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Two artworks at an otherwise slightly deserted Brooklyn Is Watching caught my attention yesterday, when I came inworld to prepare my first post for the BiW blog.

But let me first tell you why there’s a new name on the blog. Selavy Oh, for whom I previously had authored brief essays accompanying some of her work, told me about the seemingly desolate situation at BiW and then introduced my to Jay, who was so kind to invite me as guest blogger.

As so often at BiW, it was the concurrence rather than one of the works separately that attracted me. Both works are repetitions of a single element each bearing an avatar name yielding a list of names. The one by SaveMe Oh called My Content / SaveMe’s Men (left image) shows 15 dress forms with text displayed above them, saying “X Y’s content taken by SaveMe Oh”, each one with a different, apparently existing name. The other, Gauntlet Cubes by Oberon Onmura (right image), also displays names, each above one of 25 black or white cubes. While SaveMe Oh’s work is static, the cubes start spinning, change color, and assume your avatar’s name, if your collide with one of them. From the title of Oberon Onmura’s work I guess that it is meant as a response to SaveMe Oh’s installation, referring to her artistic practice of provocation. While SaveMe Oh’s work is probably best understood as pointer to her social performances, or as a detail accompanying her activities, Oberon Onmura’s installation allows a little glimpse of what could possible if the possibilities of the medium were exploited.

“The list is the origin of culture.” (Umberto Eco)

But at this point it is time to ask: hey, is this all you can deliver? Do the artists, both of them well-known and respected in the community, truly think that these works qualify to be exhibited here? Has BiW really become a junkyard for discarded sketches? Don’t leave it at that, give us better work to look at, since we’re watching again!

Posted by Nusch Ray on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 10:50 am.

5 Responses to “Collections”

Hi there Nusch, welcome to BiW.

Not entirely sure what the artists are trying to say with these pieces, but definitely interesting. I should log in and investigate.

Left by Arahan Claveau on February 8th, 2010

Yes, it’s a sketch. But not a discarded sketch. I’ve always used BIW as a really good place to try out ideas and get responses, especially responses from other artists.

I’m developing this idea further – the current version is considerably different already than the one pictured here. And the finished version, if it gets that far, will be different still.

I don’t think BIW should serve as a sandbox, exactly. But it has a history of artist interactions – people riffing off of each others’ works – sometimes you can tell that the artist just made something on the spot in response to something that was there. Personally, I value that interaction, which isn’t at all the same experience – for the artist or for the viewer – as mounting finished pieces in a curated show.

Left by oberon.onmura on February 9th, 2010

My work was already returned before I saw this discussion. Content taken out, so to speak. At least the gardener passes by once in a while.

Left by savemeoh on February 9th, 2010

Nusch,

BiW has always been a junkyard, a pile of ideas juxtaposed in self-curatorial space. Where have you been? What made it exciting for artists to place their work is the AUDIENCE. The artists have gone where the audience is and trends change fast on the grid and in blogland. (and make no mistake, what made BiW really click was the artist community)

BiW started to wither during the contest period which tore apart a community that took a year to create. This was exacerbated by two sim moves in a row that shook loose all but the most persistent SL viewers, contributors, and probably most of the blog audience.

Thanks to Mab and the Soup krew for hosting, but if the blog has no real zest and consistancy, and there is no audience in Brooklyn, what makes BiW different from any depopulated sim in SL?

All the practitioners well known for contribution to the fame of BiW have spun out into the grid into other venues, each maturing and working their individual careers. You want them back? You bring the audience and they will provide the art. OK?

Some practitioners are still contributing over a year later so instead of calling into question the quality of the art, it might be more relevant to work to rebuild the community, recapture the audience and return stuff that has been forever.

Cheers,

Deranged Cognition

PS

Its a sad state when the most interesting thing on the blog used to be a ruffian riffing on the furry friends! Now that she’s been domesticated, its a snoozer.

Left by DC Spensley on February 10th, 2010

just a very brief response: thanks a lot to all of you for your comments! yes, dc, the community is important! and i’m sure we’ll manage to get back an audience. as far as i heard, sowa did the first new podcast, so we’ll be able to hear new discussions again.
and concerning commenting and riffing: indeed, there having been fantastic interactions in the past, think of the now almost historical ones such as arahan & ichibot’s, or the more recent one around the big red assemblage. and it is my hope that we get more of that quality …

Left by Nusch Ray on February 10th, 2010

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