Ars Virtua is a new media center and gallery located entirely in a synthetic world. It was created to provide a venue for new genres of work, and as a platform to highlight working artists creating sculpture, architecture, or applying scripts to extend these and explore the interaction of avatars with in 3-D space. Our purpose is to bring the museum into "new media" as opposed to vice versa and provide a platform for work that would otherwise not be accessible.
Where is it? Located at the border of Butler and Dowden in Second Life's virtual environment, Ars Virtua's 3000 square meter two story building is divided into a main gallery space, a lounge and shop and residency space. In order to visit Ars Virtua you will need to create a free account at Second Life (http://secondlife.com/join) and need to be running the current client. Once you have this properly installed you should be able to follow this link directly to Ars Virtua secondlife://Dowden/20/40
Why is it? Ars Virtua is a new type of space that leverages the tension between the 3-D rendered game space and the what is referred to as reality, between the simulated and the simulation. It is one of a series of projects that explore synthetic worlds as the new real.
To these ends Ars Virtua is instituting several programs: the first is the creation of an artist in residence program and providing 400 prims for the use of the selected artist. The second is to host an Ars Virtua New Media Conference early in 2006.
Ars Virtua is an unprofitable volunteer run organization for more information please contact gallery@ArsVirtua.com.
Ars Virtua Mission Statement: •To enhance understanding of constructed worlds, to develop the medium as a force for art production and provide a platform for transvergence with the intersecting media and knowledge fields. •To provide a venue for development of work that cannot exist anywhere else and create a focal point for media and media industry. •To promote the development of a commons in networked space, a place where ideas can be exchanged across physical borders. •To stimulate economic interest in virtual work and create a foundation for the exchange of goods in a new economy.