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.

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.

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