The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations, 1851
In 1851, Albert, Prince Consort to Queen Victoria, instigated a great exhibition in London. The idea was to show the best the world had to offer in design and manufacture. The vast cast iron and glass building, which became known as the Crystal Palace, housed over 100,000 exhibits from all over the world, ranging from machinery to sculpture, fabrics to minerals, animals to cutlery, and many classes of other items. Fully grown trees stood, and birds flew freely, within the building. The equivalent of a third of the population of Great Britain attended the exhibition and the proceeds helped to found several major museums in London, including the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum.
A Second Life for the Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace has come to Second Life. It is over 200 metres long, 70 metres wide and 40 metres high, with four floors for exhibits. It has a large central transept and great vaulted glass ceilings like the original. And just like the original, it is filled with the best our world – Second Life – has to offer, thematically arranged.
Second Life designers who would like to take part in the exhibition are invited to select a small number of their Second Life creations and send details via notecard to Mako Magellan.
Individuals who would like to take on a curatorial role are also invited to make contact.
The building and its surrounding gardens are located in a Victorian-themed sim. The exhibition is ever-changing. Each designers' work is displayed for a minimum of eight weeks. A limited number of Council Prizes are awarded for designs showing novelty, originality and great beauty. Prize Medals are awarded for designs showing excellent in production or workmanship. These prizes are awarded within specific classes of product.