On Nov. 15th the University of Kentucky Island unveiled a new installation by SL artist AM Radio. With his trademark use of expansive space, Radio has created a unique combination of texture and media elements to form a visually stunning and interactive experience.
Upon arrival at the Island, visitors must teleport through one of the red doors located in the Art Gallery. This teleport location leads up to a skybox platform that takes up the same square footage as the entire island. The landing point sets visitors on a lonely stretch of highway surrounded by empty fields and full scale mountain ranges in the distance. The fields are suffused with video elements that, once activated via the media content button on the bottom toolbar, gives the appearance of an ethereal mist that slowly transforms the surface of the fields into moving light scrolls that increase in intensity until the fields are aglow.
The visual expanse and media light show is cut down the middle by the lonely highway that includes a vintage automobile and large dead tree that floats above the center of the road. The color of the car is changeable by the viewer at a simple touch, and a Western Union telegram that speaks of memories is lying on the road in front of the car. Further down the road near the exit is a pile of upended umbrellas that float at random through the air and drift around as if playing in little whirlwinds. As an interactive element, the umbrellas can be ridden by visitors or run through to scatter them if they so desire. To provide an element of whimsy, Radio has included a school of dragonflies that playfully follow the visitor as they explore the installation.
This installation marks a new arrangement by the University Art Gallery with SL curator Tezcatlipoca Bisiani. Under the arrangement, Bisiani will be responsible for attracting SL artists and hosting new exhibits in this space even though he is not connected to the real life campus. His activities will be monitored by UK New Media Professor Dmitry Strakovsky. The newest installation has proven to be a popular addition as the steady stream of visitors has increased the overall traffic to the Island. This type of arrangement between the general grid population and the educational community can serve as an example of SL community collaboration. The installation will be in place at the University of Kentucky Island Sim until January 1st. AM Radio’s work is extremely well known among the SL arts community. Be sure to explore his other installations across the grid: The Far Away, The Refuge and the Expansion, and The Wheat Field.
UK Island Blog:
http://ukisland.wordpress.com/

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