Windlight Magazine February 2016 Issue by Kultivate Magazine

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2 FEBRUARY 2016

METALES THE LIVING ROOM CICA GHOST

WHYMSEE HAUTE COUTURE

Welcome to the February 2016 issue of Windlight Magazine! 2016 has seen some numerous changes for Windlight! We have moved to a full prim sim and have expanded our partnerships. This issue features the MetaLES sim, The Living Room, Cica Ghost, and Whymsee. We also have features on an introduction to curation by Inara Pey, more roleplay tips from Dawnbeam Dreamscape, and our fashion editor, Eleseren Brianna takes you on a journey through haute couture. February is known for many things, including Mardi Gras, Groundhogs Day, Leap Year, Black History Month, and of course Valentines Day! Valentines Day can bring mixed emotions to people, particularly if you are without a loved or special someone. I wish everyone to be happy by the 14th, continue it a challenge. I am personally fortunate to have found that special someone and my editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s photo this month, which was taken by the talented Bryn Oh, reflects that. Special thanks to everyone who continues to support Windlight: our advertisers, artists, and of course all our readers! I hope that you enjoy the issue!

Johannes1977 Johannes1977, Publisher & Editor In Chief

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

PHOTO BY BRYN OH 13

FEBRUARY 2016 ISSUE CREDITS OWNER, PUBLISHER & EDITOR IN CHIEF: “JOHN’ JOHANNES1977 RESIDENT FEBRUARY CONTRIBUTORS: INARA PEY VERUCA TAMMAS DAWNBEAM DREAMSCAPE ELESEREN BRIANNA JOHN THE EDGE FASHION EDITOR: ELESEREN BRIANNA THE EDGE FEBRUARY 2016 STYLISTS ISSY FLATLEY BRYNEDARKLY CAZALET MIELE TARANTAL EALEEN DEBBEL ELESEREN BRIANNA COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: UX HAX WEBSITE: WWW.WINDLIGHTMAGAZINE.COM FACEBOOK: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/WINDLIGHTMAGAZINE TWITTER: WWW.TWITTER.COM/WINDLIGHTMAG GOOGLE PLUS: plus.google.com/u/0/114670578575147938083 TUMBLR: WINDLIGHTMAGAZINE.TUMBLR.COM

WINDLIGHT MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2016 ISSUE TABLE OF CONTENTS

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FEATURED STORY

METALES

WRITER: JOHN PHOTOGRAPHY: UX

WM: Tell our readers about yourself http://haxgrot.blogspot.com and Metales. Why did you first create the project? How long has the http:// project existed in Second Life: www.elmetaverso.com/2009/06/05/ ibiza-acoge-el-ii-congreso-de-mundos UX: All started in 2007 when a friend -virtuales (RL) Maznu Newman ,a musician producer, invited me to a place called There began my love for the Virtual Second Life to act as a DJ in a festival Art, me the birth of a new concept of called "Moebious surfing festival" art appears for me. very interesting, by the way, combined virtual with reality through I met Black Swan that I'm streaming video. I continued working passionate, IBM, Museo del in the team organizing events for Metaverso, Diabulus,Inmersiva, Moebius. Prados azules among many other LUKE VIBERT LIVE DROID BRISTOL amazing places. Really I found a very SECOND LIFE ! https:// interesting movement of Virtual Art. www.youtube.com/watch? v=9WkZhcBcrMo The Institut CatalĂ de NanociĂ¨ncia I Nanotecnologia , Victor Puntes In the same year in 2007 with a friend proposed me to make a project I met Maria Grot in SL, we create the create a Sim based in the electron group HaxGrot, and we started with a microscopy images transmission of project called Geometry of Sound database Laboratory, which invited me to meet in RL. We opened in 2007 in a Sim called Concordia and early 2008 Diabulus The Nanobosc was online for 2 years Gallery invite us. The project had 2010-2012. A project that in term been many years in our Sim online illustrated a book on photographs of and we also had Opensim (Osgrid). SL Nanobosc. Victor Puntes is a We were doing live performances genius in the world of with video stream that we saw in RL nanotechnology and likes to mix (Buenos Aires - Barcelona) playing science with art. We HaxGrot worked music from Second Life. in this project and it was my first Geometry of Sound participated in teaming with Romy Nayar <3 the Second Congress of Social Networks and Metaversos of Ibiza. https://vimeo.com/29250703 44

http:// www.inorganicnanoparticles.net/ about/victor-puntes

More Information on the blog : http://invisiblecitiessl.blogspot.com

http://www.investigacionyciencia.es/ blogs/fisica-y-quimica/57/posts/ http://www.youtube.com/user/ nanobosques-cientficos-humanistas-y InvisibleCitiesSL?feature=mhee -el-futuro-de-las-sociedades-segnvctor-punts-13250 WM: What are the inspirations for your artwork? I noticed that the In 2010 we decided to use the all Sim current exhibition is the last of a entirely for MetaLES Art series. Do you regularly create series Per4mance ..O.. which consisted of or artwork with similar themes? full sim exposures for a single artist, the duration of two months by artist. UX: This last exhibition was an experimental work Scenes for us From 6 years to now we work in this using new techniques, IV consisted of project , that we love, inviting scenes of enormous dimensions that excellent artists to share, who have changed every two weeks. There was done an excellent job, very not a chronological order in scenes. professional, always very good At the experimental level, the most feeling and thanks to them , today important was the public reaction, a MetaLES have a place in the Virtual divided exposure, following a series. Art. Initially Lanjran Choche, Romy Nayar and myself promoting Sim as Of course the best way that we curators of Art in the metaverse and realized the result was by sometimes RL. Actually , there is a bloggers, thanks to them , who were permanent exhibition of machinimas following the IV scenes, narrating his for the most of the exhibits shared in story with his personal perception, MetaLES in the Sky. it was the interest of the show itself. The result sought imagination of 2012 - I participated in full LEA Sim those who follow the IV scenes to "You Choose" (Romy Nayar and Ux create a story. Hax) and LEA 15 first round- invisible Cities by Italo Calvino. A project Language use as the Arcana of the organized by MetaLES in LEA Tarot, she, the woman character and inviting talented artists to participate. the raven the thread. 45

the raven the thread. she has a lot of imagination to create With neorealist aesthetic, as if it were constant, she works hard. She also theater. paints in RL is a very versatile artist.

Inspiration comes from everywhere ... http://romynayar.blogspot.fr https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=lTb2t-w-d4Q

https://marketplace.secondlife.com/ stores/55519

http://zikiquesti.blogspot.fr/2015/12/ WM: Is Metales currently in any escenas-la-muerte.html other virtual worlds? If so which ones? Have you considered going to http://www.nooqi.nl/nooqi/escenas- any other virtual worlds? scenes-4-the-death-metales UX: In 2008 we had an Open Sim http:// Osgrid, but now no longer used for echtvirtuell.blogspot.de/2015/11/ now. metales-escenas-2-decisiones-von-uxhax.html WM: What's next on the horizon for Metales? What type of exhibitions http://modemworld.me/2015/11/23/ will we see in 2016? tarot-scenes-and-unfolding-stories-insecond-life UX: Well, I've always liked the surprise factor, is how the bride http://tizzycanucci.com/2015/11/30/ dress ... should not be seen before gathering-scenes the wedding http:// Visit the official MetaLES websites to windlightmagazine.com/2015/12/01/ stay up to date on the exhibitions on metales-scenes-3-the-fear-nooqi the sim: WM: I noticed that your partner, http:// Romy, has a very unique store on the metalesperformance.blogspot.fr marketplace. Are inspirations taken from your Metales exhibitions? https://www.facebook.com/groups/ facemetales UX: Yes, Romy has a shop, but I think 56

And of course visit MetaLES: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/MetaLES/193/130/2502 WM

AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE LIVING ROOM WRITER: JOHN PHOTOGRAPHY: OWL DRAGONASH

WM: The Living Room is a unique concept of music and art. Tell our readers how did you develop this concept?

WM: How are exhibitions curated? Do you have an open call for artists or are they chosen?

OWL: We choose artists based on our OWL: Daallee and I have been personal likes and are broadening a listening to live music and going to art bit this year by featuring 2 artists most events in sl for a long time. We have months instead of 1 as there are so always loved it. many creative people in sl. This may change but currently it is by invitation exhibitors. The living room came about through us wanting to have a place to give back to Musicians and Artists we love WM: If a musician wanted to be on and appreciate. staff at the Living Room, could he or she apply? We talked to Hippie Bowman owner of Lagrange Point space port and he helped us find a home for The Living Room on the top floors of the command tower.

OWL: Not sure I quite get the question ... We book our Musicians like Artists by invitation. We Feature LIVE musicians no tracks.

We opened March 3rd 2015 with Cica WM: What are the plans for the Ghost as our first Artists and The Living Room in 2016? Any new and Vinnie Show featured at the event. exciting exhibitions planned? Our friend Nora decided to join us in this adventure and has been a great addition to our team!

OWL: 20 16 Is already exciting we have a full January booked with Mareea Farrasco & Faith Maxwell' s art up. Musicians featured in January are The Vinnie show, Bat Masters, This space is a welcoming hang out to Lyndon Heart & Aminius Writer. share Artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Musicianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creative talents with our friends and the SL February we feature the art of Thea community. Maimen & CioTToLiNa Xue Along with The Live music Of Camme Carver, A 68

special multi stream jam with Vinnie TheLivingRoominSL/ at a house jam RL with other SL musicians but that is a secret for now. https://www.flickr.com/groups/ We will close out the month with thelivingroomsl/ Lazarus Doghouse. And of course visit The Living Room in March we turn 1 year old. We have a Second Life: special party planned with prizes and a wild time planned. We will feature http://maps.secondlife.com/ the amazing Photography of Skip secondlife/Lagrange% Stahli. Live Music through the month 20Point/131/233/95 features The Vinnie show, Whirligig Rutabaga, Oblee and Aminius Writer. As March is our 1 year Daallee and I will decide where we are headed next with this adventure and if we want to make any changes . At this point we keep events to 3 or 4 a month. Daallee keeps busy managing The Vinnie Show. We both are into Photography. I also Have Through Owl's eyes ...my blog: https://owldragonash.wordpress.com So far we are loving the ride! WM Keep up to date with the Living Room by visiting the following websites:

https://owldragonash.wordpress.com/ the-living-room-a-visual-art-galleryand-live-music-venue/ https://www.facebook.com/ 69

THE WORLD OF CICA GHOST WRITER: JOHN

PHOTOGRAPHY: CICA GHOST

WM: Tell our readers how did you first discover Second Life? CICA: I used to play a game called Yoville. It was a very simple childish drawing game but I was able to chat there with unknown people. We were talking on some 'street' and somebody said 'did you try second life?' and I had never heard of Second Life. He gave me a link and so I came and tried it and I am still here. WM: How did you discover the Second Life art scene? CICA: I used to explore a lot. I would go to Risk City, China, Wastelands, Omega Point and others and they got my imagination going. I enjoyed making photos for Snapzilla site, one day I wanted to make photo with my own scenery. So I found it fun, I was buying things to decorate my little platform and was making small things myself. I had discovered decals on market... I loved to decorated walls with them and I was thinking how would be interesting to make own drawing on the wall. An acquaintance named Gerrit Gray taught me how to make alpha texture and my drawing started. Artistide Despres was kind enough to give me a platform on her LEA land to 78

practice on and I have always appreciated that. I remember seeing an animated bird in the China sim and I asked Artee how it was made. She said she had the script and told me how it works. That is how I got into animation. My first animations I put in the LEA sandbox... I was curious to see if people would notice them :) One day while I was standing there, Bryn Oh appeared near.. and that's how we met. I couldn't believe she liked my animations :) She even encouraged me to make more! :) So I made a little black white scene on my little platform. Bryn said I could apply for LEA sim with that. I was thinking it was too big for me to make whole sim. Oh well, I applied... and I made that first exhibit all in black and white... thanks to Bryn Oh who believed I could :) WM: What are some of the inspirations for your work? CICA: Well, I look lately that Pinterest, they have nice images but that is just recently. There was one Yugoslav cartoon I watched as a child, it was called Baltazar, but when I think of Little Town, it reminds a little of that Baltazar atmosphere. I am inspired by the movie Amelie too, it is my favorite movie. Well, I like Amelie Poulain soundtrack I listen 80

when I make things, that movie has wonderful atmosphere. WM: Any new and exciting exhibitions that you have planned for 2016? CICA: I should make something for Kate Bergdorf sim in July, august, September, but I still don't know what. I worry now, what if I don't have idea in July? I don't like to plan. WM: Will we see Cica Ghost in the upcoming Sansar? I don't even know what is that Sansar :) I am curious, I would go look if it was possible. You can view more of Cica Ghostâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work at her official Flickr link: https://www.flickr.com/ photos/64860898@N05/ WM

A PERSONAL JOURNAL INTO CURATING ART IN SL WRITER: & PHOTOGRAPHY: INARA PEY

As a part of my blogging, I've been previewing and reviewing art installations in Second Life for the past few years. Doing so has exposed me to a world of talent which encompasses everything from photography through to the construction and scripting of entire regions and immersive, interactive environments, and has taken me all over the grid to visit galleries and exhibits.

skies, which could be visited directly or by those passing as they sailed / boated through the islands to the north-east of Blake Sea.

In 2015, Autumnx had to step back from her involvement in Second Life, which brought programs at Holly Kai Park pretty much to a halt. When it became apparent Autumnx would be unable to return to caring for exhibitions at the Park, Nber I've always enjoyed and appreciated reluctantly looked around for a new art, so writing about it has been curator, and in October 2015, something of a natural progression of approached me on the matter. my own appreciation and aesthetics As I've noted, writing about art is very (how else to experience art I might different to curating an exhibition otherwise miss on the grounds its space, so getting involved at Holly Kai description doesn't appeal, than to has been - and still is - a new learning expressly view it with the intention of experience for me. Obviously, it is writing fairly about it?). However, something which takes time and previewing or reviewing art events is effort, so I felt a lot of trepidation in far different to actually curating them; taking on the role; my time can be so when I was approached about pretty stretched when it comes to taking over the role of art curator at Second Life and fitting everything in, Holly Kai Park, I was flattered, and the last thing I wanted to do was surprised and filled with trepidation in let Nber down. equal measure. Nber Medici and Mark Twain White The flip side of this is that having have been running Art in Garden / Art exhibited at Holly Kai Park, I did have in the Park activities at their estates some ideas about how things might be since 2008, and when Holly Kai was revised to allow a broader range of art redeveloped around fifteen months to be displayed there, and additional ago, it became the new home for the art-related activities to be hosted. program, under the stewardship of Au- Rather than diving head first into tumnx Rain. The park continued the things however, I sought the advice of tradition of offering a natural art friends who both have the experience venue among trees and under open in curating art spaces and a positive 96

critical eye as artists. Without any prompting from me, they all came back with comments which pretty much aligned with my own view (and my thank to Boudicca, Dru, Jaydn and John in particular for the feedback and advice given). Fortunately, Nber was in agreement with my ideas, and so in November I spent time making small alterations to the park to present more of a focused area in which art can be displayed and also established facilities for additional uses. With that done it was time to get down to arranging exhibitions, plunging me into a whole new world. Running an exhibition space is more than just putting something together and inviting artists to come along. There's sorting out prim / LI allowances, ensuring all of the artists have a favorable exhibition space, setting out guidelines and addressing what is allowed / might not be allowed in order for a display to conform to the exhibition space's Maturity rating and the Community Standards. There's communicating with the invited artists, providing notes and assistance on getting set-up, arranging a suitable opening event (and a closing event as well). And, of course, there is the inevitable advertising, all of which can quickly get on top of you if you're not careful. As such, and while I am not in the

least suggesting I'm an expert in things, I would offer a few points of advice to those considering setting-up their own gallery / art space:

 Consider your display space carefully. It doesn't have to be eye-catching or fancy in itself (although this can obviously add to the attractiveness of a venue). What is important is how the space offers itself to exhibiting art. If you're having a mixture of artists, how well does it offer space to each of them? What is navigation through the space like? Does it provide sufficient room for visitors to enjoy the art and / or for moving around 3D pieces?  Take your time in getting things initially set-up. It's easy to feel a need to rush to the point where you're ready to go, but it's better to make sure you're largely happy with things before delving into getting your artists in and displaying their work  Take things a step at a time. You may have grand plans for events and activities, but pace yourself and build up to them; do go trying to launch everything at once and burn yourself out in the process. Establish a footprint and go from there  Accept / enlist help! It's easy to feel you have to do it all yourself, but 97

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 learning from the experience of others is better

when do you want to open it, who would you like to have for opening / closing entertainment, etc.

 Don't leave booking entertainment to the last minute! Entertainers in SL are extremely busy, so once you have your opening date and time sorted, get straight into contacting the kind of performers you'd like to have at the opening alongside of contacting the artists)) and arranging set-up with them

There are other things to you may want consider, such as how you monetize your gallery (tips, etc.) With Holly Kai Park, this hasn't been an issue, as we're not looking to having the art exhibitions help support the park, the aim is simply to provide a venue at which artists can enjoy displaying their work and people enjoy visiting. However, given the nature of  Be prepared to make tweaks and the park, I have had to think about alterations as a result of your first exhibition / feedback from artists. I how it and the art exhibitions in it and know there are some things that I'm at Holly Kai Garden next door can not entirely happy with at Holly Kai mutually support one another and Park, and so will be making changes help bring visitors to one another. In this, we've been fortunate in having  Be prepared for advertising to eat Blake Aeronautical to add Holly Kai into your time. Getting the word out park to their seaplane tours over Blake Sea, and we're working to leverage isn't easy. You'll need to join art event opportunities at the park's two groups (particularly those which venues, The Pavilion and Caitinara Bar. allow members to post notices), you'll have to poke bloggers, send Right now, Holly Kai Park is in the invites on events, and poke and middle of the first exhibition of its re-poke people. Consider setting-up a renewed program, featuring six artists website as well. It may not get much I'm absolutely delighted to have share traffic in the first months, but as your their work with us. Planning is well invenue gets more attention through hand for the next event, which will other advertising efforts, the traffic commence in mid-February, and in the will build meantime, work is rolling forward on the first of our Art at the Garden exhi Think ahead: opening your first bitions, and the line-up of artists there event is the time to start planning the is already starting to overwhelm me, next - who are you going to invite, such has been the response. 102

There are a lot of things I do need to improve - notably on advertising and promotion (and may well be looking out for someone to help me with this!). Getting the word out is time consuming. It's also hard not to take things a little personally when bloggers (particularly those you know) appear to ignore your efforts even when the word is personally sent. All I can say is, this will happen, and you can only keep plugging away. I should have also perhaps have held-off launching until after the Christmas / New Year period (what did I say above about not rushing? :) ), which likely contributed to a lack of response in terms of blog coverage.

do keep an eye on the Holly Kai website and blog for news of developments and upcoming art shows and events! WM

But missteps aside, starting at Holly Kai Park has been a whole new experience for me. Not only have I become more acutely aware of just what it takes to offer an art venue to the community, I've also started to both learn new skills and put those I've not previously really applied to SL to a new use. At the start of a new year, I'm certainly looking forward to gradually rolling-out the plans we have for the park, which will hopefully see Holly Kai expand as a venue for many forms of art both at the park and at Holly Kai Garden, including music and the spoken word. I'm especially delighted that we'll be able to support both Sail4Life and Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C) as the year progresses. Please 103

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VOYAGES WITH VEE: WHYMSEE WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHY: VEE TAMMAS

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Art is an expression of creative skill and imagination. At Whymsee YOU become part of the art.

the room was Cordelia Cerise, DJ and choreographer for the event.

At 6PM the music began and so did the FUN. I’ve been to many clubs Two weeks ago I was reading random where you have line dances and static announcements on Facebook when I dances on the floor but Whymsee is came across a page for Whymsee in different. The dancers are moved all Second Life, a place where “you are over the room in choreographed part of the show”. The page had a animations. I started in one line and notice for an upcoming show on a flew across the room in dance routines Saturday night called “Santa’s Work that were perfectly synced to the Shop - the After Party” with 12 music. I can only think that Ms. Cerise choreographed songs. They also has every dance animation ever encouraged those attending to dress created in SL and creates many of her in costume but it wasn’t a own. Sandie and I teleported some requirement. Being a big fan of the friends in so they could participate Christmas holiday season I happen to and all I could hear was “This is so have several (ok more than 20) holiday COOL!”; “This is crazy!”. The outfits in my inventory so I was more performance is one hour long and you than prepared. really hate to see it end. Ironically, Sandie, a friend of mine, saw the same notice and mentioned that she was going to check it out so we decided to go together.

The performance is one hour long and you really hate to see it end. https://www.facebook.com/ WhymseeSL/timeline.

The performance was supposed to begin at 6pm SLT and we arrived a few I’ve participated in several theatrical minutes before to check out the area productions in SL where I had to move and dance in a musical, but nothing and find our way. When you land you’re directed inside and told to jump equal to the scale of this perforon one of the orange discs on the floor mance. Whymsee has a group you can and help yourself to the props in the join to learn of upcoming performance and events and, if you’ve maxed out front of the room. your groups, you can look at Cordelia The dance area was decorated like Cerise’s profile because she changes it Santa’ workshop surrounded by an each week to include information winter wonderland. At the front of about the next performance and 110

also appreciate the amount of work that goes into the planning and execution to create a unique event each week. Come and join the fun! WM.

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THE ART OF ROLEPLAY: AN ELF IN A MODERN WORLD

WRITER AND PHOTOGRPHY: DAWNBEAM DREAMSCAPE

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Recently I heard an interview with an actor who said, “I get paid to play the games we did as children! How great is life?!” Perhaps that is why we admire actors so much! They continue to live the fantasy life! If we think about it, Role Play is having the freedom we did as a child, the imagination, the and the inner child who longs to explore. I am not saying that role play is following childish whims, oh no, all you ever have to do to dispel that concept is to become involved in adult fantasy. *Cheeks become flushed with memories flooding in...* Most of us wanted to be popular and accepted by the other kids when we were young. I bet everyone probably had a kid in the neighborhood that would not play well with others. They were the ones who would run off if they did not get their way, or would pout and cry ruining the play for all the others. So this brings us to this month’s discussion. The worse thing you can do? Ruining the role play experience for other. NOT get involved in the role play, or were just so negative, that seeing a person made you want to run in the opposite direction.

to fit in. There are some negative habits that we all continue to carry. If you want to enhance your roleplay experience, then it is time for some self examination and acceptance of the fact that you may indeed have negative communication kills. Change is difficult, do this step by step. Do not try to change your entire personality all at once. If your character has been particularly negative, you may need to find a new area to role play. Once you have accepted that, we use identification, improvement strategy to set goals on where we would like our skills to improve the most, followed by evaluation, and continuance plan.

In his book, Always Know What to Say - Easy Ways to Approach and Talk to Anyone, Peter W. Murphy identifies 10 Negative Habits that Limit Conversation Skills. 1.Negative Attitudes 2.Lack of Purpose 3.Overlook Importance of Social Connections 4.Conversation Fear 5.Feeling Non Resourceful 6.Limited Opportunities for Practice All of us go through a roleplaying 7.Limited Range of Conversation growth period. Learning how to Topics interact, what is acceptable, and how 8.Reactive Behavior 126

with one or more of these negative habits? Which is worse for you? Which annoys you most in other people? That is an important question, we frequently find characteristics most disturbing in others are ones we actually posses.

keyboard, and teleportation. Yet, there are some of these timid characteristics that follow me.

Peter W. Murphy recommends 4 elements to practice daily. 1.Kindness 2.Gratitude As I review this list several of these 3.Learn to Love Yourself characteristics jump out as ones I can 4.Forgiveness directly single out as personal issues. I am very painfully shy, a fact In our upcoming columns, we will be that most people who know me in discussing Murphy’s concepts, and Second Life and in Real Life can not how these four practices daily will believe. My Real Life job involves improve your role play, and your real teaching, public speaking, and life! You can also read his book as a singing. In a survey done, there are free download on any of your Book many, many people who would Apps like Amazon or Kindle Fire. WM literally rather die than speak in front of group. How did I conquer this “dragon” in my personality? Practice, practice, practice. I started with speaking to a mirror, which progressed to speaking to a single family member, which progressed to a group of trusted friends, and dedicating at least 10 minutes each day to repeat over and over the speech, lesson plan, or song I was to perform. I noticed my legs did not shake so bad, my voice was stronger and not near so falsetto, my hands did not sweat, and I was eventually able to look up point-blank into the faces and eyes of others. In a virtual world, we do have the protection of the screen, 127

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BAROQUE HAUTE COUTURE FOR VALENTINES DAY WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHY: ELESEREN BRIANNA

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My first article for Windlight, last month, was a serious, and perhaps slightly intellectual 'thought piece'. Each month I will try to do something different, but I want this month though to get back to what it is at the base of The Edge, and that is Fashion. â&#x20AC;Ś...

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It will shortly be Valentine's day, and all over SL ladies will be dressing up to go celebrate with their partners. I have unashamedly used this as an excuse to take a look at gowns for this article. For me gowns mean Haute Couture, and I will be referring to real Haute Couture Designer collections through this article. Let me get something off my chest first. Haute Couture is a term often bandied about in SL, as if labeling something Haute Couture automatically implies it is the best quality or in the best taste. It is in fact used so much it becomes meaningless. Technically almost nothing in SL is Haute Couture. If you are lucky enough to have a one off original mesh design made exclusively for you, then that truly befits the label. Anything made for sale in multiple numbers in a shop cannot claim to be Haute Couture.

of hand work and hand finishing. They are in effect exclusive beautiful works of wearable art, made to measure for one particular client. As you can see, this bears no resemblance to a gown in a shop in SL.. In my past, in real life, I worked for a while as a Couture Designer Dressmaker, primarily of wedding dresses. This is something that is within the reach of the average person. To a lesser degree, getting a gown made by a Couture Designer Dressmaker emulates something of the Haute Couture process. I can tell you what I did when I worked as one. The customer would come to me with an idea, and we would work together to sketch out the design. Many measurements would be taken, and an initial 'block' pattern made.

This is a basic foundation pattern In real life, there are only a small from which the actual design number of very wealthy, very pattern is drafted, worked out privileged, women around the from the initial sketch with the world who can truly own Haute customer. When I had the pattern Couture Designer pieces. Haute of the design drafted and ready I Couture pieces are made to would make an initial mockup of measure for particular clients, and the design out of calico cotton. constructed with extraordinary This is called a 'toile', and it is on attention to detail, exquisite this that all the initial fittings and technique and materials, and a lot alterations are made. 158

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They are in effect exclusive beautiful works of wearable art, made to measure for one particular client. As you can see, this bears no resemblance to a gown in a shop in SL..

In my past, in real life, I worked for a while as a Couture Designer Dressmaker, primarily of wedding dresses. This is something that is within the reach of the average Let me get something off my chest person. To a lesser degree, getting first. Haute Couture is a term a gown made by a Couture often bandied about in SL, as if Designer Dressmaker emulates labeling something Haute Couture something of the Haute automatically implies it is the best Couture process. quality or in the best taste. It is in I can tell you what I did when I fact used so much it becomes worked as one. The customer meaningless. Technically almost would come to me with an idea, nothing in SL is Haute Couture. If and we would work together to you are lucky enough to have a sketch out the design. Many one off original mesh design made measurements would be taken, exclusively for you, then that truly and an initial 'block' pattern made. befits the label. Anything made for sale in multiple numbers in a shop cannot claim to be Haute Couture. This is a basic foundation pattern from which the actual design In real life, there are only a small pattern is drafted, worked out number of very wealthy, very from the initial sketch with the privileged, women around the customer. When I had the pattern world who can truly own Haute of the design drafted and ready I Couture Designer pieces. Haute would make an initial mockup of Couture pieces are made to the design out of calico cotton. measure for particular clients, and This is called a 'toile', and it is on constructed with extraordinary this that all the initial fittings and attention to detail, exquisite alterations are made. technique and materials, and a lot of hand work and hand finishing.

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The customer would stand there, wearing the calico toile, and I would adjust and fit as necessary, cutting and pinning the toile, drawing on new seamlines and making notes on the toile itself. From the now rather graffiti covered toile, adjustments would be transferred to the paper pattern. When finally that was correct and a perfect fit achieved, the actual dress would be cut out and sewn together. The dress would have multiple layers of lining and interlining, each designed to add a certain quality to the look and physical properties of the finished design (whether that be stiffness, drape, a corseted inner lining to shape the torso, or the way the train moves when the customer walks. And such like). The gown would be fully lined, with no raw edges or inner workings visible anywhere, Externally the gown might be finished with hand applied decoration, beading, applique and other things. It was quite common for me to spend a hundred hours or more on one custom fitted dress. This is just a shadow of what goes on in a true Haute Couture Atelier for a major designer, so you see why I say very little in SL Fashion truly merits the label Haute Couture. What good SL designs can do though

is to be inspired by the Haute Couture collections revealed on runways in real life. February is a month somewhere between Winter and Spring, and this is mirrored in the Haute Couture collections in real life. For Ready to Wear collections, designers often reveal them six months or more before the season they are designed for. Therefore Spring Summer ready to wear collections would have been shown for the first time in the Fashion Weeks during the Summer and Autumn of 2015. Haute Couture is often revealed later. As I write this article there are a couple of weeks still until the Paris Haute Couture Week (24-28th January), where many top collections will be shown for the first time on the runway. I would have loved to have used some themes and style pointers from these collections in my choice of SL gowns revealed here. I couldn't though, so I have looked at Autumn Winter 2015/6 Collections, and at what I can see from the SS 2016 Ready to Wear Collections, Ornate, baroque aesthetics were common in the AW 2015/6 collections and I have chosen to explore this here, and relate it to some ideas for what to wear to those special and romantic Valentine's

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events. The term 'Baroque' originally referred to examples of architecture, art and music in the 17th and 18th centuries, that were elaborate, ornately decorated, mannered and ostentatiously styled. These themes translate easily into the exquisite and detailed work that is Haute Couture. A/W 2015/6 Collections which stood out for me particularly were Valentino's stately and somberly spectacular designs, Giambattista Valli's playful and eccentric feminine opulence, Zuhair Murad pairing his signature extraordinary beadwork with darkly dramatic fabrics and gown shapes, Ralph & Russo's pairing of pared down simple shapes with the richest of fabrics, George Hobeika's fresh and very modern, glittering, rococco, and Atelier Versace's extraordinary mix of deconstruction and spectacularly rich decadence. Looking ahead to SS 2016, a few collections have given hints to what we may see the sense of baroque continue in some form. Alberta Ferretti's Demi Couture Collection for instance continues the general baroque feel mentioned above, but with fresher colors, soft gold and pastel colors and colors reminiscent of a Watteau painting. Ruffles too feature in her collection. Balenciaga's SS 2016 Collection features elaborate

construction, ruffles, and luxe but understated fabrics in pearly whites, ivory and cream, and Naeem Khan moves baroque richness and detailing into almost fairytale high folk, with sugar icing colors, sensuous flowing fabrics and rainbow rich prints. Links to all the Collections mentioned are given below, so that you can see and judge for yourself. I have picked out 6 designs to show in this article, which evoke for me the baroque feel of the collections above. Valentines day is a day to revel in being magnificently, spectacularly and romantically feminine. Enjoyâ&#x20AC;Ś Valentino Haute Couture F/W 2015/16 https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=U5HjdHR0avY Giambattista Valli Haute Couture F/W 2015/6 https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=8BCVtzteA5k Zuhair Murad F/W 2015/6 http://www.zuhairmurad.com/en/ couture-fall-15-16 Ralph & Russo Haute Couture F/W 2015/6 https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=rKVYBKWKo6c Georges Hobeika F/W 2015/6 Couture 163

Georges Hobeika F/ https://www.youtub

Atelier Versace Hau https://www.youtub

Alberta Ferretti Dem http://en.vogue.fr/f alberta-ferretti-dem unveiled-in-her-new

Balenciaga SS 2016 https://www.youtub WM

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/W 2015/6 Couture be.com/watch?v=lgBMi_GVUvE

ute Couture F/W 2015/6 be.com/watch?v=JPki6hI-1Mk

mi-Couture SS 2016 fashion/fashion-news/diaporama/ mi-couture-spring-summer-2016w-paris-showroom/21379

be.com/watch?v=3-jrnqikYdo

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T H E E D G E S T Y L I S T S â&#x20AC;&#x201D; F E B R U A R Y: I S S Y F L AT L E Y Exclusive for SWANK from Wiccaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wardrobe Sookie exclusive for SWANK from wiccaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wardrobe, this strapless dress is detailed with laces and straps while the laces attach to the middle of the dress back and front the straps with buckles sit snugly to your side pulling and tucking keeping everything in place the back of the dress has a corset style fastening that run the length of the dress, while the front features a long zip the dress is made from a two-tone black and silver leather and comes in five sizes and a fitmesh Also Available this round is this wonderful headpiece called Seska with woven and twisted black and silver cast metal the head piece cradles the head and face from the tip of the nose following the curves over the head where it fans out and drops down ,held together by looping strand

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T H E E D G E S T Y L I S T S â&#x20AC;&#x201D; F E B R U A R Y: B Y R N E D A R K LY C A Z A L E T

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T H E E D G E S T Y L I S T S â&#x20AC;&#x201D; F E B R U A R Y: M I E L E TA R A N TA L featuring Solanum Silver by Zibska

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T H E E D G E S T Y L I S T S — F E B R U A R Y: EALEEN DEBBEL Hair: Olive. the Nami Hair Mouth: .Loud Mouth. – Alli @ .Loud Mouth. Mainstore Heart-Particles: **CC** – Bokeh Hearts @ Cosmopolitan Umbrella: REIGN.- COVEN UMBRELLA (ANIMATED) Sweater: *Milk* My Whore Hoodie (older item – now “Besom”) Top: Addams // Sophia Tank Top @ Addams Mainstore Skirt: ..::PD::.. Micro skirt @ anyBODY January Round 2016 (fitting perfect over my Maitreya body) Boots: N-core ALEXANDRA “Black” Pose: an lar [poses] The Lovely Series @ an lar Mainstore

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