Beaches Exhibit Artist Interviews: Daze Landar and Skyspinner Soulstar

When we were planning a summer exhibit for Côte de la Mer Galerie & Lawn, many ideas came to mind, but the very best one was right under our noses: Ce Soir Beach! The beach is an icon of summer – a dream vacation or a destination wedding for anyone, or simply a fresh escape for those who live nearby. Beaches are known as locations for fun in the sun, which can mean anything from a spirited volleyball game to langourous hours relaxing with a good book and a cool drink. Who has not enjoyed (or dreamed about) delicious barbecue for a sandy supper, romantic walks long the shore as the sun goes down, or gathering round a bonfire with a group of friends as evening falls, the foam rushing in, the gulls calling o’erhead?

We decided we needed a little research, and so we wandered down to the beach every chance we got. In-world, we played with the WindLight® as we lounged at both Ce Soir and Starry Night Island; in RL, we visited at various times of the day, consciously experiencing shifts in the light as the sun and moon chased one another across the sky. It was enjoyable and quite instructive. The most magical discovery was that there is an endless variety of images possible – environmentally and thematically. In fact, beaches exist at the edge of the world, the expanse of salty sea opening before us in a sweeping panorama – and in quiet inlets where the waters are calm and near bustling civilisation. Both evoke unique feelings and thoughts, and the artists whose work you will see at Côte de la Mer Galerie & Lawn offer the viewer their own unique perspectives to enjoy.

We were pleased to meet Daze Landar when she and her partner Owen visited at Ce Soir Arts. We had known Owen for some time, having hosted his stunning artwork on several occasions. Daze is a charming presence and her in-world photography is exceptional. This talented artist is becoming known for vibrant photography with a unique verisimilitude that rests easy on the eye and offers a deep capacity for immersion. The three photos that Daze has graciously included in the BEACHES Art Exhibit draw the viewer in as an experience. We are taken by each of them for different reasons, and we invite you to take some time to engage with them. What the viewing will reveal to you about your own perspective on beaches will be much more than worth your time, and the idea of what lies ahead in the unfolding of Daze’s work is enticing.

Hosting the work of Skyspinner Soulstar makes us smile. She is a newly exhibiting artist, but she has been a resident in our beloved virtual world for some time. She works with our Poet Laureate, Artist-in-Residence, and Musician Extraordinaire, Russell Eponym. She provides outstanding support of his programmes in-world, offering notices and invitations to his shows to his many fans and friends. Skyspinner recently provided us with a surfboard ride into Russell’s weekly musical show at the lovely undersea world, Merquarium. In addition to that, Skyspinner often finds herself taking photos of the beautiful Kingdom of Alurel, that lovely world that is so richly appointed that it makes a wonderful location for photographs! For her BEACHES piece, Skyspinner has chosen a charming photograph of herself steering into port at Alurel. Viewing her photo, you feel immersed in that enchanting world. With her interest in machinima, we are looking forward to her future work!

THE INTERVIEWS…

Daze Landar:

M: What started you off on the adventure of creating art in your life – in-world or otherwise? Was there a specific moment or experience that sparked your creative energies?

DAZE: I’ve been creating all my life and can’t remember a time when I didn’t have little drawings inside my head or on post-it notes tucked all over.

M: What do you like best about the Second Life® experience? How has it enriched or otherwise informed your artistic work – your process, perspective, choice of media?

DAZE: I came to SL® after seeing some images on Flickr and I thought what a great medium it could be for me to test out. I love the challenge of learning all about the WindLight®, the use of the “camera.” I get closer all the time to what I want to be doing, which is a little less photography and a little bit more of a mixing of mediums with a more painterly approach. It’s been a steep learning curve but I’ve enjoyed every bit of it!

M: Inspiration is important to us at Ce Soir Arts. Where do you most often find the inspiration for your work? What about for your work in the BEACHES exhibit?

DAZE: I find inspiration everywhere. The way a light will accent something, music, a line from a poem, the news, or an image I’ve seen can spark it. Often my images are mood driven and they help me express how I’m feeling at that time. For the BEACHES exhibit, my first thought was to capture my favorite times of the day at the ocean…my peaceful mornings walking (usually before family gets up and things get active), playful afternoons in the water, and quiet sunsets. Living on the east coast I don’t get to see the sun actually setting over the water so SL® is a treat for me…I get to have that kind of sunset all the time!

M: How about the future? What do you forecast or dream for yourself in regards your artistic vision and other creative endeavours?

DAZE: These days I’m dreaming about creating a sim with oodles of prim with my partner Owen Landar. I also want to build, so I am expanding my knowledge by learning Blender. I’m hoping that will get me closer to building a large-scale 3D installation. It’ll take time and I try to be patient, but I get a little excited and ahead of myself to do things that I don’t have the skills for…yet.

M: Wonderful, Daze! We so enjoy your work, finding it quite expressive and engaging. We can’t wait to see what’s next!

Skyspinner Soulstar:

M: What started you off on the adventure of creating art in your life – in-world or otherwise? Was there a specific moment or experience that sparked your creative energies?

SKYSPINNER: As a child, I would spend time drawing floor plans and house designs. As an adult, I think that rubber stamping was the breakthrough for me – I never did learn to do “art,” but with art stamps, I could create cards and scenes and decorate envelopes and generally embellish everything! Within Second Life®, too, I can begin with an in-world snapshot and use it to expand and experiment and explore the possibilities.

M: What do you like best about the Second Life® experience? How has it enriched or otherwise informed your artistic work – your process, perspective, choice of media?

SKYSPINNER: I am constantly in awe of the creative efforts of Second Life® residents – it is truly imagination come to life! In addition to still snapshots (posed or action) I learned to use screen capture software to create machinima – a whole new way to express an idea or inspiration! Video can incorporate visuals, audio, sound effects, visual effects, color exploration…so much!

M: Inspiration is important to us at Ce Soir Arts. Where do you most often find the inspiration for your work? What about for your work in the BEACHES exhibit?

SKYSPINNER: Inspiration is everywhere! Just look around and be amazed, think of possibilities! 🙂 The beach has always been important to me – as a child and teenager, going to the beach regularly for the day – and as an adult, planned vacations to the beach have always been a highlight. I recently moved back to Florida and the beach is more easily available to me again! I had just been to the coast when the BEACHES exhibit was announced, so I was excited to create something to send for consideration.

M: How about the future? What do you forecast or dream for yourself in regards your artistic vision and other creative endeavours?

SKYSPINNER: I hope to create video and use still snapshots to share my current interests and inspirations. I make show posters, too, for an in-world musician, and that keeps me in practice, even when there is no time for the more time-consuming effort of machinima.

M: Thank you, Skyspinner, for sharing this information about your work and for exhibiting with us at Côte de la Mer Galerie & Lawn!
We appreciate your visit to our blog and this posting about two more of the 12 artists exhibiting at the BEACHES Art Exhibit at Côte de la Mer Galerie & Lawn! The exhibit will be open through August; we hope you will come to enjoy…and be inspired tonight!