November 2009 Issue

November 2009 Issue

That’s Entertainment!

The Gay Clubber Goes to Club Shampoo’s Wet and Wild Foam Party

And the Beat Goes....DJ Brennan

Travel-LOG

90 146 56

Best Performing Arts Venue in SL

Holistic Point of View Dreamwork/Soulwork Horoscope for the Month of November

132 136

cont

Designer’s Den

100 103 114 121 36

Artistic Expressions in Fashion Marienela Beaumont Aphrodite - Jenni Eros For the Guys

From the Desk...

Eddi Haskell interviews Sasun Steinbeck, Virtual Reality Art Pioneer & Founder of Art Galleries in SL

Human Interest Mayflower : Living the History 16 Exquisite Portraits in Real Time 46 The Art of Creation 140 152 Burning Life - October 17 - 27, 2009 Veteran’s Day 175

tents

Editor’s Notes: Dear Readers, Once again, VR Style comes out with a special feature that showcases the talents of our fellow residents. This time we present to you our presentation of Creative Arts in SL. Creative Arts is still broad in a sense, as this may encompass anything that has to do with varying forms of creative expressions. Samples of which are music, graphic arts, performing arts, galleries, museums and visual arts.

As you know, we have photographers, painters, artists or performers, builders and others that would like to express their thoughts, feelings, ideas. These indeed are rare and special talents that shouldnt be taken for granted.

I believe that SL is also a world where we can release our creativity if there is no means or if real life isnt making it possible.

As we celebrate these talents, let us not forget that we also bring into SL some events that are happening in RL such as our virtual version of the Burning Man, Thanksgiving and the Veteran’s Day Memorial.

These are some things that are close to our hearts that we would like to share with you and hope that you too will enjoy the experience just as we have.

Cheers!

Ariel Lingiuan-Cleanslate Ariel Lingiuan-Cleanslate Publisher + Editor in Chief VR Style

www.vr-style.com

VR Style Editorial Staff Segment Editors:

capture the SL Lifestyle interviewing icons of SL Fashion, widely known builders, and artists and Aristippus Larsson Nearly three years old in SL, performers of all genres.

Arist tries to overextend himself with his sim, and with trying to Eddi Haskell, Creative Director for VR Style. write ten novels in RL at one time.

Eddi is a well known Second He likes music (DJs in his club), Life photographer whose work reading, The Sixties, and wants was featured behind the main to transfer his hundreds of vinyl conference stage on Orange records to MP3. He lives by a simple motto: I Island for SL’s fifth anniversary never met a sacred cow I didn’t like—medium celebration in 2008. His rare. photography has appeared in many Second Life publications and galleries. He also volunteers as Nadia Felwitch, Fashion Editor for VR Style a fund raiser for several charities and is a main Magazine and Owner of contact point for www.breadandjams.org. Eddi SilverStar Modeling Agency. lives in Florida and blogs at www.eddihaskell.

Nadia enjoys meeting people com. from all walks of life. If you are a designer who would like to be featured in our magazine Contributors: or need a fashion show feel free to contact her KathleenK Spitteler, KK as she is known to most of anytime. her friends is from California, she loves poetry and a true romantic.

Iolejanana Chajit, Managing Editor for VR A true artist by profession, she Style, Iole is co-owner of NAIL has been writing children’s book Productions, as well as owner in RL and makes stained glass of Three Muses Promotion, and windows. Check her website at Azucar Gaming Club and Mall. http://glassbykathleen.com/. KK also writes for Iole has been modeling for print Sinatra Style. and for fashion shows, and has been the brains of most endeavors of VR Style. Luscious Giano, a Delaware Redneck, as she calls herself, Lusch is a co-owner Sherrie Shepherd, Features Editor of VR Style, staff of NAIL Productions and a wellwriter for the Metaverse Messenger Newspaper known DJ. Lush is one of the VR and contributing editor to Style writers that is concentrating Maniera Magazine.

Sherrie on DJs and Entertainment places joined SL in February 2007, like Clubs. You can hear her at and has written for publications Flatline and Autumn Sky Country Club during her since that time. She is very gigs. passionate about her work and takes extreme pride in all of her reporting to

VR Style Editorial Staff Willow Wonder-Morane, has been travelling a journey of self-discovery for many years and finds some of her deepest satisfaction in accompanying others on theirs.

In RL she received her Bachelors degree in psychology and went on to earn her Masters degree in transpersonal psychology with an emphasis in expressive arts therapy and a certificate in creative expression.

Willow has worked with women and men in recovery, adolescent girls in an emotional growth boarding school, and individuals seeking healing and self discovery using the expressive arts in a variety of settings.

Rajeesh Navarathna, in-house astrologer and Zen Master, Raj is co-owner of Azucar Gaming Club and Mall.

Tell him your date and time of birth and he’ll read you your stars and, yes....its is pretty accurate.

But do not mess with him, he’s a retired lawyer and USAF Officer in RL.

create in the form of their avatars and the lives they create for themselves in SL.

Photographers: Pam Astonia, has been in SL for 3 years, and is still enjoying meeting new people from all over the world.

She has met some incredible lifelong friends. She has 10 years of Photoshop experience - being creative is her passion.

Pam recently married Hunter Nieuport - Architect Extroardinaire and Love of Her Life.

Nellie Choche, enjoys photography for so many reasons, it’s a release of a creative side of her. Nellie loves to help people and photo’s seem to really make people happy.

There is something about seeing yourself in a magazine, on an advertisement, or even in your profile. The saying goes, “A picture tells a thousand words’.

And that’s her goal.

Brendan Tsarchon, has been surfing the grid now since December 2007. He Kimmie Rayna, has been in Second Life since recently started cataloguing January of 2008. She loves all of the great, wonderful and just about every aspect of it, weird things about SL in his new especially as of late, being on blog The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the both sides of the camera. Be sure SLverse. He lives in the Cabria to look for Kimmie in VR Style sim group, where he writes away the digital day Magazine as a photographer and occassionally plays Greedy Greedy with his and a model, loving all that SL has to offer! friends and neighbors.

Carey DeCuir, is both a scientist and an artist in that RL world we all hail from. In SL, she prefers to play the role of an artist. Her passion is capturing the stories and beautify others

Human Interest

Mayflower: Living the History By: Sherrie Shepherd Photo by: Eddi Haskell

With the Thanksgiving holiday around the corner, SLers have the opportunity to experience what it was like for the Pilgrims to cross the Atlantic by boarding the meticulous reproduction of the Mayflower, skillfully built by enthusiast and historian, Lora Chadbourne. The Mayflower is permanently moored next to Plymouth Rock at http:// slurl.com/secondlife/Southern%20 Cross/90/26/22 for the enjoyment of visitors year round.

Chadbourne, a Mayflower descendent and expert on the Pilgrims, their journey and their experience in the New World, built the Mayflower reproduction as a labor of love, painstakingly made to the detail of accounts describing the approximate dimensions and layout of the ship.

To enlighten SL guests, she shares her vast knowledge by giving lectures as visitors are free to explore the ship. At one such lecture she began by saying, “I am a 16

The Mayflower in front of a Massachusetts November sunset setting anchor in what is today known as Plymouth Massachusetts

The top deck of the Mayflower.

descendant of James Chilton, a tailor by trade and the eldest of those who crossed the Atlantic in her (the Mayflower). Two years ago in November, I wanted to find a Thanksgiving venue in SL but I found there wasn’t one: so, I built one.”

She went on to talk about the ship and the circumstance of the Pilgrims’ need to make the journey, “The Mayflower was a privately commissioned vessel captained by Christopher Jones. It made its place in history by transporting the Pilgrims from Plymouth, England to the New World in 1620. There, they hoped to found a new colony and worship God as Scripture taught, free of the dictates of the Church of England.” Indeed her ancestor, who was in his sixties at the time of the voyage left grown children behind to forge a new life in the New World with his wife and one of his daughters. Sadly, after surviving the most difficult voyage, neither he nor his wife survived the first winter.

She describes how the pilgrims of the Plymouth Settlement governed and how they hunted and harvested to sustain themselves. She said “In November of 1621, the harvest had been gathered in, and it was bountiful. Governor William Bradford of Plymouth called the people together and said, “Friends, God has blessed our summer’s work... he brought us safe to this new home and protected us through the terrible winter.

It is fit we have a time for giving thanks 20

The Mayflower was the famous ship that transported religious dissenters, to what is Massachusetts in New what is now New York City - the Hudson River- in wh

to God for His mercies to us. What say you?” With the help of Squanto and other Indian friends, hunters brought back four large turkeys, deer, and wild ducks. The kitchens grew busy as a great feast was prepared. Stew simmered in a great cookpot. Children dug clams at the nearby beach. The scent of baking bread, pies and little sweetcakes filled the cool air.” Chadbourne very eloquently and vividly sets the stage for the first Thanksgiving feast.

d the English Pilgrims, including a large group of w England today in 1620. The originally set sail for hat was then called the Virginia Colony.

She spoke of the feast itself and the activities afterward by saying “Once their Indian guests had arrived, the Pilgrims prayed in thanks to God. All began to eat, partaking of turkey, venison, clam broth, turnips, corn, and many other foods, including a delicacy the Indians introduced to the settlement that morning -- popcorn! After the first great meal, games were played.

The Pilgrims fired off their cannons in celebration as their nineteen-man army

marched and shot their muskets into the air.�

After the lecture, those in attendance were enthusiastically asking many questions and giving their own insights on many issues related to the pilgrims, their journey and their life in the settlement.

Guests were then invited to board the Mayflower while Chadbourne continued to address their questions.

Chadbourne, who also designs lovely antique furniture available at her 21

The cabin of the Mayflower, home to over 125 passengers and 25 -30 crew members during that grueling crossing of the Atlantic in the year 1620. Two dogs also crossed over, and two of the passengers died during the disease-ridden voyage.

Plymouth settlement, the first area of white colonial habitation in New England, founded in 1620 by the Mayflower passengers, and site of the first Pilgrim Thanksgiving held after the harvest of 1621.

Although this Thanksgiving was not the first one held by the English settlers, it is the one used as a model for today’s celebrations

store Lora’s, Southern Cross http:// slurl.com/secondlife/Southern%20 Cross/236/159/44, did not stop after she built the Mayflower. She went right to work building an amazingly accurate recreation of the Plymouth Settlement which is found adjacent to the Mayflower. Here the Mayflower and the settlement are permanently available to visitors. The scene is that of trees with the vibrant fall colors you see in New England and with the recreated dwellings nestled among the trees. The realistic audio of environmental sounds gives the venue a peaceful and relaxing feel. Chadbourne provides a restful Hay Ride for the enjoyment of visitors. Her 24

attention to detail is impressive and the table is always set for the Thanksgiving Feast.

If you’d like to know more about the Mayflower and the Plymouth Settlement feel free to contact Lora Chadbourne.

Two Mayflower matriarchs at their abodes in the Plymouth Settlement. There are millions of American and Canadians and others today who can claim descent from the original passengers. A socially prominent group, The Mayflower Society, is composed of these descendants. The matriarch on the right bears a strong familial resemblance to a famous Mayflower descendant, Sydney Biddle Barrow, with her is Lora Chadbourne on the left.

Plymouth Rock - Although the Pilgrims first set anchor off Cape Cod, the site of Plymouth Rock is revered as the traditional place of disembarkation for the Pilgrims

This is how the original huts looked in Plymouth Settlement for the first Thanksgiving in 1620

Sasun Steinbeck is an early pioneer of dynamic, interactive art in Second Life with the creation of Sasun’s Morphing Sculpture which began in late 2005.

Sasun has another very important role on the arts scene –she is the founder and long-time maintainer of the Art Galleries of Second Life list ( http://sasun.info/ ArtGalleriesOfSL.aspx ) and remains involved in various projects to help further art in Second Life. The SasTech Kiosk.Net networked kiosk system used to distribute the list at over 650 galleries was created

by Sasun Steinbeck and is widely used by many businesses as well as Linden Labs for events such as Burning Life, which we cover in this issue, to distribute information, publications, and objects across Second Life to their customers. Sasun’s opinion and views are sought after by the artists, gallery owners, and the media.

We begin our interview by asking Sasun how Second Life has impacted her first life.

It is surprising that someone this important 36

From the Desk of VR Style Eddi Haskel Sasun Steinbeck, Virtu and Founder of Art G

Photography by

Eddi Haskell and Sasun Steinbeck at the Eddi Haskell Gallery

Welcome to another issue of VR Style Magazine. This issue is devoted to the arts in Second Life in all their many forms and manifestations. One of the most important areas of art of course, is classic fine arts and the galleries which support them.

When asking the 650 gallery owners (including myself) this question – who is the most important single individual on the Second Life arts scene today, one answer ultimately emerges- Sasun Steinbeck. And it is my privilege to interview Sasun for this issue.

e’s Creative Director: ll interviews ual Reality Art Pioneer Galleries of Second Life

y: Eddi Haskell

on the arts scene started becoming interested in the arts once she arrived in Second Life.

Eddi Haskell: How has Second Life impacted your real life?

Sasun Steinbeck: SL has been an amazing influence and has opened quite a few doors to new possibilities. I was never interested in art before starting in SL four years ago.

Today I go out of my way to go to art galleries. I’ve discovered that there are some fantastic art and sculpture galleries in my home town, and went out of my way to stop in San Francisco at the Museum of Modern Art on a driving trip, which was a definitely a highlight of the entire trip!

EH: Do you have any formal art or design training in real life?

SS: Not a bit! I am really amazed at the emotional response that art has on human beings. I sometimes feel that I’m missing some of the fundamental education that would help me understand different styles and origins of art to help me understand that response. I love comparing what I like with other people, since tastes vary so widely. I wonder why that is, what is it about someone’s psyche, personality, culture, and personal history that cause people to enjoy such vastly different things both in the audio and visual arts?

EH: When did you first enter SL? SS: I rezzed on 9/16/2005 - hard to believe it’s been 4 years!

EH: What did you do when you first 37

Sasun Steinbeck

entered SL? SS: I heard that SL was a place that was completely built by the residents, which sounded very interesting to me, so I joined. I was hooked immediately once I started to explore, and met a few people I became great friends with. Once I learned a little bit about everything, I decided LSL scripting was the secret sauce that made SL interesting, and so that’s what I’ve been working on since.

the SL Magic Sauce, LSL scripting, has bled over into RL in a big way. I’m now deeply involved in learning how to program in C# and ASP.Net, and how to integrate LSL with that - the possibilities of what you can do are simply endless!

EH: So Second Life has provided all your experience in the art field?

SS: Yes, it all started when I was just starting out in SL and doing a little building and a little scripting trying to figure out what EH: Do you have any expertise in made SL tick. I got hopelessly lost trying programming that you applied to Second to fiddle with prim parameters trying to Life? make prims into some kind of elegant SS: My decision to specialize in what I call shape like Siefert Surface was doing with 38

his sculptures. I then turned to LSL scripting and found a sample that did prim torture.

I spent endless hours twiddling with those prim torture scripts to figure out “ranges” of variables to make them come up with pleasing shapes and less chaotic “ugly” ones.

Eventually, I wound up with a sculpture of sorts and the morphing sculpture was born.

4 years later, after endless hours adding lots of interactive features, it’s essentially still the same concept.

found at http://sasun.info/artgalleriesofsl. aspx, has over 650 galleries. The system I created is very sophisticated and powerful and is totally automated. It makes it possible to continue to run the list after the enormous growth in the sheer number of galleries over the past four years. I also distribute the kiosks as a commercial system called Kiosk.

Net. Almost all of the magazine vendors you see in SL are run by my kiosk scripts. I still get very excited when I see a magazine EH: When did you start your group “Art kiosk using my scripts!

Galleries of Second Life”, and what EH: How big was the group when you first motivated you to do so? started it and how big is it now?

SS: After showing my Morphing Sculpture to some friends who encouraged me to show it to some of the gallery owners, I began searching out some art galleries. I found Pathfinder Linden’s gallery list that he was giving out at the Linden gallery and started exploring. It only had about a dozen galleries on it at the time, and was not updated very often at all. Pathfinder is a busy guy, and I eventually just suggested that I take over the list and send him updates.

SS: I have not been tracking growth on the group itself, but the gallery list has grown from a dozen in early 2006 to 650 today. You can see a chart of the growth at http://sasun.info/bigchart.jpg. Lately since the system is almost completely webintegrated and automated, I haven’t been logging weekly gallery counts like I have been before, but you can see that growth seems to have stagnated and has even declined a little, which has me worried.

EH: Please tell our readers more about EH: How did galleries first take advantage your kiosk system – it is ubiquitous on the of new art concepts enabled by virtual gallery scene. reality?

SS: I eventually realized there was no good way to distribute the list, so I started creating a kiosk system to distribute the list to art lovers. I really fell in love with all my gallery owner friends, especially the ones that encouraged me with my sculpture in the early days, and I wanted to do something to help them. Today the list, which can be

SS: One change that happened fairly quickly was the evolution from a traditional RL gallery experience to more of an interactive “out of the box” experience, where there is no “gallery” building but something else you travel through or move through or view in a very different way in order to more fully immerse the viewer 39

The Ubiquitous Art Galleries of Second Life Kiosk now at over 600 locations.

EH: Are there any other trends you have identified?

SS: I think “trends” are hard to pin down and label since there are just so many creative minds that do something so completely different and blow away everyone’s expectations time and time again.

I think the most important trend is for more artists to become multidisciplinary regarding their skill set in SL - they need to know how to build, how to texture, how to script, and how to collaborate with other people that have skills and ideas that you don’t have. All of the best cutting-edge interesting art I’ve seen involves leveraging those special things that make SL unique to produce something never seen before.

I have always encouraged people in the experience. I think more gallery owners need to re-think what a “gallery” to learn about and take more advantage of is in SL and keep exploring new ways for the things that make SL art unique. It’s good to get out and see what others are doing, art lovers to interact with art.

EH: Have galleries been getting larger? see the new shows, explore big exhibits like Burning Life, and talk to other artists and SS: There have always been “big” galleries, gallery owners. even in the old days, and it’s really exciting to see more “whole sim” galleries today where EH: What does a gallery owner have to the focus is purely on the art. But really that do in order to be commercially successful? kind of thing is not a recent development, SS: My main advice is for artists to stick there have always been patrons of art ever to it! I can’t emphasize that enough. Too since the early days that love to contribute many artists get frustrated by lack of sales. land, gallery space, or time to making SL There’s a lot of art in SL, which could be seen art what it is today and I’m glad to see as a lot of “competition” for the art lover’s hard-earned money. It takes time and a lot that continuing today.

40

of work marketing yourself, getting into art shows, getting known, getting to know the movers and shakers in the art scene so you get asked to participate in big events more and stay plugged in. And that kind of thing can be very difficult for an artist to enjoy doing.

artists all the time priced at L$8000, and wonder if they have EVER make a single sale. Also, ask other successful artists how they did it. Start with Filthy Fluno’s advice here: http://www.artcalendar.com/ article.asp?ID=193. Finally, go to events.

Socialize, and meet some gallery owners; find out if they are looking for an artist.

Join the Art and Artist Network group and look for notices for free or cheap gallery space. Get into more shows. Learn how to market yourself. It’s hard, I know!

EH: Do you have any production tips?

SS: Take the time to learn about aspect ratios, and figure out the ideal size textures to upload so that they look good. I never buy art that is less than 512x512 resolution otherwise it looks blurry and you can’t see any detail. A gallery loaded with 512’s is going to be slow to rez, but for art to hang in your home, you want it to look great, not a pixilated blur-fest.

Morphing Sculpture by Sasun Steinbeck

EH: Which galleries can you recommend to our readers as examples of successful galleries in Second life?

SS: Take a look at my favorites list at http:// sl-artgalleries.blogspot.com/2009/07/ sasuns-best-galleries-of-sl-updated.html, EH: What does an artist have to do to see and while you’re there, please subscribe to my blog. that their works are sold?

SS: This is tricky. Pricing is always difficult.

If art is priced too high, people will pass.

Starting out at 400-500L per piece is good to begin with. If you are successful and making sales, raise your prices. I see pieces of art for sale by unknown or new

EH: What are you other activities on SL besides running the association?

SS: I have been very busy creating more products under the SasTech brand name.

I have spent a lot of time lately trying to generate more income from SL as a 41

practical supplement to my meager RL income. M time. It is the backbone of the Galleries of SL lis development and learning experience since so some fun toys such as my Noob Zombie Rezzer page (see link at bottom) or at my store at seco

EH: What other organizations do you work wi

SS: I also help maintain the “Art & Artist Netwo join but membership must be approved to keep getting news out to people interested in attendin These meetings have been enormously successfu

EH: How about your own personal plans in Se

SS: After creating the Morphing Sculpture, I es path with the creation of the kiosk network to d get into some collaborative art projects with som and web integration that I want to bring those

EH: Do you have any final words for our read

SS: This is my mantra - SL should be FUN. If it crazy and cool stuff other people are doing. If Go find a good group to join so you can hang on some announcement lists or find some blogs

EH: Thank you Sasun for a great interview an

Sasun Steinbeck’s blog is at http://sl-artgalle Sasun Steinbeck’s gallery list is at http://sasun Sasun Steinbeck’s XstreetSL page can be foun

Eddi Haskell is the Creative Director of VR Sty Eddi’s main blog is at http://www.eddihaskell Eddi’s YouTube channel is at http://www.youtu

My latest Kiosk.Net system is in beta right now and has been in development for a very long st and I’m making most of those features available to the public very soon. It’s been a major much of the powerful functionality is possible via the web integration. I have also created r which has been a great seller, and some useful gadgets which you can see at my XstreetSL ondlife://Vertigo/110/131/23.

ith on the arts scene?

ork!” Group which is a private group for getting plugged into art events in SL. Anyone can p the group spam free and only about art events. This has been a VERY successful group in ng art events in SL. I also hold rather infrequent meetings of the Art Gallery Owners group. ul as a way to share thoughts and discuss things with fellow gallery owners.

econd Life?

ssentially stopped creating art in SL. Maintaining the gallery list has put me on a different distribute the list. An advanced version of Kiosk.Net will be released soon. I really want to me other talented people and do something exciting. I’ve learned SO MUCH about scripting skills to an art project and come up with some crazy ideas!

ders?

t’s not, something is wrong, and you need to fix that. You should always be amazed at the not, you need to get out and explore more! Go to my gallery list and visit some new places. out with other creative minds. Get involved in giving back to your favorite community. Get and get plugged in!

nd spending time with VR Style today!

eries.blogspot.com n.info/artgalleriesofsl.aspx nd at https://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&MerchantID=5495

yle Magazine. l.com/ ube.com/eddihaskell

43

Human Interest

Exquisite Portraits in Real Time By : Sherrie Shepherd

Artist Brenda Hoisin provides SL residents with a unique experience. In real-time, Brenda will paint your portrait in her homey comfortable studio or at the location of your choice. As you model for her, you will be enthralled as you watch her paint your likeness in oil, water colors or line drawing on an easel supported SL canvas. Amazingly, your portrait will be ready in less than five minutes and has the likeness of a lovely oil-on-canvas or water color painting. However, her black and white sketches are just as exquisite and all come framed and ready to hang on the wall of your SL home.

Hoisin’s friendly demeanor immediately puts you at ease and she’s more than happy to accommodate your heart’s desire. Whether it is a head and shoulders portrait or full body posing in the finest of clothing, sexiest underwear, or nothing but a smile! Sophisticated and classy, her portraits make the perfect gift for a loved one. Gift Certificates are also available to give as gifts for weddings, rez days, birthdays or any special occasion.

Hoisin suggests having group portraits done as well to hang in your SL clubs or organization’s headquarters.

When speaking about her inspiration to 46

be an SL artist she recounted, “I have seen so many items of art hanging on walls in SL. Most of the ones showing avatars are photographs or screen grabs, which I don’t believe capture the soul of the person, the way a portrait does. I wanted to give people a chance to preserve their image in a nice way, rather than just a boring photograph.” Hoisin’s goal is to try to capture the essence of the person sitting for the portrait. She understands and appreciates that SLers invest a lot of time and attention to how their avatar looks. “It embodies their character and is the first thing that strikes you about them, even before you communicate with them”, she assessed. She feels that in some cases it really is a reflection of their RL personas.

While she realizes that some people change their avatars very frequently, she also asserts, “most of us tend to stick with a favorite one and I wanted to allow them to enjoy it a little more.”

Describing her technique as a mixture of skill sets, Hoisin says she uses Photoshop and other graphic manipulation programs.

What she feels is the key for her is that she needs to work fast as the person is sitting in front of the easel waiting for their portrait to appear. She further explains

that as well as creating the portraits, she has to resize them, upload them as a texture and apply them to a framed prim within a few seconds. The calm and placid appearance the client observes on the outside belies how very hectic it is on her side.

Although Hoisin has taken note that many other artists and gallery owners are struggling to make a living in SL, she also knows that her service is slightly different and seems to be very popular. Her business usually generates from word of mouth from satisfied customers. She relates “I’ve had whole families come in one at a time as each one passes the message on.”

Summing up what she loves best about portrait painting she reflects, “It’s the chance to meet so many different people from SL. However, I’ve also had some very strange requests, but I rarely say no to any of them. “ However, being an artist was not her first occupation in SL. Initially, Hoisin was building under the mentoring of a talented and generous woman with the amazing name of Notachance Wombat. Another benefactor was Ms Kitty, owner of the Dark Kitty sim, who generously allowed her a place to live until she was able to earn her way. Hoisin now owns Brenda’s House of Low Prims, which specializes in domestic items such as furniture, and other household accessories. Of her designs she says, “I pride myself on getting the prim count as low as possible without sacrificing quality or realism. “ As a result she offers a Prim Reclaim Service, where she helps 50

people who have maxed out on their prim quotas and have nowhere else to turn. Wanting to assist, she saves them many prims by swapping out items and replacing them with her own custom-made items that are identical, but have a much lower prim count.

Hoisin, as you might expect, suggests that SL residents IM her to request a sitting for a portrait and feels that they’ll be proud to hang their portrait on the wall. When asked what advice she’d offer others who want to market their art in SL she said “I’m afraid being good at art isn’t enough. The best thing to do is to find a niche market, a unique angle that gives you the edge. Offer something that others don’t offer and go for it.” ******* Brenda Hoisin’s website can be seen at http://sites.google.com/site/ brendahoisinartworks/home

53

Travel-LOG

Best Performing Arts Venues in Second Life By : Brendan Tsarchon Photos by : Eddi Haskell

The SLverse is our place to explore, enjoy, and exchange new ideas and efforts with people across the globe. And one of the purest joys in our ever expanding metaverse comes from no other place but in our Arts and Culture. Whether through music, through spoken word, or through

visual artistic performance, our growing Second Life arts community is always finding new and creative ways in artistic expression.

All across the grid, there are wonderful and fantastical venues that give a home to this burst of creativity. Places designed

to inspire, to awe, and to give notice to all of the wonderful live music and theatre that SL has to offer. We here at VR Style have traversed the grid and found some of the best venues to enjoy the arts in Second Life. They represent a masterful sampling of all of the wonderful talent and beauty that can be found inworld, from the opulent to the risque. Take in their sights, their splendor, and their shows and concerts. Visit them, explore them, and support them and all of the other Arts in the SLverse. Your eyes and ears will thank you.

1 – The Rose Theatre Stop one on our whirlwind tour of the best arts venues takes us straight to the regal opulence and grandeur of the Rose Theatre in Angel Manor. (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Angel%20 Manor/133/180/22) Owner Kaya Angel has created this self-described “hyperreality” of a venue to, as she puts it, “take us on a little journey of imagination. To push our imagination and allow us to dream while we are awake.” And she has succeeded with a theatre space and arts So, without further ado… on with the tour! center that will have you feel like royalty the moment you step into the building.

Kaya states her mission for the theatre as two-fold. “The first is to change what performance is in SL. We need to add more of a show to performance in SL.” The theatre itself is designed for full scale productions and they go all out on every show. Lights and sets change throughout their performances, giving you the look and feel of a full scale theatre production. The second part of her mission is to cultivate the full experience of her patrons and explore “how much can the architecture and design affect the way people interact.”

The Rose Theater

To visit the Rose Theatre is a journey in celebrating the beauty, the grandeur, and the experience that all forms of art have to offer. Whether you are strolling through its galleries and taking in its art, dancing with a loved one in its ballroom, or enjoying its high quality productions 57

The Rose Theater

The Rose Theater

and concerts in its theatre or its Grand Hall, you will lose yourself in the splendor.

Be sure to dress for the occasion, and give yourself time to explore this beautiful sim before attending an event. You will not be disappointed.

The Globe

2 and 3 – The Globe and The Blackfriars Shakespeare wrote plays that have lasted over 400 years to the delight of many a theater-goer. And here in SL, his works live on in our next two venues.

The first is perhaps the most famous theatre of all time. The Globe. (http://slurl.com/ secondlife/Shakespeare/16/83/44) This historically accurate venue of Shakespeare’s theatrical home was named one of the “Seven Wonders of SL” in 2007. In February of 2008, it became the first four sim live production of a Shakespearean play to be seen by over 300 patrons from all over the world. Its beautiful attention to historical detail will have you feeling like you have traveled back in time, standing in the pit as a Groundling audience member, and listening to the immortal words of Hamlet.

Run by Ina Centaur and the RL nonprofit organization, SLiterary, the Globe Theatre and its Shakespeare sim are the crown-jewel efforts of its ongoing motto, “What Second Life can be”. They and the Globe’s resident group of actors, the SL Shakespeare Company, work diligently to furthering the arts in SL and other virtual worlds.

And number three on our list is located right 62

there on the same sim. The Blackfriar’s Theatre (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ Shakespeare/19/77/46) was in its time an indoor theatrical option when a real live tempest was brewing outdoors over the Globe’s open ceiling. SLiterary recreates its theatre hall design in Tudor woodwork, and its indoor fireside feel beautifully showcases both its intimacy

and its grandeur.

So, lords and ladies, gather up your shillings, head over to the Shakespeare sim, and become a patron to one of SL’s most famous theatre troupes. The play is definitely the thing‌ to see.

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The Globe

The Blackfriars

The Blackfriars

The Gaiety Theatre

4 - The Gaiety Theatre, Calendon Our fourth stop takes us to the Calendon sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ Caledon%20Penzance/216/179/23) and a project that expresses the excitement and passion that Persephone Gallinda has had for the theatre since she was three years old. The Gaiety Theatre is for Persephone, “the richest and most 70

characteristic style of theatre magic, the stuff that transported me all those years ago and has done so ever since. The Vaudeville Tradition is what I was raised on.�

The building is historically and theatrically accurate (including a ghost light left on the stage when there are no performances), and textured from photos Persephone has

Osprey Therian’s The Show Must Go On theatre company regularly plays the Gaiety, and Persephone considers them the Gaiety’s “home troupe.” Their “anarchic comedy” captures the essence of the Vaudeville style while still embracing the new media that SL has to offer in exciting ways. The theatre is always open for rental and use of other venues and events, as well.

So, take a trip to the Independent State of Caledon and check out the Gaiety Theatre where the spirit of Vaudeville is alive and kicking!

personally taken all around the world, on the road with a show or just vacationing.

As she tells us, “The Gaiety’s proscenium arch and the Foyer tiles are from the (former) Shubert Theatre in Chicago, for example, the facade from the Geary Theatre in San Francisco, and the seats and curtain from the L.A. Theatre, an ex-movie palace & vaudeville house in downtown Los Angeles.”

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The Gaiety Theatre

The Moulin Rouge

5 - The Moulin Rouge If you are feeling in the mood for some more ribald and risqué live entertainment, then our fifth stop on our tour is just the venue for you. The Moulin Rouge (http://slurl.com/ secondlife/Moulin%20Rouge/40/186/29) is a venue with a rich and varied history melding the flair of art and creativity with sensuality and excitement. Built by Don Duke from original textures, the Moulin Rouge plays home to weekly revues with elaborate sets and live entertainment managed by Xanthia Lisle. Once every couple of months, it even plays host to larger scale productions like the recently produced “Chicago”, and there are plans in the works for three more large scale productions.

Its 1800s French bohemian feel lends perfectly to its mission to “To bring love, beauty and freedom to Second Life.” And its theatrics extend beyond the stage as the staff are creative roleplayers taking on the day to day lives of entertainers, companions, and working class artisans striving and collaborating toward creative success.

When not catching a show, there are gardens to stroll highlighting the works of Josephine Wall and a Victorian-styled Main Street to walk down and shop. Not to mention, its citizens who are keen to roleplay, explore and share their time with you, bringing the beauty and freedom of the Bohemian revolution to life.

One trip to the Moulin Rouge and you will find yourself wanting to do the Can Can with delight!

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The Moulin Rouge

6 – Sailor’s Cove Amphitheatre There is nothing like going to an outdoor concert on a warm evening. The feeling of openness and freedom as you stretch your legs and the sound spreads out all around you, moving you to sway to the music and nod along with the beat.

The Sailor’s Cover Theater at Sailor’s Cove Estates (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ Sailors%20Cove/238/140/2) --our sixth and final stop on our tour-- is just the place to go to when you are craving such an outdoor experience. Owned by Jojamela Soon and Fanci Beebe and managed by Dolci Woodget, the outdoor amphitheater began its ongoing commitment to live musical performances with a concert by classical pianist, Gideon Kappler, on Friday, April 13th, 2007. On January 23rd, 2008, Keiko Takumura and MTV’s Real Life chose Sailor’s Cove to record a Real Life episode and showcase the live music scene in Second Life. And just recently, the popular virtual television show “Live n’ Kickin” featured Sailor’s Cove and one of their longtime artists, Heath Elvehjem.

But for all of its exposure and popularity, the Sailor’s Cove Amphitheatre and it surrounding sim still capture the peacefulness and tranquility of a sea-side New England town. Travel there and imagine taking a long weekend excursion from the hustle and bustle of the everyday. Enjoy its buildings, its landscape, and its local feel. And then take in an evening of some of the best live musical entertainment around the grid.

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The Sailor’s Cove Amphitheatre

The Sailor’s Cove Amphitheatre and Park

The Menorca

7 – Menorca Our final stop on our tour takes us to the outdoor megaplex sim, Menorca. (http://slurl. com/secondlife/Menorca/167/176/24) Its unique open-air settings and stages have hosted live music events ranging from Classical to Rock, Folk to Pop. Menorca has hosted over 600 concerts and shows with many of SL’s finest musicians.

Two of its grandest venues are The Shell Stage and The Rotunda and definitely cannot be missed. Menorca has played host to some of the most successful live concerts on the grid, such as the live audio feed and video from The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, The City Stages Concert, and SL Divas Live.

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Owned and operated by Slim Warrior, this outdoor performance sim is open 24/7 to hang out, explore and listen. Be sure to join up with the Menorca group and learn more about its upcoming scheduled events and other great news. *****

Brendan Tsarchon is a Contributing Writer to VR Style Magazine Brendan’s main blog is at http://h2gsl.blogspot.com/, and he can be reached directly at brendantsarchon@gmail.com Eddi Haskell is the Creative Director of VR Style Magazine.

Eddi’s main blog is at http://www.eddihaskell.com/,Eddi’s YouTube channel is at http://www.youtube. com/eddihaskell

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The Menorca

The Menorca

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Entertainment

The Gay Clubber Goes to Club Shampoo’s Wet and Wild Foam Party Photography by: Eddi Haskell

Queen Edman’s Club Shampoo in Hothouse Plaza is a one-of-a-kind hangout. For one thing, the club has some of the best club design and lighting anywhere. The club has a regular Wednesday night foam party that is a blast. Gay clubber Eddi Haskell took these photographs on October 1 showing club patrons having a great time in bubbles that were, at times, up to their necks.

Besides making everyone squeaky clean, most of the club goers felt much energized. Fun times ensued. Make sure to check Club Shampoo out.

Please check for club events at the club entrance below; a note card will be given detailing that week’s events. At the time this article was written, the club opens on Tuesdays from 2-4 PM, Wednesday and Thursday from 7-9 PM, and Sundays from 4-6 PM SL time.

SLURL to Club Shampoo: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Hothouse%20Plaza/112/143/403 Eddi Haskell is the Gay Clubber. He blogs at http://www.eddihaskell.com/

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Val Fenutzini Larz Kas

Eleft : Sebasten String

Down H : Vortmax Mumfuzz

Mix Blaisdale and Eddi Haskell

DJ and Club Owner Queen Edman

Designer’s Den

Artistic Expressions in Fashion

By: Nadia Felwitch Translation By: Iolejanana Chajit Photos by: Atomicsparkle Skytower and Pam Astonia

Fashion design is endlessly artistic. By ones choice of style, selection of colors, blend of textures and fabrics, intended effect, and the statement one wants to make the possibilities of artistic expressions in design are unlimited.

This month I introduce you to two designers that I feel portray in their designs what visual artistry is in SL Fashion Design.

First, let me introduce you to Marianela Beaumont of MARIANELA’S ART IN FASHION. Collection and more can be found at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Hidden%20

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Treasures/104/18/22 Nadia Felwitch: Tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? What’s your educational background? What are your general professional and non-professional interests?

Mariella Beaumont: I was borned in Italy, but im living in argentina for the last years. Siempre me interesó el arte, pero las circunstancias me llevaron por otro camino, es asi como me gradue en la Universidad de Buenos Aires cono sociologa. Aunque mi verdadera vocacion fuese el dibujo. la pintura, y la expresión artistica en todas sus formas

everything I could about the technique that is used and I dove into the adventure of color and design. My first design was in 2008, a bright red dress that I will never forget. It is called Moulin Rouge and I plan on relaunching it again in December with the same name but with utmost perfection.)

NF: What inspires you?

MB: Desde un atardecer, un amanecer , un mar, un cielo y todo lo que muestre colores cambiantes .Los colores dan vida a un diseño, y en esto incluyo al negro.

(Translation: Anything from a sunset to a sunrise, the sea, the sky and anything that shows changing colors. Colors give life to a (Translation: I was always interested in art, but design and that’s including black.) life’s circumstances took me down a different NF: How would you define your fashion? path. That is how I came to graduate from the University of Buenos Aires as a major MB: Siempre me senti afin a los lujosos y in sociology, although my true vocation is formales vestidos asociados a grandes drawing, painting and artistic expression in veladas. all its forms. ) Sin embargo, muchas clientas-amigas me NF: . How long have you been designing pidieron que uniera la gala a la sensualidad, and what was the first article of clothing cosa que hice y que apreciaron realmente.

Los diseños adoptaron su parte sexy además you made? de sensual, estilo del que me apropie.y me MB: I used to buy my clothes to a great identifique gratamente. designer here, hasta que un dia decidi que podria hacer un veestido por mi misma. Lei (Translation: I have always felt an affinity to todo lo que pude sobre el uso de la tecnica a the formal and luxurious gowns associated utilizar, y me lanze a la aventura del color.y el with great evening parties. But a lot of diseño. Mi primer diseño en el año 2008 : fue clients/friends have asked me to unite the un vestido rojo intenso que jamas olvidare, su luxuriousness with sensuality which I have nombre era Moulin Rouge, y para diciembre and they truly appreciated it. The designs pienso relanzarlo con el mismo nombre pero adopted their sexy and sensual parts, a style that I have become adapted to and freely con mayor perfeccion. identified with.)

(Translation:I used to buy my clothes to a great designer here, until one day I decided NF: What sets your style apart from other that I could make a dress myself. I read designers?

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MB: Mi estilo no es casual definitivamente, y no porque no desee hacerlo. Simplemente empiezo con una idea y esta se transforma en un vestido para grandes ocasiones.

En cuanto a mi estilo, sinceramente no podria definirlo, diria mas bien que es un arcoiris de estilos, siempre dirigidos a lo formal.mas o menos audaz.

Encajes, satenes, pinturas conocidas o no tanto se unen en un tipo de ropa siempre elegante y para todos los gustos. Muchas veces el estilo de un diseñador se ve limitado por la limitacion que la tecnica impone aquí en SL. (Translation: My style is definitely not casual, and not because I didn’t want to do it. I simply begin with an idea and this transforms itself into a gown for a grand occasion.

In regards to my style, I sincerely would not be able to define it. I could just say that it is cases I will repeat the design in two or three a rainbow of styles always leaning towards a colors because it calls for it, but I will never formal style that is more or less bold. ) make a dress series repeating it in a lot of NF: What matters to you most as a fashion colors.) designer?

NF: What’s your favorite part about MB: La exclusividad. Odio la repeticion de un vestido en 20 colores distintos.Una creación debe ser unica. En mi caso el diseño viene a mi mente y luego busco la textura o color que le daran vida. En algunos casos repit el diseño en 2 o 3 colores, porque éste lo admite, pero jamas haria vestidos en serie repitiendolos en tantos colores.

(Translation: Exclusivity! I hate seeing one dress in twenty different colors. A creation should be unique. In my case, the design comes to my mind and then I look for the texture or color that will give it life. In some

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conceptualizing a design?

MB: El diseño de un Nuevo vestido aparece espontáneamente en la mente. Luego comienza la aventura de materializarlo, y la parte que prefiero de este proceso es la busqueda de la textura adecuada que es la que en definitiva le dara vida.. La busqueda de colores me ha llevado a la utilización de grandes obras pictoricas para texturizar un vestido. No es casual. Amo el mundo de la Plastica y admiro profundamente a aquellos que nos han regalado obras maravillosas, sean éstos famosos o no. Conocidos o desconocidos.

(Translation: A design for a new dress pops up spontaneously in the mind. Later I begin the adventure of materializing it and the part I prefer the most of this entire process is in finding the right texture that will give life to it. The search for colors has taken me to great works of art to use a texture in a dress. I love the world of sculpture and have a profound admiration for those that have gifted us with great work of arts whether they are famous or not, known or unknown. ) NF: What do you believe makes a quality article of clothing?

MB: Definitivamente las terminaciones. Los detalles deben ser cuidados, de otra forma desmerecen qualquier creacion, por magistral que esta sea-

NF: What advice can you offer to our readers who are new to the design scene?

MB: Want to become a designer???. Antes que nada y sin excepcion, aprende todo acerca el uso de los templates, el significado de las coordenadas x,y z. Los conceptos sobre el movimiento de una flexi. ( ésta es la parte aburrida pero necesaria).

Luego?? – Inmaginación!!!!.... es un recurso inagotable. Inspiración!!!!! La puedes encontrar hasta en una flor……

Y ponte a crear, el cielo es el limite!!!!

(Translation: You want to become a designer?

Before anything else without exception learn everything there is about the use of the templates. The meaning of the coordinates XYZ, the concepts about the movement of a flexi prim, this is the boring part but very necessary. After – Imagination! It is a never ending resource. Inspiration! You can find this even in a flower. And start creating! The sky is the limit!!)

(Translation: Definitely the finishings! One has to be careful with details, or they can cheapen a design no matter how majestic it is. ) NF: What kinds of projects do you have going on for the future?

MB: Continuar creando, aqui y ahora, cuando la idea surja. Caminar hacia el futuro jugando con los colores hasta que la pasion se extinga, como en los grandes amores.

(Translation: I will continue creating here and now as ideas come to me. I shall continue walking towards the future playing with colors until the passion is extinguished as it is with great loves. )

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Model Name: Cheryl Genira Outfit:Marianela’s autumn at argenteuil C. Monet Hair: Embrace by Analog Dog Brown Skin: Ankiba HB Tan Midnight by Shiloh Jun

Model Name: Diane Handschuh Outift : Marianela’s Antique Roses by D Nai Hair: Hello by Analog Dog Skin: Corrine by YourSkin YourShape (Smokey Rose) Accessories: Regal Earrings in Sapphires & Diamonds by Bandit Jewelry

Model Name: Glitter Bolissima Outift : Marianela’s THE TIGER Hair: ETD - Aiiyanna Skin: LAQ - Tasha

Model Name: Iolejanana Chajit Outfit: Marianela’s THE KISS by Klimt Skin: Redgrave-- Moon Pale Hair: AD - Esse Jewelry: Necklace- J and W Jewelers Jennifer Collection Fire opal/Ruby

Model Name: ToniT Oh Outift : Marianelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CAPE MARTIN C. MONET Hair: Maxine by >TRUTH< Skin: LAQ - Lacie in Peach Accessories: Pearl Collar and Pearl Drop earrings included with outfit

Next, I introduce Jenni Eros of Aphrodite Fashion. Jenni is one of the designers in SL Next Fashion Designer Contest. She is the winner of the Hottest Urban Wear Challenge with the design Diamond Diva.

Congrats to Jenni! All of Jenni’s designs for the contest and more can be found at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sarahsam%20 Island/211/129/2501 For those who have not heard of this on going contest here’s a bit of info: “SL Next Fashion Designer is a Second Life’s adaptation of Project Runway. This big event aims to find “the next big Second life’s fashion designer,” and is organized by Model with Curves Fashion District.” SL Next Fashion Designer premiered on September 20, 2009 at 5pm at MWC Fashion District.

Weekly Challenges are still happening if you would like to follow and find out who the Winner will be check out the blog: http:// modelwithcurves.wordpress.com/ Nadia Felwitch: Tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? What’s your educational background? What are your general professional and non-professional interests?

Jenni Eros: I am 43 years old in RL and have 3 children. Oddly enough, I worked for 25 years in accounting then went back to college to study to become a registered nurse. I am an artist at heart and have always “created” something as a hobby. My artistic interests and experience run the spectrum from instrumental music, singing, dancing, sketching and painting. My passions for artistic expression lead me to learn computer graphic painting and have created tags and some work for websites. After coming to SL I

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naturally gravitated to creating here, as well.

NF: How long have you been designing and what was the first article of clothing you made?

JE: The first was a set of silks for Gor and they were absolutely horrible. That was March of 2007. During the past 2 and half years I have been on and off SL, but always come back to designing and creating. In February of 2009 I decided to start designing non gorean fashion. It’s been a slow process but I have finally made enough items to open a store.

NF: What inspires you?

JE: People inspire me. Each item of clothing I make has a message or feeling attached to it. As I am designing I gain inspiration from people or situations that I would like to highlight in my creations.

NF: How would you define your fashion?

I know or famous that I would be designing JE: Eclectic and artistic, yet fashionable. I try the outfit for. to create things that are unique and fill gaps NF: What do you believe makes a quality in SL fashion. Mostly based on RL rather than article of clothing? what I have seen on SL. For example, I have JE: Time and care! I don’t like to see sloppy designed a few business casual outfits because work. All designs are valid and have their I saw there was a need for that genre and, place. I mean how can you judge art? To while I would love to make gowns, there are me, though, if the work is sloppy texturing or so many designers in SL offering them. the prims don’t match that is just not quality NF: What sets your style apart from other at all. designers?

NF: What kinds of projects do you have JE: I think what sets my style apart from going on for the future? other is that I don’t have one. My designs JE: Wow, so many. I also design buildings, are varied and each is so unique. No one sims, sets, etc. I am also doing a few fashion can see one of my designs and say “oh yah, shows. Currently I am in SL’s Next Top Designer that is Aphrodite”. Again, my style is more Challenge. I have been asked to do lingerie eclectic and varied than others. and other items for a few fashion shows. .

NF: What matters to you most as a fashion NF: What advice can you offer to our designer? readers who are new to the design scene?

JE: The best part of being a JE: Be patient! No one starts out designing designer is when you hear the best most desired clothing in SL. It takes a customer excited about a lot of time and patience to work your way wearing something you have up. I am no where near where I was when I made. It’s very important to started or where I will be a year from now. me that my fashions make Keep that all in perspective. people happy.

As you can see from Marianela’s and Jenni’s NF: What’s your favorite designs there is no limit on how one can part about conceptualizing express their self in SL designing. a design?

“In all its beauty, fashion is a true form of JE: I get very excited artistic expression.” in the beginning doing the research and really conceptualizing a theme or message in the outfit I am ready to create. I use RL examples, lots of them and in my mind picture someone

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Model Name:Kimmie Rayna Outfit: Aphrodite dress brown Skin - Redgrave Hair - *Muism* Bracelet - Ashiraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Claddagh Woven Bracelet Earrings - Purple Rose Diamond Hoops

Model Name: Cheryl Genira Outift : Deliziosa Pencil Dress Hair: [ND] Sensuality - black pearl Skin: Ankiba HB Tan Midnight by Shiloh Jun

Model Name: Glitter Bolissima Outift : Seattle Gold Hair: Miasnow - Special Day Skin: RQ - Lust Accessories: Steinwerk - Fee Sunglasses

Model Name: Iolejanana Chajit Outfit: Diamond Diva Skin: Redgrave- Moon Tan Hair: Nikita- Lust

Model Name: Nadia Felwitch Outfit: Acropolyctic Skin: Niunkaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grunge envy pale skin Hair: Temptress Revisted by Sky Everrett

Designers Den

For the Guys

By: Nadia Felwitch Photo by: Kimmie Rayna I hear it all the time “where do you find the good stuff for guys?” So I have decided to start featuring a designer of Male designs each month.

For November I introduce you to: Lion Valentino of Jungle Wear. Lion had some of his designs featured in the 2009 Men’s Understatement Show. Guys you can shop till you drop at all eight of his stores, one can be found here: http://slurl. com/secondlife/The%20 Jungle/114/199/29.

Filled to the max with 3 levels of fabulous men designs, Lion offers a little something for every style and taste.

Nadia Felwitch: Tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? What’s your educational background? What are your general professional and non-professional interests?

Lion Valentino: I live in USA, Tennessee. I have had some college. Now I do SL full time.

I left my real life job over a year ago, so that I could do SL full time. So far, it has been a great choice!

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NF: How long have you been designing and what was the first article of clothing you made?

LV: I started SL back in Feb, 2004. Back then there were not many men’s clothing designers (if any at all). About a week after I started a friend of mine entered me into a Men’s Beauty Contest (if that’s what you want to call it) it was kind of a Mr. and Ms., each having their own categories.

So I looked all over for clothing for the different categories, Formal, Casual and Swimsuit competitions. Figuring guys in a swimsuit competition would wear things like Speedos etc; I could not locate any Speedos. So my friend told me about using Adobe Photoshop (which I had and never used), told me how to download templates and use the basic tools (she was learning herself), and made a pair of leopard print Speedos (Gawd ugly, lol and still have them in my inventory), but they worked. I won Mr. February 2004, lmao. Then someone wanted a pair of them, and then another.

So I made a couple “painted on” looking colors. And it kind of grew from there. I’m still always learning and growing.

NF: What inspires you?

LV: What inspires me are the challenges I give myself. Trying to make men’s articles of clothing that look realistic without any copy and paste of real clothing items, nor any business in a box type deals, that’s my goal and my challenge.

NF: How would you define your fashion?

LV: I cater mostly to the male gender, and 122

Model Name: CODY BOLERO Outift : Jungle Wear - Blue Plain Outfit Hair: MAD Hair - BRAD - RS III (M) Skin: Belleza - Mathieu sk 0 Accessories - MRM Silver Ring *Promised Lov

ve*

I cover all different styles, mostly it would lean to the more masculine look.

NF: What sets your style apart from other designers?

LV: I would have to say what sets my style apart from others, choice of style and colors. I have 8 different types of stores, each with their own “look”, and I always make a wide array of color choices.

NF: What matters to you most as a fashion designer?

LV: Having people enjoy my creations. It’s never been a matter of money, (you can see that by most of my prices), its getting that message or IM saying “I love your new shirt! I’ve been looking for something like this forever!” That makes me happy. I don’t expect everyone to like everything I make, because I cover a wide array of styles, kind of a “something for everyone”. They may say “I don’t like the clothes here” and then buy a 25L pair of socks. I’m happy, because they may not have liked everything, but they did like something, because they bought it.

NF: What’s your favorite part about conceptualizing a design?

LV: My favorite part of creating, hmmm, actually it’s the process of watching my item grow into an actual article of clothing.

From the initial creating of the flat, paint looking template, to the finished 3D looking article. I love saving the first initial upload to compare the “before” to the “after”.

That’s the fun part.

NF: What do you believe makes a quality 123

Model Name: Snake Kytori Outift : Jungle Wear - ‘The Sock’ Boxer Briefs Hair: Muism Skin: The Abyss Accessories: Earings - Dahlinks, Dogtags and Lip Ring - Custom Design by Dahlinks.

article of clothing?

LV: Detail. To me detail is very important.

If you put a hem or seam on a shirt or pants, make it look like a seam or hem.

Not just some stroked line. Some items I’ve zoomed in and actually had drawn the threads of my seams for hems and pockets.

Some details may seem unnecessary, but they are those things that when you look at an item and say, “looks great, but there is something missing” it’s those little details that can give you that more realistic look.

You may not really notice them over all, but missing the smaller details, can take away from the over all look of realism. If you make a button, don’t forget the thread! Lol It does make a difference.

50% of your creations. If something doesn’t work, try a different approach.

Everyone can make a red T- shirt, but not one of them will look the same (unless they all bought the same business in a box kit, lol). Learn to put “yourself” into your items, make it YOUR item, not a copy of someone else. Most of all, design because you love doing it, and there you will succeed not only professionally, but personally.

NF: What kinds of projects do you have going on for the future?

LV: I’m currently working on a restructure of my current stores. Usually I make singles, shirts, pants, shoes, etc. I’m reorganizing many into outfit sets, guys seem to like to buy the complete outfit, rather than putting one together. I’m also in the process of opening ANOTHER new store soon, lol (Like I need another store, will make 9 lol) this one is JWValentinos, it will be more “fashionable” style clothing. Hopefully it will be opening by the end of November.

NF: What advice can you offer to our readers who are new to the design scene?

LV: It’s very competitive. Learn to take the bad with the good. Not everyone will like everything you make, but someone will.

Don’t get discouraged. Plan on trashing 125

Model Name: Rajeesh Navarathna Outfit: JW-Basic Look Outfit Hair: MAD Designs “Bernard” Skin: The Abyss “Scorpio Eclipse”

Model Name: CODY BOLERO Outift : Jungle Wear - Gym Outfit Hair: MAD Hair - BRAD - RS III (M) Skin: Belleza - Mathieu sk 0 Accessories - MRM Silver Ring *Promised Love*

Model Name: Snake Kytori Outift : Jungle Wear - Sweater and Cargo Pants Hair: Muism Skin: The Abyss Accessories: Earings - Dahlinks, Dogtags and Lip Ring - Custom Design by Dahlinks.

Model Name: Rajeesh Navarathna Outfit: Jw-”Lickama Candy Cane” Christmas PJ’s Hair: MAD Designs “Bernard” Skin: The Abyss “Scorpio Eclipse”

In part two of this series on dreams we looked at ways to make sense of the dream images. In part three we will discover more ways to work with dreams.

Collage a dream. When a dream is particularly foggy or I just can’t quite put it into words, I like to make a collage of the essence of the dream. Find a quiet moment to yourself and gather together your favorite art supplies, a stack of magazines, a good pair of scissors, and glue. It’s important to have an uninterrupted period of time, preferably in a private space. As you let the dream images gently wash through your mind, flip through the magazines.

As you come to a picture that calls to you for whatever reason, rip it out and set it aside. You may be attracted to pictures, or parts of pictures, or words, or simply to colors. Keep ripping until you have a stack that you feel satisfied with. Then rip the images further or cut them into the shapes that you desire. You might want to lay them out on paper and play with arrangements before you start gluing. Try not to think so hard and instead just “feel” your way through. Often, after I play for a while, the arrangement I started out with doesn’t remotely resemble the one I finish with. If you feel so inspired you can embellish your collage with paint, sparkles, feathers, found objects, colored pencils, pressed flowers, pictures of yourself, bits of fabric, or anything else that calls to be a part of your dream collage. Hang your artwork in your special place and just gaze at it from time to time and see what hidden messages may be

Dreamwork/Soulwork Part three In a 3 Part s By: Willow Wonder 132

revealed to you.

Using other people’s dreams.

I am well known in my circle of friends for borrowing their dreams and writing about them. Not for the purpose of interpreting the dream for them, but for entering into a different dreamscape and exploring the universal messages for myself. If you have a friend who would like to share her dream with you for this purpose you might like to try this exercise.

First, listen quietly to the dream without making any comments. Next, write some notes to help stir your memory later. At this time if you need clarification you can ask questions about the details, but don’t ask for

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interpretations or offer any of your own.

Then, later in a quiet time, write the dream as if it were your own. Pretend as you write that you actually dreamt this dream yourself and write as if you really believe this to be so.

If you would like to explore the images more deeply you can use the basic interpretation technique, or collage the dream, or you might like to write a poem from one particular line like I did with my friend Angelina’s dream about sunken 133

bones. When she told me about a dream she had about skulls peaking up above the dirt, a clear picture formed instantly in my mind with the first sentence, “We should plant our crops among the sunken bones of our elders.” I asked her if she would mind if I wrote about it and she gladly agreed. This is the poem that her psyche gifted me: We should plant our crops among the sunken bones of our elders – those wise women who left their bodies as compost for the next generation’s spiritual growth. Let us sow the seeds of Strength, Willingness, and Inspiration in this dark rich humus.

New life will germinate quickly in this 134

fertile ground of love.

The tiny seedlings will not be lonely with grandmother’s bones to cradle them.

Father Sun, Sister Rain, and Brother Wind will join with the Great Mother to nourish and make strong these fledgling ideas. Together we will pull the weeds of Dissension, Avarice, and Greed returning them to the earth where the ancient ones can show them the true path. The sunbleached skulls will peek over the thick layer of mulch, standing guard against the dark energy that swoops down, eager to pluck the tender fruit from the vine.

Shoulder to shoulder we will harvest this psychic bounty, filling our mouths with the

sacred food as we work our way down to write, draw, collage, or mandala your the rows. dream. In a safe and quiet space make Dream mandala – part two. This is the a request for the metamorphosis of the “after” mandala of a dream. Earlier dream message. Carefully, in a fire-safe we described how to mandala a dream receptacle, light the dream on fire and question. With this exercise we will ask for transformation to occur through the mandala a dream that we have had in flames. Remember to dispose of the cold response to our question mandala. Use ashes in a responsible manner – blown to the same method described earlier in the the wind is good! paper but this time hold the dream in your mind as you draw the shapes. Sometimes a dream is too big for just one mandala. In this case you can do a series of mandalas which when viewed together can often give a clearer picture of the message.

Replenishing the Soil. Once the dreams are written, or contemplated, or collaged, or made into mandalas, it is time to let the images rest. Just like in nature, our psyche has a season and winter always comes.

I believe it is in the dormant cycle that some of the most profound work actually occurs. As in the garden, if our dreams are allowed to incubate they will burst forth again in the “spring.” How often have you mulled over a problem endlessly and finally released it in utter frustration and only then received the answer in a burst of inspiration? It’s the same with our dreams.

Without the quiet, dark, warm spot the dough will never rise.

The same ritualistic request works for “good” dreams as well. Instead of fire you can bury your desire in the earth in the form of biodegradable paper, handmade works especially well, or you can make a small sculpture out of clay, or you can write your request on a stone. As you bury the object, repeat what it is you are seeking with your dreams and then release the query so that it has time to grow.

Your own ideas. Through your wandering in the dream garden you will undoubtedly discover new plants and new ways to nurture and care for them. Make note of your discoveries and ways that you have found that your garden thrives best. Just like a garden journal we can light upon fresh ways to provide the richest bed in which our dreams can grow. Keep a soft eye and a generous heart in the garden and all of your dreams will come true.

Archiving your dream art. If you have had a particularly intense or frightening Sweet Dreams! dream, after you have worked with it you Willow Wonder might want to ritually send the dream on its way. I especially like to use fire for this purpose. Use a piece of paper

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Horoscop No

By: R

SCORPIO: You are positively inspired this month. What’s more, you inspire others. Now is the time to take charge of those projects that haven’t been going anywhere for weeks and weeks. You’ll be amazed at the number of people who will jump in and help you. Expect a generous reward for all your hard work. Don’t forget your close relationships during this burst of productivity.

SAGITARIUS: Family and work are in the forefront this month. Have a look at Scorpio’s comments above, because that same burst of productivity will kick in for you at the end of the month. Meantime, nurture your family and make all the bonds there as strong as possible.

And use the relatively quiet time to marshal your resources for the big push coming. You’ll need it!

CAPRICORN: Welcome to the Love Boat! New friends, new loves, and new happiness are in store for you this month. And it’s not just your average new romance, but something very different from your usual tastes. Be prepared for a fling! And those confusing money issues you’ve been dealing with will start to straighten themselves out the last week or so of the month.

AQUARIUS: It’s all business this month. Everything you do is done is a practical, business-like fashion (if you can believe that in an Aquarius!)

Even love and family is handled in a practical, no nonsense way. This will all lead to you being recognized by your coworkers and bosses for 136

pe for the Month of ovember 2009

Rajeesh Navarathna

your ability to get the job done. A financial reward for your work is not out of the question!

PISCES: It’s time to put on your Indiana Jones hat and go in search of adventure. If you don’t, you’ll find yourself bored to tears and maybe getting into a bit of trouble. Things on the home front could be better, too, and you’re wanting to be off doing new and exciting things will put strain on them. You can avoid major breakdowns in relationships if you just look for common grounds and keep things as equal as possible.

ARIES: Money, money, money is on your mind this month. If you haven’t paid your taxes, pay them ASAP. If you have, make sure you paid the right amount. You’re feeling very driven – not unusual for you – and especially creative. And my goodness, you want to know things! Fortunately this is a good time to be investigating. Some of that investigation energy might well be spent deepening a love relationship.

TAURUS: Love is in the air for you this month. You are especially susceptible to new loves, new aspects on long-time loves, and maybe even both!

(Don’t get caught at it!). Your relations with family and friends will move into the foreground and take precedence over other things, including work. That’s okay; you’ll have a chance to catch up in the later part of the month. And there is good news: you should expect good news towards the end of the month.

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GEMINI: Work is in the air for you this month – unfortunately. You will find yourself working very hard and very productively, but sometimes to the detriment of personal relationships. Be careful here, because after the middle of the month, you can expect that a current relationship will become more intense. If it has to compete with your work drive, there may be problems.

CANCER: It’s fun time for you! Lots of romance, opportunities for play and entertainment, and general self-indulgence are on the way. Don’t let these overcome the daily work that you need to maintain your home and sanity. In fact, you’ll find that the last week of the month you will be hustling to catch up all you let slide for fun stuff earlier in the month.

LEO: What may feel like being bogged down, not being able to get anything done, is actually you gathering your energy and resources for a big push in the late part of the month. If you find yourself staring at your work and no motivation to do it, don’t worry. When the motivation returns, the time you spent thinking subconsciously will make it all the easier to do. About that same time, you want to be out schmoozing your colleagues and others in your field. It’s going to pay off down the road.

VIRGO: Busy, busy, busy. That’s you this month: running errands, checking things off the list, catching up, and getting things done. You have the energy for it and then some. Your charm and charisma are at a peak this month, so don’t be surprised when you make new friends and maybe more!

LIBRA: Okay, let’s face it: you have some money problems. You spent a bit too much last month, didn’t you? I wish I could say it’s all going to get better on its own, but it won’t. You are going to have to settle down and take a hard look at your finances and then do something about it.

This is a good time to ask for a raise or even look for a better job. It’s not a good time to take a flying leap into the unknown.

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Human Interest

The Art of Creation By: Joshua Sicling

Sasha Dielli, is a true creator who likes to think outside the box. When he first brought me to his home I was astounded by all the sculptures and different styles he works with. We first walk through and I am shown the latest jewelry and frame 3d work he has just completed. When asked how he classifies himself, he simply states,” I am a creator who works with the simple concept of visibility.” Sasha says his specialty is in the technique of his build. “I like to build with low prims, but the most important is not the build” Sasha says, “It’s the light, the transparency, the movement and the color”.

Sasha lives in Paris, is half Japanese and half Spanish, and while he started in 2006 in SL he did not start building until 2008. In his RL he is a sensei of aikido, iaido and kenjutsu and runs his own dojo.

He goes on to show me a project he is working on done in an Egyptian style, “ It is a very elegant style, that contains a lot of passion” S a s h a continues,” when I am working, I lose sense 140

of time, I can build or create very quickly, depending on my level of inspiration.” For the most part of the work that Dielli shows to me, it is heavy on the transparency with intertwined objects within. We continue our tour as he shows me some of his collections of bottles of perfumes that he has been making. The detail is exceptional and each item was only 4 prims. We go out to an open area on his sim, “I want to show you one of my latest sculptures, it is called Imtemporel”, Dielli continues “it is very technic, with movement of form and of texture.” “Building can be very addictive, but it allows for creativity to flow” Dielli continues on, “I am an addict when I am creating something.”

Joshua Sicling: What do you like to most build with? Do you prefer to use Mega prim?

Sasha Dielli : I really only use mega prim, except if I am building a home or larger sculpture, I find that prim is better for working, you have many different faces with a prim if you know how to control it.

JS: How often do you spend in SL? How long does a normal sculpture take for you to create?

SD: I spend too much time in SL, and I can make something like the perfume bottles in about 2 or 3 hours.

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We next visit his flamenco club, and it is very intricate in detail. He shows me another bottle he has just completed, and peering inside, he explains “It is the element of fragrance, for making magic perfume.” We continue on our tour and stop to see some chairs that he recently designed, that he created with his own personal texture. “This is my work desk; I sit in the chair when I am designing”. Behind his work desk, we can see out to the SL ocean with flocks of birds swooning around, sparsely placed lamps of fire that brings out the brightness and clarity of his working view.

Our last stop on our tour is up to his working platform, the first view I get is of a model runway that he is working on for a Moroccan client, “I get the concept in my mind and then go onto create that vision I see.” He is currently finishing that project for a runway show.

With the next item he shows me is an intricate indoor waterfall that is fantastic in detail that he designed for a modern apartment or home. We take a few steps over and he shows me a new project he is also working on that is a modern city within a sphere that will rotate around within the sphere.

He is currently looking around for a sim that he will display all his latest creations.

We make one last stop at his shop to take a look at his creation entitled temple of love. Dielli explains “Here you can see a really interesting work, this creation has a language, the language of the color”, Dielli continues, “If you desire to send a message to your lover, you click on the heart of the rose, you can choose from more than 100 nuances of colors.” Dielli describes it as a Ying and Yang piece with Water being the 142

Ying and Fire being the Yang. Dielli conclu des his talk of his temple of love as the rose is the secret of love.

If you wish to purchase or visit his shops to see his works and latest creations you can find his shop here (passed u the LM for his shop)

Entertainment

And the Beat Goes...DJ Detroit By: Luscious Giano

On July 16, 2006...a warm summer day in Detroit, Michigan...a real life DJ and promoter ventured into our world known as Second Life to see what all the talk was about. Sir Brennen known as DJ Detroit. Business owner, designer, builder, dancer, and DJ, Sir has done a little bit of everything since his arrival in SL and is now one of SLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premiere DJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

Owner of Sir la Flair Fashions, you can visit his designs at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ 146

CORALISLAND/19/13/22 Founder of 4 Beats of Sound, Sir set out to find a group of DJ’s he could pull together to do shows as a group all over the entire grid. His efforts paid off and he collected a group of DJ’s that compliment each other with their versatile music backgrounds and styles including Latin, House, Techno, Rock, HipHop, Southern Rock, Country and Oldies. This group plays it all!

Sir Brennen has also DJ’d at the last two Second Life Birthday celebrations bringing his own style of dance, R&B, Rock, and Motown mixes to life, and will be spinnin’ his style at this years Second Life’s Veteran’s Tribute. His on air personality speaks for itself keeping the masses entertained with music trivia, facts, and quick quips.

Sir has managed a few clubs in SL, but between his clothing line and his DJ schedule, he manages to stay pretty busy. If you see his name anywhere in SL and you have the opportunity, don’t miss his show! It is one you will never forget and you’ll find yourself following him from club to club, event to event to hear his mixes.

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Human Interest

Burning Life October 17-27, 2009

Article and Photos By: Carey DeCuir

Iconic figure for Burning Life is the wooden man that is set on fire at the end of the week.

This is a tradition started by the RL version of Burning Man.

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The theme of Burning Life for 2009 is evolution and this theme is played out in various ways throughout the 34 sims

What are we if not diverse digital Beings immersed in a gigantic social experience threaded within a fabric of art? To celebrate this interplay between SL residents and their artistic creations, Linden labs host the “Burning Life” party each year. Burning Life is a festival of community, art and fire in the virtual world of Second Life. Burning Life is modeled after Burning Man, that “other world“experience that takes place in the Black Rock desert. Each year thousands of people gather at Black Rock, build a city of art, party for one week, burn the iconic wooden man.... then depart leaving nothing behind but a blank desert canvas for next year’s party.

connection with the RL Burning Man event.

It seems that Philip Linden got the idea for creating SL after returning from a Burning Man experience. Thus, Burning Life becomes a symbolic connection between the two worlds we all inhabit. Burning Life covers 34 sims and is filled with creative artwork, parties, performances and amazing venues for social interactions.

The theme for Burning Life this year is “Evolution” and that motif can be seen throughout much of the building and art displays. Buildings are grouped around 52 theme camps, with the intension of providing local coherence of artwork and activities based on these themes. The original idea was to create temporary, It’s rumored that SL has a very close portable and primitive structures that could be constructed in a desert environment. It 154

was suggested that one use mostly lightweight types of materials such as wood and fabric, things that one could bring to a desert and then easily remove. However, being SL with no such RL restrictions, you will find an amazing range of creativity that continually stretches the limits of what one sees anywhere in SL.

activities are Countess Decosta and Doctor Gascoigne. Countess is Head of Communities and tells us that on average, 150 visitors per hour enter the Burning Life sims. She organizes 120 greeters, guides, gurus and linguists to help newcomers visiting Burning Life. Countess states that she “has linguists from all over the world, greeters that speak every language and it’s amazing how they all get along.

It’s funny how in here people forget their outside world hang ups”. Doctor Gascoigne organizes the performances Two of the main people taking place during Burning Life. You will organizing many of the find everything from live music, DJs, Dance

Tokyo is one of the three main structures designed for performances during Burning Life. Tokyo sets you inside of a organic, skeletal structure while providing an open mic for performers

Rising out of the desert is insect-like structure holding globes of light while dancers cavort within its unearthly glow

Performance, many singers and songwriters. This year there is even a Murder Mystery drama created by Countess Decosta played out several times a week. When asked how he chooses the performance acts, Doctor states that “Everyone and anyone are welcome to come and “Burn” with us. We do not choose people, they chose us!!! We put anyone on a stage that wants stage time. With Tokyo being an open mic stage, if your schedule is not so flexible, we are!!! With 3 stages open 24 hours for 8 days we need everyone in the mix. Burning Life like Burning Man is heavily focused on participation. We are inclusive.”

The Tokyo stage that Doctor refers to was designed by Donpatchy Dagostino. I asked Donpatchy what inspired him to do this particular design. He speaks of his interest in showing the fusion of biological and technological evolutions, while illustrating mans desire to create artificial lives as if they pretend to be God. An amphitheater seems to swallow its visitors as it pulls you out o Donpatchy created a large masses of writhing avatars laboratory of mad-scientists with space for dancers and DJs. In the center is a cylinder, symbolizing the lab, and containing a huge creature.

The building itself takes the shape of a rib cage for its internal structures, making us feel like we are part of another organism.

“The earth is the place where the evolution of life has been taking place. There is a pattern of the sun and the moon on the surface of small round stage, so that the space inside of the rib cage becomes the universe. Dance on the earth’s floor in Burning Life, just like we are expressing our pleasure as a miracle of the universe – evolution.”

Donpatchy Dagostino.

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Another interesting performance stage embodies the theme of â&#x20AC;&#x153;grown from the sandsâ&#x20AC;? and was created by Kazuhiro Aridian. Kazuhiro started with some sketches based on a style of sleek lines with rhythm and repetition in form and texture. On top of this he imposed organic insect-like designs and used six textures from Marcu Inkpen on layers for the build. Kazuhiro created an awe inspiring experiential environment which was constantly full of dancing people. A third performance hall created

by Alazarin Mondria opens to a plaza with a variety of colorful and outrageous structures. For example, there is a large green tube called the Elefinator, designed

by Drfran Babach, which take you on a fantastic journey through a fairyland.

It would take days to go through these 34 sims and then you would still miss a lot.

Everywhere you turn is something beautiful and exotic. You move from small exhibits

of the desert into bright lights and

A tribute to the founder of SL rises out of the desert, reminding us of how we all came to be here

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be surprised at what you find staked out in the desert. There are many men and women staking Gulliver to the sand

The lamplighter run through the sims of burning life erupts to celebrate the days events.

such as a tribute to the Philip Linden by Chimera Cosmos only to stumble across a representation of Gulliver (of Gulliverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s travels) being tied to the desert sands, a creation by Ub Yifu. There are a number of art exhibits, some offering competitions between artists. At the artists duel camp, two artists are given space and 50 prims to create a sculpture which is constantly being watched over by A1ex Allen. Pop Saul and Silene Christen also help organize the event and visitors to the site vote on what they like best.

One experience during Burning Life you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to miss is the running of the Lamplighters. Hundreds of people run through the buildings and exhibits, beating drums and singing. They run past the wooden burning man icon and finish at the main temple dance and sing for hours. The Temple plays a central role in the burning life experience. It, along with the iconic wooden man, is burned as part of a ceremony to celebrate the end of the weeklong event. The temple is an exquisite structure built

by Damanios Thetan and well worth visiting just to experience its beauty. Damanio 166

e ends at the Temple where inevitably a party

is a scripter, builder and “mostly good guy”. He has created exotic Burning Life Temples for the past three years and this year’s temple is a definite... must see.

So, in the end, the wooden man and the Temple are burned to symbolize the ending of this year’s event and cleansing the slate for the party to follow next year.

One has to arrive early for these events as the sim fills up and teleporting will not work. People can be found trekking across several sims by foot to experience the Burn. During the week, people have left notes at the temple which are read prior to the burning. Before, during and after the Burn, people dance, sing and enjoy the last vestiges of the Burning Life party. This year’s Burning Life was a tremendous success. The level of creativity was exceptional as was the participation.

Congratulations to the organizers and participants.

Burning Life ofers a number of havens for artists, many of them sporting competitive venues for artists to show their talents

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On the last day of the burning life celebration the temple is burned to the ground, making way for Burning Life 2010

The final event of Burning Life 2009 is the burning of the iconic wooden man

his years 2009 SL Veteran’s Tribute will be held from Sunday, November 8th to Saturday, November 14th.

This is the 3rd annual Veteran’s Tribute that has been put together.

The Tribute itself is non-political and serves one purpose and one purpose only and that is to honor all the men and women that have given willing of their time to protect the lives we enjoy today.

The tribute operates on a zero dollar budget and is non-profit; the entire tribute is built, funded, organized and executed on a purely volunteer basis. We have an organized group on SL called the “SL Veteran’s Tribute” if you would like to look it up. This group will be used as the basis of our planning and scheduling for the Tribute.

This years schedule includes some of Second Life’s premiere live performers and DJ’s throughout the week.

Also many of SL’s finest builders have donated their tribute items; planes, helicopters, memorial builds, etc. that will be showcased during the week as well.

For further information on last year’s event please see http://slveteranstribute.com which contains photos and a video from the 2008 tribute.

Further more, the SL Veteran’s Tribute is designed to collect money for Operation Uplink (http://www. operationuplink.org/) which provides pre-paid phone cards for military personnel stationed overseas.

Should you have any questions please feel free to contact any of the Tribute Coordinators listed below: Flattop Ewing Classy Patton Jill Mackenzie Wildroses Pevensey Wellhung Bagley With Kindest and Best Regards, The SL Veteran’s Tribute Group 175