Posts by Naima Rejkus:
Fingers Scintilla – the future of SL art?
January 15th, 2010
Fingers Scintilla is one of those artists who will take you completely by surprise. Unpredictable, funny and one of the friendliest people I have met, Fingers is most certainly intriguing.
It is not difficult to consider him a friend. Fingers warms up to people with as much enthusiasm as he puts into his work. He is humble, quick to compliment another artist’s work and doesn’t seem to take it all or himself too seriously. Basically… Fingers Scintilla is as fascinating as the art he creates.
I remember the first time I came across Fingers’ Flickr stream. I was not convinced I was seeing SL art. The images were strangely twisted, bold and perhaps a little too realistic for my belief. Some pictures I found fascinating and others borderline disturbing. This was not typical SL art; either the expressions were too natural or the emotion was too alarming. To me, this was a rare and very special find. From that moment on, I have been following Fingers’ work and it has only grown to be that much more impressive.
With many top secret projects in the making, Fingers has a lot to share with the SL art lovers’ community. For the next few weeks, Fingers will be displaying his work at the smArt Gallery in an expo called “His Very Best”. Then there is an expo in the works for the What I Love gallery, and something very special is already lined up for the Onscura Gallery. I was able to have a peek and wow! Can you say eye candy? I promise that there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Fortunately for Fingers, coming up with ideas isn’t difficult. When I ask, he tells me that he can come up with five themes on the spot, something I could never do. Still, I am not surprised after seeing the magnitude and range of his work. For Fingers, nothing is out of reach, and anything can and does happen. This is his virtual playground and we are his adoring audience waiting to see what he surprises us with next.
If you are familiar with Fingers’ work already, you know that his style is unmatched. I have not seen anything like it, personally. Most portraits are not as electrifying, distorted, or as explosive. His work on the body and mind are not your typical pretty pieces, but pieces that force you to stop and think and possibly learn.
What I did not know and what sets him apart from most of us is that for most of his pieces, Fingers creates his avatars, he creates his poses and he creates his sets. Of course, Fingers will never take total credit. He is quick to give gratitude and credit to his equally talented partner, Ariel Brearly.
Together, they do it all. Did I mention that Fingers and Ariel have a gallery of their own, too? Of course they do! The Benzaiten Gallery is home to some incredible pieces of art. I recently went to an opening event, “The Asylum,” at their gallery and it was like no other art expo. I was fascinated with not only the art but the structure of the event. The room, the props, the music, the avatars and all the chaos were nothing short of thrilling. Rather than your typical art expo or opening, I was seeing a performance on its own. There was no doubt that this was a Fingers Scintilla and Ariel Brearly production.
So if you haven’t already been to Fingers’ Flickr stream, I encourage you to do so, but please do not stop there. Seeing his work in-world where it comes alive is a must.
In a personal message from Fingers, words he lives by, we close with this:
“The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.”
~ Norman Vincent Peale
Milano Holidays 2009
December 16th, 2009
Milano Holidays 2009 is already underway and by the sounds of it, this is the event that you don’t want to miss! There is something about the blend of art, holiday cheer and charity that has a way of making you feel alive.
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to ask the very talented and generous Shiryu Musashi a few questions to help me (and you) have a better understanding about the motivation and passion behind this extraordinary event.
NR – Milano Holidays 2009 is just underway and I can imagine that you must be very excited. How long did it take for you to prepare for such a celebrated event?
SM – It always takes quite a few between the “gathering ideas” phase and the execution. It took probably about a month, but of course I worked on it only during spare time, so the actual time spent on it is less.
NR – Just from following your line in Plurk, I know that a lot of attention and consideration went into this charity portion of the event. What I would love to know is what inspired you to choose Toys for Tots?
SM – I think there are a few charities that are more appropriate for a Christmas-themed exhibition. There are many, too many children that don’t really HAVE a christmas, and Toys for Tots tries to put a small but meaningful patch to that. That’s why I encourage my fellow second life residents to help by making the picture frame part of their gifts for their friends this year. It’s very affordable, and you will give a gift not to one person only, but to two!
NR – I have noticed that for a small donation you are giving a very generous gift of original Christmas photographs in sculpted frames. With ten unique pictures and the rights to transfer, there is no doubt that these will make a wonderful Christmas gift to family and friends. How did you decide on this gift and what pictures to use?
SM – I thought it was a good idea to let people bring home a “slice of Christmas” in a country that many don’t see often, and in a city that is absolutely charming but often gets neglected even by people that do come to Italy (most go to Rome or Venice, they’re beautiful as well, but Milan deserves a visit, believe me). As for the picture I chose, it was just a matter of personal preference. I selected my ten favourites and the ones that, in my eyes, shown the Christmas spirit the most.
NR – The exhibition itself is displaying 50 original pictures and 2 films that you have created. The theme is based on the holiday season in the beautiful city of Milan. What do you hope your guests will take from seeing these pieces that you so carefully put together?
SM – I love lights, they are part of what makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside at during the Holidays. In my eyes they are a symbol for so many good and warm things. So I wanted to share not only the natural charm, but also the lights of my city with everyone else, to share part of those warm feelings. If someone will come to my exhibition and will go back home at least a bit warmed up by all those lights, I will have achieved my goal.
NR – I understand that there is more to come. You are also working on a second event, World Holidays 2009. This event invites your guests to take part of a grand contest and gives them the opportunity to receive prizes from your sponsors, Musashi-Do and SySy’s. Though information on how to participate can be found at: http://musashido.blogspot.com/2009/12/milano-holidays-2009-photographic.html , do you have any tips for those who would be entering?
SM – Actually there isn’t much to say tips-wise, every kind of holiday themed picture (not just Christmas, but also Hanukkah and other winter holidays) is eligible. It’s not a matter of having the best picture, but a matter of sharing how the holiday season looks where you live. This is why I decided that the contest won’t have any “judging”, and the prizes will be given by raffle. In the context of this exhibition, a cheerful and cute picture taked with a cellphone has the same value than an astonishing and artful picture taken with a 2000 dollars professional camera. I encourage everyone not to be shy and to enter, let’s get together to show everyone how the Holidays look all over the world!
Thank you Shiryu for your time and inspiration during this otherwise hectic Holiday season!
A Very smArt Gallery
December 13th, 2009
Whenever I walk into the new smArt Gallery, I can’t help but to smile. This is a very familiar place for me, a place where I go to be amongst friends, to meet other art lovers and to find a dose of inspiration.
smArt Gallery is impressive in size and in content; the main room is as inviting as it is vast. One after another, the walls are lined with brilliant pieces of art created by the gallery owners, Zolar Merlin and Lifer Bloobury. Proudly displayed on one wall hang two large pieces of art with award ribbons attached. These special pieces were created by the winners of the latest contest held by the smArt Gallery Flickr Group, SL 10+ Faves – Naughty ‘n’ Nice.
The theme? Water. The selected pieces? Superb.
Take a stroll just around the corner and you will find yourself in another large room. This is the place that transforms into the temporary home for the smArt Gallery’s guest artists, who will have their very own run at displaying their pieces of work for all to enjoy. I understand the importance of this room very well and I am sure that many artists will tell you that there is something to be said about seeing your own work in a gallery and having the opportunity to invite your own friends, other artists, and art lovers to see your work arranged so prominently.
As cliche` as it may sound, it really does seem like only yesterday that Zolar and Lifer began this joint venture. It was not so long ago that the gallery was much smaller, yet it still offered a home for guests artists to show their work and minister their growth. I have been privileged to sit among some very talented artists who have had this rare opportunity. Flickr Artists such as Raven, MissEm Boa, Leo Xenno, Janellem Capalini, Mariella Tammas, Riri Bazar and the newest smArt Gallery guest, Nevery Lorakeet, have graced the walls at smArt Gallery. I have no doubt that this list will only continue to grow as there are many more artists lined up, eager to display their gifts to this ever-growing art community. With each new guest and opening celebration, new friendships are forged and collaborations are planned. These openings play such a monumental role in an artist’s growth, even when the opening may not be their own.
As for the gallery itself, smArt Gallery offers something for everyone. It is here that you will find a variety of beautiful landscapes, portraits, fantasy, humor and intimate scenes to some more mature pieces hidden discreetly behind a keyhole.
When I asked Lifer what inspired her and Zolar to create smArt Gallery, she answered honestly, “The reason we opened the gallery originally was primarily to display our own work , but we also wanted to create a means of bringing the Flickr community together inworld. So we had the idea of a guest exhibitor, changing the artist every couple of weeks.”
“Bringing the Flickr Community together inworld “ - one artist at a time, that is just what they are doing.
SL 10+ Faves – Naughty ‘n’ Nice Flickr Group:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1249368@N20/
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