Cultured The Magazine March/April 2015 by Cultured The Magazine

Vol. 1

No.7

MARCH/APRIL 2015

SALT Restaurant Menswear Fashion Week Pam Astonia Le Cirque De Nuit ChangHigh Circus

SL LIVE ROCK RADIO

Cultured The Magazine - Issue 7 - march/april 2015

16 Photographed by Jackson Redstar

CTM Publisher’s Note: Time flies doesn’t it my friends! It’s truly hard to believe that it has been nearly one year since the first issue of the magazine was first released. Honestly there were times that I thought we couldn’t do it, but one year later we’ve succeeded in printing another issue. On top of that I also am honored that our publication was nominated for the Avi Choice Awards, and just before we finalized the layout of this issues I was informed we were nominated for Best SL Magazine for the 4th Annual DOPE Awards. Truly from the bottom of my heart I honestly cannot thank my staff enough for all the things they do, and they never cease to amaze me. With that said it really should be the writers, photographers, and models that get the praise, and just like every issue we have numerous stories to celebrate our one year anniversary. We look to our cover story this issue with SL Live Radio, coming off of winning back to back Avi Choice Awards for Best SL Radio Station, with the launch of their second station SL Live ROCK Radio. Not only do we feature the inside scoop of the station we also interview some of the DJs that you’ll be hearing on air in our Into the Mind of the Entertainer column. After that be sure to check out an incredible review for the S A L T Restaurant, the latest decor piece set for spring with Brie Maisel, check on what’s to come at Men’s Wear Fashion Week 2015, and even more! Enjoy the issue! Cheers,

Zephyr Windgate

(Zephyr0090 Resident) C.E.O & Publisher

Photo by Pam Astonia

Cultured The Magazine - Issue 7 - march/april 2015

CTM Editor’s Note: I’ve been getting a lot of curious friends lately, expressing their interest in starting a magazine. So I’d like to address publicly what it takes. I’ve made up a little acronym for it, PMT. Sounds like I’m talking about the latest party drug but actually, I’m talking about passion, money, and time. Forget real life partying, prepare for many late nights hovering over a computer screen, cuddling with your cat, sipping wine or cheep beer, and watching Netflix. Time. Prepare to hand over 40% of your entire life to this project. Have other jobs in SL? Not anymore. Second life hobbies? Good luck. Real life hobbies? This is your hobby. Money. It’s very expensive to start and successfully run a magazine. If you’re doing it for the money, you’ll be severely disappointed. You may make a profit selling advertising, but you really should hold on to it because you never know what next month’s advertising will bring. Passion. You have to do it because you love it. Let your passion be the driving force behind the entire project, that’s what keeps you moving and chugging along, that’s what gets you noticed! You have to believe in your project and back it 100% and eventually, everyone else will too. Don’t do it for money, don’t do it for fame, do it because you love it and everything else will follow. One thing I’ve learned, it doesn’t matter who you are or what you do in Second Life, literally anyone can make it in the magazine industry, you just have to have a LOT of PMT, perseverance, and courage. Second Life is fading and the next big things are on their way in terms of virtual reality. How will you spend YOUR time you have left in Second Life? Think of an idea, fill a needed niche, infuse your entire life with PMT, and you too can be a magazine publisher. Happy one year anniversary to my #1 hobby, and the thing that I am truly most passionate about, Cultured The Magazine.

Cali

in s r Ka

Photo by photologix studio

Cultured The Magazine - Issue 7 - march/april 2015

Staff & Contributors Publishers Zephyr Windgate Cali Karsin Editor-in-Chief Cali Karsin Layout Director LovelyMiwako7399 Menna Cover Photo Kodaijin Starfall Photographers Brie Maisel Carmen Hoyes Jackson Redstar Less Thenzero Sanjaria Desantos Writers Autumn Apples Amity Sorbet Cali karsin Debby Sharma Models Danity Mynx Grant Kirax Trouble Dethly

CONTENTS

CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT A Romantic Night at SALT 30 Hanging With Brie 38 Menswear Fashion Week 2015 50

MUSIC

Into the Mind of the Entertainers 64 COVER STORY: Rock On the Grid: SL Live ROCK Radio 68

ARTS

COVER STORY 24

Art Speaks with Pam Astonia 78 Behind the Scenes With Le Cirque De Nuit 86 Spreading the message of Light, Life and Love, Changhigh Circus 94

38 86

CONTENTS

Cultured The Magazine is owned and operated by Zephyr Media Productions. Online issues: http://issuu.com/culturedmagazine Website: http://culturedthemagazine.com/ Visit us inworld at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20 Centurion/113/202/22 For all the latest updates, events, and promotions, join our inworld group at secondlife:///app/group/5f7661c4-42d2-fd53-15916efecd67752f/about Ad Queries: culturedmagazine@zephyrmedia.org Advertising Requests: Cali Karsin or Zephyr Windgate (Zephyr0090 Resident) ISSN 2375-0871

Cultured The Magazine - Issue 7 - march/april 2015

CTM: CULTURE A Romantic Night at

SALT

Writer Apple (Autumnmarsh) Photographer Lessthen Zero

The concept of romance in SecondLife® has always intrigued me. Despite being robbed of a few of our senses while in the virtual world (smell, taste and touch), we manage to use the resources we have available and achieve it. So, having experienced romance in the real world helps a lot in SL®, but the overall journey is entirely different. Likewise, many of the activities we participate in while being romantic, or in our daily virtual life routines, also fascinate me. Take for example going to a fine restaurant for dinner. With our senses being so limited, how can this be an interesting event to participate in? As we enter the restaurant we do not get to smell the air filled with the scents of food cooking. What we order on the menu doesn’t truly matter much, we don’t get to “taste” it anyway. We don’t actually feel the cushions on the chair nor the temperature of the establishment so, no judging whether the place is comfortable or not. In spite of all these limitations though, after giving the experience a chance, I must say I enjoyed myself a great deal. There are

many restaurant experiences to have in SL, and the restaurant of choice for us was SALT. How is it that a business like SALT can manage to make the experience a good one for you? To do that, the business must understand “compensation”. Ever hear about how when a person is blind, their other senses become more acute? Same thing happens in SL. We’re unable to take advantage of all our senses, so the ones available to us adopt a heightened sensitivity. Visual and audible stimulation are what they have to use, and they use it well. The restaurant itself is well put together. There is an attention to detail that will hit you as soon as you enter. Everything is to scale, laid out in clean lines and well placed. The colors are vibrant enough to boost your imagination but won’t overwhelm you. I don’t know if it’s on purpose or not but, the place looks good in every sky setting, and that is difficult to achieve. Give it a try when you visit, switch from day to night and even sunrise Cultured The Magazine - Issue 7 - march/april 2015

and sunset. It all looks good.

our names. Doing so would have added to the experience. Also, I can’t help but wonder what local chat must be like when there are multiple guests present. When we went, we were the only customers. I can see local chat becoming difficult to follow once there are three or more tables at the same time.

Their attention to detail remains evident after the meal starts too. The menu is well done, easy to read with interesting choices on it which once again helps trigger the imagination. The food you have placed on the table in front of you once it is prepared looks much like what you ordered. No cookie cutter dinner Something the restaurant business plate prims here, every selection has it’s shares between real life and SL® is that own look. they both have their “intangibles”. For real life, that may be parking and the Sound is a different beast though. For weather. For me, in SL®, the intangibles that, you have the music being streamed are things like: easy to make a reservation, and it is nice but I consider the dialogue simple to teleport to, the place running going on in local chat my sound. Our smoothly. For SALT, I can say they have server, Aislynn, took the time to role play the intangibles in place. and emote the experience out for us. She was professional and well prepared. I do give the experience a high grade. I think any couple or friends who decide While I give the overall experience a to give “dinner out” in SL® a try will be high grade, this is not to say there is no pleased. SALT most certainly delivers the room for improvement. Those who are experience well with their prices being familiar with role play etiquette will know more than fair. So give them a chance, right away what I mean by “tag reading”. and don’t be afraid to order the Almond It basically means you’re reading name soup, it’s to die for. tags and using information that you don’t really have. Until someone has told you http://saltrestaurant.weebly.com/ their name, you shouldn’t call them by http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ name. Our server missed an opportunity Bay%20City%20-%20Rollers/244/137/26 to play out greeting us and asking for

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Hanging with Brie Spaces designed by Brie Maisel Photos by Brie Maisel

{theosophy} Palmerston Wall Hanging (Cloud) Trompe Loeil - Classic Bathtub White {A} Trompe Loeil - Classic Bathtub Shower Curtain tarte. messy floor rug {what next} Flyaway Wall Art (Birds) - white A.D.D. Andel! Heart Pallet-Chipped Paint-With Lights-Blue [ARIA] Vivien towel rack Trompe Loeil - Classic Bathroom Hamper Full Trompe Loeil - Thrift Shop Accent Chair Aunt Agatha Floral (2) Trompe Loeil - Thrift Store Table Ecru White Fancy !! Follow US !! Mademoiselle Beauty basket [ARIA] Lydia Amsonia flowers in a vase Trompe Loeil - Flying Bird Display - Group Flight no wires Trompe Loeil - Vintage Sink White Wood [ARIA] Rosalind potted Orchid [ARIA] Vivien rolled towels [ARIA] Vivien toothbrush holder [ARIA] Vivien potted Dieffenbachia Trompe Loeil - Classic Bathroom Rack Full 38

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tarte. messy floor rug TA Cage Candles !! Follow US !! Artist stool - wood COPY version TA PhotoStudio Camera & Lens !! Follow US !! Artist easel COPY version !! Follow US !! Artist table COPY version !! Follow US !! Retro lights camera COPY version -tres blah- Workspace - Hello Sign -tres blah- Workspace - Sewing Form RARE :CP: Dawsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Memory Board Dream Catcher 2 Shadowed floorplan. photography mechanics print Cultured The Magazine - Issue 7 - march/april 2015

{vespertine - green suitcase books} {what next} Pile of Vinyl (mesh) tarte. rona rug Exposeur - Dunnette Standing Record Player - Orange floorplan. abbey road street sign AF Dress Form w/ Dress -tres blah- Workspace - Chair -tres blah- Workspace - Desk -tres blah- Workspace - Shelves -tres blah- Workspace - Art Clutter -tres blah- Workspace - Catch-All -tres blah- Workspace - Print and Books TA PhotoStudio Camera & Lens -tres blah- Workspace - Sewing Pattern (NO) Sleepy Cat Pot - Carved Stone [PM]Pixel Mode - The Sewing Corner - Basket TA PhotoStudio Photographs Pile -tres blah- Workspace - Colored Pencils -tb- Bon Voyage - Vintage Camera MudHoney Red Tulips floorplan. darkroom film rolls -tres blah- Workspace - Inspiration Board 42 Second Spaces - Flea Market Finds -old sewing patterns w/fabric

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LISP - Vintage Boudoir Chair - Tex change click back chair Birdy [Brixley] hp subway sign :CP: Earnst TV +Half-Deer+ Climbing Rose Vine (Bright) - R -v2 floorplan. sheet table (NO) Sleepy Cat Pot - Carved Stone Granny Smith Apple -tb- Spring Living - Roses RARE Trompe Loeil - Amelia Loveseat Fabric White {A} V1.1 tarte. picture hanger - dark +Half-Deer+ Climbing Rose Vine (Emerald) - L (3) +Half-Deer+ Climbing Rose Vine (Emerald) - L -v2 Con.&floorplan. Branch Light AF Vintage Camera w/ Tripod floorplan. hanging string bulbs -tres blah- Workspace - Outfit Form RARE !! Follow US !! Suitcase photographer Trompe Loeil - Candle Fireplace Plaster With Drape ‘She Is’ by Brie Maisel 44 Falling Over Books :CP:

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CTM: SIREN Productions

Menswear Fashion Week is Here!

Siren Productions & SCALA along with Cultured the Magazine, DesigningSL, Dope Magazine, ECLIPSE Magazine, iNOVARE Magazine, Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;HOMME, ModeLS Magazine, Seraphim, SL Live Radio welcome you to Menswear Fashion Week 2015 March 27thApril 4th, 2015! Menswear Fashion Week has been around for six years and always brings great fashion, exciting shows, fun parties, and fashionable men to the forefront of the grid. We have some very exciting things planned as we take a vacation and get ready to jet off on an island hop to tropical locals. Siren Productions is bringing you the brightest and best of Mens Fashion in Second Life! Siren is so proud to have so many wonderful designers back with them on their exotic holiday this year including: Gabriel, Faster Pussycat, Akeruka, Gizza Creations, Dynasty, Vitamen, Aitui, SWAGGA, and Zibska to name a few. Having booked their ticket and joining them this year are some hot new designers Cool Nerd, CREDO, Tellaq, Tag, BOND7, ILLMVTIC, and David Heather. Siren Productions will have everything you are going to need on your vacation to paradise from hair and skins right down to shoes and accessories! This will be Siren Productions second year participating with Relay for Life. They are so excited! Siren wanted to raise 100K last year and managed to raise 150K. This year they want to double that and raise 250K! To do that, Siren Productions has organized game nights planned with Cultured the Magazine and iNOVARE Magazine. They have a 12 Hour Dj Dance Event with SL Live Radio on the 5th of April, 2015. Siren Productions is also producing 6 hours of Art & Jazz by the sea. Not to mention all the designers that are creating releases just to benefit RFL! In addition, fabulous themed shows including an underwater adventure and visiting the temples and ancient ruins in the tropical getaway is planned. Siren is combining fashion and music in a live concert runway show featuring MADONNA on April 5th, 2015 at 12pm SL. To follow Siren check out the website for updated party and show information 50

at http://sirenproductionsl.com. You can follow Siren on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/pages/Siren-Productions-SL/905730046118048 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Menswear-Fashion-Week/1520481831534880 If that is not enough there will be tons of new sensational clothing for the fashionable man about Second Life! Each and every designer is debuting fabulous new releases at the event! Some are even debuting entirely new collections. This will be the first place to see them and purchase them! Get them while they are hot and fresh! Hope to see you all at Menswear Fashion Week 2015! Yours Truly, Lexie Jansma Siren Productions Owner http://sirenproductionsl.com https://www.flickr.com/photos/sirenproductions/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Siren-Productions-SL/905730046118048 Cultured The Magazine - Issue 7 - march/april 2015

Photographed by Jackson Redstar

Danity Mynx Bravura Homme Bali Skirt Marsala Bravura Homme Bali Vest Marsala 52

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Photographed by Jackson Redstar

Grant Kirax Faster Pussycat Velvet Spring 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kings, Saints & Demigodsâ&#x20AC;? 54

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Trouble Dethly Faster Pussycat Velvet Elvis Spring 2015 “Kings, Saints & Demigods”

56 Photographed by Jackson Redstar

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Trouble Dethly Wiccaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wardrobe Phillip & Dante (Steel) 58

Cultured The Magazine - Issue 7 - march/april 2015 59 Photographed by Jackson Redstar

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CTM: MUSIC

Into the Mind of the Entertainers Writer Cali Karsin Photographer Brie Maisel

KC: I was already doing rock sets on SL Live and had been doing an Alphabet of Rock series on SL Live for 5 months. I was playing mainly indie and alternative rock on SL Live and holding back a bit on the heavier side of rock. I'm not into the really heavy screamo rock but I will be able to play some of my favorite heavier tunes now on SL Live Rock. CK: Why are you inspired by rock music? Where does your inspiration pull from? KC: Rock is such a wide genre with so many sub genres and such a long history with it's roots in Rhythm and Blues. My personal preference is for alternative and indie rock particularly from the 90's. Tunes that get you air-drumming on the steering wheel when you're stuck in traffic are my inspiration. I work with such a talented group of DJ's at SL Live and !Exodus! Rock Club that I get a lot of inspiration from them...and we are often 'pilfering' from each others sets.

Kess Crystal

CK: Tell me about your plans for your sets on the new ROCK radio station! Genres? How will it be different from your previous sets at SL Live Radio?

DJ name: DJ Kess Crystal Set schedule: Saturdays 12-2pm slt !Exodus! Rock Club Stream Info: SL Live ROCK Stream http://89.40.221.216:9084 64

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Björn Folkesson CK: Tell me about your plans for your sets on the new ROCK radio station! Genres? How will it be different from your previous sets at SL Live Radio? BF: I never did any sets on SL Live Radio and only joined the Rock station when it came around. I spend a lot of time working on my sets, at least 2 hours preparing what I’m going to play for a set and anywhere from 2-6 hours just searching for new unheard of songs or old songs which nobody has played for a while or at all. I like to consider myself an experimental DJ, I love just trying out new things and seeing how it works out with the crowd from the feedback and it’s very rare that I play any of the “new” songs which current DJ’s are most likely to play. It’s all about being creative for me and just finding and playing music which I love and hopefully everyone else does. CK: What is the most memorable experience you had working as a DJ? What happened? BF: Definitely my audition at !Exodus! Rock Club, when I first got into DJ’ing. I had been around at the club a long time before then and had never really considered being a DJ before in SL, my friends pushed me and eventually I applied. When it came to my audition, there was an amazing crowd who had turned up to hear my set and I loved every minute of it and the feedback was awesome to hear.

DJ name: DJ Bjรถrn Set schedule: Tuesdays 2-4pm SLT (Exodus) Thursdays 12-2pm SLT (SL Live ROCK Radio & Exodus) Stream Info: SL Live ROCK Radio http://89.40.221.216:9084 Exodus: http://euro3.neostreams.info:8170/ Cultured The Magazine - Issue 7 - march/april 2015

CTM: COVER STORY

Rock on the Grid

SL LIVE ROCK RADIO Writer Amity Sorbet Group Shot by Sanjaria Desantos, Other Photos by Jackson Redstar

Amity Sorbet sat down with prominent radio professionals, Esme Capelo and Thorn Andel to get the exclusive details on the inception of SL Live ROCK Radio, the newest channel of the SL Live Radio network. SL Live Radio as a station is entering its third year of operation and it continues to grow in scope all the time. It won an Avi Choice Award two years in a row for best radio station in 2014 and 2015. The station was the true pioneer of HD quality stereo sound in Second Life® radio. The first channel, a favorite among many metaverse residents, specializes in dance music. After a beta testing period of nine months, the original channel was ready to launch. Esme and Thorn approached their friends to tell them about SL Live Radio and encouraged them to listen. This strategy was successful and knowledge about the station continues to spread through word of mouth.

During part of their years of operation, Esme and Thorn heard feedback from individuals and friends about the myriad of different musical genres of interest to listeners. “That’s when the light bulbs went off,” Thorn said. The question arose - why not have multiple channels on the same station? This prompted the idea to start the newest channel, SL Live ROCK Radio. Now there are two channels with more planned in the future. To stay in the know about the evolution of SL Live Radio, visit their website and Facebook page, links for which are available at the end of this article. The hope with SL Live ROCK Radio is to appeal to a different and unique audience. As Esme put it so succinctly, it will be “a rock channel that caters to all tastes.” She went on to say that the 24 hour music stream will span the entirety of the rock genre, with each DJ then focusing on particular subgenres during their scheduled sessions. There are three DJ’s lined up so far;

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from 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 70

left to right Thorn Andel Esme Capelo, Deepert Resident Jamie Oakley Vaan Artis Kess Crystal Bjorn Folkesson Sonicity Fitzroy BonieFacio Boucher

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Bjorn Folkesson, Kess Crystal and Jamie Oakley. All promise to provide sounds that will appeal to a vast number of listeners. Thorn brought up the central mission of SL Live Radio and how important it has been to add the rock channel. “One of our goals with the radio station was to build community; help bridge the gap,” while at the same time having, “a mainstream, professional station.” Thorn continued by saying they felt they were “missing out on certain communities because they like rock.” Rock is the genre for which they have gotten the most requests. Its popularity is what led to it being the first additional channel on SL Live Radio. Esme and Thorn assure their listeners that they can expect the same music quality across both channels. Every song is mixed and edited to the high standards of the station. Just as they have already done with the dance music channel, listeners will be exposed to days worth of material and there will not be a constant repetition of songs. With the additional channel, there will be added benefits for advertisers and event planners. Advertisers will have their ads heard across the network, which means double the airtime for products and services. For those holding events, the added broadcasts will provide more exposure, time and opportunity for SL Live Radio to be part of events across the grid. To mark the birth of the new station, an incredible launch party (or two) will take place on March 27th, two to four PM SLT at Studio 2. There will be live 72

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DJ’s to provide music from across the rock genre. Further details will be released soon. Announcements about additional events are to take place throughout the year to celebrate SL Live ROCK Radio. Thorn and Esme encourage metaverse residents and radio fans to reach out and engage with the channel and the station as a whole. There are several ways to do this. Their location, called Studio 2, is open to the public and can be found at http://maps.secondlife. com/secondlife/MistyFalls/196/191/4078. Listeners are also encouraged to notify the station of birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions with a few days notice. It is a joy for the DJ’s to congratulate people and provide good wishes live on air. Can’t get enough of the music on SL Live ROCK Radio and wish you could have it with you all the time? There’s a way you can do so with your smartphone. Download an app such as TuneIn or Xiia. Streaming information for these apps and specific URLs to the channel can be found on the SL Live Radio websites. Esme and Thorn expressed their gratitude for each additional year of operation for the station. “[We want to] thank everyone who tunes in and gives SL Live Radio a chance,” said Thorn. SL Live Radio is truly, “the radio for your Second Life® .” https://www.facebook.com/SL.Live.Radio http://radiosllive.blogspot.com/

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CTM: ARTS Art speaks with

Pam Astonia Writer Amity Sorbet Photographer Photos Provided

Pam Astonia, renowned virtual photographer, took some time to sit down with Amity Sorbet to discuss the Photographer of the Year award and her artistic journey. Astonia has been a long-time photographer of choice for individuals both within and outside of the fashion industry. AS: First, Cultured The Magazine would like to congratulate you on receiving the Photographer of the Year award. How is the award recipient chosen? PA: The recipient is selected based on an independent poll that was sponsored by Style Kingdom Magazine and BOSL. AS: Describe how it felt to find out you had not only been nominated, but had also won this prestigious honor. PA: It was truly an honor to be nominated and win. At first, I didn’t realize I had won. I logged into Second Life® Facebook® and people kept congratulating me. I looked at the poll results, and was still in disbelief because it was my understanding there was still one more day of voting. AS: What was the first thing that went through your head when you were announced as Photographer of the Year? PA: It took a few minutes to sink in that I had won, but when it did, I felt elation and gratitude for all those who voted for me.

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AS: What does the award mean to you? PA: It touches me to be awarded for something I love and am very passionate about, and happy that people enjoy my work. AS: Has anything changed for you since you received the award? PA: Not really, maybe I’m a little busier. AS: At what point did you decide you wanted to be a photographer in SL® ? Was there an event or turning point that propelled you onto this path ? PA: I have a graphics background and had previously done some specialized work for an online group of artists. Initially, friends approached me after seeing some of my work, and asked if I would do a profile pic for them. Then, through word of mouth, I started getting requests from models to do contest pics. From there, it just seemed to snowball, which has made me very happy. AS: Did you have mentors or other people that influenced you along the way? PA: There was an artist, Adonaira, that had photos on Flickr that just mesmerized me, and I would check every day to see if she had added anything new. I was particularly attracted to the emotion that her images portrayed. They were magical. AS: What inspires you? PA: There really isn’t a specific thing that inspires me. Sometimes, it is the styling of the model, the beauty of a face, a scene that I visualize, other artists work, many factors.

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AS: Tell us about your journey with Photoshop: Did you have struggles with it, and if so, how did you overcome them? PA:I am self taught with Photoshop and have been working with it for over 10 years. There are always new things to learn, and I’m like a sponge when I see something intriguing. AS: What has been your most rewarding achievement or experience thus far? PA: The most rewarding experience is when people tell me they feel emotional when viewing my photos. AS: Why did you choose to focus on portraiture? PM: I love studying people’s faces in RL, particularly eyes, so it is basically an extension of that, even though they are avatars. AS: How has real life influenced your SL® , both generally and in terms of your art and photography? PA: SL has taught me to appreciate what I have in real life, and inspired me to reflect on how I view the world. AS: Outside of photography, what do you enjoy doing in real life and SL® ? PA: I enjoy reading, entertaining friends, and traveling, although I haven’t had the opportunity to do so lately. AS: Tell us something interesting that most people would not know about you. PA: I love all forms of dancing, and having taken lessons for 7 years. It is another way to express myself creatively. AS: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions! PA: Thank you for honoring me with this feature Amity, and a special thanks to Cali Karsin! http://www.flickr.com/photos/35985753@N00/

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CTM: ARTS Behind the Scenes with

Le Cirque De Nuit Writer Debby Sharma Photographer Photos Provided

The tranquility one discovers while entering the sets of Guerilla Burlesque and excited hushes in the crowd to witness a breath-taking performance of thirty dancers is not soon to be forgotten. The initial goal was to start a flash mob which soon transformed to spectacular shows. “It pretty much forced its way into the world”, says Cherryblonde Scribe. The first teaser on April 6th, 2014 of “Le Cirque de Nuit” marked its importance on calendars in Second Life®. It is loosely based on “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern, earned its name from Knowledge Tomorrow on book recommendation from Gloriana Maertens with an attached note saying, “I could totally see this as a sim idea”. The acts are built to pay homage to the Circus in the book with reference to Cirque de Soleil without being a recreation of either. It’s a magical love story, set in Victorian England, about a circus in black and white that appears out of nowhere and does magical things. The sets of whimsical concept are built by Maertens with same vision as that of Scribe. After the successful shows, “Mayfair” followed its steps. It is a re-creation of the book, “The Witching Hour” by Anne Rice. Mayfair was a perfect vehicle because it’s the story of a group of willful and powerful women that spans around four centuries and a witch for every personality, introducing a dramatic element with narrative title pages used for the first time. The set was built to recreate one of the famous “Garden District” houses in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA reflecting a garden party by Maertens.

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The effort of the team would not have come to life without Arrehn Oberlander, the scripter. The unique scripts attached to the seats, called the “MetaHarper Show Tools Rezzer”, enable the audience to be spot on, with the use of scripted cameras and low lag. All one has to do is sit on one of the chairs and press “Esc” twice. The chairs are scripted to take control of the avatar’s camera so that the performer can direct the viewer’s focus to featured parts to the acts and allow for changes on the stage. It is instrumental in setting the mood right and helping the live audience to immerse in the story. If not for Oberlander, the production team and Second Life® itself could not enjoy the benefits of the ability to control viewer’s cameras and other technicalities for improved audience experience. Normally it’s the dancer controlling the stage, but for the upcoming show, it’s one person controlling it because of the scripted cameras that have been introduced to the grid. Scribe has a profound joy to see her team bagged with wonders succeed and to embark a journey together. She says, “It’s like… let’s go on a journey, who’s in?” Her fondness for her team can be judged with her words, “You bring the magic with you.” Dancers like Aubreya Joszpe, Chewie Quixote, Maertens, Jess and others have been with the troupe for over a year giving their best to this creative path. Each performer has the freedom to work their own sets to create their own vision and give their best to mesmerize the audience. It takes hours to choose the movements to express their emotions of a thematic character. The sole driving force is passion. Having successful shows in their resumes, they are now mentors, builders, choreographers

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etc. The performer always selects the song. They might be given a genre as they were with Le Cirque de Nuit but the creative process is created by them. The choice of song based on genre is not always specific although a close line is maintained. Like Maertens did a steampunk illusionist act for the Beatles’ Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Guerilla Burlesque performs every Friday night under the production company called, “Idle Rogue Productions” with seven dancers performing each night. The seating capacity of the sim is limited to seventy. These fairly tight production schedules run for about 10 weeks apart from the shows like “Le Cirque de Nuit” and “Mayfair”. The prim count for each dancer’s set may vary from 40 to 500 while the stage is kept at approximately 1000 prims. Before every act, all the artists, audience and stage have to be set. The challenge is to have a neutral-enough stage to encompass many acts while still immersing the audience into the theme. The acts themselves can take a few weeks to develop with more editorial control over them than might be usual for a stage show. A very common saying among the troupers is “We practice until we can’t get it wrong”. It takes weeks to perfect each act and ones done it is practiced till nothing goes wrong. Even the new recruits bring in their “A” game taking it to one step higher. Scribe being a dancer and performer herself says, “Music is my motivator and I work in dance so I can have music”. When asked if film making could be a future prospect, she says, “We have couple of budding machinimatographers within the troupe but I love the live audience reaction.”

http://idlerogue.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GuerillaBurlesque/timeline?ref=page_ internal

Cultured The Magazine - Issue 7 - march/april 2015

CTM: ARTS

Spreading the message of Light, Life and Love,

Changhigh Circus

Writer: Debby Sharma Photographer: Carmen Hoyes

The crackling fire revealed a beautiful dancing figure emitting warmth, essence of love and life, and swinging on a trapeze, is a beautiful fiery dancer, Yman Juran, who is one of the three sisters of ChangHigh Trinity Sisters Fire show. It was in December, 2014, when I witnessed the mesmerizing performance at Relay for Life Across Second Life®. It was a supreme vision of the sisters, ClaudiaMarja Magic, Melvin Starbrook and Yman Juran, dancing around the cosmic light blending with one’s inner soul; performing acrobatics on elephant and high wire acts. Next I visited Santalarity, celebrating the Burning Man festival which is a replica of the one celebrated in Utah, USA. The same energy flowed as in the last show which fascinated the crowd. Seven years later, the fire experience, a thousand year old tradition, still seemed to drag their soul to an eternal divine power. Juran says, “As a performer in reality and virtually, I relate to fire but as a human I relate much more to knowledge, understanding and wisdom of the highest quality. I’m known to both worlds as the fire lady/man.” She says that potential creativity is backed by motivation, curiosity and maturity, desire to share and freewill to express inner self leads. She remembers the lyrics, “I am

Cultured The Magazine - Issue 7 - march/april 2015

on fire, make me higher.” She relates each show as a deep emotional inexpressible state of being, much more than a game or a role play craze to touch the inner soul focusing on Edutainment. Juran says, “SL® is a virtual real way of expressing your personal creativity virtually for others to perceive.” Her original idea was to have seven dancers, each representing a color which has become a trinity now, consisting of red, blue and yellow. She cherishes the memories of the other 20 fire dancers who had been a part of the show. These artistic fire shows are portrayed with a blend of spiritual thoughts and music accompanied with dances and lights. The unique dances are assembled in a HUD built by a combined effort of scriptors around the world in support of the idea to create a real time virtually live show. The fire tools, the particle effects and the trapeze swing are made by a builder who worked at IBM USA, containing over 42 dances, all selected in sequence. At the age of 69, Juran lives like a monk close to one of Denmark’ small woods in midland, focusing mastering on inner potential creativity. Juran is a circus director, street performer, entrepreneur of a transport company, graphic designer, and pro-cook with 6 educations, working as a therapist in music with Danish Mental Institutions for the last 14 years and the only knife thrower in Denmark. As a performer, Juran travels with the troupe performing on cycles, juggling spiced with spirituality. With 34 years of experience, she has taught over 200 students and performed almost 10,000 shows over Scandinavia, Europe and Middle East with her circus troupe called the ChangHigh Circus. She has performed live on Copenhagen walking street which was filmed by the Japanese, Germans, English and Americans. Juran is involved in several worldwide projects related to progressive expansion of cosmic understandings. As a believer of the concepts on Urantia Revelation for the last 38 years, she has created several videos, written articles, delivered speeches, participated in public talks and other public domains related to spiritual concept to trigger awareness. A piece of her work called, “Letter from God”, was printed on December 24th, 2014, in one of the largest newspapers in Denmark. When asked about the most memorable show, Juran says, “My artistic work seems to evaporate as snow on a summer day from my mind; it becomes insignificant to me. But yes, people remember. My jester style is unique they say.” Juran’s eyes sparkled like dazzling cosmic light, thinking of the journey of the trinity sisters as spirit souls conveying the message of, “Light, Life and Love.” https://www.facebook.com/pages/Changhigh-Trinity-Sisters-Fireshow-of-Light-Life-andLove/284697335388 http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caldbeck/11/98/27 96

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