i n a r a
M a y
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Contents
32.
66.
Through the Lens
Taylor and Tempest offer a glimpse behind their lens to show us their take on how should enjoy nature in spring.
Proust Spotlight
Teaming up with the Blogger & Vlogger Network, we shine the spotlight on the talented Mayza Starr!
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78.
100.
112.
FaMESHed Family
130.
Resident Highlight
144.
The Art Perspective
Celebrating their 7 year anniversary, we showcase the team behind FaMESHed.
At Home With...
Luane takes us on an incredible decorating journey where we witness spring in the morning, afternoon and evening!
SL Fiction
Prepare for a chapter of a new story, as Zhantee Fallen shares a day in the life of his character Gabriel.
The story behind the talented Lawrence D. Pryce and his monthly photo challenges.
Oema offers her review of “Into The Net� by Moki Yuitza @ DixMix Art Gallery.
s
ECLIPSE Magazine is dedicated to not only offering an aesthetically pleasing publication, but to also be considered a platform that offers rich and relevant content. Each month, we showcase residents and groups that have taken the concept of “your world, your imagination� to such great heights that they have impacted the culture and lifestyle of the Second Life community.
48.
Cover Story Inara Pey Cover Photographer Lessthen Zero
156.
Voices from the Grid
168.
The Tour of Homes
186.
The Wayfarer
Writer Cajsa Lilliehook
Each issue ECLIPSE Magazine asks residents a question, see what they have to say.
A new feature inviting readers to tour the featured homes.
Join the Wayfarer on a journey exploring the sim, Puddlechurch. ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 11
executive team
Trouble dethly
cajsa lilliehook
Taylor Wassep
autumn rose
Publisher
Copy Editor
Creative Director
Creative Director
jessyca teardrop Assistant Editor
the c
writers
photographers
Cajsa Lilliehook Grayden Foxe Novaleigh Freng Oema Taylor Wassep Tiffany Parkin
Autumn Rose June Fallon Lessthen Zero Luane Meo Novaleigh Freng Taylor Wassep Tempest Rosca Wicca Merlin
stylists Autumn Rose June Fallon Luane Meo Taylor Wassep Tempest Rosca Wicca Merlin
guest stylist & photographer Taylor Wassep & Tempest Rosca
interested in advertising with eclipse? have an idea for a great story? looking to start a new career in second life? email trouble.dethlysl@gmail.com
contributors
I’ve had a super hectic past two weeks. I wanted to release ECLIPSE Magazine on May 10; however, I ended up spraining my right wrist. I have zero threshold for pain, so it was... unfortunate and it hurt a lot! I also left for a weeklong work conference on May 12, and I have The Final Winter opening on May 30th. It’s been a very busy return. Nonetheless, I present our May 2019 issue of ECLIPSE Magazine. We feature Inara Pey on the cover. We also introduce a new feature called “The Tour of Homes,” where we showcase people’s Linden Homes who have opened theirs for other residents to tour until May 30th. Community has been on the forefront of my mind, and this is one of the things to help build upon it. With that, I do have a feature article on FaMESHed. They celebrate their seventh anniversary, and we highlight the team members that make the magic happen. I’m thrilled that we are continuing our “SL Fiction” piece because if ECLIPSE has one job, it is to share stories. And what is roleplay but one ongoing story. I do have the June issue in the works, and I’m hoping to release that on time. Or close to. We’ll see. As always, I am forever grateful for Autumn who has helped me so much while I was injured, away and being a big mess. Thank you, babe <3 We have eleven pieces this month, and I truly hope you enjoy them. Happy Readings!
letter from the publi
isher
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through the lens styling & photography by taylor wassep & temp
Each issue, ECLIPSE Magazine invites the many talented photographers from Second Life to collaborate. With this piece, they style, create and share a glimpse through their lens. While some may urge the summer weather onward, one should not forget the beauty of spring. Taylor and Tempest showcase how one enjoys nature in spring.
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est rosca.
Photographer: Taylor Wassep Featuring: Taylor Page 34 | ECLIPSE May 2019
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Photographer: Taylor Wassep Featuring: Taylor
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Photographer: Tempest Rosca Featuring: Legolas & Tempest Page 38 | ECLIPSE May 2019
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Photograph by Lessthen Zero.
everything flows
photography by lessthen zero. written by cajsa l
s
lilliehook.
The river where you set your foot just now is gone— those waters giving way to this, now this. Heraclitus The sentence that best captures Second Life® was written about 2500 years ago by Heraclitus of Ephesus, who wrote “The only constant is change.” That is true of the company, the software interface, and the thousands of people who create the ever-flowing community that is Second Life. With such flux, we are lucky to have chroniclers as dedicated and professional as Inara Pey to help us understand what is happening. She is the writer whose blog captures the social, cultural, and technical rivers of Second Life. Inara Pey’s blog goes back to February 2008. Its title “Modemworld” has always seemed to be a visual pun, that final “m” in modem suggesting “rn” at a glance. It suggests a subtle humor that delights in not announcing itself, of being overlooked and unobserved. Modemworld grew out of an earlier blog called Peysworld. She focused on the practice of dominance and submission, usually signified by the acronym D/s. As Inara explains, “Outside of SL, I used to be involved with a D/s community, and I was somewhat taken aback as to how D/s could so often be misconstrued by those leaping into it within SL without prior knowledge of the subject (just as in the physical world in fact). As a result, I started giving talks in SL on the subject of D/s relationships, the dynamics, etc., and the blog started as a means of supporting that, using items either specifically written for SL or pieces I’d written for other websites and re-worked to fit Second Life.” Page 50 | ECLIPSE May 2019
Dagger Bay
[As part of the feature
e, Inara lists her top eight favorite places on the grid. Photos of these places will appear in no particular order throughout the article.]
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Over time, her blog’s focus shifted and broadened as her interests in Second Life grew. D/s became less significant in both first and Second Life. Modemworld became the blog that focused on general reporting and she archived her D/s posts separately on a now retired blog called “Devices and Desires”, though some more general D/s posts can be found at Modemworld under the “About Me”, a submenu of “Blog Bits.” What makes Inara’s Modemworld so useful to confused and confounded SL residents is she is not coming to it as a technical expert. She is the everywoman who is learning as she goes
and making it all accessible to the rest of us, the everyman and everywoman who populate our virtual world. “I’m not a technical person in any real way— but that didn’t stop me from critiquing Linden Lab for X or Y. During 2008, there were also significant upheavals in the company/user relationship which tended to create and “us versus them” attitude among many users— again, myself included. When I stopped to think about this, I decided maybe it would be a good idea to learn more, technically, about the the platform. So I jumped in with both feet—and quickly became fascinated by everything I was DiXmiX Gallery
Modulus: Taylor Alpha Hair Page 52 | ECLIPSE May 2019
learning, and simply wanted to document it, and things: to offer news as objectively as possible, offer a means by which people could be more and as free from subjective editorialising as informed, so they opt to read the blog.” possible; to provide a means for me to offer opinion in a manner that can be clearly seen Inara does not think of her blog as driven to be opinion, and again to be as balanced as by a mission so much as by her peripatetic possible. personal interests which means she can write about sailing, boating, flying, events, sims, The other would be simply to record the many Linden Lab meetings, technology, and other fabulous outlets for creativity that exist in related interests such as Sansar, virtual reality, Second Life. Hence the coverage of region augmented reality, and even some of the legal and parcel designs, my arts coverage, events developments that may affect Second Life. highlighting, etc. “Were I asked what is my aim in writing the blog, I would stay it is a combination of a couple of
I suppose you could summarise this as I like the idea of helping to keep people informed.” Junbug (Monet’s garden)
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To be evenminded is the greatest virtue. Wisdom is to speak the truth and act in keeping with its nature Heraclitus Inara’s blog is meticulously organized, using tags to sort posts into menus and submenus on the masthead menu bar so readers can look for more on specific topics. She also has templates for different types of posts so it takes her less time to produce a post. However, that efficiency is offset by articles that take weeks or months of work such as in-depth tutorials. Right now she has two articles in production that have been in the works for quite some time. One is three months in the making and the other she has spent nearly a year working on. “I do try to produce around two articles per day; sometimes it might be just the one due to other pressures, sometimes things come together so that three or four might surface in a single day. How many events I cover largely comes down to what is going on in any given month, what information comes my way, etc. When it comes to things like user group meetings, the weekly load varies between four and six including the weekly Sansar Product Meeting.” Don’t look for SL fashion, not because Inara is disinterested in fashion but because there are a surfeit of fashion bloggers. She will write occasional product reviews, but does not generally accept items for review. She only writes about items she has purchased or has been involved in helping to develop. While there are plenty of debates in the blog comments, Inara does not get much pushbak from readers or the Lab. That is because she strives to keep her reporting objective as possible and when she proffers her opinions, she tags the article, making clear what is reporting and what is opinion. Page 54 | ECLIPSE May 2019
Erebos Harbor ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 55
It also helps that she has worked to build a relationship with the Lab, checking in with them before jumping to conclusions. “I’ve always tried to the the course of contacting them, asking questions, gaining feedback. I’ve also sought to demonstrate, again, objectivity towards them in my writing; in fact in this regard, own of the most gratifying comments I’ve received from the Lab was a statement that they appreciate the level of constructive critique I at times present. However, this does cut both ways; there are times when I have out-and-out got something wrong (and recently jumped the shark on a new SL feature), and I’ve been tapped by the Lab with a requested correction—and it is something I’m only too happy to do.”
Yet let’s not make rash guesses our most lucid thoughts Heraclitus
One recent development that may (or may not) have profound effects on Second Life is a set of new copyright laws passed by the European Union. Article 17 (Article 13 in earlier versions) that hold online hosts responsible for user-generated content, including copyright violation. If you search for information you will see articles with headlines tell you that the EU has wrecked the internet or has not wrecked the internet. Article 17 is either a stake in the heart or a pesky fly. It’s striking then how little discussion there has been of its implications Of course, it’s not all unicorns and rainbows. for Second Life. In fact, search for “Article 17” Inara has her critics including one blogger who and “Second Life” and only one other person portrays her as a fangirl while refusing to refer has written about its implication for us. With to her by name. her usual good sense, Inara explains that Article 17 will neither end the internet as we Lutz City
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e s s s
Nitroglobus Roof Gallery
know it but that is in large part because there are several more steps to go through before it can be implemented. Any lobbyist can tell you that what you lose in legislating, you can win in rule-making.
How people interact with technology is changing rapidly. We have virtual reality or VR interfaces that immerse us completely into a computer-generated world through headsets and handsets that translate our movements into actions in the virtual world. Not only do the member states of the There is also augmented reality or AR which European Union have two years to adopt can include anything from the very unpopular the directive into their own laws, according Google Glass to Pokemon Go. Then there are to Inara â&#x20AC;&#x153;the past has shown us that this time transhumanist developments from something frame is almost never met.â&#x20AC;? While Germany and as basic as implanting chips to open doors a few other countries might be able to move and pay bills to CRISPR genetic hacking and on it quickly, others may lag behind and in the search for and dread of the Singularity, countries where their leadership is divided on when artificial or non-biological intelligence the issue, drag their heels. There are elections (AI) will be as vast, subtle, and creative as on May 23 through the 26th. Grassroots our own. Inara is well-positioned to have an opposition to Articles 11 and 17 might alter informed and commonsensical opinion on the makeup of the EU Parliament and force the future of these advancements. them to reopen the issue. ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 57
“I think VR and AR have the potential to have an enormous beneficial impact on us, with a few caveats. The most obvious at present is the development of the technology and the price point. That said, I don’t see VR being the market leader, and have frankly never believed in it garnering “hundred of millions” or “billions” of users world-wide in and of itself. “ Inara is more bullish on AR, even though it lags behind at the moment. She believes it will become the market leader in the next decade, possibly swallowing up VR as technology moves toward mixed reality (MR) and extended reality (XR). This could mean eyewear that can function both like Google Glass and like VR headsets. “I lean this way because, fundamentally, AR has the potential to genuinely be as disruptive at smartphone technology —in fact, it is the next logical step: taking a lot of capabilities we now view as “essential” to daily living away from a hand-held screen and putting it directly in front of our eyes whilst still allowing us to interact with the world around us.”
Sanctuary
“Which is not to say I don’t think VR has a future —it does; I just think that in terms of our everyday lifestyles, VR will be naturally more constrained in its use when compared to the pervasiveness of AR. In terms of transhumanism or “the singularity”, I’m entirely neutral. In fact, I rarely consider the question, simply because I think there are more pressing issues we should be focused on in terms of humanity’s future —particularly that of climate change. However, that’s perhaps a subject for an article of another kind.” So what does someone who spends so much time investigating, reporting, Page 58 | ECLIPSE May 2019
Modulus: Rory Alpha Hair
and writing about Second Life most enjoy about Second Life? Freedom of expression! Her answer is strikingly similar to everyone else, suggesting that the more you know about Second Life, the more it affirms what you thought in the first place. “The freedom of expression it give to all of us. Yes, this can be a pain when abused, but on the whole, it has meant all of us engaging in the platform and with one another through it, can be personally enriched. As already noted, I love the creativity shown right across SL, be this is region designs, art, events, individual areas of content creations: houses, vehicles, animals, etc. Like LL, I’m constantly in awe of the ways people find to make use of the platform and its capabilities.” Valium
“I also find the fact that SL is always evolving to be fascinating, and to go back to the blog, I’ve tried to become something of a chronicler/curator of this evolution and the changes it has brought.” Just as the river where I step is not the same, and is, so I am as I am not Heraclitus “Inara is actually my second SL account. My first exposure to the platform didn’t go well, largely because I had *no* idea what I was doing here or what I wanted or what the platform was really about.” Fortunately for all of us, she gave Second Life a second chance and met someone who liked building in SL and was involved in D/s. She taught Inara about building which she found interesting and, more importantly, introduced her to a discussion group ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 59
Photograph by Lessthen Zero. Page 60 | ECLIPSE May 2019
Modulus: Wesley Alpha Hair
and community where she felt at home. She began making friends and that, as they say, was that. Inara thinks her first and Second Life are reflective of each other. “I think a lot of my RL is reflected in my SL —my love of music, art, literature and writing, for example. I consider myself widely read; to offer a list would be pretty boring as I do read most genres, both fiction and non-fiction. Musically, I have a deep love of classical music (from my late mother) which tends to segue into an appreciation of a broad cross-section of modern day film and television composers. I also love music from the period of the Great American Songbook onwards, again partially due to parental influence, although I’ve not really followed popular music since about 2005-ish. From my dad, I have a fascination with astronomy and space science / space flight, which is again reflected in my Space Sunday blog articles. Family, loved ones and friendship are of the greatest importance to me.” Inara’s definition of creativity and creation is expansive, including not just the art displayed in galleries, merchandise in stores, the landscapes and atmospheres of the sims or how they decorate their homes, but even how they customize and adorn their avatars.This wide view of creativity is essential to being a chronicler of this world, it’s a framework that includes so much more than most people try to encompass. That expansiveness is a reward in itself. “I’ve been lucky in that SL has rewarded me with many good friends, some still active, others now departed, and numerous opportunities to learn from them, be supported by them and offer my support to them. The platform has exposed me to ideas and views that I might not otherwise have encountered, ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 61
offering opportunities to learn.” The idea that new views and new ideas are opportunities rather than challenges is integral to her mission. “What makes me happy in SL? Being with those closest to me; the wonder of exploration and discovery; creating things —I love designing environments, building (or more particularly kitbashing nowadays). I also have a passion for flying and sailing in SL, and have two homes (Linden Houseboat and private island) that reflect both (can supply images, if required). There have been so many changes in the last 12 years, that quantifying them isn’t really easy. There have been all the obvious technical changes, from Windlight through to EEP (which seems an appropriate way of bracketing things, given one arrived in 2007 and we’re on the cusp of the other, while both are of a similar nature). There have been social changes like Basic (free) membership, the arrival of private island regions and then the topsy-turvy situation with OpenSpace / Homesteads. And there have been the changes at the Lab, from Philip Rosedale to Mark Kingdon to Rod Humble to Ebbe Altberg, all of who have seen various shifts in direction for both the company and the platform —and have been much of the reason for my own expanded and continuing blogging.”
technical elements well enough to write about them in ways readers can learn from. “I’m really not technical or a computer wizard, so it takes time for me to get my head around things. But, it is another reason why I try to cover tech stuff in the blog; I figure if *I* can understand it sufficiently well enough to be able to write about it —then anyone can!” One thing that shines through all her years of blogging is that through the flowing river of change in Second Life and first life, there lies a continuous thread of an old-fashioned virtue that is seldom seen in the modern world, rectitude. It’s a word about being upright and honorable, about being straight with people, of having a moral constancy. Sometimes I think those in power and in the media limit morality to sexual mores and customs in order to obscure far more consequential immorality in political and economic spheres. This makes those of us who believe in personal liberation shy from using words like morality and rectitude, but they matter because they inspire trust. Inara’s moral constancy, her rectitude, inspires trust. People who read her blog trust her and recognize that when she is in error, it is an honest error and one she will correct.
“My time today is probably more focused on blogging and on learning. Second Overall, Inara sees the majority of Life is a place where you can never know changes in SL and in Linden Lab as everything; there are always things to be positive. Obviously, there have been discovered and learned —by they new missteps such as their heavy push to regions to appreciate, new art and art change industry in 2008-2010. However, forms to be witnessed or new knowledge she understands even the errors as to be gained.” part of the positive intention of making the company more financially secure, Check out Inara’s Blog. something that benefits residents as Connect with Inara on Flickr, YouTube well as the Lab. Her biggest challenge and Twitter. has been trying to understand the Page 62 | ECLIPSE May 2019
Photograph by Les
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the proust spotli
photography by Mayza starr (D
The Proust Spotlight is our monthly feature where we highlight one of the many creative residents of Second Life®. Utilizing the Proust Questionnaire, whose namesake comes from the late 19th century French writer, we will offer a glimpse into what makes them tick. ECLIPSE Magazine has teamed up with the Blogger & Vlogger Network, so each month the blogger we showcase on the Proust Spotlight is a group member. The group member we feature this month is the talented Mayza Starr. She shares, “Hiii I’m Mayza. I have been blogging in SL for nearly 3 years. I spend my SL either shopping for things I will never use again or stood on my platform staring into space with my other half bear starr when not blogging! Sometimes if I’m lucky he will treat me and take me out to another sim!”
ght
aily Doll).
What is your ideal of perfect happiness? I would be happy just hanging out with bear and my friends and being stupid but with an unlimited amount of linden to buy EVERYTHING and buy all the land I wanted, decorating it and then giving it away lol What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Kindness. Sometimes I’m too kind, and people seem to take advantage and walk over you when you are kind. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? I say lol a lot. Even when I don’t find things funny! LOL (See I did it again.) What do you consider your greatest achievement? Some of my sponsors I have got are amazing so that’s definitely an achievement, but also after 2 years I have JUST started learning photoshop (with some help from bear), so hopefully my pictures will improve more and more as time goes on. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? I would come back as a ghost just so i could haunt bear, then he could never move on and be stuck with me till he joins me in the afterlife. What do you most value in your friends? Honesty and loyalty without that what’s the point? Can’t be friends with someone is toxic for you! Also helps to like Game of Thrones otherwise we will have nothing to talk about. What is your greatest regret? Spending 20k to make a male alt for blogging, only to never ever use him :( How would you like to die? In bed as an old lady, but not too old. I want to go before I am too reliant on others! What is your motto? Never care what anyone else thinks about you. They don’t matter. What is your most marked characteristic? Logical and sometimes nosy lol Connect with Mayza on her Blog, Flickr and Facebook. Page 68 | ECLIPSE May 2019
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at home with...
STYLING BY luane meo. photography by l
ECLIPSE Magazine explores the long underappreciated and overlooked world of home and garden design. The flourishing diversity and abundance of choice since the mesh revolution has led to a bold new world of creation. For this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feature, the talented Luane Meo takes us on a spring inspired journey from morning to day and then evening.
luane meo.
See more of Luaneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work on Flickr.
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Bedroom - Full (Morning): Apple Fall Martins’ Busker Guitar West Village Magnolia Arrangement Ariskea[Louise] Real Painting Acrylic Ariskea[FreshAir] Spider Plant [Sick] Ariskea[FreshAir] Spider Plant [Heathy] JIAN Scruffy Shepherds 14. Sleepy Adult JIAN Silly Shibes II *EPP* Sleepy Pupper MudHoney Jackie Rug 1. Nutmeg. Garden Getaway Breakfast Tray RARE 4. Nutmeg. Garden Getaway Books & Coffee 9. Nutmeg. Garden Getaway Cookies & Cutlery 14. Nutmeg. Garden Getaway Diary Light 15. Nutmeg. Garden Getaway Bentwood Chair Nutmeg. Disarray Old Jar Plant Nutmeg. Disarray Bed Lightgrey ADULT
Nutmeg. Disarray Old Pitcher Lamp White Nutmeg. Disarray Newspapers & Hat Nutmeg. Disarray Chair w/Plaid White, ADULT Nutmeg. Disarray Wooden Candlestick 2 Nutmeg. Disarray Wooden Candlestick Nutmeg. Disarray Round Wooden Table Nutmeg. Disarray Wicker Basket Light v1 Nutmeg. Country House Bench w/ Grey Blanket Nutmeg. Rug Gray, Group Gift Shiny Shabby Long curtain_ Creme_Gift
Bedroom Close-up: 1. Nutmeg. Garden Getaway Breakfast Tray RARE 4. Nutmeg. Garden Getaway Books & Coffee 9. Nutmeg. Garden Getaway Cookies & Cutlery Nutmeg. Disarray Wooden Candlestick 2 Nutmeg. Disarray Wooden Candlestick Nutmeg. Disarray Chair w/Plaid White, ADULT Nutmeg. Disarray Round Wooden Table West Village Magnolia Arrangement Livingroom - Full (Day) Apple Fall Lily Wicker Sofa - Cream (Adult) Apple Fall Lily Wicker Chair Cream (Adult) Apple Fall Roses Box (Pink) Apple Fall Elderflower Cordial Apple Fall Ornamental Elephant Silver Apple Fall Botanical Prints (3) Apple Fall Pearl Chandelier Apple Fall Fig & Blackberry Cake Apple Fall Design Books 2. Apple Fall Chocolate & Cherry Tart 8. Apple Fall Treats Platter Dahlia - Loire - Zinc Pitcher - Dusty Rose - 24. C/M Dahlia - Loire - Flower Arangement - Dusty Rose - 19. C/M Dahlia - Jardin - Ladder - White Dahlia - Denmark - Blanket - Blush Dahlia - Clarina - Pagi Basi - Map Clutter - .08 C/M Con & Dust Bunny . Coffee Station - Silver dust bunny . dwarf fruit trees . clementines dust bunny . dwarf fruit trees .
cherries dust bunny . hanging plants . ivy planter dust bunny . hanging plants . double planter dust bunny . ivy room divider dust bunny . camellia couch . pg dust bunny . camellia potted plant dust bunny . camellia chair . pg dust bunny . camellia coffee table dust bunny . sweet dreams . fur stool dust bunny . blanket storage table dust bunny . book pile Nutmeg. Dacha Candle Jar Nutmeg. Dacha Hanging Candle Bucket Nutmeg. Ornamental Bicycle w/ Clutter & Bird Feeder Nutmeg. Old Oriental Carpet Nutmeg. Plates w/Vintage Spoons and Forks 3. Nutmeg. Garden Getaway Cup Stack 5. Nutmeg. Garden Getaway Teapot & Cups O.M.E.N . Sleepy Bengal . In Bed Gray
Livingroom - Close-up 1 O.M.E.N . Sleepy Bengal . In Bed - Gray Nutmeg. Ornamental Bicycle w/ Clutter & Bird Feeder Dahlia - Denmark - Blanket - Blush Dahlia - Loire - Flower Arangement - Dusty Rose - 19. C/M Apple Fall Ornamental Elephant - Silver Apple Fall Roses Box (Pink) dust bunny . ivy room divider Page 96 | ECLIPSE May 2019
Livingroom Close-Up 2: 8. Apple Fall Treats Platter 2. Apple Fall Chocolate & Cherry Tart 3. Nutmeg. Garden Getaway Cup Stack 5. Nutmeg. Garden Getaway Teapot & Cups Nutmeg. Plates w/Vintage Spoons and Forks Dahlia - Clarina - Pagi Basi - Map Clutter - .08 C/M dust bunny . camellia coffee table Kitchen - Full (Evening): West Village Rice Milk w/ Carrier West Village Maynard Paneling, Straight West Village Winston Bentwood Chair West Village Spring Tulips West Village Seeded Bread & Tomatoes Apple Fall Reclaimed Corbel Shelf Apple Fall Nardyas’ Tulips in Mason Jar Apple Fall Natural Apples Dahlia - Verona Holiday - Cookie Box - Red C/M Dahlia - Plymouth - Thankful Shadow Box - Silver Dahlia - Clarina - Cafe Floral Arangement - Coral - 14. C/M Dahlia - Babylon Eclectic - Bulb Vases - VIP Dahlia - Babylon Eclectic Eucalyptus In Glass - 3 C/M dust bunny . kitchen clutter . utensil pitcher . white dust bunny . kitchen clutter . potted herbs . rosemary dust bunny . kitchen clutter . potted herbs . parsley dust bunny . kitchen clutter . potted herbs . basil dust bunny . kitchen clutter . spice rack . white dust bunny . pasta love . spaghetti
& meatballs bowl dust bunny . pasta love . spaghetti & meatballs pot dust bunny . pasta love . ravioli dust bunny . pasta love . grocery basket dust bunny . pasta love . pasta machine dust bunny . pasta love . making pasta board dust bunny . small spaces kitchen . end cabinet dust bunny . hanging plants . double planter dust bunny . hanging plants . ivy planter dust bunny . autumns calling . wine bottle dust bunny . autumns calling . wood table ionic : Hoy pasta! ionic : Tomates Rellenos ionic : White Counter Nutmeg. Old Frying Pans Nutmeg. Bowls Nutmeg. Casserole White Nutmeg. Recepies Book Nutmeg. Cook Stove White Nutmeg. Disarray Wooden Candlestick 2 Nutmeg. Disarray Wooden Candlestick [ zerkalo ] Bar Z - Wine Glass
Kitchen Close-Up: Apple Fall Argentinian Malbec Apple Fall Wine Glasses dust bunny . pasta love . spaghetti & meatballs bowl dust bunny . pasta love . ravioli dust bunny . autumns calling . wood table Nutmeg. Disarray Wooden Candlestick 2 Nutmeg. Disarray Wooden Candlestick Dahlia - Clarina - Cafe Floral Arangement - Coral - 14 West Village Spring Tulips West Village Winston Bentwood Chair
Outside (Night): Apple Fall Hardwick Manor Apple Fall Hartley Fencing Short, Wide - Silvered Apple Fall Hartley Fencing Short, Post - Silvered Apple Fall Notting Hill Cobblestone (Straight) Apple Fall Privet Ball (Variegated) dust bunny . Con - Emma Flower Bicycle - Decor dust bunny . welcome mat . home sweet home . group gift BALACLAVA!! Kingslay Lamppost BRONZE {what next} Bicycle Decor (Mens) {what next} Tulip Rainboots Planter HPMD* WildGrasses - a Heart - Wild Flowers - Quenn Ann’s Lace - P3 *alirium* DwarfForest [OldGold]
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SL FICTION
written by Zhant
Second Life is rich in roleplay opportunities, and ECLIPSE Magazine’s newest feature is dedicated to telling each character’s story. Taking the concept of “a day in the life,” we invite our readers to SL Fiction. Zhantee Fallen shares a day in the life of his character Gabriel in the Isle of Tassis.
tee Fallen.
Sunlight trickled across the polished wooden floor in long fingers, reaching further with each minute and gradually brightening the space. From beneath a tangle of blankets, Gabriel roused himself, pushing away his bedclothes to lay back and stare at the low ceiling of his apartment. From below his window, the sounds of a city just coming alive could be heard. Carts clattered across cobblestones and a merchant yelled, advertising the latest stock of blackwine beans he had acquired. In bed, the man’s hand drifted to the loose fabric covering his thigh and touched a small spot where his flesh had been seared many years ago. Even without heavy steel around his neck, it still marked him. Some time later, the once-kajirus roused himself, dressing and brushing out his long hair without the assistance of a mirror. That luxury he couldn’t quite afford yet, though he could afford some other things, like the sweet roll purchased from a baker woman’s stand on his walk to the dockside cafe where he worked as a chef. Cooking had always come naturally to him. While in the collar, he’d made untold numbers of meals, from lowly slave gruel to feasts which fed his owners and their important guests. In freedom, it was his only profitable skill and his best chance to pass as a proper man.
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Even with morning light barely cresting over the high hill of Tassis, the docks were already a swarm of activity. Fishermen loaded their boats for the day’s long, hungry work, and high-masted merchant vessels disgorged their bellies’ contents. Across the wooden planks came casks of wine and paga bound for market, slaves of all colors, and crates hauled by strong young men, filled with medicines, rence paper, ink, and cloth. Gabriel paused by a wagon being loaded with pottery to examine the Turian water jugs and polished clay plates, nestled delicately within cloth wrappings. Perhaps, he thought, running a finger across a platter’s edge, these would interest the cafe’s owner. When he finally arrived, the cafe was already abuzz with activity. Jen came in at dawn each day to bake bread and serve their earliest customers. Gabriel followed an hour or so later to start the proper cooking. He’d begun preparations the previous evening, chopping down their hard vegetables and salting meats, leaving just a bit less to do, but there was still plenty. A cry went up from one of the far tables and a slave ran from it, scurrying towards him. “Pardon, Master. There’s a spill. Do you have a cloth?” A cloth, he did indeed have. ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 103
There wasn’t a great amount of time to think during the morning rush or even for a time after, but he found little memories creeping in here or there. The smell of bacon sizzling in its own grease would set him right back to the apartment he’d lived in so many years ago, where he’d knelt over a similar pan and felt warm arms embrace him from behind. “Is it done yet?” was always asked of him every morning, and every morning he’d reply the same: “Just a minute more, Master.” By the time the sun was straight overhead, everything smelled of roast verr haunch, spiced rice, and the larma tarts cooling on the countertop–so tempting to the hands of free and slave alike. By this point, the actual cooking was done for a time and the slaves could serve, so he’d take his leave and go lunch somewhere quieter. After packing up some of what he had prepared earlier, Gabriel would pick his way back out along the docks, up the winding roads that ran on the island’s edge to a space of lush farmlands and grassy cliffs. There, beneath a tree overlooking the vast ocean below, he would settle and tuck into his spread of hard-boiled eggs, rice, stewed vegetables, and milk. Occasionally, animals from the nearby farm would get loose and come to picnic with him. On this particular day, a vulo chick found its way out and feasted. Page 104 | ECLIPSE May 2019
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Here, alone, under bright sun and deep shadows, he’d finally relax. Some days, he’d simply watch the clouds drift by. Others, memories would swirl up and consume him. On this particular afternoon, he found himself dizzily swept up when a particularly cool breeze blew in off the ocean. Years ago, he’d lived briefly in the bitter north of Torvaldsland, where snow almost always covered the earth. How that chill had remained, even after they’d left! Yet in the tundra, there were always warm arms to wrap around him and sweet words said by the red-haired poet whom he served. Gabriel swallowed down the regret which accompanied every memory of his former Master, the man he’d loved. That was gone now. He wore no collar, and even if the holes which had been stabbed through his earlobes would never heal, he wouldn’t fill those empty spaces with new rings any more than he would fill his own desire to kneel again. Being free, he reflected, picking up his things when the day had grown late, was far more difficult than being enslaved. There was more expected and no less danger of death. Men slew each other with surprising frequency over the smallest of slights. After dropping
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his things and checking in with the cafe again, Gabe found the place quiet. His evening was his own. Instead of heading for the paga den as most men might, he walked up to the baths. Built deep within the mountains and attached to natural hot springs, the baths were a humid, steamy place to lose oneself. After refusing the services of one of the girls working there, he set to cleaning himself, enjoying a long soak in sulphurscented waters that washed his mind of the past. The only way was forward, he decided, drying and dressing himself again. He’d find the poet, perhaps, or the smith, or even the physician he’d once known. But if he didn’t, he’d keep going. Once, he might have given up, too sad from loss of love to move on, but now he had the strength of Gor, the strength a harsh planet imbues into even the lowest of its society. If he fell to the cities of dust, overwhelmed by sadness, it would do nothing. No one would mourn him. No. Gabriel brushed a hand along one pierced ear and looked out onto the night sea, his resolve set. He’d stay strong for now, stay free, until he found a man he could give his heart to again. ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 107
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The fameshed famil
Photography by autumn rose & tempest rosca. Written by tiffa
ly
any parkin.
Every day, the Second Life experience grows more dynamic for its residents. We are constantly hearing of new creators, our fellow residents who have made the decision to try their creative hands at creating new homes, clothing, jewelry or decor. Regardless of each individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success, these residents contribute something special to our Second Life experience by sharing their time and talents with all of us. And as technology changes, so do the diversity of the products available to us all. As new creators find success, they are constantly searching for new venues to display their work. Despite the ever-growing Marketplace and many creators moving their stores strictly to the Marketplace to reduce overhead, shopping events continue to be a mainstay of Second Life and one of the most popular ways to shop for the latest releases. New events are opening up all the time offering our talented creators an ever-expanding set of options for showcasing their items. With so many events taking place, how do we decide which event to shop at? Which ones are going to give us the most options of the styles we are looking for? Which events will be able to sustain themselves for the long haul to offer us one of the best shopping experiences on the grid? Despite the challenges and competition to remain at the top, one event has been a mainstay of thee shopping experience for Second Life residents, new and old. FaMESHed, one of the premier shopping events in Second Life, is celebrating its Seventh Anniversary this month. Each year, Elvi Hartley and the team at FaMESHed strive to make the anniversary round one to remember and this year is no exception. Page 114 | ECLIPSE May 2019
FaMESHed Owner: Elvi Hartley ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 115
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Ensuring an event runs smoothly from beginning to end is no small feat nor is coordinating an event. There is the construction of the venue. Meeting the needs of the designers taking part in the event is critical. There must be publicity to promote the event. All of this is done with the goal of providing the customer with the most enticing shopping experience possible. Doing this on a monthly basis is difficult enough. When you are celebrating your anniversary with a new store design and 137 designers, the largest round in FaMESHed history, it takes a cohesive team to make the event a success. To help FaMESHed celebrate their seventh anniversary, Eclipse asked Elvi and the rest of the team if they would sacrifice some time from their busy schedules to tell us more about FaMESHed, about themselves, and what makes being an integral part of FaMESHed so special for each of them. As they were interviewed, they shared not only their unique experiences being a part of the FaMESHed family, but also what being a member of the team and the event itself has meant to each of them.
FaMESHed Liaison: Anabelle Marquis
A self-described “Sims nerd,” Elvi Hartley enjoyed a varied Second Life background before assuming her role as the owner of FaMESHed. A former blogger who has a passion for decor and landscaping, Elvi was originally hired by the former owner of FaMESHed, Cracked Mirror, to decorate the store back in 2014. During that time, Cracked Mirror learned of Elvi’s previous work in public relations and management. Elvi recalls, “We both hit it off when I was hired to decorate her store and when we spoke about what we did in real life, she thought I would be perfect for this.” Elvi describes her relationship with Cracked Mirror ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 117
as “an amazing working relationship,” lead to her being offered the position of FaMESHed Manager. The rest, as they say, is history. While the average shopper may not see all of the work that goes into coordinating an event, those who manage the events know first hand the amount of communication and collaboration needed between the event and the designers taking part in it. For the regular monthly opening, this can be a daunting task. For an anniversary round, maintaining the lines of communication and addressing any issue that may arise can be downright overwhelming. To help ensure the needs of the designers are met, FaMESHed relies on Anabelle Marquis, Anashara Dubois, and Grace Sixpence, the FaMESHed Liaison Team, as the primary contacts for each participating designer. The journey from noob to FaMESHed Liaison almost seems like it was destiny for Anabelle Marquis. Despite her early work in Second Life as a DJ, she found herself immersed in the fashion and decor world once she ventured into the world of blogging. As she developed her blogging skills, she also decided to explore being a designer herself. Anabelle describes her role as being “there for the designers. They can come to me and I will take care of their needs and assist them in any way I can.” The skills she learned in her early roles as a DJ and blogger appear to have made her a perfect fit for the FaMESHed team over the past three years. While lacking the blogging background much of the FaMESHed team has under their belts, management skills and communication come naturally to Anashara Dubois. One of her loves in Second Life is the live music scene, Page 118 | ECLIPSE May 2019
FaMESHed Liaison: Anashara Dubois
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FaMESHed Liaison: Grace Sixpence Page 120 | ECLIPSE May 2019
where she can often be seen supporting many of Second Life’s talented performers. Anashara takes “care of two RL professional musicians who perform in Second Life, Liam Wakeman, my longtime partner, and Norma Falta.” Managing Second Life’s musical talent requires many of the same skills required to fulfill her role as a FaMESHed Liaison. Those skills coupled with her love of shopping have made Anashara a valuable Liaison between FaMESHed and the participating creators. Much like Elvi, the third Liaison, Grace Sixpence, also spent much of her early days in Second Life exploring all that our world had to offer. A few years ago, Grace also tossed her hit into blogging and, as she says, “never looked back.” Her blogging experience and background as a club owner in Second Life developed both her ability to communicate with the designers who participate each month at FaMESHed, as well as her deep appreciation for the time and attention to detail each designer puts into their creations. When asked how being a Liaison for FaMESHed has affected her Second Life, she says, “it has been a constant in my Second Life for a while now and that makes me a happy Gracey.” To ensure the success of an event such as FaMESHed, it takes more than just constant communications between the event team and the participating designers. Communications with customers is also key. FaMESHed relies on their blogging and social media managers to ensure the designers receive the exposure they so richly deserve. To ensure we, the Second Life public, know what is available each round, Elvi has entrusted these duties to Tempest, FaMESHed’s Social Media Liaison, and Lawrence Pryce, FaMESHed’s Blogger Manager. ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 121
While new to her role as the Social Media Liaison, Tempest Rosca is no stranger to Second Life. She recalls, “I joined in 2007 when I received an email from Sky News asking if I would participate in a survey to log into a virtual world, go to a specific Sky News sim and then give feedback.” After twelve years as a Second Life resident, Tempest joined the FaMESHed team just this year and is the newest member of the management team. Elvi had heard she had retired from blogging in 2018 and that she was looking for a new challenge. Coming in just prior to the seventh anniversary round has certainly been the challenge Tempest was looking for. Along with ensuring every designer’s work is showcased on social media, she is also responsible for the early access competitions that occur each new round and assisting the rest of the team when needed. Lawrence Pryce has the unique position of being the only man on the team, something he points out leads to him being “tormented” by the women he works with. Despite this, Law has served as the Blogger Manager since the fall of 2017 and shows no signs of stepping away from this role. With blogging being such an integral part of advertising for designers in Second Life, it is incumbent upon Law to choose a team of bloggers whom he believes will best represent both FaMESHed and the participating designers. While he must spend time tracking and promoting the blog posts produced for the event, Law also strives to maintain an environment that helps the blogging team feel like family. He takes the role to heart saying, “The only thing I try to impress is that they (the bloggers) can never leave the family as we value each of our photographers.” Despite FaMESHed being a business, Page 122 | ECLIPSE May 2019
FaMESHed Social Media Liaison: Tempest Rosca ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 123
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each member of the FaMESHed team talks about part of this unit more as one would talk about their own family. In fact, when asked to describe what it is like being a part of FaMESHed, the word “family” was used by almost everyone. Whether its Law sharing his adventures of being grossly outnumbered by women or Anashara sharing her antics of targeting Elvi with air to ground missiles, each member of FaMESHed talks about each other more as one would talk about spending time at a family gathering with their favorite siblings and cousins, with Elvi being the parental figure who keeps them all in line. Considering the strong wills and personalities of each Liaison, character traits necessary to continuously pull off an event like this, Elvi has managed to guide each of them and carefully select a team that complements each other to ensure success. Despite having 137 different designers, none of the FaMESHed family will share their favorite designer for this year’s anniversary round. Granted, considering the caliber of designers present at FaMESHed, it would be incredibly difficult to pick just one designer. As for what Elvi has planned for FaMESHed, if anyone knows those secrets, no one is sharing them. It appears that everyone will just have to “stay tuned,” according to Elvi.
FaMESHed Blogger Manager: Lawrence Pryce
There is one thing that each member of the team agrees on. They all love their roles with FaMESHed and none of them has any desire to leave the FaMESHed family. And why should they? Everyone seems to have found their niche to help make FaMESHed one of the most popular retail events on the grid. When you are part of seven years of continuous success, why would consider looking elsewhere? ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 125
Teleport to Check out the FaM Follow FaMESHed on F
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FaMESHed. MESHed website. Flickr and Facebook.
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lawrence D. PRYCE
photography by tempest rosca & provided by lawrence d. pryce. written by tayl
lor wassep.
According to Merriam-Webster, “manage” is defined as, to handle or direct with a degree of skill. Managing is found through the various fields in Second Life™. For example, a brand needs someone to handle that customer service aspect of their company. Having someone skilled with interpersonal abilities along with an acute sense of direction could make a great Customer Service Representative. Having someone with the correct skills who then utilizes those skills in the proper places can make a long-lasting impact with a brand.
One such blogger manager who has the skill to handle or direct with a high degree of skill is Lawrence D. Pryce. Currently, Lawrence is the Blogger Manager for faMESHed, Bella Event and 6 Republic along with Hoorenbeek and KiB Designs. Obviously, Lawrence did not just arrive in this virtual space already the Blogger Manager for these brands and events. It took years of working on both sides of the aisle to get where he is today; and so then let’s start at his beginning.
Back in 2007, the cable television show, CSI, had a show that was Another management path in centered around Second Life. Second Life is taking on the role of Lawrence just so happened to Blogger Manager–someone who watch this episode and was can corral bloggers and check to intrigued enough to want to see how the brand’s products are check out SL for himself. One of being showcased. Blogging and his first memories he recalled blogger management would fall was teleporting into Help Island under the umbrella of advertising. and hearing just noise. So many The advertisement would be people were just talking over sponsoring a blogger with your each other and the local chat was items. A give and take, and a blog moving quickly as well. Of course, manager spends a lot of their time there were people asking for organizing and checking on the lindens and arguing over so many various bloggers in their rosters. different topics.
Ben Burton Body Language Ch Page 132 | ECLIPSE May 2019
hallenge: Couple Edition ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 133
Cataleya Body Language Challenge
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To be honest it looked like a weird place so I wanted to see if it was as crazy as the episode made it out to be. Needless to say, it was and more. – Lawrence D. Pryce
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Junnetia Macabre Challenge
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Now, most people would hightail it out of this area, but not Lawrence. He is no mere mortal and for a few weeks, he stuck around these areas just enjoying himself. Like most newbies to the grid, you either end up dancing for tips at a club orr you get your soul taken by the vampire role-players. Sadly, someone in Second Life does own Lawrence’s soul. So, if you find it, please return it to him. He has sorely missed that little thing! Despite all that ruckus and the loss of his soul, Second Life turned out to be a peaceful place for Lawrence to “escape” to. He did not really engage with anyone for quite some time. Mainly he would explore various sims for hours and relax with some music. Through it all though, Lawrence was greatly helped by the group Freebie Finds for Men. Each day, this group would post where male avatar, or male-presenting avatars could find freebies from different designers. This all culminated at the end of 2011, when the owner of the Fashion Freebie blog gave Lawrence a chance of being blogger for them. Lawrence blogged for them for about six ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 135
years, blogging what he found in Second Life in hopes that it would help other male avatars find great fashions. But in 2016, he wanted to change up what he was doing in Second Life. With the help of a friend, Keely Mistwood, who kindly recommended him to the owners of Method and Hoorenbeek, he took on the new challenge of managing bloggers. As the years melted away, more opportunities to managed bloggers for more and more companies and events presented themselves. Some were through an application process and interview phase, where others were from designers approaching him based on his good reputation. If this is a position you might like to have one day, you need to get out there and do the hard work of blogging and taking as many opportunities as you can.
Ange Keng Macabre Challenge Page 136 | ECLIPSE May 2019
“
Treat people how you want to be treated and create an environment that you would want to work in. Open communication, establish a relationship with your team, stay organized, and most of all have fun. – Lawrence D. Pryce
”
Titus Palmira Hate Me Challenge
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Mi Body Language C
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ila Maesar Challenge
One way that Lawrence has taken what his does above and beyond is creating this communal photography contest he does every so often. Starting off as a joke, Lawrence had purchased a few items and gave them to a few people to create a scene. From there, it blossomed into this amazing challenge that allows every person an opportunity to join. Last year Lawrence changed the concept of his challenges, making them themed challenges around inspiration he provided. While everyone is free to participate, he would respectfully ask that you contact him if you wish to participate in one of his challenges. One of his favorite challenges is the Macabre Challenge since it was all about finding
the beauty in the macabre and grotesque; and the photographers created so many amazing images. More recently, the Body Language Challenge was a new concept and really created a strong sense of community. Lawrence can’t put into words how he feels about all these challenges. He loves the energy brought out by the photos and all the support the photographers have been showing each other. The friendships that formed from participating in the challenges and even the humorous curses sent his way while people struggle to capture the perfect shot are some of the rewards that prove to him that SL is about making connections.
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So many claim that there is nothing by discord and distress in Second Life but I strongly disagree. There is so much positivity and I witness each time. – Lawrence D. Pryce
When we were finishing this interview, Lawrence answered one last question, “What final words do you have for the residents of Second Life?” And this is what he said, “Second Life started as my place to escape and [find] new adventures in
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solitude. However, over the years, I’m now a part of a community that I love. Yes, it can get crazy at times, but I will never take for granted the experiences nor the people I’ve come to to know, love and admire.”
Connect with Lawrence on Facebook and Flickr.
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the art perspect written by oema. photograph
Oema curates the ECLIPSE Magazine art column. Each piece, she discovers, reviews and highlights the work of some of the most creative and talented artists on the grid. She offers a fresh perspective in the vibrant and vast world of the arts. For this month’s feature, Oema showcases “Into the Net,” at The DixMix Art Gallery by Moki Yuitza.
tive y by oema.
The DixMix Art Gallery began hosting the art installation by Moki Yuitza on April 30th. The title is “Into The Net” and, seeing it, it is not difficult to understand why. The DixMix Art Gallery is owned and curated by DixMix Source, a well-known figure in the Second Life® art world. Moki Yuitza is known for her installation “Hypercube” staged at LEA19 in October last year. On that occasion, I had the opportunity to interview Moki Yuitza: a fascinating opportunity to learn more about an artist debuting as a protagonist in the creative world of Second Life. Those who visited “Hypercube” will find many similarities with “Into The Net”: just as Hypercube was a multidimensional labyrinth, the logic of the labyrinth is also present in “Into The Net.” However, in this case, the beams of light that produce a “laser effect” are the delimiters of the geometric spaces that give life to a labyrinth more theoretical than real.
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“Into the Net” is hosted at the gallery “The Womb” at the DixMix Art Gallery: Before visiting it I suggest to set the lights as recommended by the artist, that is: • Advance Lighting Model • Shadows: Sun/Moon + Projectors • Avatar Shadows: Complex • Water Reflections: Minimal • Point Lighting: Full. • Graphics Quality: High (the level immediately before “ultra”). The art of Moki Yuitza in “Into The Net” reminds me of the laser light art of the Seventies. Artists have always used the most advanced materials and techniques to create their work. Marshall McLuhan wrote in 1964: “the serious artist is the only person able to meet technology with impunity, and this for the simple fact that he is an expert aware of the variations in sensory perception.”
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The laser was first operated in the 1960s in the laboratories of Hughes Research in Malibu. On the one hand, the artists of the Californian group focused, in a broader sense, on the use of artificial light as an artistic medium; on the other hand, others dedicated themselves, more specifically, to laser, giving rise to the so-called laser light art. Leon Goldman organized the first major American exhibit at the Art Museum of Cincinnati in 1969.It was called Laser Light: in New Visual Art and included installations by Mike
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Campbell, Baron Kody, and Rockne Krebs in rooms of the Museum, using smoke and mirrors to transform the light rays of a laser in geometries and volumes to significant effect. At the same time, scientists are also interested in the artistic possibilities of laser light. The first to deal with this type of experimentation was the physicist Elsa Garmire (California Institute of Technology), who combined art and technology to produce laser photographs and laser film.
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Moki Yuitza’s installation is reminiscent of the artworks of the 1970s, although the real innovation is the use of laser-effect light beams in the virtual environment. A careful observation does not escape that the rays of light of the Yuitza are produced by a cube that moves very quickly leaving behind the laser beams. The speed with which the cube moves may not make it easy to notice its presence. The artist’s aim is not to show the cube, but to make the observer immerse himself in the luminous labyrinth created by the virtual laser beams. We know that the laser was the prelude to the invention of holograms, so I hope that Moki Yuitza’s next art installation will explore this idea. I’ll talk to her about it. In the meantime, I can only recommend visiting “Into The Net,” an expression of the most original and creative virtual art. Teleport to “Into the Net.”
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Voices from the g
Voices From the Grid is a monthly survey of opinions and ideas of Second LifeÂŽ residents on the salient issues of the day. For this issue, ECLIPSE Magazine asked residents to share their most embarrassing moments in Second Life.
grid
Photograph by Wicca Merlin. Page 158 | ECLIPSE May 2019
joanee mccringleberry
J
oanee McCringleberry [Joan Mayflower] joined Second Life in 2008 and very quickly jumped into the world of modeling. Her love for playing dressup, coupled with a new outlet for her real-life photography made this the ideal platform for all sorts of fun. Joanee’s first job within SL was realized when she answered a casting call for a new modeling agency. She promptly discovered some very artistic designers and began styling outfits that received many strong reviews from the agency owner. Consequently, Joanee was promoted to CEO of this tiny startup. Joanee currently is working on making poses and developing her photography skills, which go hand-in-hand with her blogging responsibilities. She regularly posts her photos on Flickr and Facebook and goes on fun adventures with her SL spouse, Neel. My most embarrassing moment came soon after I was promoted to CEO of the modeling agency. I was skilled at styling outfits, but to be put charge of building a new agency so soon was probably not a great idea. I was completely clueless when it came to the inner workings of an agency. My big stupid moment occurred when I was conducting my first candidate interview. This candidate was dressed nicely but quite bulky. Her shape was almost entirely obscured by her massive outfit. My not-so-brilliant idea was for me to offer suggestions on how to enhance her shape. But in order to do so, I would have to actually see her shape. Not thinking, I blurted out for her to remove her clothes. Once you press “enter” on something like that, you can’t really take it back. This request was more than she was expecting for an interview, and after calling me a few choice names she stormed out of the meeting. Word of this incident got out to a few other model agencies, and it was a huge black eye for myself and the agency. Following this, I was no longer allowed to conducted interviews. I made many mistakes in my past, but all these experiences have contributed to who I am. I won’t run from my mistakes but will learn from these experiences and continue to grow. Check out her Flickr and Facebook.
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Photograph provided by Marloo. Page 160 | ECLIPSE May 2019
marloo
M
arloo [MarlooRedd Resident] is a gender fluid red kangaroo who likes hugs, cute things, and photography.
The closest to an embarrassing thing to happen to me in Second Life was when it took me two or so years to realize one of my favorite places is a vorarephilia region. The person who asked me to come to Second Life took me there, and most of the place was a big sandbox and a lot of private residences. I spent most of my time in the sandbox, and no one acted “vore-ish” around me, so I didn’t notice right away. Check out Marloo’s Flickr and Blog.
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Photograph provided by Kenzie Pembroke.
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kenzie pembroke
enzie Pembroke [Darcanya Resident], aka Lil’ Duchess, can only be described as chaos incarnate, a true faerie. However, those that know her best, know that her greatest passions are Edward Pembroke, shopping, hanging out in clubs with great music, designing (even if rl gets in the way), and photography (her newest hobby). While she can often be found fluttering from event to club to who knows where else, she is happiest cuddling up on her small parcel with the man she loves and taking photos of him or the two of them together. Her second happiness is actually two rolled into one, finding events (sales or parties) and hanging out with friends or meeting new ones who share like interests, such as hunts or listening to music. Kenzie’s SL has become not only a way for her to relax, but also an outlet for her artistic nature, in the form of designing and photography. Though she is still in the infancy stage of learning about creating mesh, she enjoys finding out what she is capable of creating with mesh others have created, by turning it into something of her own. Her photography is a natural extension of the love she holds for Edward and the want to capture the moments that she wishes to forever cherish! Most women dream of their perfect wedding day, the day when everything goes absolutely flawlessly and is so perfect that it takes her breath away. However, the reality is that this is rarely the case. Something inevitably goes wrong. Sometimes it is something so small that the wedding guests are unaware of the issue, But, more often than not, the issue is something quite noticeably wrong with the wedding party itself, the food, the flowers, or even the bride’s dress. I proposed to Edward on October 31st, 2011, and he responded with a ‘yes’ straight from his heart. It did not take us long to set the date (actually I knew from the moment I proposed the date I wanted and he wanted to make me happy). Therefore, we married on December 21st, 2011, the Winter Solstice. That day of love also became the day that the funniest thing that ever happened to me on Second Life, happened. We had everything planned to perfection, each detail perfect thanks in the most part to our wedding planner and my maid of honor. The venue was perfect in all of its winter glory. With just the right amount of our wedding colors spread around the elven furniture and deep red roses, it was breathtakingly glorious. The dress that I had chosen made me feel like a faerie queen or rather Edward’s sweet little faerie rose. Everything was absolutely perfect until the moment I sat on the pose-ball to walk down the aisle to the man I was to marry. Mind you, it was the same system that my sister had used just moments before to make her way to the altar with elegant grace; but not so for this little faerie. I had clicked to begin my walk when all of a sudden I went down on my knees with my arms flying up over my head, my body leaning backwards, and my flowers dangling down into my hair and covering my face. There I was sliding down the aisle, towards the man I love, who had been waiting at the altar for me, like a baseball player sliding into home plate after a home run hit or maybe more like a rocker on her knees trying to rock out with a guitar, yet moving at the same time. Either way, in that moment I did not know whether to laugh or cry, I honestly think I did a little of both. However, it was in this moment that I realized that no matter the world second life or real life, weddings are most likely never going to go one hundred percent perfect. Whether it is the loss of one or both rings, the Best Man and/or Officiate arriving late, or something as wild as sliding into home plate/ rocking out when you go to make your way to the altar it is not these things that matter. The truth is that nothing else that happens, for good or ill, means anything as long as in the end you get the chance to say ‘I do’ to the person waiting for you at the end of that slide! As well as, that when everything is over, you know that you have spent many special moments with friends and family, and that there are so many more special moments to come! Check out her Flickr, Betwixt MP and Betwixt Facebook. ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 163
Photograph provided by Love Trill. Page 164 | ECLIPSE May 2019
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love trill
ove Trill began her virtual journey through Second Life in March 2008 upon the suggestion to join a group of friends who had rezzed in recently. Exploring the club scene first, as most new residents do, she found that her favourite part about her hosting job was that she could be creative, dressing up in themes as well as meeting new people and entertaining. It didn’t take her long to realize her passion for fashion and the spotlight, spending much of her time inworld dressing up her virtual Barbie and taking photographs. Her first blogging endeavor began in 2010 when she started up a personal blog called SLovesadventures, where she still blogs fashion, randomness and her inworld sim adventures today. Additionally, The Fabulously Free in SL Blog scooped her up and made her part of their team in 2011 where she instantly felt at home featuring affordable and free finds. She has been the lead organizer of Fabulously Free in SL since December of 2012 and is dedicated to keeping the nearly 12 year old project alive. To answer your question, “What is the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in Second Life?”, is a challenge! In fact, I have been trying to decide for days what my most embarrassing experience has been in all the years I have been here. So many embarrassing things happen in Second Life that just would never even have the opportunity to happen in Real Life, and that’s what’s funny to me. Like.. when you teleport to a store you have been to before from your teleport history and you arrive in the center of a very naughty naked party, or you strip yourself down to bald head and naked to start a new look for yourself and accidentally click on a location up on your TP Favourites Bar and you wind up a naked alien at one of your favourite places :O. My most recent embarrassing story is probably this one... I was with a good friend of mine (Grace) inworld on a public sim where people were coming and going and she and I had been chatting for a while. I was looking all cute in a new outfit because I was meeting up with my hottie soon for a photo shoot. He logged in early, which was no problem because I just teleported him to us both. He arrived looking all handsome, said “Hello”, and also “Ummm.. Love... Do you know you are naked?”. My response was “:O Grace!!! Am I naked to you??”. Grace shrugs and says “I thought you knew.”. I was fully dressed to myself, but naked as a jay bird to everyone else. Names have not been changed, because there are no innocents! *hides her face* Check out her Blog #1, Blog #2 and Flickr.
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the tour of home photography by amelia, autumn rose &
The Tour of Homes is a semi-regular ECLIPSE Magazine feature dedicated to showcasing the homes of residents. With the introduction of the new Linden Homes, this will be our first focal point. ECLIPSE Magazine readers are invited from May 22 to May 30, 2019 to explore the featured homes. If you would like your Linden Home featured, please contact Trouble Dethly!
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ben lewis.
Teleport to Julie Ivy Eden Page 170 | ECLIPSE May 2019
Versaillesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Linden Home. ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 171
Teleport to Therese Ta Page 172 | ECLIPSE May 2019
ammasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Linden Home. ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 173
Teleport to Jake Vord Page 174 | ECLIPSE May 2019
dunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Linden Home. ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 175
Teleport to Amelia Page 176 | ECLIPSE May 2019
aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Linden Home. ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 177
Teleport to Ben Lew Page 178 | ECLIPSE May 2019
wisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Linden Home. ECLIPSE May 2019 | Page 179
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THE wayfarer...
photography by temp
“The Wayfarer” is a monthly feature showcasing some of the most aesthetic places in Second Life®. Others might find the overgrown bushes and weeds, coupled with the boarded windows and scaffolding covering the buildings uninviting, but not the Wayfarer. From the point that he landed, he ventured further over worn dirt roads and paths. A gentle breeze caressed his wind burnt face, as he continued his journey into Puddlechurch and but one thought teased upon his mind, “Perhaps, true beauty can be found amongst the broken.” Immerse yourself in Puddlechurch.
est rosca.
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