Thank you Gwen Carillon!

A beautiful summer exhibit... worth a stroll or a sit... a meditation... or a party! Gwen has decorated the corner of Marco Island with incredible sculpture in motion. From any time of day, the light catches it and casts new kaleidoscopes of color. In the moonlight, the sparkle and heat from within burns brightly. She will have her art at the Bistro Olive through July and we encourage you to support her work. All pieces are set for sale.

Her talent is unique and breathtaking. Make sure you stroll through and soak up a small piece of Gwen's incredible imagination. "Pages from a Prim Journal" is a showcase for what art can be in SL. Enjoy!

Artist Celebration: Sunn Thunders

If you have not yet been to see the incredible art of Mr. Sunn Thunders at the Bistro Olive @ Marco Island... make it at the top of your list of Second Life stops! Sunn has outdone himself with Second Life photography, Real Life oils he has imported into SL, and sculpture of all kinds. There are incredible examples of his work on each floor inside the Bistro, and alluring sculpture in the courtyard area surrounding the Bistro. Each of the works is for sale with all proceeds going to the artist, himself. Please support the creativity and hard work of artisans inworld by purchasing a piece or two for your home or establishment!

And true to its mission, the Bistro Olive celebrated the artist in a big way yesterday. Coupled with the Marco Island Spring Fashion Show from Licks and Lady Traders, Bistro Olive hosted pianist Mr. Heath Elvehjem and guitarist/vocalist Mr. Joaquin Gustav. Bistro Co-Owner and DJ Clynt Easterwood wove a fantastic collection of acoustic and relaxing music selections to bridge between the 2 live musical artists.



The Bistro Olive wants to be a favorite on your list of locations to visit in Second Life. Mr. Sunn Thunders work will be on display through April and May 2009 and there are events almost every day of the week with a wide variety of live musical artists throughout each month. Cheers to everyone who helped make the day a success and a huge thank you to all those patrons who loyally supported and contributed lindens to the day!

Help Celebrate the SLart of Eliza Flanagan & Timber Watkins!

In honor of the incredible photography from first floor to third - we have a special performance by an amazing woman! Join us! It is a fantastic way to spend your Friday afternoon... guaranteed!

Embarking on some new twists!

The Bistro Olive began as a way for me to decorate some new SL space from top to bottom and try to create something unique within SL that allows people to enjoy themselves, just hang out with or without events, and celebrate special occasions. I have always loved having people over to my home but people don't feel free to just drop in I think because it is secluded on an open water sim. I appreciate that and enjoy my privacy there. But... I hate interrupting people on IM all the time and sometimes just enjoy the opportunity to meet passers by. Shopping to death in SL doesn't always prove conducive to that.

I also have found that places tend to become stale. An over abundance of events can become just as ineffective as not enough. The familiar surroundings of a SL venue can lead to boredom and wanderlust in club frequenters. The idea of combining rotating art exhibits from top to bottom seemed to be a unique spin to keep interest. Besides... what could be better than turning over 3 floors to someone with amazing artistic inspiration and saying... please... have at it! It certainly fills my redecorating need in a most selfish way. And, I hope it fills the artists' need to share their work and even sell a few pieces. (The Bistro does not make any cut off of artist sales and I think that is SO important! Artists don't make enough $$ as it is!)

Live music is also something that fascinates me in SL. I have great respect for those individuals who not only choose to share their voice, but choose to share their soul through music they have composed or music they are willing to cover. Vocals are way more difficult than people realize and most of the music we hear has had layers and layers of work done to enhance the sound - the tone, and the pitch. Kudos to all live musicians in SL and I can only tell you the longer I am in SL the longer my list grows of beautiful musicians of all kinds that I hope to have perform at the Bistro. If only my linden wallet were a little fatter.

Finally, going back to the roots of fun in SL for me is the live DJ event. My bestest friends in SL have been found and friended at gigs and I still think that music is one of the things that brings people together beyond all others. Nothing better than cranking up a tune really loud that reminds you of that one favorite time when... Nothing better than letting that SL music bleed into your RL as you dance around with your kids and let them come to love the tunes that are so near and dear to your heart.

So... it is in keeping with all those loves that I introduce you to and encourage you to be a part of 3 musical DJ events at the Bistro Olive:

We had a great crowd yesterday and Tali definitely had the Shaken not Stirred vibe going as he combined Hot Tuna with Santanta and Matchbox 20 and Metallica and Bryan Adams. SL was NOT victorious in keeping loyal connoisseurs away. Thank you to those who joined us. (1:30-3:30 pm SLT)

I hope you will join us for the Blue Olive event with Borday Moo! This will be the third time he has taken over the stream at the Olive and most definitely not the last :) He has that deep sexy voice and laugh that colors everything anything but blue. His lovely Blissie Boucher will most definitely be there to lure you in with delectable treats. Coloring the Olive blue on Sunday was definitely a selfish decision on my part. I'm most certain you need to join us! (4-6 pm SLT)

Coming later in September to add to our new twist is DJ Crighton Johin with O-Live Rock n Roll. He will take over the stream from 6 - 8 pm on Monday evenings and hopefully not rock the place so hard that the glasses in the bar will break. Look for him to join us starting September 22.

The lovely Cataplexia Numbers' Visual Poetry exhibit still decorates the Bistro from top to bottom and I hope you take the time to slip a few sculptures and visual pieces into your inventory before it is gone. My love affair with the Bistro artists is tumultuous as I can never envision what the place will look like as one moves out and another moves in. But... cheers to her talent and hard work. Come by and enjoy!

Raining Cats.....dogs better watch out!!

Our newest artist exhibiting her work is Cataplexia Numbers. She definately has it going with her study of the female form and the city she may inhabit. The colors invigorate you while the form comforts you. Cat's painting of the Twin Towers simultaneously squeezes your heart and makes you nod with pride. Its that way with all her work really. You can connect with it on so many levels. Her work is all for sale and would be a welcome addition to anyones art collection. I know it is to mine.



The opening was exciting and well attended. Over 29 names to shout out a big thank you to for attending. Tauri Tigerpaw was well loved and a beautiful compliment to the asthetics of Cataplexia's art.



Please swing by the Bistro and take in her work. There are three floors to explore that will give you a glimpse into her perspective on the world. Its well worth the trip and the time. Make sure to spruce up that SL home or skybox with Cat's work. This is one Cat you will not be allergic to!!

NOTE: Many thanks also to Parker Janick for her fine photography work!

Incredible Artist Olive (I love): Misprint Thursday! (even on a Tuesday)

Misprint Thursday is our inaugural featured artist at the Bistro Olive. Her work has barely been up one week and already I can't picture our venue without her touch. She eagerly accepted the challenge when we talked about a month ago, kicking the ideas around and trying to decide what would become of our business concept. Today she is an amazing force throughout all three floors of the Bistro.

You can find out more about her artwork - specifically her show at the Bistro Olive in other blogs and podcasts!

• Virtual Artists Alliance, July 30, 2008 post


• Brooklyn Is Watching podcast from Brooklyn Is Watching Gallery in the Williamsburg neighborhood, NYC

Many of you may not know that the Bistro underwent some serious renovations the day of the Grand Opening. The Shops @ Marco Island builder agreed to put in some internal stairs. She connected the gallery to the upper levels. It united the end units in a much more cohesive way than we had done on our own with teleporters. Misprint was unavailable that day until about 2 hours before the opening. She gracefully accepted the changes and worked with the modifications that needed to be made on the 2nd floor due to the changes in the stairwell. It would have been hard for any designer, but for an artist who had designed the flow of her work, the play of the light on the walls and the ceiling, it put an exceptional dent in the last minute preparations.

Misprint entertained guests throughout the evening. She had welcomed passersby the day before and invited new guests as she worked to assemble the exhibit. She continues to have fans drop by and now I meet her admirers when I am out exploring as well. Misprint has made quite an impression on the art world of SL. She can be found secretly creating objects out over the ocean off the pier at Savoy while others are dancing to straight jazz. She can be found just enjoying a quiet moment at a table at the Bistro. She is someone I hope you take the time to get to know - even if it is only through her art you can explore.

Olive (I love) Misprint Thursday! (and just so you know... I can't help calling her Misprint Tuesday because we had her opening on a Tuesday... OOPS!!!) Make sure you schedule a trip to the Shops @ Marco Island before her exhibit closes in mid-August. Spend a few extra Lindens to purchase one of her beautiful pieces - as far as art goes, hers is amazingly affordable. Enjoy and soak it up... the olive sparkles wafting through the air on Marco Island won't last long!

Call For Entries!

Bistro Olive has an open and ongoing call for entries for art. All media will be considered. This an exciting place to feature your contributions to Second Life!

bigd Flanagan and I would love to have a chance to showcase your work as an artist in the SL community! Our goal at the Bistro is to offer patrons a fine dining experience like no other on SL.

All 3 floors are available for art installation... Relaxing in the bar, enjoying good music, good friends, and experience art is one venue. Dining in a romantic setting either on the outdoor patio or indoors by the piano is another venue. The Collezione Speciale is the gallery ground floor level where you can create the look and feel of the space with your art. Any and all of these are open to you as our featured artist.

There is no cost and we do not take any commission for your work. We offer to host you a reception with music and lots of publicity. We love live SL acts in particular. You can publicized and sell any and all of your work also. We simply ask you commit to having your work on display for 2-3 weeks at the Bistro.

I look forward to hearing from you - notecard or email: kimalakohime@gmail.com.! In your note, please include a contact as well as a LM or picture to show a sample of your work. Please note you will have approximately 30-40 prims to work with across all 3 floors.

Cheers!

Kimala Kohime