Aura Loire
31. UNE HORDE DE CORDES by Aristide Despres
32. 5×8 COMPUND CUBE by Wizard Gynoid
33. TIME AS A HELIX OF SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES by Miso Susanowa
34. THE HUMANICAL FROG by Lollito Larkham
35. HERE COMES THE SUN by Sledge Roffo
36. TV MORNING EXERCISES by Dusty Canning
37. PIUME DI PAVONE by Nino Vichan
38. DANGLING NARROW CHAIN DEMONSTRATOR by Emilin Nakamori
39. HARMONIES IN C GREAT (+) by Artistide Despres
40. NOT EVERYTHING IS PLAIN BLACK & WHITE by Fuschia Nightfire
41. LIVING FRACTAL by June Clavenham
42. THE MATTER OF IDEAS by Gleman Jun
43. THE SUPERHEROES BREAKFAST by Typote Beck
44. DOWN ON THE DATA FARM by Miso Susanowa
45. PETITE ETUDE SUR OLIVIER MESSIAEN by Artistide Despres
46. OMNIPOTENT by Pixels Sideways
47. THE CHASM by Oberon Onmura
48. EXCERPTS FROM REALITIES by Glyph Graves
49. THE ABANDONED DAUGHTER by Eliza Wierwight
50. YOU CAN’T TOUCH HEAVEN by paleIllusion
51. AUTUMN by nexuno Thespian
52. THE CROSSING by Nish Mip
53. FANTASIA EN LA SOMBRA by Romy Nayar
54. PRIMSCAPE DREAM by Sledge Roffo
55. 99% by Harter Fall
56. BLACK SHIRT by Misprint Thursday
57. IN DREAMS by Blue Tsuki
58. SWALLOWED UP BY THE CROWD by Fuschia Nightfire
59. L’IMPATIENCE by Josiane Sorciere

FINALISTS FOR THE NON-SCRIPTED PRIZE, UWA 3D OPEN ART CHALLENGE

1. THE COPPER BEECH by soror Nishi
2. LOSS by Gingered Alsop
3. MISS N by Suzanne Graves
4. DAUGHTER OF THE WIND by Fae Varriale
5. GECKO ON THE GEKKO by Yooma Mayo
6. SHATTERED by Ginger Alsop
7. THE FRAGILITY OF THE SOUL IS NOT A DEFECT by Gleman Jun
8. TRIBUTE TO GOYA by Silene Christen
9. MARIONETTE by Haveit Neox
10. HISTORY IN CREAM by Haveit Neox
11. FATA DANZANTE by Daco Monday
12. SPATIAL by Sledge Roffo
13. SPRING BOX by Cherry Manga
14. TRUST by spirit Radikal
15. TUNNEL WITH LIGHT AT THE END OF IT by RazorZ
16. HURDLE by Corcosman Voom
17. BEHIND COLUMNS by Harter Fall
18. BIRDSONG by Cherry Manga
19. YOU CAN’T TOUCH HEAVEN by paleIllusion
20. STILL LIFE by soror Nishi
21. 99% by Harter Fall
22. THE REVOLT OF THE MANNEQUINS by Silene Christen
23. USED PIECES by Secret Rage
24. SMALL PIECE OF HELL, The Suicide Forest Infested by Harpias by Rebeca Bashly

I’m an absolute heathen when it comes to dance, particularly ballet. That said, I was pretty impressed with this short piece of machinima. Ignoring the artistic merits, I hadn’t thought of what a brilliant choreography tool virtual worlds could be. I consider myself enlightened now.

Apparently Ballet Pixelle’s Archidance was performed back in June, wish I’d seen it. Have a look for yourself:

[via Indigo Mertel]

Draxtor Despres has created a machinima on a great Second Life installation that takes the Gettr functionality on Flickr and merges it into an underwater Second Life installation. Have a look for yourself:

Here’s the direct teleport link

Over the past year, one of the most extensive and impressive virtual world art projects has been undertaken. I’ve written about it repeatedly here, for three reasons. First, it’s an Australian initiative driven by the University of Western Australia. Second, the scope of the project was enormous, encouraging submissions across a range of mediums. Third, the passion of the organisers was very hard to resist – each and every person was driven by their passion for art and progressing virtual worlds art.

On all three counts, it’s hard to argue anything but outstanding success. As an Australian initiative it’s rightly been lauded. As a showcase for the ways in which mediums such as sculpture, art, music and film can be mixed and enhanced, the exhibits speak for themselves. Finally, the organisation of the monthly heats and the grand final has been superb, let alone the day-to-day enthusiasm for the project by all involved.

My point? That virtual worlds art, as evidenced by the UWA competition, is in for a bright future. Nish Mip’s winning entry is stupendous, as is the majority of the works submitted. I was thrilled to be one of the large panel of judges, and it’ll be fascinating to see the ripples that radiate from such an intensive project.

The inexhaustible Jayjay Zifanwe has the full wrap, including lots of pictures, on the UWA in SL blog. Otherwise, read on for the full results, the winning machinimas and Jayjay’s grand final speech.

The full winner’s list:

UWA 3D ART & DESIGN CHALLENGE

GRAND CHAMPION, IMAGINE ART CHALLENGE, 61 points (L$75,000):
UMBRELLAS by Nish Mip

2nd Prize IMAGINE Grand Finale, 54 points (L$16,000)
THE LAST OCEAN by Nish Mip

3rd Prize IMAGINE Grand Finale, 44 points (L$15,000)
CHAOS IN ORDER by Igor Ballyhoo

4th Prize, IMAGINE Grand Finale, 38 points (L$12,000)
WILLOW by Bryn Oh

5th Prize, IMAGINE Grand Finale, 27 points (L$10,000):
TENDRILS by Glyph Graves

1st Prize, FLAGSHIP Grand Finale, 63 points (L$75,000):
PATCH THIBAUD: UWA Cultural Precinct Nexus 

2nd Prize, FLAGSHIP Grand Finale,57 points (L$16,000):
DB BAILEY & PATCH THIBAUD: UWA Cultural Precinct Gallery & Labs

Joint 3rd Prize, FLAGSHIP Grand Finale, 46 points (L$13,500):
DIJODI DUBRATT: UWA Bridge to the Future
NYX BREEN: UWA AxS LAB (Jan 2010)

5th Prize, FLAGSHIP Grand Finale, 40 points (L$10,000):
HERICK STRAAF: Concept Building for AXS Lab (August 2010)

1st Prize, Overall IMAGINE ART – NON SCRIPTED, 95 points (L$14,000):
THE ABYSS by Sharni Azalee

2nd Prize, Overall IMAGINE ART – NON SCRIPTED, 73 points (L$10,000):
MEDUSA’S GAZE by pravda Core

3rd Prize, Overall IMAGINE ART- NON SCRIPTED, 37 points (L$5,000):
CONCENTRIC SHELLS by Ichiko Miles

PEOPLES CHOICE AWARDS

1st Prize PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD, IMAGINE (L$15,000):
UMBRELLAS by Nish Mip

2nd Prize PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD, IMAGINE (L$7,000):
THE SATIRICAL POLEMICIST by Eliza Wierwight

3rd Prize PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD, IMAGINE (L$5,000):
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD by Lea Supermarine

1st Prize PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD, FLAGSHIP (L$15,000):
DIJODI DUBRATT: UWA Bridge to the Future

2nd Prize PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD, FLAGSHIP (L$7,000):
NYX BREEN: UWA AXS LAB (July 2010), replaced the destroyed Dec build!

3rd Prize PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD, FLAGSHIP (L$5,000):
NYX BREEN: UWA AXS LAB (August 2010)

1st Prize PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD, IMAGINE ART – NON SCRIPTED (L$8,000):
MEDUSA’S GAZE by pravda Core

2nd Prize PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD, IMAGINE ART – NON SCRIPTED (L$5,000):
THE ABYSS by Sharni Azalee

3rd Prize PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD, IMAGINE ART- NON SCRIPTED (L$3,000):
THE WHITE GODDESS TREE by Soror Nishi

MACHINIMA II: ART OF THE ARTISTS

Joint 1st Prize (L$55,000 each):
BRADLEY DORCHESTER – Art of the Artists

LAURINA HAWKS – No Tomb for the Arts

3rd Prize (L$30,000):
TUTSY NAVARATHNA – An Art Form is Born

The Aview TV Award (L$10,000):
FAKE JEWELL, Song of Medusa

Best Art Visualisation (L$10,000):
RYSAN FALL – MachinimUWA, Art of the Artist

Best Art Visualization, Single Artwork (L$10,000):
ED VESPUCCIANO – Lessons in Democracy

Best Crossover Impact (L$10,000) :
L1AURA LOIRE – CLICK, Immersive & Interactive Virtual Art

Best Story (L$10,000):
YESIKITA COPPOLA – Inspiracion

Best Editing & Message (L$10,000):
PIA KLAAR – Art of the Artists, A Closer Look

HONOURABLE MENTION PRIZE (3-WAY TIE, L$3,333 each)
SPYVSPY AEON, I Am Not A Robot
SUZY YUE, Across A Crowded Room
LASLOPANTOMIK YAO, City of Art

For the dedicated – the full speech:

Greetings everyone, and welcome to the University of Western Australia, or UWA as she is known and also welcome to the Grand Finale of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge & MachinimUWA II. As is tradition at UWA, I would like to acknowledge that the University is situated on Nyoongar land and that the Nyoongar people remain the spiritual and cultural custodians of their land and continue to uphold their values, languages, beliefs and knowledge.

Today brings to an end the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge which was launched on the 15th of August 2009, with 841 entries received across the IMAGINE Art Challenge and the FLAGSHIP Building Design Challenge. Today also sees the conclusion of MachinimUWA II: Art of the Artists and with this, we had 45 machinima submissions where the theme was to film the artworks submitted to the UWA Challenge.

Its been an absolute pleasure for me to work with all of you over the year, and especially to those who went above an beyond the call of duty to make all of this a success. Thank you quadrapop lane, curator of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge, thank you Taralyn Gravois, thank you LaPiscean Liberty, thank you Raphaella Nightfire. Also much thanks to those who have provided support and sponsorship which raised the overall prize pool from L$100,000 to more than L$1,000,000 now across Art, Architecture and Machinima. So I would like to also thank the Cultural Precinct at the University of Western Australia, ShedworX.com, the Casey Family of Western Australia, the Residents of Artemesia, MidnightRain Glas, Phillip Vought, Bohemian Ghost, Gumby Roffo, Sasun Steinbeck, Galea Yates, Kip Yellowjacket and a host of others.

Before any further announcements, first on the agenda today is our Special Guest Speaker whom I would like to sincerely thank for agreeing to attend and address everyone at this event. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce the creator of the legendary Ivory Tower Library of Primitives, and Grand Finale judge for the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge, Lumiere Noir.

(Lumi Speaks)

Thank you Lumiere, it was truly a privilege to have you here! At the end of all the announcements, we will have the privilege of hearing Mommaluv Skytower singing live, and this will be followed by super Art DJ, Eifachfilm Varcirca, who is the definition of a multi-talented artiste having also been part of the UWA 3D Art Challenge across the year as well as machinimUWA II !

First… will be the announcements for MachinimUWA II: Art of the Artists. MachinimUWA II grew almost by accident, out of a desire to honour the wonderful work that the artists of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge had created, and so the theme was, ‘create something that will take our breath away’. And the subject matter was the artwork of the Grand Finale of any of the works featuring in the July and August rounds of the 3D Art Challenge.

When the winners, it will be done in 1 minute intervals. We do invite everyone to comment and congratulate the winners and for the winners to respond before the next announcement (and if they could please use the SHOUT function . Hopefully we can get pictures of you attending the event. If you do take them yourself, please email them to me at jayjayaustralia@hotmail.com. These will go into the UWA in Second Life Blog (www.uwainsl.blogspot.com), the Metaverse Journal, Prim Perfect Publications, the SL Enquirer, The Australian Trader and a number of other journals and blogs.

I want to thank our judging panel for their sterling work in looking through the incredible array of 45 entries. It was unbelievably hard to seperate things, and the panel was put to a great deal of work!

1. Professor Ted Snell (RL) – Director, Cultural Precinct, The University of Western Australia
2. Dr Carmen Fies (RL) – Second Life Lead: University of Texas San Antonio
3. quadrapop Lane (SL) – Curator of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge
4. White Lebed (SL) – the founder of AppliedGameology.com
5. Jayjay Zifanwe (SL) – Owner of The University of Western Australia (SL), Creator & co-host of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge
6. Iono Allen (SL) – Official Machinimatographer of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge
7. Cisko Vandeverre (SL) – Reigning UWA MachinimUWA Champion
8. Dr Kim Flintoff (RL) – Lecturer, Instructional Design, Centre for eLearning, Curtin University of Technology, Australia
9. LividEye Yoshikawa (SL) / John Yap (RL) – Senior Media Producer, National University of Singapore
10. Michelle Glaser (RL) – Senior Project Officer, Department of Culture and Arts, Government of Western Australia
11. Ian Booth (RL) – Chief Executive Officer, Screen West, Western Australia
12. Raphaella Nightfire (SL) – Snr Writer Best of SL Magazine, Owner Sanctorum Gallery (SL)
13. Laetitia Wilson (RL) – Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts, UWA
14. Aaron Kennedy (RL) – Chairman, WAnimate, Raging Pixel Productions

Now to explain how the judging was done. Each judge listed their top 8 in order of preference. 8 points was allocated for a 1st place vote, 7 points for a 2nd place vote, and so on, with 1 points being allocated for an 8th place vote. The top 3 were taken as a straight aggregate compiling the individual rankings of the 14 judges. The special awards were then selected by discussion among the judges taking into consideration the overall rankings. There was also a special award provided by Aview TV & LaPiscean Liberty.

First of all, and you can see the trouble started here, we have the Honourable Mention Prize. This is a single prize of L$10,000. However, the judges were hopelessly deadlocked. And so it was, that we had a 3-way tie for the Honourable Mention Prize, which becomes L$3,333 each! And so the Honourable Mention Prize for MachinimUWA II, goes to:
SPYVSPY AEON, I Am Not A Robot

and The Honourable Mention Prize for MachinimUWA II, also goes to:
SUZY YUE, Across A Crowded Room

AND FURTHER, The Honourable Mention Prize for MachinimUWA II, also goes to:
LASLOPANTOMIK YAO, City of Art

Next, we have the special awards, and we start off with The Aview TV Award, with L$10,000 provided by Aview TV & LaPiscean Liberty. The Aview TV Award, goes to:
FAKE JEWELL, Song of Medusa

Commenting on this, LaPiscean said, “When identity and prose meet one another, the content is heartfelt. I know, because i was a Medusa in my time. At least thats why I so like the Song of Medusa, as if to say this Machinima was about myself. While a Medusa among Medusas, I shone and now that I’m not among Medusas, remaining one at heart, I still shine!”

Next, the Award for Best Art Visualisation (L$10,000), goes to:
RYSAN FALL – MachinimUWA, Art of the Artist

The Award for Best Art Visualization, Single Artwork (L$10,000), goes to:
ED VESPUCCIANO – Lessons in Democracy

The Award for Best Crossover Impact (L$10,000) goes to:
L1AURA LOIRE – CLICK, Immersive & Interactive Virtual Art

The Award for Best Story (L$10,000) goes to:
YESIKITA COPPOLA – Inspiracion

And, the Award for Best Editing & Message (L$10,000) goes to:
PIA KLAAR – Art of the Artists, A Closer Look

Now we come to the top 3 prizes, and we start with 3rd Prize. When all the statistics were done taking into account the judges rankings, this piece finished with 42 points, and 12 of the 14 judges listed this piece in their top 8. A wonderful whimsical story with a sublime message. The L$30,000 3rd Prize, goes to:
TUTSY NAVARATHNA – An Art Form is Born

Next we come to 2nd Prize. Now truly, for 2nd Prize, when I did all the calculations following the judges submissions, I got the shock of my life! I apologize to this person, but I just had to shake my head, I can’t believe this was selected for 2nd and so, the 2nd Prize of L$50,000, goes to:
NOBODY

Yes ladies and gentlemen…. nobody, because incredibly, we have a TIE for FIRST PLACE, on 60 points each. One of the 2 winners appeared on 13 of the 14 judges lists of top 8, while the other had 3 first place votes and 3 second place votes. No other piece had more than TWO 1st place votes and TWO 2nd place votes. So we had to recalibrate the prize, and put the 1st & 2nd Prize together and divide by 2, making that L$55,000 for each of the two 1st Prizes!

So, one of the JOINT-WINNERS of MACHINIMUWA II: Art of the Artists (L$55,000) is:
BRADLEY DORCHESTER – Art of the Artists

this machinima certainly took many breaths away! lets all enjoy the winning Machinima, so please turn on your media everyone, as we play it:

AND NOW, the JOINT-WINNER of MACHINIMUWA II: Art of the Artists (L$55,000) is:
LAURINA HAWKS – No Tomb for the Arts

a film of epic proportions, let us all enjoy it now!

We also had an viewer participation event, where we asked SL residents to predict who would be in the top 8, and to rank the order, and and we have 3 winners, 3rd (L$1,000) is Pia Klaar, 2nd (L$1,500) is EdwardIV Beaumont and the winner (L$2,500) of the viewer participation event is Beau Aie !

And now, we move to the Grand Finale of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge. Before announcing the winners here, there are a few things I do need said.

First please help me thank the curator of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge once again, who has for an entire year, magnificently marshalled the 841 entries that I allowed to come in at all times of the day and night with not a single day break as to when the works were submitted, and not a single day when the gallery was closed across the year. Ladies & gentlemen, quadrapop Lane.

And sadly, we have to announce that quadrapop will from today be stepping down as the curator of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge, as the Challenge comes to a full stop, and qpop will be able to get the great breat she deserves! Thank you quadrapop Lane!

I would also like to thank Taralyn Gravois for her great work in being the Director of the UWA-BOSL Amphitheatre, and looking after events held at the 4-SIM Theatre. Sadly, she is also stepping down today, as a number of other pressures wont allow her to continue in her role. Thank you Taralyn!

The Torch passes however. FreeWee Ling will take over as curator at UWA & Chantal Harvey will take over at this theatre! 3 Cheers for FreeWee & Chantal!

Now, what is there to take over at UWA? Well, I won’t have a NC to distribute for a few weeks yet, but basically once the curtain comes down today, the UWA 3D Open Art Challenge (L$1,000,000 Prize Pool), which again will run for one year will kick off. This will be a Grand Collaboration among the major art houses of SL, and aside from the top 3 monthly awards, in place of the Honourable Mention Awards, we will have a monthly Pirats Prize (selected by Merlina Rokocoko & Newbab Zsigmond), an Odyssey Prize (selected by Fau Ferdinand & Lizsolo Mathilde), an SL Arts Prize (selected by Gleman Jun & Sunset Quinnell), a Show & Tell Prize (selected by Florenze Kerensky & Barney Boomslang), a CARP Prize (selected by Josina Burgess & Velasquez Bonetto) and a BOSL Prize (selected by Frolic Mills & Giela Delpaso).

The rules for this will be simple. The theme is ‘Create something that will take our breath away’, and the prim limit is 100! As it always has been. So anyway, the receiver for the works is in the same location as before !

Professor Ted Snell, Director of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge whose 5 minute meeting with me 2 days before the very first mini-Launch we had at UWA in August 2009 sparked off these challenges said, It began with a rush but the entries just kept coming, rising from over thirty in the first month to a final total of over one hundred artworks in the final competition. What was most exciting was the obvious increase in
the standard of entries, the increasing sophistication of the conceptual basis of the works and the extraordinary skill in rendering them within the
virtual world. ”

As with the Machinima, I want to thank and acknowledge the judging panel. There were 23 judges in all, however 22 for either the Flagship or Imagine side as one of the judges, only looked at the Flagships, while another only looked at the Art.

JUDGING PANEL for GRAND FINALE of the UWA 3D ART & DESIGN CHALLENGE
1. Lumiere Noir (SL) – Creator of the Ivory Tower Library of Primitives
2. Sasun Steinbeck (SL) – Founder of the Art Galleries of SL list
3. Lowell Cremorne (SL), Owner of The Metaverse Journal
4. White Lebed (SL) – Founder of AppliedGameology.com
5. Phillip Vought(SL) – Art Philanthropist & Founding Patron of UWA-BOSL Amphitheatre
6. Lanai Jarrico (SL) – CEO SL Enquirer
7. Reslez Steeplechase (SL) – Founder First Call Musicians Co-op (FCMC), CEO Matters of Music Media Group (M3)
8. Mal Burns (SL) – Metaverse News Aggregator and Broadcaster
9. Apollo Manga (SL) – examiner.com Writer & Novelist
10. Raphaella Nightfire (SL) – Snr Writer Best of SL Magazine, Owner Sanctorum Gallery
11. Dr Gary Zabel (RL) / Georg Janick (SL) – University of Masachusetts
12. Saffia Widdershins (SL) – Owner and Editor of Prim Perfect Publications
13. Jordan Whitt (SL) – Editor in Chief, ICON Lifestyle Magazine
14. Rowan Derryth (SL) – Art & Design Historian; Writer for Prim Perfect Publications
15. Courtney Linden (SL) – Linden Lab
16. Paisley Beebe (SL) – CEO of Perfect World Productions TV
17. Bohemian Ghost (SL) – Owner of Summerland Estates
18. Jopsy Pendragon (SL) – Founder of the Particle Laboratory Learning Center
19. Professor Ted Snell (RL) – Director, Cultural Precinct, The University of Western Australia
20. Frank Roberts (RL) – The University Architect, The University of Western Australia
21. Jayjay Zifanwe (SL) – Owner of The University of Western Australia (SL), Creator & co-host of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge
22. Dr Chris Thorne (RL) – Co-Founder of the UWA (SL) & UWA Honourary Research Associate (RL) (judged Flagship only)
23. Frolic Mills (SL) – BOSL & CO CEO (judged the IMAGINE sections only)

First though, the results for the People’s Choice Awards. For the people’s choice, all of SL could vote for their favourite pieces across the month of September, and had to use a HUD (created by quadrapop) to visit all the builds rezzed across the grid, as it needed more than 30,000 prims to have everything up. And I need to thanks Caren McCaw & Nyx Breen (Annapurna), Dijodi Dubratt (Toor), quadrapop Lane (Poorlatrice), Kip Yellowjacket (Virtlantis), Lilli Field (Mysten), Phillip Vought (Acquitaine), Cuwynne Deerhunter & Eliza Wierwight (Patron) and the LEA for valuable space to rezz the works.

And so for the PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD, IMAGINE ART- NON SCRIPTED 3rd prize goes to (L$3,000):
THE WHITE GODDESS TREE by Soror Nishi

For the PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD, IMAGINE ART – NON SCRIPTED 2nd prize goes to (L$5,000):
THE ABYSS by Sharni Azalee

And the WINNER for the PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD, IMAGINE ART – NON SCRIPTED (L$8,000) is:
MEDUSA’S GAZE by pravda Core

Now we move to the People’s Choice Awards for the FLAGSHIPS

For the PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD, FLAGSHIP 3rd prize goes to (L$5,000):
NYX BREEN: UWA AXS LAB (August 2010)

For the PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD, FLAGSHIP 2nd prize goes to (L$7,000):
NYX BREEN: UWA AXS LAB (July 2010), replaced the destroyed Dec build!

And the WINNER for the PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD, FLAGSHIP (L$15,000) is:
DIJODI DUBRATT: UWA Bridge to the Future

Now on to the IMAGINE ART SECTION

For the PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD, IMAGINE 3rd prize goes to (L$5,000):
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD by Lea Supermarine

For the PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD, IMAGINE 2nd prize goes to (L$7,000):
THE SATIRICAL POLEMICIST by Eliza Wierwight

And the WINNER for the PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD, IMAGINE (L$15,000) is:
UMBRELLAS by Nish Mip

And now we come to the crunch. The overall juried Grand Prizes for the UWA 3D Art & Design competition. The results are extremely interesting, and I do need to explain how the Judging was done. Each judge listed their top 10 in order for IMAGINE & FLAGSHIP & top 5 for the non-scripted. Works receiving a 1st place vote were allocated 6 points, 2nd place 5 points, 3rd 4 points, 4th 3points, 5th 2 points, and 6th – 10th place votes received 1 point each. The winners are taken as a straight aggregate compiling the individual rankings of each member of the judging panel. No one individual had any greater influence than any other. Every single piece featured in the top 10 of at least 2 judges. Every single piece was also NOT in the top 10 of at least 2 judges. So there was great individual variability, however, when put together, I am staggered by how clearly the results come across.

First the Non-Scripted. I will reveal the aggregate points received by the winning pieces, and also of the ones which just missed out. The Prize winners will receive special trophies created by Miso Susanowa who won the Trophy Challenge some months back run by FreeWee Ling and the Residents of Artemesia. There are 3 prizes for the non-scripted. It was very close, between 3rd prize and the works in 4th – 6th. There was in fact a 3-way tie for 4th place in the non-scripted, these being:

4th (non-scripted) BLACK PEARL by Solkide Auer – 30 points
4th (non-scripted) THE NIGHT ORCHID by soror Nishi – 30 points
4th (non-scripted) BLOOM GLOW by Sledge Roffo – 30 points

All said and done, the overall IMAGINE ART- NON SCRIPTED 3rd prize, on 37 points goes to (L$5,000):
CONCENTRIC SHELLS by Ichiko Miles

For overall IMAGINE ART – NON SCRIPTED 2nd prize, on 73 points goes to (L$10,000):
MEDUSA’S GAZE by pravda Core – 73 points

And the runaway WINNER for the overall IMAGINE ART – NON SCRIPTED, on an incredible 95 points (L$14,000) is:
THE ABYSS by Sharni Azalee

Now for the Flagship. There are 5 prizes, but I will reveal the relative positions and point allocations for the top 10 so everyone can get a sense of how things shaped up. Again remember, these are not ratings of artworks… these are more similar to how things work when selecting the MVP for a football game or the world footballer of the year. 6th through 10th place from the 23 builds overall fell as follows:

6th FLAGSHIP : HERICK STRAAF: Concept Building for AXS Lab (July 2010) – 30 points
7th FLAGSHIP : ELIZA WIERWIGHT: The Patron Gallery Build – 23 points
7th FLAGSHIP: OWL RAE (MOTH REXEN): Arcapelus Sanctuary – 23 points
9th FLAGSHIP: NYX BREEN: UWA AxS LAB (Feb 2010) – 20 points
10th FLAGSHIP: NYX BREEN: UWA AXS LAB  (June 2010) – 18 points

OK, so for the FLAGSHIP Grand Finale, 5th prize, on 40 points goes to (L$10,000):
HERICK STRAAF: Concept Building for AXS Lab (August 2010)

For the FLAGSHIP Grand Finale, 4th prize, goes to (L$12,000) :
NOBODY – as we have a tie for 3rd place on 46 points apiece

For the FLAGSHIP Grand Finale, we have a JOINT 3rd Prize, and this goes to (L$13,500):
DIJODI DUBRATT: UWA Bridge to the Future

3rd Prize for the FLAGSHIP Grand Finale, also goes to (L$13,500):
NYX BREEN: UWA AxS LAB (Jan 2010)

I had told Nyx a couple of times that this was my personal favourite of his many amazing builds!

Next the FLAGSHIP Grand Finale, 2nd prize on 57 points goes to (L$16,000):
DB BAILEY & PATCH THIBAUD: UWA Cultural Precinct Gallery & Labs

And now for the winner. This build will remain on UWA grounds as long a UWA in Second Life stands, and will be looked as as a foundation for the design of the real Cultural Precinct Flagship build at UWA in a few years time.

The WINNER of the FLAGSHIP Grand Finale, on 63 points goes to (L$75,000):
PATCH THIBAUD: UWA Cultural Precinct Nexus 

Finally, to the IMAGINE Grand Finale. Again, there are 5 prizes, and I will reveal the top 10. Things were very close just outside of the prizes, and the gap between 5th place and the 3 way tie for 9th is only 6 points, and here they are:

6th IMAGINE: THE SATIRICAL POLEMICIST by Eliza Wierwight – 23 points
7th IMAGINE: CYBERSHARK by Igor Ballyhoo – 22 points
7th IMAGINE: ATOMIC-GO-ROUND by Atomic Gaffer – 22 points
9th IMAGINE: IMMERSIVE ART: THE MAZE by Alizarin Goldflake – 21 points
9th IMAGINE: 26 TINES by Bryn Oh – 21 points
9th IMAGINE: WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD by Lea Supermarine – 21 points

OK, so for the IMAGINE Grand Finale, 5th prize, on 27 points goes to (L$10,000):
TENDRILS by Glyph Graves

4th Prize for the IMAGINE Grand Finale, on 38 points, goes to (L$12,000)
WILLOW by Bryn Oh

3rd Prize for the IMAGINE Grand Finale, on 44 points, goes to (L$15,000)
CHAOS IN ORDER by Igor Ballyhoo

a real favourite especially among the machinimatographers, as it is the most filmed artwork

2nd Prize for the IMAGINE Grand Finale, on 54 points, goes to (L$16,000)
THE LAST OCEAN by Nish Mip

Now its a stunning result for 1st place, and in fact what happened with this was the reason why I decided to release the point totals of the cumulative judges rankings, and ensure that the prizes extended to the top 5, instead of what is was going to be initially, which was a top 2.

And so, the GRAND CHAMPION of the IMAGINE ART CHALLENGE, on 61 points (L$75,000) is:
UMBRELLAS by Nish Mip

Its almost unfathomable. To achieve what Nish has, in taking the Top 2 spots from amongst 772 artworks across the year. I cannot begin to calculate the odds against that happening. UMBRELLAS received SIX 1st place votes and only 2 other works received more than ONE 1st place vote being WILLOW & THE LAST OCEAN which each received THREE.

Congratulations Nish! Anyone wanting the full results, please send me an IM. Do check and link to the blog as well, as everything will be there in 24 hours http://uwainsl.blogspot.com/

The UWA 3D Open Art Challenge is now officially open! And with that ends the formal part of today.

Thank you so much Eifachfilm Vacirca for helping stream voice to all the 4 sims during the announcements!

I now hand the floor over to the incredible Mommaluv Skytower who has wowed many an audience with her incredible performances! Please give her a warm welcome all!

I missed this announcement a few days back, but it’s far from too late to check out this exhibition. Featuring 18 artists, the goal of the installation is emphatic:

Georg Janick’s six Theses on the Art of Virtual Worlds are the framework for the series of collaborations on the Caerleon sims. In addition to major builds on each of the six theses, there have been numerous theme collaborations on various topics, including consumerism, imprisonment, surrealism, and masks, as well as limited resource challenges like the one-prim and limited texture shows.

The Caerleon Museum of Identity is an interpretation by the collaborative team of Georg’s fourth thesis: the Ambiguity of Identity. It states in part, “…digital bodies, and the names that uniquely identify them, can be altered, multiplied, discarded, or exchanged at the will of the user. Since bodily presence is open to such radical discontinuity, the identity of the virtual person is protean and ambiguous, including indicators of age, gender, race, and even biological species.”

There’s lot more details here or you can check it out for yourself.

Second Life’s Avatar Repertory Theatre (ART) has a few shows under their belt now, including Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Their latest is Oedipus Rex (Oedipus The King) by Sophocles. During October there’ll be six performances, with tickets costing L$500. A short promo has been produced to give you a taste:

More information on the show over at the ART blog, or you can check out the theatre space itself in Second Life.

The University of Western Australia have just wrapped up the last heat of their 3D Art & Design Challenge (full info below), and once again the depth and breadth of the work being displayed is impressive.

I feel very privileged and anxious at the same time, to be one of the panel of judges for the Grand Final, which is coming up fairly soon. I’ve said it a few times now, but I’ll repeat it now: UWA are arguably the preeminent virtual worlds art supporter worldwide, and it’s a claim they deserve in the most emphatic way.

We’ll be bringing you a wrap of the final judging when it’s completed.

The full announcement from UWA:

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NISH & HERICK TRUIMPH ONCE MORE – AUGUST WINNERS OF THE UWA 3D ART & DESIGN CHALLENGE

103 entries of the highest quality to the final August round of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge, and what happens? Nish Mip’s powerful and enveloping piece, THE LAST OCEAN takes the top prize (L$5,000) making it an unprecedented 3rd time she has won First Prize for the IMAGINE Challenge breaking a tie with Bryn Oh & Igor Ballyhoo, both of whom won the Challenge twice. Lee Supermarine and Eliza Wierwight shared honours in taking 2nd Prize. In the FLAGSHIP Challenge, Herick Straaf narrowly beat 5 time champion Nyx Breen to take the top prize for a 2nd time. Jesse Keyes, Alizarin Goldflake & soror Nishi picked up L$6,000 each in winning Legacy Awards for their work across the year for the IMAGINE Challenge, while Nyx Breen took home the Legacy Award for the FLAGSHIP Challenge.

The final month of this year long L$600,000 challenge, August saw a record shattering 103 submissions to the IMAGINE challenge with 6 Flagship Builds pushing the total across the year to 841 entries from more than 300 artists and builders. 6 of the 7 continents of the world are represented as entrants hailed from Venezuela, Belgium, Mexico, Wales, Canada, the USA, the UK, Uruguay, Scotland,England, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, France, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Denmark, Holland, Ireland, Portugal, Austria, Cuba, Serbia, Tunisia, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

Commenting on the win, Nish said, “My thanks go to Jayjay and quad for putting so much work in to organising these competitions. They deserve the biggest round of applause for their efforts and to everyone else involved through support and sponsorship in whatever way and that includes the artists, judges, and the people who come along to look and appreciate this great boost for second life art. I really feel proud to have taken part in these competitions. I only came looking for a sandbox to finish my Butterfly house off, but I think everyone in whatever life they have wants to feel that they have a purpose and I’d like to make a special thank you to JJ for spotting something that I hadn’t realised I had and am still even now finding hard to believe. I can only put my success down to being a bit of a perfectionist and never being satisfied with what I’ve done. Perhaps that helps, I don’t know, but these competitions have definitely paved a way forward for me that I really appreciate. Thank you everyone who’s made that possible. I know with the dedication that the UWA in SL has put in to the virtual art world they will go from strength to strength and I very much look forward to the coming years and to hopefully participating with UWA in making our second lives so much richer. I love you all. ”

In acceptance, Legacy Award winner Jesse Keyes said, “I am honored that i managed to hang on long enough to receive the UWA Legacy prize.
Its been a long year and I look forward to making and entering more contest builds in the up and coming year. I would like to thank all the people that have worked on setting up the contest and to Jay Jay Zifanwe for puting bugs in my ears on when the build is due (they were real bugs). Thanks again UWA for hosting such a geat event”. She emoted, “gets drunk and falls off the podium, waves to every one, uses trophy to crack walnuts.”

soror Nishi, fellow Legacy Award winner, and winner of the Honourable Mention Prize for JOY for August, with ‘Dotty the Dragon’ chimed in, “It’s a great thing to feel that what you try to do as an artist, that what you try to ‘say’ has been understood. An award is like someone saying ‘yes, soror, I agree’..and it makes it possible to go on creating, trying to express difficult ‘stuff’.”

The biggest winner on the night in terms of the number of awards won was Eliza Wierwight, whose cleverly named entry, THE SATIRICAL POLEMICIST won the 2nd overall IMAGINE prize (L$3,000), 2nd Prize in the People’s Choice Award (L$500) as well as the Rain Prize (L$1,000). “What an interesting journey from working in isolation for such a long time, then the genuine feeling that I am a part of the Arts Community family in Second Life as I do now. I’m smitten. While I’ll know I will always seek time to get delightfully lost in the process of creation in seclusion, it’s a reaffirming joy when I head back to shore to find such warm welcome as has been expressed in these awards I’ve been honored with today. If I was to say that a position in the People’s Choice is like an embrace, then the Imagine Challenge Prize and the Rain Prize on top of that had me floored with delight. My huge and genuine thanks to the SL Community , the University of Western Australia, my precious friends, my muse , the delightful Miss Q (quadrapop Lane) and the genuine and astounding Jayjay Zifanwe whom I am still honing an ever developing artistic temperament on just for the sheer amusment of it. Again, for everything , my sincere thanks.”

The Non-Scripted IMAGINE prize was won back to back for the first time every, by prim wizard nessuno Myoo with THE UNICORN WOOD EDITION. “I’m really happy and I want thank all for the great opportunity to show my works alongside all this masterpieces. For me it is a great honor.” Only he and soror Nishi have more than one piece in the reckoning for the Non-Scripted Grand Prize.

Corcosman Voom, who wan an Honourable Mention for the Legacy Award (L$4,500), also took the Bohemian Ghost Prize (L$1,000 + 600 prims on the Summerland SIM). “I was very pleased to have been awarded an Honourable Mention UWA Legacy prize and The Bohemina Ghost prize in this, the final round, of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge. It has been my pleasure to be able to exhibit my art this past year in the company of work by so many talented artists. I am very grateful to UWA and everyone associated with the Challenge for the opportunity it has given to so many people. Most of all, I appreciate the dedication and hard work Jayjay and quadrapop have put into making this project a success. Thank you both for making this a great year.”

A paradigm breaking piece called ‘ANTARCTICA – AN INDIVIDUAL EXISTENCE’ by Glyph Graves won the Honourable Mention Prize for Second Life Wizardry. This must see work, uses real time data from weather stations in Antarctica to create an enchanting symphony of sound and light. The technical expertise required to create such a work is mind-boggling.

Gleman Jun was also a multiple award winner as his ‘STOP FEAR’ won the People’s Choice Award as well as the Honourable Mention (HM) Prize for Emotion. Other award winners included Oberon Onmura (Legacy Award HM), Oldoak Merlin (Casey Prize & FLAGSHIP HM), Blue Tsuki (HM Prize for Immersion), Gingered Alsop (HM Prize for Scripting Magic), Pinkpink Sorbet (Anton Mesmer HM Prize).

Joining the extended judging panel for the Grand Prize are art philanthropist & founding patron of UWA-BOSL Amphitheatre, Phillip Vought, Paisley Beebe, CEO of Perfect World Productions TV and Jopsy Pendragon, creator of the Particle Laboratory Learning Centerhave who have all stepped in to take the place vacated by M Linden. They will have the entire month of September to make their decisions.

UWA is grateful to Bohemian Ghost and the Summerland Estate for raising L$33,000 which was put toward the Legacy Awards. Bohemian Ghost will also be part sponsoring the People’s Choice Award for the Grand Finale, along with the Residents of Artemesia who have been sponsoring the monthly People’s Choice Awards.

The Grand Prize Round is now open, and there is a People’s Choice Vote for this. There has been a beed over the past few weeks to rezz all the past winning flagships across the grid. We would like to acknowledge all those who have given up valuable prims and space to allow UWA to put up these flagships till the end of the voting period which is the 30th of September. They include Caren McCaw & Nyx Breen (of the Annapurna SIM), Dijodi Dubratt (Toor), quadrapop Lane (Poorlatrice), Kip Yellowjacket (Virtlantis), Lilli Field (Mysten), Phillip Vought (Acquitaine), Cuwynne Deerhunter & Eliza Wierwight (Patron) and the Linden Endowment for Arts (LEA).

This is the first time LEA land is being used and opened up to the public. One SIM of the LEA cluster has been opened up for this purpose.

The machinima challenge, MachinimUWA II: Art of the Artists, is ongoing, and closes on the 20th of September. & works have come in thus far from Tutsy Navarathna,spyvspy Aeon, Bryn Oh, Megan Merlin, Missy Restless and Yesikita Coppola. These Machinima feature the works that have been entered across the year to the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge. They are all linked on the blog http://www.uwainsl.blogspot.com/.

WINNERS OF THE AUGUST ROUND OF THE UWA 3D ART & DESIGN CHALLENGE

IMAGINE CHALLENGE – 3D ART

LEGACY PRIZE (IMAGINE): $L6,000
Alizarin Goldflake
soror Nishi
Jesse Keyes

LEGACY PRIZE (FLAGSHIP): $L6,000
Nyx Breen

LEGACY PRIZE (Hon Mention): L$4,500
Oberon Onmura
Corcosman Voom

Imagine Challenge 1st Prize: ($L5,000 + Custom T-Shirt)
THE LAST OCEAN by Nish Mip

Imagine Challenge 2nd Prize: ($L3,000) JOINT
THE SATIRICAL POLEMICIST by Eliza Wierwigh

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD by Lea Supermarine

Best Non-Scripted Entry: ($L3,000 + Custom T-Shirt)
THE UNICORN WOOD EDITION by Nessuno Myoo

FLAGSHIP CHALLENGE – BUILDING DESIGN
Flagship Challenge 1st Prize : ($L5,000)
CONCEPT BUILDING FOR AXS LAB by Herick Straaf

Flagship Challenge 2nd Prize: ($L3,000)
UWA AXS LAB by Nyx Breen

Flagship Honourable Mention Prize: (L$1,000)
Oldoak Merlin

Honourable Mention Prize for EMOTION (L$1,000)
STOP FEAR by Gleman Jun

Honourable Mention Prize for SECOND LIFE WIZARDRY (L$1,000)
ANTARCTICA – AN INDIVIDUAL EXISTENCE by Glyph Graves

Honourable Mention Prize for JOY (L$1,000)
DOTTY THE DRAGON by Soror Nishi

Honourable Mention Prize for IMMERSION (L$1,000)
THE DEEP by Blue Tsuki

Honourable Mention Prize for SCRIPTING MAGIC (L$1,000)
QUANTUM MATRIX by Gingered Alsop

THE ANTON MESMER Honourable Mention Prize (L$1,000)
PARTLY ANTSY CHAMBER by Pinkpink Sorbet

The RAIN PRIZE (L$1,000) – Established for one of the Founding Patron of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge
THE SATIRICAL POLEMICIST by Eliza Wierwight

CASEY PRIZE – JULY (L$4,000)
BLACK SWAN by Oldoak Merlin

THE BOHEMIAN GHOST PRIZE (L$1,000 + 600 Prims on the Summerland SIMM for at least 3 months)
THE AERIALIST by Corcosman Voom

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD – 1st prize (L$1,000):
STOP FEAR by Gleman Jun

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD – 2nd prize (L$500):
THE SATIRICAL POLEMICIST by Eliza Wierwight

You may have seen a story on New World Notes today about the removal of an installation from the 7th birthday celebrations for Second Life.

First, some context. The installation is titled Susa Bubble, and it looks like this:

(You can check it out for yourself in-world or you can view a higher-res pic here)

The creator, Rose Borchovski sums up the issue from her perspective:

The Kiss has been returned to me from the SL7B sims where Linden is celebrating Secondlife. I quote “The images on your build are in violation of our general rating, to be clear: Nudity is not allowed at art events with a general maturity rating.”
I would like to point out and educate Linden Lab that most of classic and contemporary art is based upon nudity. Not because of Sex, but because of the beauty and the vulnerability of the human body, the human body we all share and look at in the bathroom mirror in the early morning.

The story of Susa is a sweet but savage story, told in image and text, sound and installation. It is about our dark inside, but also shows how vulnerable and lonely we all can be. My art shows a naked body, but it is not about nudity or sex.

Art being shown at a public art event of Linden means pretty pictures that bring aesthetic pleasure void of all critical thinking. Culture must be “safe” / sterile, no matter how free of content that makes it. As implemented by LL, “Community Standards” means content so content less that no viewer has even a remote chance of being caused to think about anything, to question any of their values or assumptions. Safe in SL means safe from thought.

When I protested against it in the group chat I was shut out .I was told not to discuss it in SL7B Group Chat “because this isn’t the place” — because NO place is the place to discuss it — because we don’t even want to think or let others think about the ideas we don’t want to think about

The worst part of censorship is not that which is censored, but the climate of self-censorship it imposes on all artists. Art is about having a voice. Art is about thinking differently and about thinking from fresh perspectives. When artists are not allowed to have a voice, culture is not allowed to progress.
When I hide my susas nakedness, I have stopped telling her story.

Nothing is more resistant to authoritarian control than a naked body. Control & conformity require uniforms. Nudity is too wild and uncontrolled. When you know my Susa Bubble story you can see it isn’t really even about “nudity” but that just suggests how powerful the forces for thinking-avoidance-at-all-costs are. Better to censor the world than risk allowing in a question that could topple the status quo. Authority does not like questions. Authority does not like creativity. Authority does not like art. Authority does not like nudity.

I did not bring my installation to the celebration to publicize myself, I make in art in SL because I want to share my Susa story and touch people

Greetings Rose Borchovski

Take another look at the picture above and then explain to me how it really qualifies as nudity? And remember, Linden Lab CEO Mark Kingdon has had his own art exhibited in Second Life. Sure, there needs to be some boundaries around what is acceptable but is it just me that finds that boundary to be just a little tight?

If you clicked on the SLURL above you will have ended up on the University of Western Australia sim which is now hosting the installation. Jayjay Zifanwe from UWA loved the installation and offered to host it, not in protest but in admiration of the work.

Which is the sort of collaborative attitiude Linden Lab could have adopted in their dealings with Rose Borchovski.

On top of everything else the Lab have been involved in over the past week – did this need to occur?

The final word belongs to Rose:

“It would be wonderful to take this oppertunity to have a fresh look at art and Second Life and what it means to Linden, to have so many artist creating”

The relentless creative behemoth that is the University of Western Australia’s 3D Art & Design Challenge continues its journey, with another large number of entries and interesting judging results. The full results can be read below, but the other noteworthy aspects are the creation of the UWA-BOSL Amphitheatre, a space “dedicated for not-for-profit Art, Education & Charity events”, the creation of a Science and Art competition in partnership with some Italian academics, and the selection of UWA’s Second Life presence as one of 100 treasures for a book to published as part of the UWA’s centenary celebrations.

I’ve said it before and I’ll probably say it a lot more times, the UWA presence in Second Life would have to be one of the most dynamic, inclusive and expansive virtual worlds projects around. The yearly judging on the art competition is going to be one large challenge and it’s a privilege to be involved.

Also, Iono Allen has created a great machinima showcasing all the April winners:

For the dedicated, here’s the full announcement of the April winners:

Julez torments IMAGINE! Lili pips Nyx at the line: April Winners of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge

A chilling work where a demon captures your soul, by Julez Odigaunt has taken the top IMAGINE Arts prize ($L5,000) for the April round of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge. The piece, JULIA’S MAGIC MIRROR – DEMON, beat out an amazing field of 67 international artists, including past IMAGINE winner Glyph Graves who took out 2nd prize with his incredible immersive work, ORGANIC RECURVE. Meanwhile in the FLAGSHIP building design challenge Lili Field’s EYE OF THE BEHOLDER managed to stop an unprecedented 5th win for Nyx Breen, whose UWA AxS Lab was pipped at the post into 2nd place.

Going one better than her runners-up prize in the March round, Julia said, “What a great honor! I was quite shocked. The initial Mirror was inspired by a dark yet whimsical gypsy circus which Atomic Gaffer built. Then i decided to go darker, more haunting and it is the exact reaction that I aimed for that folks received when they interacted with the mirror. Thank you UWA for this wonderful honor and acknowledgment.”

Following the announcements yesterday at the traditional winners announcement party at the UWA SIM, Lili was shocked at her win, and the ever gracious Nyx said, “Once again UWA is an exciting wonderful experience all should partake in. To the artist and builders a wonderful job.”

Two-thirds into the year long challenge, the judging panel had a very tough time of it with amazing pieces across the board. Sharni Azalee, whose piece, THE ABYSS, won the non-scripted prize said, “A woman’s handbag, the mystifying abyss, where the bravest of men fear to tread. I was honored to receive the award for non scripted exhibit and overjoyed that so many men took the challenge and entered the dark realms of a woman’s handbag it’s ok, we wont make u carry them . Thank you to all at UWA, your support and encouragement has allowed me to find a place that I can express myself in a way I never knew possible.”

“I would like to thank the Academy… oh sorry. wrong award. I’m humbled and thankful and now I’m motivated to try to top this work.”. said the Wizard Gynoid, ever the joker in romping her way to the Honourable Mention Prize for Synchronicity with her piece ANIMATED E8,

Italian artist Gleman Jun (Honourable Mention : 10 SECONDS OF SL), on the other hand was philosophical, “Creation becomes art only when it meets the recognition by those who appreciate it. Wining this prize means discovering that one has taken the right path towards the realization of oneself.”

Samara Borkotron and Gumby Roffo were the winners of the$L4,000 Casey Prize (artworks representing an aspect of Western Australia) for March and for April, while The People’s Choice Award was won by the effervescent Miso Susanowa, and her LADY WITH FAN. “I am very honored that my Lady, who danced into my world, pleases so many people as she did me when I saw her first in a single prim. I am also honored to be among such great artists and the wonderful and heartening work and support of Jayjay, Quadrapop and the UWA for all artists.”

Other winners include Ivy Lane, Daco Monday, Maya Paris and Glamorama Flux (whose work ART ATTACK was the first ever piece she has had on display)

Some other exciting developments with the UWA presence were announce at the awards ceremony. First of all, the Universiy of Western Australia in RL celebrates its centenerary in 2011. For this 100 year anniversary, a special hard cover glossy book is being produced called ‘UWA’s 100 Treasures’ and the ‘UWA presence in Second Life’ has been selected to be one of those treasures!

Also on the 8th of May 2010, the UWA-BOSL Amphitheatre. a space dedicated for not-for-profit Art, Education & Charity events was officially launched. Built by Patch Thibaud, this beautiful new venue has been set up jointly by Best of Second Life (BOSL) and the Unversity of Western Australia (UWA) as part of UWA’s and BOSL’s aims of community service and support of Education and the Arts.

This space will be available free of charge for anyone wanting to organize such events.

Taralyn Gravois has been appointed as Director of the UWA-BOSL Amphitheatre. She has run a 4 SIM theatre in the past, and has a deep love and respect for the arts. In RL she was an award winning television producer for more than a decade. Anyone wanting to run events at the theatre, please contact her.

A partnership has also been formed between UWA, Second Physics and SL Art and Experience Italy for a Science & Art Competition for which registrations close on the 12th of May. The Competition aims to create artworks that communicate scientific concepts, with this first edition devoted to Physics. This is very important to UWA, as the UWA’s SL project is led by the School of Physics. Anyone interested in taking part do send registrations to Majorie Fargis by the 12th of May. Professor Franco Fabbri (RL), a Visiting Scientist at CERN who works on elementary particles, is one of the key people behind this effort.

The University of Western Australia would like to thank the Cultural Precinct at the University of Western Australia, ShedworX.com, the Casey Family of Western Australia, www.etshirts.com, MidnightRain Glas, Sasun Steinbeck, Galea Yates, Tranguloid Trefoil, Lowell Cremorne & Phillip Vought for their continued support of the UWA3D Art & Design Challenge

WINNERS OF THE APRIL ROUND OF THE UWA 3D ART & DESIGN CHALLENGE

IMAGINE CHALLENGE – 3D ART

Imagine Challenge 1st Prize: ($L5,000 + Custom T-Shirt)
JULIA’S MAGIC MIRROR – DEMON by Julez Odigaunt

Imagine Challenge 2nd Prize: ($L1,250)
ORGANIC RECURVE by Glyph Graves

Best Non-Scripted Entry: ($L1,250 + Custom T-Shirt)
THE ABYSS by Sharni Azalee

FLAGSHIP CHALLENGE – BUILDING DESIGN
Flagship Challenge 1st Prize : ($L5,000)
EYE OF THE BEHOLDER by Lilli Field

Flagship Challenge 2nd Prize : ($L1,250)
AxS GALLERY by Nyx Breen

Honourable Mention Prize for GATEWAY TO THE SOUL (L$500)
10 SECONDS OF SL by Gleman Jun

Honourable Mention Prize for SYNCHRONICITY (L$500)
ANIMATED E8 by The Wizard Gynoid

Honourable Mention Prize for CHARITY (L$500)
HELPING HANDS by Ivy Lane

Honourable Mention Prize for COLOUR (L$500)
LUCE E COLORI by Daco Monday

Honourable Mention Prize for TEXTURE & INTERACTION (L$500)
NIGHT BIRD by Maya Paris

THE ANTON MESMER Honourable Mention Prize (L$500)
ART ATTACK by Glamorama Flux

CASEY PRIZE – MARCH (L$4,000)
JUXTAPOSED by Samara Borkotro

CASEY PRIZE – APRIL (L$4,000)
ROUND HOUSE by Gumby Roff

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD (L$500):
LADY WITH FAN by Miso Susanowa

In late March we profiled some work being done by Australians in regards to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

That work has continued, with the launch of an art exhibition occurring this Wednesday May 12th, 6-8pm SL time (11am – 1pm Thursday 13th AEST).

All the works exhibited are by people living with ME/CFS. To have a closer look for yourself, here’s where to go or you can view some pictures of the exhibition space here.

The picture leading this post is an example of the excellent work on show, so take the time to visit if you can.

The University of Western Australia continues its 3D Art and Design Challenge, announcing the March winners. All those details are replicated in full below thanks to the indefatigable Jayjay Zifanwe and the UWA in SL blog.

What’s even more impressive is the announcement that the UWA have agreed to fund the monthly competition for a further three years, to the tune of a million Linden dollars per year for art and half a million for machinima. That equates to around US$6000 per year on top of maintaining the UWA presence, which is certainly a demonstration of confidence by the University. It also extends the life of the competition to August 2013, ensuring exposure of a lot of artists over that time.

Onto the March winners:

Fuschia & Flivelwitz snatch IMAGINE, Breen machine chugs on: March Winners of UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge

For the very first time, a collaborative work has taken the top IMAGINE Arts prize for the March round of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge. The enchanting and enveloping HEATH, created by Fuschia Nightfire & Flivelwitz Alsop held off a very strong field of 55 works from artists all across SL in taking the $L5,000 first prize. Meanwhile in the FLAGSHIP building design challenge, no one seems capable of supooing Nyx Breen who has now won 4 of the 7 to FLASHIP prizes as this yearlong competition has crossed into month 8!

First time entrant, Flivelwitz and veteran Fuschia were thrilled and stunned to have taken the top gong. “Well i suspected we had won something! but not this”, said Fuschia, while Flivelwitz when asked to comment said “It is exciting to be the first to win in a collaboration at the UWA”.

The top 3 in fact were very close, and for the first time ever, a joint 2nd prize was awarded to Julez Odigaunt & Kolor Fall for their incredible works, JULIA’S WILTING HEART SHRINE & OCEANS OF LIGHT.

“Its such an honor that UWA appreciated Julia’s Wilting Heart Shrine. It is a very personal piece and I am glad it was well received. I would like to thank Ulrich Lionheart, the author of the poem. His words are so powerful and full of emotion – purely expressing what I was feeling at the time – it inspired me to create a shrine that allowed me to expose the mindset I was in at the time. It was quite healing” said Julez.

With Nyx’s back to back to back win in March to go with his October win taking his tally to 4, seems it will take some doing to dislodge Nyx who has declared that he will have one FLAGSHIP build submitted each month for the rest of the competition. It is going to take some doing to stop Nyx from having more than half of the entries that will come under consideration for the Grand Prize!

Following the announcements yesterday at the traditional winners announcement party at the UWA SIM, Nyx said, ” I would like to state that outside of developing some wonderful friendships in Second Life, that nothing has been as enjoyable as participating in an event that has truly global and groundbreaking results as the UWA Flagship Challenge. UWA has taken a small art show and made it a must see destination in the Cyber world and an event that if missed in Second Life, then one doesn’t understand the true potential of what was envisioned as the purpose of Second Life… creativity shared across a medium that brings us all closer.Great Job UWA, JJ & Quad and all that help make this possible.”

The best non-scripted entry was BLOOM GLOW by Gumby Roffo, another vetran of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge, while Sharni Azalee’s FOREST OF DREAMS was voted top for the PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD!

The Artist Book Prize, being awarded for the final time, went to Miranda Mhia work, STANDING ROOM ONLY. UWA would like to thank Juanita Deharo, Victor Vezina and Juko Temple for making this award possible.

Other winners include Sundog Branner, Ichiko Miles, Gleman Jun, Betty Tureand and Nish Mip. Full list below.

Some other exciting things were also mentioned during the awards ceremony. First of all, UWA played host both in SL & RL to the Big Kahuna himself M Linden, who for the very first time in any universe was displaying his wonderful artworks. These can still be seen at a permanent exhibition within at the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery which is on one of the 5 UWA SIMS.

This space has been listed as an SL destination for the Arts, which is the 2nd location within the UWA SIMS designated as an SL destination for the Arts, the other one being UWA’s Art & Design Challenge platform.

You can hear M Linden’s speech and watch some of the wonderful machinima created for the event on the UWA in Second Life Blog.

The next wonderful thing, is because of all the good news and publicity surrounding the machinima, the art & design competition and M’s show, UWA have been given funding for the Arts & Machinima for a further 3 years following then end of this current cycle in August 2010. The funding have received will allow UWA to provide L$1,000,000 per year for Art Challenges and L$500,000 for Machinima.

Also mentioned was the work of Lili Field, an Australian RL architect who has recreated UWA’s School of Business Building. A replica created based on the original buidling plans of an incredible award winning build at UWA .

IMAGINE CHALLENGE – 3D ART

Imagine Challenge 1st Prize: ($L5,000 + Custom T-Shirt)
HEATH by Flivelwitz Alsop & Fuschia Nightfire
Imagine Challenge 2nd Prize: ($L1,250) JOINT
OCEANS OF LIGHT by Kolor Fall/Patrick Faith
JULIA’S WILTING HEART SHRINE by Julez Odigaunt
Best Non-Scripted Entry: ($L1,250 + Custom T-Shirt)
BLOOM GLOW by Sledge Roffo

Casey WA Cultural Prize 1st Prize (L$4,000)

TBA

FLAGSHIP CHALLENGE – BUILDING DESIGN
Flagship Challenge 1st Prize : ($L5,000)
AxS GALLERY by Nyx Breen (4th time winner)

Honourable Mention Prize for ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES (L$500)
PRIMATAR’S LOVE: THE EVOLUTION by Gleman Jun

THE ANTON MESMER Honourable Mention Prize (L$500)
KINETIC-ART ELLIPTIC THREADS by Sundog Branner

Honourable Mention Prize for ARTISTRY (L$500):
HERA’S LYRE by Ichiko Miles

Honourable Mention Prize for TEXTURE & ATMOSPHERE (L$500):
BUTTERFLY HOUSE by Nish Mip – submitted for the FLAGSHIP Challenge

ARTIST BOOK PRIZE – 1st Prize (L$2,000):
STANDING ROOM ONLY – Miranda Mhia

ARTIST BOOK PRIZE – Honourable Mention (L$500):

WOMEN ARE AFRICAS HOPE – Betty Tureand

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD (L$500):

FOREST OF DREAMS by Sharni Azalee

Linden Lab CEO Mark Kingdon / M Linden isn’t the sort of guy associated heavily with Second Life’s burgeoning art scene. So it’s a little surprising to find out he’s about to have his first art exhibition.

What’s less surprising, at least to me, is that the exhibition will be occurring as part of the University of Western Australia’s presence in Second Life. I’ve said previously that the ongoing art and machinima competitions there are some of the best anywhere, so it’s a deserved location for exhibitions like these.

The momentum that has been generated and maintained by the UWA team has been nothing short of astounding, and things only seem to be growing further. Back to M Linden, here’s how he describes his history as an artist:

From the time I was 6 years old until I was 20, I had planned to be a painter. As I was contemplating graduating from college with a fine arts degree and all that being an artist entails, I decided to make a hard left turn and follow a radically different path. I changed my major to economics, graduated and went on to business school to get a graduate degree. I doodle to focus my mind and I can do it for hours. But, I prefer doodles that I can complete in one short sitting. I gravitate to repetitive constructs of unbroken intersecting lines or interconnected parallelograms…you could call them “dynamic connected systems.” I guess my art and my interest in economics shared this “connected systems” construct.

Drawing in 3D in Second Life wonderful. I can think bigger and do more in Second Life. It’s changed the way I think about art. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. said it best: “Every now and then a man’s mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions.

The Exhibition is called Doodle Art and its opening is on Saturday 27th March at 3pm SLT (9am Sunday morning AEDT), at the UWA’s Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery. You can get a glimpse in Larkworthy Antfarm’s machinima here:

There’s also real world event taking place at the University this Friday, hosted by artist Len Zuks – contact Jayjay Zifanwe in-world if you’re interested in attending that.

Credits for the exhibition as supplied by Jayjay Zifanwe:

The Curator: White Lebed
UWA Owner & Co-Host: JayJay Zifanwe
The Gallery builders: The Slingshot, Nyx Breen
Logo by: Miso Susanowa
Promotional Machinimas: Chantal Harvery and Larkworthy Antfarm
RL Host at UWA: Len Zuks

Again, congrats to the UWA team for their work. Whether you like M Linden’s art or not, it’s certainly an acknowledgement of the work done by UWA to date and hopefully a good indicator of ongoing success.