ArthOle group on Flickr

Arahan Claveau (aka Steve Millar) has created a new group on Flickr for images (old & new) relating to the ArthOle gallery, events and performances. Yay!

(* Many are probably NSFW.)

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE GROUP PAGE!

ArthOle reforms for Odyssey

(picture and text courtesy of Arahan Claveau/Steve Millar)

ArthOle reforms for Odyssey

ArthOle has reformed for the 2011 Odyssey Performance Art Festival, and will host a remixed performance of ORIENTATION (last seen in 2009).

ORIENTATION is a multimedia promenade performance that relies on audience participation. The attendees arrive at the location and will be guided by interactions from the actors.

Due to the nature of the performance, numbers will be limited to ten people per date, on a first-come, first-served basis. Please reserve your place by contacting Arahan Claveau or Nebulosus Severine in-world.

First performance:
Sunday 10th July at 12pm SLT/PDT, 3pm EDT, 8pm BST

Second performance:
Thursday 14th July at 12pm SLT/PDT, 3pm EDT, 8pm BST

Duration – 20 minutes (approx.)

"...it played with different tropes that already exist within the medium, in a way that's far better than most other pieces I've ever seen."
Amy Wilson

odysseysimulator.blogspot.com
artholeblog.blogspot.com

ArthOle reforms for Odyssey

ArthOle (Arahan Claveau and Nebulosus Severine) is reforming for The 2011 Odyssey Performance Art Festival (July 7-16th)

More details soon...

XXX PRIVATE SHOW to be part of the MaMachinima International Festival

XXX PRIVATE SHOW, a machinima that I helped to create with Arahan Claveau as a part of an installation of the same name for ArthOle Season 2, is being shown at the Ma Machinima International Festival, an event that is held both in Second Life and in Amsterdam. I will be in attendance in Second Life for the event, at around 11:30 am PST/2:30 EST, to answer questions and speak about the film.

I've copied & pasted some relevant information, from both the ArthOle blog (courtesy of Arahan Claveau) and from the MMIF press release:

This weekend sees the return of the annual Ma Machinima International Festival (MMIF), and a machinima entitled XXX PRIVATE SHOW I shot for an installation at the ArthOle gallery in 2008, is showing as part of the festival's schedule. MMIF 2011 runs from Friday June 17 through Saturday June 18, and the ArthOle machinima will play on Saturday in block 3, starting at 11.30am (SLT/PDT).

MMIF is a mixed-reality event, taking place simultaneously at the LEA Theatre in Second Life and Club Karlsson in Amsterdam.

(read the entire article on the ArthOle blog page here)

--------------------

Avatars starring at Global Film Festival MMIF 2011

MaMachinima International Festival
June 17 / 18, 2011
Web live + LEA Theatre (SL™) + Club Karlsson, Amsterdam (NL)

‘MMIF 2011′ is the third edition of an annual film festival in 3D cyberspace with an interactive cinema screening in physical space (‘RL’). Audiences can follow some of the MMIF happenings live via the web.

The MMIF is a celebration of Machinima: films created in virtual worlds and video games. On 3D Internet platforms like Second Life® for instance, any kind of movie set can be built at very low cost. The MMIF aims to bring Machinima, a new cinematic art form, to a wider audience. Films by professional machinima producers and by those who are just starting out will be screened at MMIF 2011. Machinima directors and avatar actors from all over the world are present in real time at the virtual theatre in SL. These ’Machinimatographers’ will present over fifty short films and discuss their work in front of a live global audience of viewers.

(read the rest of the press release here)

Arthole is closing.

It is with regret we announce the closure of Arthole on September 30th 2009.

We are unfortunately unable to dedicate the necessary time to the gallery anymore, and for a number of other reasons feel it is time to move on and go our separate ways. We are enormously proud of what we've achieved over the last sixteen months and are very grateful for all the support from our members and the incredible talents of guest artists; Ichibot Nishi, Selavy Oh, Dekka Raymaker and Penumbra Carter.

Thanks also to Lysander Edo and Khamudy Mannonen for donating land, and Amy Freelunch for all her encouragement and enthusiasm.

We will continue to work in Second Life, keep an eye on our respective blogs for news on future projects and exhibitions -
Arahan Claveau
Nebulosus Severine

The final broadcast of Arthole Radio will be on Wednesday 26th August from 1pm Second Life time
(1pm US/PDT / 9pm UK/BST / 4pm US/EDT).

Listen live at the Arthole gallery in Second Life or open this link in your media player.

-Arahan & Nebulosus-

"...what/who IS Bunnyken, anyway??"

This post is long overdue. I can't tell you how many times I've had to explain the story behind Bunnyken, so I'll make an entry here for posterity.

Simply put, Bunnyken is a half bunny, half chicken creature -- hence the name. Although I often refer to it as "he," it is of indeterminate gender.

But the mythos of Bunnyken cannot be explained that easily. Not by a long shot.

It all began about 5 years ago, when I came across a very strange item for sale while searching weird auctions on Ebay just for the hell of it:

(image copyright: the original photographer, whoever you are...)

It was listed as Bunnyken, and I thought it was funny & creepy and odd, so I saved the pictures of it.

Fast-forward to a couple of years later, when I was pondering what avatar to wear to W-hat's Third Birthday celebration (April 27, 2007) in Second Life.

Arahan, CickMy Lunt (now known as CensoredMy Lunt, due to SL's ridiculous, crybaby policies) and I were set to DJ for the event, so I wanted something funny and weird to wear.

I somehow remembered the pictures of the bizarre bunny/chicken doll I had saved, and I thought I'd try to recreate it in Second Life.

Arahan (left) and me get ready for the big party!

The above picture shows the first incarnation of the Bunnyken avatar. I later improved it with better texturing, etc.

In Second Life, I began to make various prim sculptures of Bunnyken -- the first significant one being, of course, Bunnykenball at Brooklyn Is Watching, about a year ago:

I grew more and more obsessed with this mysterious character, and wanted to know more about it. I searched the web in vain for any information about its origins -- there is literally NOTHING out there, I have tried.

I kicked myself for not bidding on that Ebay auction! I didn't think I would ever be lucky enough to find one again... but lo and behold, about one year ago, I found ANOTHER for sale on Ebay, and I bought it.

This is actually Bunnyken in its original form.

[The one in the yellow suit must have been someone else's weird creation -- a Bunnyken head on a decapitated doll body. Genius.]

It appears to be some kind of cheap plastic Easter toy. The head is easily removed and has a hollow tube neck. The button on the front of its body turns. I think it's some kind of candy dispenser -- fill it with jellybeans or other small candies, turn the button, and a single jellybean will be dispensed into one of the little indentations on the base, each of which has short phrase:

-- BE GOOD -- BE HAPPY -- YOU'RE SWEET -- I'M IN LOVE -- LUCKY ONE --
-- ROCK 'N ROLL -- SAY YOUR PRAYERS -- HUG ME -- KISS ME --

(image copyright: the original photographer, whoever you are...)

I asked the sellers if they knew ANYTHING about Bunnyken's background -- what year(s) it was made, where it was manufactured, anything. The sellers had actually brought this Bunnyken to Antiques Roadshow, and even the appraiser had no idea what the hell it was.

From the Ebay auction page:

"It reads BUNNYKEN on the bottom so I am assuming that is who made it.

I took it to the Antiques Roadshow, they had never seen or heard of one before and thought it was pretty rare and very different than anything they had seen.

They apprised (sic) it between $75 and $100...."

Since then, Bunnyken has returned time and time again to my SL artwork (often with Arahan's help)...

I have since found and purchased yet another Bunnyken on Ebay, but I am no closer to figuring out anything about its origins.

It is still as mysterious, creepy, and whimsical as it has ever been. And I am not really quite sure why, or how, but the character of Bunnyken seems to have taken on a life, and will, of its own. It is a godlike figure, and demands worship.

Last chance to see...

The 'Kiss the Sky' Hyperformalism exhibit, curated by Dancoyote Antonelli, is closing after this weekend, and I will be taking down my two works late Saturday/early Sunday, February 15th.

Pulse Points (I, II, III)


Your Path To Divinity

Additionally, I will be taking down my Arthole Level 1 installation, 'Paranoia/Watching The Sky For Planes' late Sunday, February 15th. After this date, Level 1 of the gallery will remain closed while Arahan & I prepare for Arthole Season 3.

SLurls: Kiss the Sky
Pulse Points (I, II, III)
http://slurl.com/secondlife/NMC%20Arts%20Lab/250/110/301
Your Path To Divinity
http://slurl.com/secondlife/NMC%20Arts%20Lab/8/131/301

SLurl: Arthole
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kress/168/88/391


[ "Kiss the Sky" blogged on New World Notes:
http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2009/02/last-chance-to-see-the-sky.html ]

Arthole Season 2.5 - This weekend!

Saturday February 7th 2009 --

Arthole welcomes our new guest artist, Dekka Raymaker.

Join the artist from 1pm SLT/PST for the launch of his work,
'The Church of Whoami' on Level 3 of the gallery.

Previous work by Arahan Claveau and Nebulosus Severine will remain on-site for viewing as they prepare new projects for Season 3.

SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kress/168/88/391

Selavy discusses "systems of reference"

If you didn't attend Selavy's event at Arthole on Sunday, you REALLY missed out on a fascinating discussion. Selavy presented a slideshow of some of the various art pieces that went into influencing her work. It was a great insight into "systems of reference" and into the mind of the artist as well!

For anyone who may have been interested in the background music I was playing, here's the track listing:

Baltic Fleet - Berlin 8mm Deep
The Album Leaf - Window
Aphex Twin - I
Biosphere - Startoucher
Apparat - Interrupt
Clock DVA - Dark Attractor
Breakage - The 9th Hand
Butthole Surfers - Whirling Hall of Knives
Scorn - The End
Portishead - Hunter
Black Dog - Raxmus
Boards of Canada - Slow This Bird Down
Autechre - Altibzz
Maninkari - Participation Mystic (Jesu Remix)
Nine Inch Nails - Corona Radiata
Cut Copy - Time Stands Still

Selavy's installation will remain on Arthole Level 3 until January 31st. She has decided to leave the slideshow running automatically, so you can have a look for yourself.

SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kress/168/88/391
(You will arrive in the Arthole lobby, but there is a teleport to Level 3 on the floor.)

Save the dates -- Season 2.5 is coming!

Arthole is excited to announce our new guest artist, Dekka Raymaker.

On Saturday, February 7, 2009, Dekka takes over from Selavy Oh with an installation entitled The Church of Whoami that will occupy Level 3 of the gallery.

Dekka has been an active participant at Brooklyn Is Watching and is a graphic designer by profession in real life.

On Sunday, January 25th at 1pm SLT, a farewell party will be held to give viewers a last chance to see Selavy's Systems of Reference. It will remain on Level 3 until January 31st, so see this amazing, complex work while you still can.

Level 3 of Arthole will re-open on February 7th, event details will be announced soon.

Previous work by Arahan and Nebulosus will remain on-site for viewing as they prepare new projects for Season 3.

SLurl to Arthole: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kress/168/88/391

Shop

It is with quite a bit of reluctance that I return to the realm of selling things in Second Life.


I used to have a shop called Numinous, but I closed it in June of 2008 so that I could focus more on creating art. I always felt like I had a bit of an obligation hanging over my head to keep updating and promoting it, which frustrated me to no end -- especially since the commerce world of Second Life has gotten much, much more competitive (and cutthroat).

But I also missed out on MUCH needed funding that helped keep up my artistic pursuits. Arthole has a donation box, but I'm simply not getting enough from that.

So to make a long story short, I recently began setting up a NEW shop; however, this one has an entirely different philosophy.

It's called Night-Ghast, and you can purchase anything I create there by simply making a donation of L$1 or more for the item you want.

So, that if you think a Glowing Tree I made is worth L$50, you can pay the vendor that amount; or, if you like a jewelry set I made but only have a few Lindenbux to spend, you can pay the vendor L$1 and still get it.


Why am I doing it this way?

Two reasons:
-- I feel uncomfortable asking for a certain amount of money; I never know what to charge for things.
-- I want my products to be accessible and affordable. Art/culture/cool stuff shouldn't JUST be for people who have a lot of money.

I will blog more about this soon. In the meantime, if you want to check out what I have set up so far (at the moment, it's winter/holiday/Xmas stuff), here's a SLurl --
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kress/243/89/149

AM Radio on Arthole Radio this Wednesday!

Arthole Radio is pleased to announce that the first ever voice interview with elusive Second Life artist AM Radio will broadcast as part of The Amy Freelunch Hour this Wednesday, November 26th (details below). The interview was recorded after the two met in person last week, over breakfast.

In Amy Freelunch's words:

"I was honored - and shocked, actually - that AM agreed to meet up with me and to record an interview. In person, I found him to be deeply thoughtful and articulate, more than I even expected - and I had pretty high expectations! He has much to contribute to the art community through his ideas and words, all of which makes me very excited to share this conversation with you."

Freelunch is in the process of creating an archive of recorded conversations with Second Life artists; this talk with AM Radio is the first in that series. Next week (December 3rd) her show will feature a conversation with writer Cyrus Huffhines (known in RL as Bryan Campen), who produced the virtual installation for 77 Million Paintings by Brian Eno. Huffhines speaks about a build he is currently working on, recreating his childhood home from which he and his family - including his bi-polar father - were evicted when the artist was an adolescent.

In real life, Amy Freelunch (aka Amy Wilson) is an artist and college professor of art, art history, and critical studies at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. Formally a regular contributor to Brooklyn is Watching, Freelunch joined Arthole Radio shortly after its launch in September 2008. She writes about Second Life art and culture in her blog see-through - amyfreelunch.wordpress.com.

Arahan Claveau: 9.00pm UK/GMT (1.00pm SL/PST)
Amy Freelunch: 10.30pm UK/GMT (2.30pm SL/PST)

-INTERMISSION-

Nebulosus Severine: 9.00pm US/EST (6.00pm SL/PST)
Amy Freelunch: 10.30pm US/EST (7.30pm SL/PST)

To listen to the stream, copy and paste this link into your streaming media player - http://slan13.ipr365.com:10320

ORIENTATION at PICNIC '08

Live recorded footage from Amsterdam:



(World of SL readers, please click here for a link to the video.)

Arthole Radio weekly live broadcast

(Cross-posted to the Arthole blog - original post by Arahan)

From Wednesday 24th September we start weekly live broadcasts of Arthole Radio.

So the show can reach people in different time zones we will broadcast twice every Wednesday -

Arahan Claveau - 9pm GMT (1pm SL/PDT)

Nebulosus Severine - 9pm EDT (6pm SL/PDT)

Open this link in your media player of choice e.g Winamp, Windows Media Player, iTunes etc.

Burned into my memory: "A plane just hit the World Trade Center"

I had been at work (at a bookstore) when one of my co-workers told me the news.

For a long time after that day, I was terrified every time I heard or saw a plane fly overhead. I lived near an airport at the time, and what had once been an everyday sound now sent me into a panic.

I am a highly empathic person, and being acutely aware of the emotional state of literally everyone around me, I often became completely overwhelmed in the months following.

I was like many who couldn't turn off the television or stop watching. Since then, I've pretty much stopped paying attention to the news altogether.

(From the information notecard I added to this installation)

Arthole aftermath

Some pics from the opening event for Arthole Season 2:


Me



Arahan



Jinx Paz

sp00ky Graves

See the rest of the Season 2 collection here.

ORIENTATION aftermath

Wow! Crazy but awesome day -- the ORIENTATION event was a bit chaotic but overall amazing! If you missed it, you should kick yourself because it was fucking fun as hell! Haha!

The build comes down September 1st but I will pack it away carefully for another time. Arahan & I look forward to having another opportunity to host the build/event again elsewhere.

See the rest of the pictures here (more to be added soon):
http://flickr.com/photos/nebulosus_severine/sets/72157607032361318/

Read about the mixed-reality event in Amsterdam here:
http://www.debalie.nl/artikel.jsp?articleid=258551&podiumid=cinema

Paranoia/Watching The Sky For Planes re-worked for Arthole Season 2

Since Level One of Arthole is meant for showcasing some of our older work, I decided to refresh the build (or aspects of it, anyway) that I did for Burning Life 2006 called 'Paranoia/Watching The Sky For Planes.' I just hope I can finish it in time for the opening on Sunday! Haha.

Busy busy weekend for Arthole!

Lotta stuff going on for Arahan & me over the next few days:

ARTHOLE WEEKENDER

SATURDAY August 30, 2008 -- 4 pm til 4:30 pm SLT/PST
'ORIENTATION'

Arahan Claveau and Nebulosus Severine will be hosting a live performance entitled "ORIENTATION" for the event Club Goodbye Dollar. This is a cross-reality event; the performances in Second Life will be broadcast simultaneously in a cinema in Amsterdam and also via live audio and video streams on the web at:
http://www.debalie.nl/live +
http://1.live.nu +
http://dfm.nu
and inworld on Second Life virtual videoscreens.

Other live performances include the Shamanes, The Avatar Orchestra Metaverse, Second Front, d-oo-b, DFM RTV INT, Lauren Weyland, Akrazul Boa and Amari Soyinka.

Full details on the debalie cinema website -
http://www.debalie.nl/artikel.jsp?articleid=258551&podiumid=cinema

*PLEASE NOTE THAT AUDIO AND VIDEO IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE PERFORMANCE. PLEASE ENSURE YOUR OPTIONS ARE ENABLED PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT THE LOCATION.

SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cow/52/14/1030

---------------------------

SUNDAY August 31, 2008 -- 1 pm SLT/PST onward
ARTHOLE SEASON 2 Launch

On Sunday 31st August from 1.00PM SLT/PST Arthole reopens to reveal the new Season 2 work. The three levels in the gallery will feature -

LEVEL 1 WEST WING - PARANOIA, Watching the Skies for Planes - New version of Burning Life 2006 installation by Nebulosus Severine.

LEVEL 1 EAST WING - Injustice - An extended chance to see this work by Arahan Claveau, originally part of his super fun happy club and The Love That Dare Not Speak its Name for KunstVlaii.

LEVEL 2 - XXX PRIVATE SHOW - Arahan Claveau & Nebulosus Severine have together created a disorienting, unsettling environment, incorporating audio and video into the experience.

LEVEL 3 - systems of reference - The smart talent of Selavy takes over Level 3 from Ichibot Nishi and begins residence as our new guest artist for Season 2.

SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kress/168/89/391

See you over the weekend!

Last chance to see 'The Cult(ure) of Television'

I will be taking down my Level 1 installation, 'The Cult(ure) of Television' on Saturday, August 23. Friday, August 22 will be the last chance to see it.

After this date, my Level 1 side of the gallery will remain closed until August 31 so that I can prepare for Arthole Season 2.

SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kress/168/89/391