Join us on April 3rd from 3pm – 6pm as we open the Gay Riviera Plaza to Second Life avatar Markarius Viper to showcase select pieces from his real life photography collections throughout the month of April. The opening party will be DJ’d by the amazing Merrick Ying.

Artist and photographer Mark Siddall joined Second Life just over a year ago and became the avatar, Markarius Viper. While here in Second Life he has created the Viper Gallery, an SL representation of his RL exhibits. Including architectural, cityscape, landscape, floral, macro and tasteful male nudes.

Don’t miss this exceptional exhibit as selected pieces from the Viper Gallery are on display at the Gay Riviera!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Gay%20Riviera/145/108/23

Artist Statement
Photography, for me, is a means to an end. When a visual something snags my artist’s eye, I’m compelled to satisfy a need to capture it with my camera. My profession offers me that indulgence: the ability to visually document those encounters with people, places and things that so charm me that I’m reluctant to let their memories scatter to the ether. By recording them, I arrest their reality and consign them to a place of historical relevance. Photography, for me, guarantees continued existence for those elements of the world that are magical to me, no matter their fate.

Biography
Mark Siddall has always seen those things that the rest of the world walks on past. The thrush in the willows, the split in the sidewalk, the longing in the eye. Even from childhood, he regarded his surroundings as a rich canvas of experience, constantly evolving and begging to be remembered. First with a paintbrush and later with a camera, Siddall obliged.

Born and raised in Port Colborne, Ont., Siddall has always been attracted to natural beauty. He cultivated his love for art with the entire Niagara region as his subject. The artist as a young man would regularly head off into the “unknown” with nothing more than his paint box, some canvas boards and a sketch pad to commit to artistic permanence the abandoned buildings, ghost towns, caverns, sink holes, cliffs, waterfalls and rivers that caught his passionate eye.

Encouraged by his dedication and his talent, Siddall’s parents signed him up with a local artist. Ray O. Wilcox became the boy’s mentor, an instrumental force in the development of Siddall’s artistic character. He encouraged Siddall to join an art club. When he did, he was warmly received as its youngest member.

Siddall would go on to study business, computer programming, English and fine art in college. He learned a range of artistic skills in this formal setting, including life drawing, silk-screen printing and the art of stained glass. When he applied to study at the Ontario College of Art and Design, he was accepted on the spot. Siddall has sold his paintings into a number of private collections, and his art adorns the walls of the Port Colborne General Hospital.

Still, the art history, illustration and design work left Siddall wanting. It wasn’t until he borrowed a camera from a friend that he remembered a compelling childhood diversion, and discovered his true calling. At last, with a viewfinder to his eye, he had the means of instantly capturing all of the fascination that swirled so persuasively around him.
Siddall’s latest venture is an art gallery, Mark Siddall Gallery, a solo exhibition space in Toronto that’s part of the Maask Group. In addition, he has mastered the highly specialized art of framing, and now offers museum-quality framing services at the gallery.

Today, Mark Siddall’s documented efforts to remember the splendour in which we mutually exist is a gift for the rest of us. Through his art, we’re treated to a unique second glimpse of a first impression.

Gay Riviera April Fools Hunt
One Week only
April 1st – April 8th

We have pulled together some of the best gags, jokes, pranks and just plain old goofy stuff for a hunt like no other.  Explore the Gay Riviera for prizes hidden all over the sim, figure out the clues and find them all. Some of the prizes are old Second Life classics, while others are creations from some of the Gay Riviera merchants.  There is even some new stuff from our hunt sponsor, Funny Fuckers!

Start the April Fools Hunt by finding the big smiling Jack-in-the-box and touch his hat for your first clue. There are no landmarks to follow, no teleporting all over the grid… just solve the clues and work you way through this sim wide treasure hunt.

Remember that this is an adult sim… not all the clues or the prizes are “PG”.  We hope you laugh your ass off along the way.

Hunt Start Point: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Gay%20Riviera/132/209/23

DJ Regi rocked out the Grand Opening of the ADONIS Bath House to a huge crowd with very few clothes.   The party, which was scheduled for 3 hours, ran over and lasted nearly 5 hours.  Regi played a great mix of music, entertaining a rarely seen mix of bears and boys all frolicking together in the water.  He even manage to throw in a few classic Bette Midler tunes as a tribute to her days entertaining in the bath houses as the Divine Miss M.

The party was so much fun and such a success that we have decided to keep this on as a regular event f or the Gay Riviera.  Mark your calendars for the Bath House Pool Party with the “Divine Mr. R” every Friday from 4pm – 7pm SLT at The ADONIS Bath House.   This one was just to good to only do just once.

The Bath House is a venue for adult, gay-male avatars. Designed in the style of a Moroccan Bath,  enjoy the opulent setting and design of the pool, showers, sauna and jacuzzi.  Guests of the bath house may want to  head up stairs to one of the more private areas or take in the view from the rooftop sun deck.

On Friday, March 18th at 4pm SLT – Dj Regi Yifu will be cranking the hot tunes in the ADONIS Bath House pool to celebrate the grand opening of this new venue.  Come take a dip!  Wear your sexiest swim suit or go as bare as you dare for this wet and wild party. Prizes from Blue Balls will be on deck!

The Bath House is a venue for adult, gay-male avatars. Designed in the style of a moroccan bath,  enjoy the opulent setting and design of the pool, showers, sauna and jacuzzi.  Guests of the bath house may want to  head up stairs to one of the more private areas or take in the view from the rooftop sun deck.

Wait ’til you see the wildest gathering of hot guys ever, at Gays Gone Wild! Spring Break on the Riviera Party. They’re on the beach, in the bath house, and letting it all hang out for Spring Break!

DJ Zann will be spinning the hot tunes on the beach from 3-6pm SLT. Over L$10,000 in cash and prizes will be given away! Party with the hottest group of sexy guys ever; join the steamy dancing on the beach and more in the bath house! Come do it all!! It’s gay guys doing what they do, all real and totally uncensored! Join the Party… It’s GAYS GONE WILD… It’s SPRING BREAK!

The Grand Opening was a huge success: 3 stages, 15 Dj’s and hundreds of people visiting the sim for a party that lasted 11 1/2 hours!!   Lika Goodlife of X-10 WebStar was kind enough to edit the raw stream footage of the epic party into a great, 8 minute YouTube video.  So, on the outside chance you missed this party or if you just want to see if you were made a “Star”.. here is the Video.  Enjoy!

Presenting Our First Open-Air Art Event!
March 2011

Come and relax in the square and enjoy the art of Jacks Rhys, which is quickly becoming part of the regular art landscape in Second Life.

Combining colors and textures in abstract pieces, Jacks’ works explore the complex emotions that boil within the psyche, including his own later-life struggle with accepting his homosexuality. He also examines mankind’s attempts to control the world around us while faced with the relentless effects of nature.

While viewing Jacks’ Art, sit and have a coffee or stroll around the square, check out the vendor carts, or take a scooter ride around and see it all! We have exciting stores to explore, a picturesque beach, and exclusive rental homes.

Each month Gay Riviera plans to showcase a different artist, bringing the vibrant gay art community in Second Life to your doorstep.

Click here to read more about Jacks.

An all day event.. 3 stages, 15 DJ’s.. 10 hours of music from some of SL’s Top DJ’s…

Come celebrate the the official opening of the Gay Riviera, we will be holding a huge party for you to enjoy while you experince all that the Riviera has to offer.

Spend the day and get giveaways from the merchant sponosors, or watch remotely via telecast by X10 Webstar!

The party Line up so far:

DJ Sechedule subject to change, check back here for updates.