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Second Life Mesh Sandbox Treasures: featuring Claudia222 Jewell Read More ...

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Aussie Vamp Fashionisto Winter Jefferson is this weeks featured Koinup user: Read More ...


(Poster by Doug Larimal)

Professional violinist Izabeli Jaworower (Izabela Spiewak) will be performing in-world June 1st at 11 AM SLT. I have not gotten the opportunity to go hear her perform yet but I have heard only good things about her. I will be stopping by there for a while so pop in and say hi! For those of you who can not make the in-world venue do not worry, the concert will be streamed live courtesy of Music Island at this address: http://www.livestream.com/musicisland

If you want a reason to go hear her in world check out this amazing RL footage of the talented woman in action:




SLURL to the venue here: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sea%20Turtle%20Island/40/7/25




Congratulations to Koad and Mand, for their tireless work on Milvus :) Their sim can now be found in the Second Life showcase under "Strange & Mysterious". Come visit this sim when you have the time. It is well worth your trip!













With over 2 years of photographs and 400 items to her name, this weeks featured Koinup user is Miss Crystalship Rehula. Her striking recent photographs of Bryn's new installation really stood out and captured the magic of the moment she was in.



"She lured little Timmy
into the shed,
and fed him bits
of poisoned bread."








"The Chef suggested
that Anna might be insane,
as they patiently waited
for the passenger train."















Crystalship not only is a lover of the virtual world but a vocal and supportive member of the art appreciating community. When she has the time, you can find her blogging away at "★ ШHΛT'S THIS ΛЯT ★".







Crystalship Rehula on Koinup: http://www.koinup.com/Crystalship-Rehula/works

Crystalship's Blog: http://whatsthisart.blogspot.com








The LEA Avatar Games launch Monday, June 6th at 4 pm SLT. What is this event you ask? Well as the official wiki for the LEA Games explains:

"The LEA Art Games (aka Avatar Games) was built by Bryn Oh and scripted by Sasun Steinbeck (two members of the LEA board) to demonstrate the range and diversity of art in the virtual world. They’re called the Avatar Games because they’re really a “physical” challenge for your avatar—having to successfully run through a gauntlet of objects and artful environments to reach the end. It’s a marriage of artful builds and a silly footrace—making it accessible to those who admire inworld aesthetics and good, clean fun. The Linden Endowment for the Arts (LEA) is committed to providing access to engaging experiences in the arts for the Second Life community. Through its exhibitions, programs, and events, the LEA fosters awareness of artists’ contributions to our virtual world and encourages others to get involved and be inspired."

What are the rules of the Games?
The goal: Run your avatar through the art obstacle course in the shortest possible time. Competitors must run—flying is not allowed.
No enhancements to increase your speed nor use of any shields will be allowed.
Any sort of cheating will result in disqualification from the Games.

Bryn explains it a tad further:

"No shields or flying or teleporting or enhanced running if that exists. We will know if you cheat and Crap will mock you mercilessly for doing so. Also I have supplied a gun for the games. It shoots a physical bullet that kind of knocks the runner off course a bit (it has a trampoline script in the bullet). You have to use this gun to make it fair. Don't use some gun that shoots nuclear missiles. Mostly I just don't want people coming to me saying "nobody else was shot by nuclear missile gun, so I demand to run again etc". Its just a fun community event type thing which should not be taken very seriously at all."

How can you sign up to compete? Signing up is easy. Requires only a moment to fill in a short form which can be found here: https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEIwMjNzb2IxSHB1M2lKNG1RY3BmMGc6MQ&ndplr=1

and as it says on the main page: "if you don’t get called for an active role on the week you want to participate, just come down to the Games each Monday at 4:00 p.m. PDT and you just might get picked out of the crowd!"








Kara Trapdoor sent me a message yesterday evening and was tugging at my virtual arm telling me about a sim she found named "Al Naifah". So I decided to go over and explore it with her. The sim is a community themed area. Spaced out nicely and all resting on sim water which I always liked the look of.


As Kara and I roamed around we came upon the most well made and well scripted chess game I have ever seen in SL. You can play alone versus the computer or you can play with others. Many different options in that set also. Saving games. Loading previous unfinished games. I must be a nerd for caring but I've been looking for a nice chess game for ages and was always disappointed. This set is so detailed I could write tons about how it works but you will have to go look.


There are some quite lovely photo friendly spots here. What is nice also, is that you may rez poses and props. The auto-return I believe at the time was set to 5 minutes. Plenty of time to setup and snap.





This sim has TONS and I do means TONS of games for those of you who would really enjoy somewhere to kick back quiet and play with friends while working on stuff. There are also viewing areas setup near hangout spots that seem to play whatever the current selected film may be. It is overall just a really nice relaxation spot for people looking for somewhere to go to play a few games, take some photos with friends, or just go somewhere a bit quieter. I had a nice time with Kara when we went so I think you might enjoy it when you bring a playful friend or two also.


SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Al%20Naifah/232/38/20









Kirsten did it! Tackled the evil code demons and brought us all 3d option within Kirsten's viewer.(Good job dude!) Chantal shares a peek at the new viewer here. I remember Kirsten asking me the other night if I had 3d glasses and I was like O,o um why? Kirsten explained that the new viewer was being worked on and that the code was frustrating and the math was annoying but it was all sorted out and tackled and finished. You will be able to download it soon at: http://www.kirstensviewer.com/






Why is there something? A new machinima collaboration from a diverse group of Second Life artists. This video is Part 5 of THE BIG BANG (WHY IS THERE SOMETHING?) an inauguration show of the opening of The Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw. Concept and direction by Saskia Boddeke. Text by Peter Greenaway. This machinima is a look into the beginning of the Universe, the triumph of the human mind and the search for answers. There are some amazing moments in this machinima. Wonderfully atmospheric design and captured in a dramatic way. My favorite bits were the segments of some figures falling during the Titans explanation and the strange moving box bits during the Pandora section which I am assuming were the creation of Werner Kurosawa. Also the soundtrack I really liked during the piano bits. Very interesting stuff.

Music by: Dionys Breukers,
Secondlife Art-work by: Toxic Menges, Werner Kurosawa,Rose Borchovski, Alpha Tribe.





High Definition Magical Mermaid Machinima from the mind of Nakoto Exonar.
Wonderful soundtrack and creative editing. I will be nice to see how Nakoto
grows in her machinima making. I like this video because it shows the more
free-spirited mythical side of SL instead of trying to hard to be like a RL
video. Nice to see people having fun and exploring the watery side of SL. ^_-

Discovered this video due to the new HD upload feature availiable now at Koinup!
http://blog.koinup.com/2011/05/enjoy-hd-machinima-on-koinup.html

In Bryn Oh's new installation "Anna's many murders" she introduces us to a world that is both heavy, heavy, almost threatening ... (take the windlight settings defined by Bryn Oh). Her universe full of mystery takes us to a new unknown experience ... Both surprisingly captivating and disturbing ... A deep experience which enables us to say that anything is possible ...







In her first life, Artistide Despres is a French photographer who teaches photography to high school and college students at an art institute in the Netherlands. Though in Second Life, she has been busy recently building in New Caerleon working on a scripted environment which enables the visitor to create and interact with music. She uploaded a short video clip today which I thought I would share.




It reminds me of what looks like an early phase of a concept that Keystone Bouchard executed very well with his build in 2008 called "Wikisonic".



It will be interesting to see how Artistide improves upon her concept. Interactive sound installations have always had many obstacles and challenges. Projects like these that use SL as the source for their creation have always intruiged me. I hope to see more projects like these pop up across SL in the future. Sound design is one of the areas I find most lacking overall, so any experimenting is always a great thing.




This weeks featured Koinup User is Carlotta Ceawlin. She is an active Koinup poster who has been sharing her photography on Koinup over three years now.



She shares moody landscapes often devoid of avatars at all, choosing rather to photograph spaces filled with nature.



Her photos are often magical and highlights some of the most photogenic spots in SL.


To see more photography from Carlotta you can check out her Koinup here:
http://www.koinup.com/CarlottaCeawlin/works/





Refreshingly refined RL vs. SL photography gallery by Shoji Kumaki.



The photographs are very realistic and shot with Shoji's unique look
at the world, both virtual and non-virtual. This is a well done display.
Thoughtful, free-spirited and sometimes sweet.





I highly recommend a quick visit in to see also his installment of Pray for Japan photography right beside this show. Both compliment each other well and quietly speak for themselves without a lot of showy editing.



Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Chilbo/129/22/96


Raglan Shire recently had a call for artists to display pieces for their community artwalk show which spans several sims wide. The turnout was great and got many people involved. I decided to pop in and check out a few things to share with you.











3d sculpture titled "Gust of Wind" created by Maryva Mayo




















3d sculpture in honor of Mariposa Upshaw created by Pumpkin Tripsa

















"Avatar" by KayElle
(might I biasedly add I find this clever and adorable)














"Pigboy" - Acrylic on canvas by Misa Delight


















There is much more to explore so if you feel like skipping around and checking out what your fellow residents are up to, this is a detour for you.



Slurl to Raglan Shire: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Raglan%20Shire/45/134/23











Playful new toybox themed area opened this evening called "Thumper's Meadow" (Owned and operated by Dingle Doigts).







The building of the main area was the joint effort of Blueboy Huckleberry and Eolene Uralia. Thumper's is a quirky playground filled with toys, unusual gifts and nonsense and home of many strange and different shops.






This area also hosts a group-only sandbox right beside Thumper's. Thumper's itself is like a childs messy room built atop a board-game. It is chaotic, colorful, and fun.





Obviously an area that doesn't take itself overly seriously and is more about random fun than cohesiveness. So, if you are looking for something silly to drag a few friends to, this is the spot for you. Come and goof off, run around, and be stupid. Life is too short to take too seriously. No one gets out alive anyway. So have fun!





Slurl to Thumper's Meadow: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Thumper/40/215/91











So, I get a notice today about the LEA Sandbox opening and pop in to see what's up. What I wasn't expecting to see when I rez in was Dan Coyote jumping flaming hoops on some loud ass chopper bike, Chantal Harvey fucking running over everyone in a god damned huge ass bus, and Bryn driving a hamburger through the ramps and over or into people.

I remember thinking, wait.
Am I in the right sim?

I looked up and sure enough. I'm in the LEA Sandbox. The opening went well. Many familiar faces popped up to say hello, (even the ones who openly wished the LEA would just disappear and go under popped in hoping to get involved so hopefully they have put their negative thoughts behind them on the subject but one can only hope). Let us hope this is a step in the right direction for building a good community playground again. Play nice in the sandbox yo.







So as the evening went on, I got a little tired of Chantal's lack of driving ability and reckless endangerment of avatars so I did what anyone else would do. I pulled out a rocket and took off to the moon for a little peace and quiet and writing space.














After the madness died down and I got some noise out of my head I noticed Claudia222 was hovering up in the sky already creating her mystical, dark, sparrow laced worlds. Three cheers for Claudia who ran off to make art instead of simply being content to chat about making art. That is motivation. It will be nice to see what people start leaving around in the sandbox. Self curating art space is the goal. Show them what you are capable of!



(weird ambience I wound up creating tonight that eerily suits the build)




Slurl to LEA SANDBOX: http://slurl.com/secondlife/LEA5/122/129/24









So I was hopping around today listening to magically delicious music and then I ran smack into a sim called "Daytime Dreams" (Run by Dolphin Aeghin). The first thing I noticed right away was the Bryn mayflys floating everywhere. Then I paid closer attention and recognized some Catnip Alice in Wonderland items from Akasha Wachmann. Then I went, HEY, that is Kriss Lehmann's aura up in the sky. And... wait... isn't that Alir Flow's plants from Alirium?
I started to realize I was just in a giant funky playground that makes absolutely no sense. Which. Is FINE. ^^ Wandering across the sim I was like... I think I hear a Bryn horsie lullaby. ANNNNNND BAM, around the corner, there it is. So like anyone would do, I let the horse eat me.



Skipped around for a bit more with the Incongruent Truths windlight setting on and went: "Oooooooo look at the shiny door to nowhere. LET ME TRY THAT!" Right. So. I did. And. I started falling down this massive tunnel. I remember thinking: Well, that's what I get for taking doors with no building attached. OOOOF. And I land.








And I realize, ok, there is some creepy eye dude staring at me underneath. I am glad I am not wearing a skirt. How do I get out of here. OH LOOK. Another door to nowhere. Well, this is clearly a sim in progress because, that door really goes NOWHERE. So. If you do take the door on the ground to nowhere, make sure you have a landmark to get back. And do bring a camera. It is fun for pics!



SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Daytime%20Dreams/128/128/0





Every week or so I thought it would be nice to share the SLers from Flickr that I admire, find interesting, or appreciate their style. This week I have chosen a few more that I think if you don't already know, you should.





Annough Lykin

Photographer/Stylist. High quality flickr stream that I enjoy visiting.

You can follow her style blog here: http://annlykin.wordpress.com/

Or catch her flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45823066@N07/






✰JR Breed✰
This guy has some really classy and photo realistic portraits of SL avis, original paintings and Aion edits. His technique is amazing. This is one polished gallery.

✰JR Breed✰'s Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jr-breed/





Anon120

Crazy different Flickr stream. I highly suggest checking this page out. It was really hard to just pick one photo to display from the page but, you just have to browse for yourself. I really like to see the creative stuff that pops up on this page.

Anon120's Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/52541170@N08/




(feel free to leave me suggestions of your favorites!)


So, just in case you thought that Art was all just pretty shiny and glowy twisty prims and pretty music and movies OOOOOOOH SHINY, occasionally some of this Literature stuff knocks on the windowpane and goes "Hey, mind if I crash this party?"

However, in the absence of actual literature, there's always the flash microfiction drivel I spew, and then surround with the efforts of others.

Every week, I post up a topic and then challenge folks to write and record a 100 word story on that topic. Then, on Sundays, I edit together the results and share them.

More often than not, a crop of your fellow SL-ers get into the action. Quite a lot over the years have dipped their toes into the water and... well, here... here's the announcement for this past week's effort:

100 Word Stories Weekly Challenge #264

This week’s 100 Word Stories Weekly Challenge offers up stories from SL’s Uriel Weeler (and son!), Danny Dwyer, NorvalJoe Parkin, and Crap Mariner among others. You can listen via the website: http://podcasting.isfullofcrap.com/

And feel free to join in for Challenge #265 by choosing any TWO topics from the list on the site.

Thanks,
-ls/cm


See? Them thar writers is everywhere!

Since I can't shut my stupid pie-hole for longer than a minute, I fill the rest of the week with daily stories, share the latest every Wednesday... blah blah blah, you don't wanna hear all that noise.

Forget I said anything about it. Focus on that Weekly Challenge thing. Give it a try yourself.

POSTER FOR STORIES

Oh, and coming soon to the Seanchai Library, a full-on reading of some of my own efforts over the past... SIX YEARS?

Ugh. Six years of doing this stuff. SIX YEARS! ONE A FREAKING DAY UNTIL THE DAY I DIE! (Heck, it's a lot healthier than smoking, I figure. Not much, though. *cough* *cough* Argh.)

But forget about me... what about YOU? Now that the bar's been set on the floor for literature and writing, the sky's the limit... let's hear what you folks are doing publishering-and-writing-and-literaturewise out there on the grid with the fiction and the poetry and the writing and the this and the that... let's hear it! SHOUT IT OUT!




BIO Mr. R. Crap Mariner is. This is a great disappointment to some. Deal with it.




My Avatar and Me is a fantasy-documentary film shot in Second Life by Rob Danton, and Directed by Bente Milton (in co-operation with Mikkel Stolt). It has been nominated for best documentary at film festivals in Lübeck, Germany, and Krakow, Poland, and selected to festivals in Amsterdam, Cleveland, Ireland, Spain and Denmark. This film is one that I think everyone who spends a decent amount of time in Second Life should come watch with us tomorrow. We are having the film screening in world Wednesday (the 18th) at 10am SLT. Places are limited because this is a live streamed event into 13 RL cinemas so come early or you may not get your seat. If you cannot make the screening tomorrow do not worry. In June the film will be available for VOD at www.constellation.tv

If you wish to join us at the screening you can do so at this location:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Scheherazade/171/224/22





This weeks featured Koinup member is Mistero Hifeng. Moody and explorative, his pictures and editing leans towards the more surreal inspired.



Playful and different, he is also now beginning to post Machinima so it will be interesting to see how he evolves.





Keep up the good work!





When entering for the first time into the world of Bryn Oh, we get a profound collection of so many emotions, wonder filled moments, and inspiring poetry! Let yourself become immersed in a peculiar world. Ponder the poetry or watch the surreal machinima she has created in this 3d enviornment. Bryn's imagination is such that even Alice of Wonderland cannot resist it :)

How to say ... wouahhhhh! I like it so much!
Her latest experience / installation in Secondlife, "Anna's Many Murders", is even more confusing, and exciting ... I would say it would begin with "Once upon a time ..."


Il était une fois...
Letters that make up words, phrases, intangible things that express other things even more elusive ...
lettREs
The story of Anna, féeseuse de papillons...

à suivre ;)