SLARTIST PARK STUDIO – Sunday night, the atmosphere was electric as the last contestants of SLartist Idol met to see who would win the final round. Five weeks ago, this photo contest started with 24 participants, but now there were only five left. After everyone had showed their pictures and the jury had spoken, it was declared: Cienega Soon won the Idol title and 8000L$.

”This was fun, and I really loved working alongside all the other great artists,” said a very humble Soon. Like all good prize winners that stumble with their words during their acceptance speeches, Soon fumbled at her keyboard: ”im an like all shakie and cant type.”

The top five looks like this: 5) Ryker Beck, 4) Kimico Jewell, 3) SkyCat Ranger, 2) Evangeline Cortes, and 1) Cienega Soon. She won with a landscape picture taken at Nikon Island. It can now be seen in her gallery.

It was a glamorous wrap-up of a contest that’s had its shares of troubles lately. Two weeks ago, jury member Stephen Venkman recieved this note from Kizmit Juran, head of the SLartist Park group and organizer of Idol:

"My RL has gone bonkers and I cannot presently spare the time for SL. I cannot complete the Idol contest. I will split the prize money evenly among the 5 remaining contestants. If you wish to continue the contest without me - feel free to use the studio. Regards, K."

Venkman says the jury then got together to decide what to do. They didn’t use much time to declare that the show had to go on. Venkman and photographer Ryker Beck put up the funds to keep the SLartist Park open. CodeBastard Redgrave stepped in for Juran as the show’s MC.

Beck and Ryker wants to keep the Park open, and asks for anyone who are interested in assisting to drop one of them an IM. No-one knows if Kizmit Juran will come back to SL again.