ARTEE GOES BACK TO BACK, OBERON & GLYPH SHARE 7: WINNERS OF THE UWA 3D OPEN ART CHALLENGE (AUGUST)

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With Artistide Despres tribute to Olivier Messiaen (Petite etude sur Olivier Messiaen) taking the top prize of L$10,000 for the month of August, Artee becomes the only person still in Second Life to have won a UWA monthly challenge back to back! The biggest winners on the night however in terms of prize money are two stalwarts of virtual arts, Oberon Onmura & Glyph Graves, who between them won 7 awards and L$35,000. Oberon, with 'The Chasm' and Glyph with 'Excerpts from Realities' took 3 groups awards each, qualifying direct for the Grand Finale. Oberon also took the 3rd overall prize. Another champion of old, Eliza Wierwight also gained direct qualification to the Grand Finale by taking the 'Peace Prize' and the Curator's Choice Award, with her Dali & Westwood inspired creation, 'The Abandoned Daughter'. The 2nd Overall prize was won by a first timer to the UWA challenges, but a veteran of the art world, Pixels Sideways, who also took the Phi Designs Prize. In the Non-Scripted category, there was a tie yet again with Harter Fall's 'Behind Columns' deadlocked with Cherry Manga's 'Birdsong'. Harter also took People's Choice Award just ahead of Cherry's other work, 'Aerie'.

COMPLETE PHOTO ARCHIVE OF AUGUST ENTRIES

Quan's Travelogues on the August Round
PRIM PERFECT Blog on August Winners
JAPANESE BLOGGER TEMI SIRBU AUGUST ROUND WORKS (Glyph Graves)
JAPANESE BLOGGER TEMI SIRBU ON AUGUST PART II (Harter Fall)
JAPANESE BLOGGER TEMI SIRBU ON AUGUST PART III (Haveit Neox, Kicca Igaly, Oberon Onmura)
JAPANESE BLOGGER TEMI SIRBU ON AUGUST PART IV (Silene Christen & Pixels Sideways)
Apmel Goosson on the August Round Winners
Nordan Art Blog on August
TOXX News on August Winners
Guest Blogger Rowan Derryth on the August Round
Silene Christen on her August Round Work
Apmel Goosson on the August Round Works
Guest Blogger Victoria Lennoire on the August Round Works


FULL RESULTS FOLLOW AND THE TEXT OF THE WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT IS REPRODUCED BELOW IN ITS ENTIRETY

WINNERS OF THE AUGUST ROUND OF THE UWA 3D OPEN ART CHALLENGE

1st Prize: (L$10,000)
PETITE ETUDE SUR OLIVIER MESSIAEN by Artistide Despres


"I feel very honored with this prize. I need to thanks some people: Glyph Graves (i met him 3 years ago at Caerleon) who told me to be careful with the sims resources. Pixels Sideways who made it possible for me to stay in that wonderful Caerleon artist collective where i learned it.
Georg Janick who gave us a theoretical push. And many other good people that are devoted to creation on this small changing world." Artistide Despres

2nd Prize : ( L$7,500)
OMNIPOTENT by Pixels Sideways



"I'm thrilled to have been honored by these awards -- stunned, really -- and I hope my work and the work of all the artists in SL inspires people to to try their hand at building and creating art and having fun and a sense of humor. :-)" Pixels Sideways

3rd Prize: (L$5,000)
THE CHASM by Oberon Onmura

"My experiments with bot pieces explore deep feelings - something I'm not comfortable with myself. The amazing responses to these works give me real encouragement to continue that exploration. I want to thank everyone for these wonderful awards!" Oberon Onmura

Best Non-Scripted Prize (JOINT) : (@L$2,500)
BEHIND COLUMNS by Harter Fall

"The goal with my pieces was to surprise the viewer , preferably at second glance. I am very pleased that my work gained recognition. I want to thank all the jurors and the UWA and Oddyssey team, as well all the visitors and supporters of the UWA competition." Harter Fall

BIRDSONG by Cherry Manga

"Thanks a lot for this prize, I am very honoured." Cherry Manga

SPECIAL PRIZE - RL/SL PHOTO COMPETITION (L$12,500)
BUSINESS SCHOOL by Silene Christen


"Really it was very important that something from SL was taken in account in RL, it means we are doing something important and that in future, virtual media will be a common way to express and comunicate. and to be one of the winners it has been very important for me and also a honour. Thanks to UWA, SL and RL :)))" Silene Christen

UTSA Prize: (L$5,000)
EN EL VIENTO - IN THE WIND by Romy Nayar

" I am grateful to UTSA for awarding me the prize. And I'm very happy that they like it" Romy Nayar

SL Art Prize: (L$5,000)
EXCERPTS FROM REALITIES by Glyph Graves

"Am very pleased to have been awarded these prize and hope it takes us one step further to the merginging of rl and virtual" Glyph Graves

Odyssey Prize: (L$5,000)
BEHIND COLUMNS by Harter Fall

"The goal with my pieces was to surprise the viewer , preferably at second glance. I am very pleased that my work gained recognition. I want to thank all the jurors and the UWA and Oddyssey team, as well all the visitors and supporters of the UWA competition." Harter Fall

Pirats Prize: (L$5,000)
THE CHASM by Oberon Onmura

"My experiments with bot pieces explore deep feelings - something I'm not comfortable with myself. The amazing responses to these works give me real encouragement to continue that exploration. I want to thank everyone for these wonderful awards!" Oberon Onmura

CARP Prize: (L$5,000)
EXCERPTS FROM REALITIES by Glyph Graves

"Am very pleased to have been awarded these prize and hope it takes us one step further to the merginging of rl and virtual" Glyph Graves

Nordan Art Prize: (L$5,000)
THE CHASM by Oberon Onmura


"My experiments with bot pieces explore deep feelings - something I'm not comfortable with myself. The amazing responses to these works give me real encouragement to continue that exploration. I want to thank everyone for these wonderful awards!" Oberon Onmura

BOSL Prize: (L$5,000)
HAMLET: ALAS POOR YORICK by Nino Vichan

S&S Gallery OFA Prize (L$5,000)
DE MOEDER (THE MOTHER) by Wolk Writer

THE PEACE PRIZE (L$5,000)
THE ABANDONED DAUGHTER by Eliza Wierwight

"How wonderful to be reasonably competent at something. Thank you for both prizes & congratulations to UWA & Co for keeping it all out there." Eliza Wierwight

Tornado Gallery (L$5,000)
EXCERPTS FROM REALITIES by Glyph Graves

"Am very pleased to have been awarded these prize and hope it takes us one step further to the merginging of rl and virtual" Glyph Graves

The Workhouse & Art place d-oo-b Prize (L$5,000)
THE CHASM by Oberon Onmura


"My experiments with bot pieces explore deep feelings - something I'm not comfortable with myself. The amazing responses to these works give me real encouragement to continue that exploration. I want to thank everyone for these wonderful awards!" Oberon Onmura

Phi Designs Prize (L$5,000)
OMNIPOTENT by Pixels Sideways

"I'm thrilled to have been honored by these awards -- stunned, really -- and I hope my work and the work of all the artists in SL inspires people to to try their hand at building and creating art and having fun and a sense of humor. :-)" Pixels Sideways

project Z Prize: (L$5,000)
AERIE by Cherry Manga

"Thanks a lot for this prize, I am very honoured." Cherry Manga

project Z Honourable Mention: (L$2,500)
YOUCUBED! by Thoth Jantzen and Betty Tureaud

"Thanks to Zachh and Project Z....but it's all Betty's fault; her video really makes the work come alive!" Thoth Jantzen

Curator's Choice Award (L$5,000):
THE ABANDONED DAUGHTER by Eliza Wierwight

"How wonderful to be reasonably competent at something. Thank you for both prizes & congratulations to UWA & Co for keeping it all out there." Eliza Wierwight

People's Choice Award, 1st Prize: (L$2,500)
Romy Nayar - En el Viento- In the Wind

"Thank you very much, I 'm honored .I am very happy that people visiting the exhibition UWA has voted for me." Romy Nayar

People's Choice Award, 2nd Prize: (L$1,000)
AERIE by Cherry Manga

"Thanks a lot for this prize, I am very honoured." Cherry Manga

For anyone interested in seeing the full text of the announcement by Jayjay Zifanwe, delivered from 6am slt on SUNDAY, 4th SEPTEMBER, it is reproduced as follows:

Greetings everyone, and welcome to the University of Western Australia, or UWA as she is known and also welcome to the AUGUST round announcement of winners and party for the UWA 3D Open Art Challenge. As is tradition at UWA, I would like to acknowledge that the University is situated on Nyoongar land and that the Nyoongar people remain the spiritual and cultural custodians of their land and continue to uphold their values, languages, beliefs and knowledge.

This is the 10th of 12 monthly rounds for the UWA 3D Open Art Challenge. The Grand Finale runs across the month of September! The first thing I would like to do is to thank and acknowledge the major art houses and groups in Second Life that are part of this Grand Collaboration. These include The University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA) led by Dr Carmen Fies, SL Art led by Gleman Jun & Sunset Quinnel, CARP led by Josina Burgess & Velazquez Bonetto, Pirats Art Network led by Merlina Rokocoko & Newbab Zsigmond, Odyssey led by Fau Ferdinand, Jo Ellsmere & Lizsolo Mathilde, BOSL led by Frolic Mills and Editorial Clarity, Nordan Art led by Flora Nordanskiold, S&S Gallery of Fine Art led by TheDove Rhode, The Workhouse Gallery led by Astarte Haalan, Art Place d-oo-b led by Eifachfilm Vacirca, The Tornado Gallery led by Taralyn Gravois, project Z led by Zachh Cale and UWA with Professor Ted Snell, Chair of the Visual Arts Board of the Australia Council for the Arts as Chair of the UWA judging panel.

UWA would also like to acknowledge fellow sponsors, MidnightRain Glas, Philip Vought, Bohemian Ghost, Patch Thibaud and Aino Baar of Open This End.

62 entries were received for the AUGUST round, spread out across this sim-wide 'Living Gallery'! As always, I love seeing new artists (to the UWA Challenges), and in the AUGUST round we welcomed Blunt Fhang, Lenore666 Loire, Pixels Sideways and Romy Nayar, and welcomed back old stalwarts from the original UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge, Ichiko Miles, Glyph Graves and Eliza Wierwight!

We have been through 22 monthly rounds since all this started in August 2009 and more than 400 artists have been involved. October brings the magic number 24, which will see the final monthly round.

This L$1,400,000 challenge will see more than L$100,000 being distributed each month, with the Grand Prize winner at the end of it all walking away with L$100,000 also. The many contributions coming in from everyone through the little donations receiver will this year be put towards special prizes, including the Curator's Choice Award.

It is important to me to also acknowledge everyone who did contribute over the month towards prizes across the year and the Grand Finale. Thank you Toughlove Sabra, Miso Susanowa, kathee Gibbs, Tommi Runo, Thoth Jantzen, Bellaluna Artful, Aislinn Wildrose, Milly Sharple, Elize Foxclaw, Medora Chevalier, AlexandraForestier, Lollito Larkham, Oberon Onmura, Kamalin Bailey, Ichiko Miles, Roger Whitefalcon, Gumby Roffo and Artemis Felwitch.

As always I acknowledge the international connections made through SL, and up to now, the various challenges have seen artists, builders and machinimatographers hailing from India, Colombia, Poland, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Ukraine, Taiwan, Hungary, Latvia, Russia, Venezuela, Belgium, Mexico, Wales, Canada, the USA, the UK, Uruguay, Scotland,England, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, France, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Denmark, Holland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Austria, Cuba, Serbia, Tunisia, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. More than 40 nations with 6 of the 7 continents of the world represented.

At this point I would like for all of you to help me acknowledge the amazing work required to keep all of this going. Curator of the UWA 3D Open Art Challenge & Creator of gallery ....... FreeWee Ling.

Do check out the amazing photo gallery she has put together over the months https://picasaweb.google.com/freeweel

As always many things happened since the last announcements.

We had our wonderful official machinimatographer back, Yesikita Coppola to present the Machinima for the July Round winners:
http://vimeo.com/27836078

But there is sad news too, mixed with better news.... Unfortunately, Yesikita will not be able to do the August round and there is uncertainty surrounding the future because of circumstances beyond out control. What is good news though is that for the August Round, we will have the original stalwart of UWA, Iono Allen back at the helm!

The amazing artworks have provided the perfect material for the L$300,000 MachininUWA IV: Art of the Artists. The most recent submissions for this have come from defending champion Tutsy Navarathna and Bleu Oleander! The challenge here is to create a machinima that features some (or one) of the artworks submitted to the UWA 3D Open Art Challenge. You can choose to film as many (or as few) as you like, and you may submit any number of entries. The theme is wide open, only the subject matter is fixed in that it must have been exhibited at some point for the UWA 3D Open Art Challenge. This is a tribute to all of you, the wonderful 3D artists who have created all the masterful works that surround you now. This closes on the 10th of November, so do encourage any colleagues of yours who create machinima to work with you and your creations.
http://uwainsl.blogspot.com/2011/06/journey-continues-machinimuwa-iv-art-of.html

The 14th of August was the UWA Open Day in RL, and for the first time I gave an open public talk for visitors to the campus about the UWA journey through Second Life. For all the audience except one or two, it was the first time they saw SL. Really happy with how it went and Perth based Pieter Kaan (Seamus Hammerthall: SL) made the trip to UWA to listen to the talk in person. He has been kind enough to provide the following review of the talk:
http://uwainsl.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-of-public-talk-uwa-on-14th.html

Professor Wade Halvorson, UWA's most published author with all matters Second Life had another 2 articles in academic periodicals, this time in the Journal of Marketing Education and the Journal of Virtual Worlds Research. You can find out more here:
http://uwainsl.blogspot.com/2011/08/uwa-professors-sl-article-in-journal-of.html

Also former Director of the UWA International Centre, Dr Bruce Mackintosh is leading a team of academics in Australia in the writing of a book called "Making a difference: Australian International Education" , due out in october 2011. I was quite thrilled to be contacted by him and asked to provide a number of photos from Second Life showcasing Australian Education efforts in the virtual world! 2 Photos that I took will be appearing in the book. One of them featuring Galea Yates, and the other featuring Angharad Catteneo, aztec Fenstalker and myself.

Staying on the topic of photos, with the UWA RL/SL Photo Comp ( UWA Friends of the Grounds Photo Comp) where 12 photos were selected from over 250 plus entries and more than 60 entries from Second Life, very happy to anounce that the calendar itself has been launched, and that the winner of L$12,500 for getting a photo from SL into the calendar has been won by Silene Christen. A copy of the calendar is also being posted to her. I have mentioned before that the other image to be featured as one of the main monthly images for the 2012 calendar was taken by me, and its a photo called 'Reflections of Winthrop'. The images were selected by a committee of 5 including 3 professional photographers and committee members of the UWA Friends of the Grounds society, and the selections were done by a blind selection where the judges could only see the photos and not who took them. Anyway, I can't accept the other half of the L$12,500, so will put that towards buying the calendars to use as prizes for the winners of the Grand Finale for the UWA 3D Open Art Challenge and MachinimUWA IV. If you are interested in seeing the SL photos and also the RL photos which will feature in the calendar, they are all on the UWA blog, here:
http://uwainsl.blogspot.com/2011/09/second-life-photos-selected-for-real.html

Another exciting development is that 2 members from TROVE, an online interactive creative arts journal created for, by and with students at UWA have joined the UWA judging panel taking the place vacated by Jon-Barret Lennard, former curator of the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery who has just retired.
http://www.trove.arts.uwa.edu.au/

For August we have an additional Group Prize of L$5,000 established, THE PEACE PRIZE, provided in a personal capacity by TheDove Rhode, this on top of the S&S Gallery of Fine Art Prize. Thank you Dove!

As I said previously, the October Round will be the final monthly round of the art challenges at UWA. There won't be monthly art challenges at UWA once the UWA 3D Open Art Challenge draws to a close. HOWEVER, this DOES NOT mean that its the end of art at UWA. The art gallery will remain, and revert to how galleries normally operate, and FreeWee Ling will continue as curator.

The only thing ending is MONTHLY art challenges. There will be a major art challenge probably in the middle of 2012, and MachinimUWA V will also be run in 2012. Both will have a theme and will be relatively open but loosely tied to UWA's centenary in RL as she is 100 years old. So everything remains the same at UWA, Teaching, Research, Architecture and Art in general. The only change will be that there will no longer be a monthly art challenge.

The month of August also saw the end of the UWA FULL SIM ART SERIES, and what a spectacular end it turned out to be. We has a trinity of works to bring the series to a close. Chuckmatrix Clip's 'Immanentize The Eschaton', Silene Christen's 'Childhood' and June Clavenham's 'Choices' . With the end of the series also came the end of UWA Virtlantis, which means that the UWA presence now comprises of 4 SIMS. The series had a wonderful 'life' and I thank all the other artists who made it what it was, Betty Tureaud's with 'Art Planet', Blue Tsuki's 'Vessel', Cherry Manga, Anley Piers & Elfe Imako's 'Other World', soror Nishi's 'Transubstantiation', Wizard 'Wizzy' Gynoid's 'The Art of Wizard Gynoid', FreeWee Ling's 'Angry Gods' and The Artists of AEONIA's 'Ant Vegas: Migr-Ants'. Full links are here:
http://uwainsl.blogspot.com/2011/08/end.html

BUT.... as one door closes, another opens...

The day following the announcement of the end of the UWA FULL SIM ART SERIES, serendipity chose for the birth of the Linden Endowment for the Arts (LEA) FULL SIM ART SERIES. Indeed were it not for the UWA full sim art series, the LEA series would not have arisen in this way, and further, if not for the death of the same series, the Phoenix would not have risen here either. This truly was the end of one age, and the beginning of another! So anyway.... if you might want to have a full sim art creation of your own..... applications for the LEA FULL SIM ART SERIES close on the 10th of September!
http://uwainsl.blogspot.com/2011/08/lea-full-sim-art-series-come-to-life.html

I would like to acknowledge the members of the UWA judging panel. On the panel, apart from the new members from TROVE were:
1. Professor Ted Snell (RL) - Director, Cultural Precinct, The University of Western Australia
2. Raphaella Nightfire (SL) - Snr Writer Best of SL Magazine, Owner Sanctorum Gallery
3. Len Zuks (RL) - Award Winning West Australian Sculpturist
4. FreeWee Ling (SL) - Curator, UWA 3D Open Art Challenge
5. Laetitia Wilson (RL) - Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts, UWA
6. Lyn DiCiero (RL) - Editor, WA Artist's Chronicle
7. And coffee machine champion ...... Yours Truly

Those who followed procedings last year would know that for the Grand Finale, the panel expands to include many SL Art personalities, and for this new challenge, the expanded panel will include:

1. Sasun Steinbeck - Creator of the Art Galleries of SL list at http://sasun.info/ArtGalleriesofSL.aspx
2. Tayzia Abattoir (SL) Owner of The Oldest Virtual World Art Museum in SL, curator of the Aho Museum & Arts Simulacra on the NMC Campus and Relay For LIfe of SL Event Chair
3. Lumiere Noir (SL) - Creator of the Ivory Tower Library of Primitives
4. Dr. Phylis Johnson (RL) - Media Professor, Southern Illinois Uinversity, Author - Machinima: Aesthetics and Practice (a.k.a, Sonicity Fitzroy, SL Virtual Journalist)
5. Rowan Derryth (SL) - Art & Design Historian; Writer for Prim Perfect Publications
6. Persia Bravin (SL) - Journalist and Media Producer (SL newspapers, magazines, radio and television)
7 Dr Carmen Fies (RL) - Second Life Lead: University of Texas San Antonio & UTSA Artspace
8. Apollo Manga (SL) - examiner.com Writer & Novelist

9. Jordan Whitt (SL) - Editor in Chief, ICON Lifestyle Magazine
10. Mariposa Upshaw (SL) - Curator - Ventura Art & Jardine; Officer, Arts Council of Second Life
11. Saffia Widdershins (SL) - Owner and Editor of Prim Perfect Publications
12. Phillip Vought (SL) - Art Philanthropist & Founding Patron of UWA-BOSL Amphitheatre
13. Bohemian Ghost (SL) - Art Philanthropist & Owner of Summerland Estates
14. Ally Aeon (SL) - Founder Aeonia Artist Group, creator/owner of the art region Aeonia
15. Aino Baar (SL) - Owner of the Open This End Group

Now for the winners. The winners will be announced in 1 minute intervals. We invite everyone to comment and congratulate the winners and for the winners to respond before the next announcement (and if they could please use the SHOUT function). Also prizes will be given immediately following the announcements, so if you have won, please do stay till the end of the announcements.

First the People's Choice Awards. For this, I always start off by thanking GeeJAnn Blackadder, who created this wonderful voting system for us. Its been working a treat since being set up, and greatly assists in the running of the People's Choice!

The People's Choice Award, where all of SL is invited to vote, carries a 1st ($L2,500) and a 2nd prize ($L1,000). Another very strong and active round!

For the PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD, 2nd prize (L$1,000) goes to:
AERIE by Cherry Manga

AND, the winner of the AUGUST PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD (L$2,500) is:
EN EL VIENTO (IN THE WIND) by Romy Nayar

Very strong in the voting for the People's Choice Award (and in no particular order) were: Thoth Jantzen and Betty Tureaud, Aloisio Congrejo, Artistide Despres, Oberon Onmura, Romy Nayar, Glyph Graves and Pixels Sideways.

THIRTEEN Art Group Prizes of L$5,000 each have been awarded by the various judging panels for the AUGUST Round of the UWA 3D Open Art Challenge:

The Odyssey Prize (L$5,000) with a panel led by Fau Ferdinand, Joe Ellsmere & Lizsolo Mathilde goes to
BEHIND COLUMNS by Harter Fall

The SL Art Prize (L$5,000) with a panel led by Gleman Jun & Sunset Quinnell goes to:
EXCERPTS FROM REALITIES by Glyph Graves

The UTSA Prize (L$5,000) with a panel led by Dr Carmen Fies goes to:
EN EL VIENTO - IN THE WIND by Romy Nayar

The CARP Prize (L$5,000) whose focus is on scripting with a panel led by Velasquez Bonnetto & Josina Burgess goes to:
EXCERPTS FROM REALITIES by Glyph Graves

A 2nd group prize for this work, meaning it goes directly to the Grand Finale!

Said the panel, "This month the high level again was a festival for the eyes. CARP voted for Glyph Graves and his " Exerpts from Realites". A work that really is of the Highest Level in scripting. The technique to use internet and the ACE sattelite to fold the elements and shifts is really greatly done and we are impressed by the way he used beautiful sculpties as well to build the elements. Also the way the colours are used is well done, The whole looks like its out of nature (like fruit or vegetables) still also very alien. Also the interacting is super. Great work of a very high standard."

Next the joint Workhouse & Art Place d-o-o-b Prize (L$5,000) with a panel led by Astarte Haalan and Elfachfilm Vacirca goes to:
THE CHASM by Oberon Onmura

The judges explained, "Can our visions and nightmares truly be embodied in a virtual world? Can a work of art bridge the divide that separates the real and the virtual and the imaginary? We’ve all had the dream of walking and not getting anywhere, striving and not succeeding, trying our hardest to claw our way to the top of the hill and never getting there. All of us also know what it feels like to be an avatar in a dreamlike universe. How can a phantasm represent both our aspirations and our disappointments? These questions, these qualities, these emotions; the division of the real and the imaginary, desire and frustration, and also their unity, are captured eloquently and concisely in Oberon Onmura's 'The Chasm'

The BOSL Prize (L$5,000) with a panel led by Frolic Mills & Editorial Clarity goes to:
HAMLET: ALAS POOR YORICK by Nino Vichan

Said the BOSL Chair, "To walk into Nino´s art work is to discover a masterpiece of virtual aesthetics rarely seen on the grid. Just beautiful!!"

The Nordan Art Prize (L$5,000) with a panel led by Flora Nordenskiold goes to:
THE CHASM by Oberon Onmura

And with this Oberon joins Glyph in the Grand Finale with a 2nd Group award!

Commenting on the work, the panel saidl, "Oberon Onmura's work "The Chasm" consists of two figures on two slanted surfaces. The surfaces are divided by a cleft, within which there are two cylinder shaped forms placed horizontally joining the two surfaces. The two figures, neither male nor female, appear to be moving towards the cleft. Standing in front of this work, there is an immediate sense of struggle; it appears the two figures are trying to crawl uphill towards each other, perhaps in an attempt to join and bridge the gap. One is soon overcome by the frustration of this unsuccessful attempt; the figures will never join. Oberon's work stands out to Nordan Art because he is able to symbolically represent with this work the ongoing struggle of division."

The Pirats Prize: (L$5,000) with a panel led by Merlina Rokocoko & Newbab Zsigmond goes to:
THE CHASM by Oberon Onmura

A 3rd Group Award for Oberon's work! This is only the 3rd time that an artwork has taken 3 Group awards, the others being Typote Beck's 'THE SUPERHEROES BREAKFAST' and 'DIGITAL GLOVE' by Misprint Thursday

The Tornado Gallery Prize (L$5,000) with a panel led by Taralyn Gravois goes to:
EXCERPTS FROM REALITIES by Glyph Graves

Can you believe it... both Oberon and Glyph win 3 group awards in the same month! They were some of the first artists I met in Second Life in the very first round of the original UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge.

The S&S Gallery OFA Prize (L$5,000) with a panel led by TheDove Rhode goes to:
DER MOEDER (THE MOTHER) by Wolk Writer

Said the panel, " We found this art enrty to reflect the potential presentation and undertones of heartful symbols and movements. Softened by the concept of nurturing. With sincere congratulations from The S&S Gallery Of FIne SL ART. Bravo Wolk Writer "

The project Z Prize (L$5,000) with a panel led by Zachh Cale goes to:
AN ARTIST TO BE NAMED LATER ... because there is an honourable mention winner as well for the Project Z Prize

and so, the project Z Honourable Mention (L$2,500) goes to
YOUCUBED! by Thoth Jantzen and Betty Tureaud

and the project Z Prize (L$5,000) goes to:
AERIE by Cherry Manga

The Phi Designs Prize (L$5,000) with a panel led by Ginger Alsop goes to:
OMNIPOTENT by Pixels Sideways

Now the the newly established Peace Prize, a special award provided by TheDove Rhode in a personal capacity. The inaugural winner of The Peace Prize (L$5,000) is:
THE ABANDONED DAUGHTER by Eliza Wierwight

Said Dove, "With symbolized interpretations, colors, emotional confliting desires, woven with textures and some genuine techniques...we are entertained by the positive and negative draw to this....Dali & Vivienne content... Complex and bold, Delightful and outstanding creative art entry"

Next, the Curator's Choice award is chosen by FreeWee Ling:

In FreeWee's words:
"There are a few artists who I always look forward to with great eagerness. They are meticulous in their constructions, uniquely creative in their ideas, and above all are deeply thoughtful about every aspect of their work. This month's Curator's Choice recipient is one of these. Her piece simply astonished me. When I first saw it I studied it for an hour or so, delighting in discovering one detail after another. If you want to see how to create something that is beautiful, thought-provoking, and maybe even a little disturbing, you would do very well to study this piece."

The AUGUST Curator's Choice Award (L$5,000) goes to:
THE ABANDONED DAUGHTER by Eliza Wierwight

And thus we have another. THE ABANDONED DAUGHTER with the Curator's Choice + a Group Award goes straight to the Grand Finale !

Now for the Best Non-Scripted entry. The AUGUST round was remarkable in its quality and number of non-scripted works. There was a very very close battle at the top, and many other pieces with strong showings. Anyway, the AUGUST winner of the Best Non-Scripted Entry is:

BEHIND COLUMNS by Harter Fall

mesmerisingly simple and so captivating!

This category however as there is only 1 prize awarded specifically for non-scripted works has drawn the greatest number of joint awards... and so it should be no surprise that there is a joint winner, and a prize of L$2,500 will be awarded to each

And so the joint winner of the Best Non-Scripted Entry for AUGUST (@L$2,500) is:

BIRDSONG by Cherry Manga

Now for the top 3 Prizes. All of these works will go straight to the Grand Finale round. 3 works are already through to the Grand Finale based on the outcome of the Group selections. Once more... very hard for the panel, as at least 6 works came very close to the top 3, and the panel fought it out this time and managed to avoid giving joint awards.

3rd Prize for the UWA 3D Open Art Challenge for AUGUST goes to:

THE CHASM by Oberon Onmura

Congrats Oberon. This is the 4th award for Oberon this month along with the Pirats Prize, the Nordan Art Prize and The Workhouse & Art place d-oo-b Prize making the total award for the month L$20,000

Moving on, 2nd Prize for the UWA 3D Open Art Challenge for AUGUST is:

OMNIPOTENT by Pixels Sideways

First time ever in the UWA Challenges and almost swipes top spot! Not the mention a Group Award!

This piece coincidently is the winner of the unofficial 'Galleri Villa Apmel Award' or at least thats what the google translator says it is in English from Swedish!

Now to the winner of the UWA 3D Open Art Challenge for AUGUST, following in the footsteps of past champions Snubnose Genopeak, Glyph Graves, Atomic Gaffer, Fuschia Nightfire/Flivelwitz Alsop, Julez Odigaunt, FreeWee Ling, Bryn Oh, Nish Mip, Josina Burgess, Cherry Manga, Igor Ballyhoo, Suzanne Graves, Lea Supermarine/Jarapanda Snook, Ginger Alsop, Gleman Jun, Dusty Canning, L1aura Loire, Emilin Nakamori and Artistide Despres.

A remarkable piece that brings to us all the magic of Second Life, it is with great pleasure that we announce that the Winner of 1st Prize (L$10,000) for the UWA 3D Open Art Challenge for AUGUST 2011 is:

PETITE ETUDE SUR OLIVIER MESSIAEN by Artistide 'Artee' Despres

And so.... Artistide is the only person still in Second Life to win the 1st Prize back to back! The only other person who has ever done this is Igor Ballyhoo. Bryn Oh is another who has won it twice, with Nish Mip being the only 3 time overall monthly winner.