The Dirty Grind Independent Artist community is celebrating its fifth anniversary over the weekend of Friday, September 7th through Sunday, September 9th, 2018 with a Carnival of the Arts. The weekend will be marked by live music sets throughout the three days, and also art displays by Enola Vaher, Toysoldier Thor and Silas Merlin, who appears at the Dirty Grind as the celebration’s featured artist.
The focal point for the event is a newly revamped venue building, where the artists can be found, and a stage area has been established in the back lot area. Inside the building, 2D and 3D art Enola and Toysoldier is located on two floors to one side of the building, with Silas’ 2D pastel art from the physical world and his 3D mesh sculptures created for Second Life can be found at the back of the building, again on two floors, facing the stage area.
The music event kicks-off from 15:00 SLT on Friday, September 7th, and at the time from writing, the schedule looked as follows:
Time
Friday 7th
Saturday 8th
Sunday 9th
14:00
—
Shannon Oherlihy
Wald Schridde
15:00
Davis Cisiszer
Thunderfoot Lorefield
Lexie Smith
16:00
Strum Diesel
Phime Alcott
Winston Ackland
17:00
The Matthew Show
Senjata Witt
DimiVan Ludwig
18:00
Jamba Losangelas
Grace McDunnough
The Vinnie Show
19:00
Twostep Spiritweaver
Bearsheart
Effinjay
20:00
Benski Korhonen
Suzen Juel
Ethan Kamaboko
However, given that events can always undergo last-minute changes, be sure to check the Dirty Grind website for updates or changes to the schedule.
The art displays are compact, but deliver a good sense of the work of the three artists. Enola’s 2D art – featuring both SL photographs and also drawings – is displayed on the upper floor of the gallery space she shares with Toysoldier Thor, and is an evocative mix of images. On the ground floor, Toysoldier presents a mix of his 2D paintings and 3D art, which is always captivating to see.
Silas Merlin remains one of the artists I deeply admire. His work in pastels is extraordinary, and while perhaps a little on the small side, the pieces presented at the Dirty Grind serve as a welcome introduction to his 2D work for those unfamiliar with it – and I do recommend seeking his art out whenever you have the opportunity to do so. His 3D work is perhaps more familiar to people in Second Life, being very popular among collectors, and the pieces he’s selected for this exhibition again present a good cross-section of his sculptures for those wishing to familiarise themselves with his 3D work.
So, do make a point of hopping along to the Dirty Grind over the weekend and wishing them a happy anniversary.
Following the open house meetings with volunteers on Wednesday, September 5th, the RFL of SL organisers announced that from 2019, the fund-raising season in Second Life will be shifting dates somewhat.
The revised dates will see the season commence in mid-February and run for 16 weeks, culminating in an Event Weekend in June of each year.
This means that for 2019, the season will commence at 10:00am, on Saturday, February 16th, 2019, and will run through until the weekend of Saturday, June 8th, 2018, and the RFL of SL signature 24-hour event.
Prior to the open house meetings, it has been put forward that the season’s primary event – the Relay Weekend – should be moved from July of each year, which is seen as being a period when Second Life tends to be quieter that usual, due to many in the northern hemisphere being on vacation or enjoying summer breaks, etc., to earlier in the year. May was initially suggested, as this is the month in which the American Cancer Society holds it’s signature global fund-raising event.
While the May suggestion for the final event of the season is not going ahead, the revised dates for the season mark a significant change for RFL of SL’s signature weekend, with Stingray Raymaker, Director of the American Cancer Society’s activities in Second Life, noting:
This will be the first time in the history of the event that it will be held in June … Our volunteers all had an opportunity to weigh in on this decision and the overwhelming feedback was in favour of holding Relay For Life of Second Life in June because it will allow our season to start earlier, when more residents are logged in and active.
The June date also allows for more of a break period between the RFL of SL signature event and the “mega” events such as Fantasy Faire, which takes place in March / April and the Sci Fi convention, which occurs in April / May, than would have been the case had it been moved to May as had originally been suggested.
More details on the activities taking place during the RFL of SL 2019 season will be posted via the official RFL of SL website, and I’ll continue to provide notifications and review through these pages.
Relay For Life fund-raising helps the American Cancer Society to provide access to support, information, resources, and services to cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers in Second Life. Every resident, group, merchant, and community in Second Life is welcome and encouraged to get involved in the grid’s largest and most impactful campaign to fight cancer.
Those wishing to receive updates and event information are invited to join RFL of SL’s in-world group, or join the RFL of SL Scribo board at the American Cancer Society headquarters.
It’s time to highlight another week of storytelling in Voice by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library. As always, all times SLT, and events are held at the Library’s home at Holly Kai Park, unless otherwise indicated.
Sunday, September 2nd:
13:30: Tea-time at Baker Street
The third full-length novel written about Sherlock Holmes, The Hound of the Baskervilles is likely to be the one Holmesian story which – at least in outline – known to most, whether or not they have actually read any of Holmes’ adventures.
But how many of us know the story as it was originally written? Over the decades it has been adapted for film and television more than 20 times, starting as early as 1914/15 with the 4-part series, Der Hund von Baskerville, and continuing on through to Paul McGuigan’s The Hounds of Baskerville, featured in the BBC’s brilliant Sherlock series.
All of these adaptations have offered their own take on the tale. Some – such as McGuigan’s, have simply taken the title of the story and used it to weave a unique tale of their own; others have stayed true to the basics of the story whilst also adding their own twists and turns quite outside of Conan Doyle’s plot in order to keep their offering fresh and exciting to an audience.
So why not join Cale, David, Corwyn and Kayden as they read from the 1902 original, and discover just how Sir Arthur Conan Doyle unfolded this apparently supernatural tale of giant hounds and murder, and the pivotal role played by John Watson himself?
Monday, September 3rd 19:00: The R-Master
In the 21st century utopia has arrived in the form of a repressive but seemingly benevolent, if omnipresent, bureaucracy. Their perfectly ordered world, seemingly run for the benefit of all, is actually ruled with an iron fist. In claiming to have people’s best interest at heart, those in power keep the population occupied and docile with menial tasks and the promise of advancement with the aid of the strictly controlled drug, R-47.
For the vast majority, R-47 actually does nothing.But for a special few, observed and selected by the ruling Council, it can massively enhance their intellect, elevating them to the status of “R-Masters” allowing them to solve problems, see advancements, and help ensure – wittingly or not – the Council’s control over the world, cosseted and pampered well away from the drudgery of ordinary life.
However, there is a darker side to R-47: just as it can elevate the intellect of some of those chosen to receive it, so to can it reduce them to imbeciles – and there is no way of knowing who the outcome might be in advance. Wally Ho is one selected to receive R-47 – and suffers the latter fate.
Determining it will raise his problem-solving abilities and restore his brother, Etter Ho obtains R-47 and takes it. But, once elevated to the privileged ranks of the R-Masters and witness the truth behind the Council’s rule, Etter determines the established status quo cannot allowed to continue, and Big Brother must be brought to heel.
Join Gyro Muggins as he reads Gordon R. Dickson’s 1973 novel about life in what is now our times!
Tuesday, September 4th 28th 19:00: Wishtree
Trees can’t tell jokes, but they can certainly tell stories. . . .
Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighbourhood “wishtree”—people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red’s branches. Along with her crow friend Bongo and other animals who seek refuge in Red’s hollows, this “wishtree” watches over the neighbourhood.
You might say Red has seen it all. Until a new family moves in. Not everyone is welcoming, and Red’s experiences as a wishtree are more important than ever.
A contemporary tale for the times we are witnessing, told with sensitivity and humour. The protagonist (and in may ways the victim of prejudice as unsought as that received by the family in question) may well be a tree, but she has a lesson to teach all of us about tolerance and understanding and a need to heal.
Join Faerie Maven-Pralou as she reads Newbery Award winner Katherine Applegate’s 2017 story.
Wednesday, September 5th, 19:00: The Voyages of Sinbad Part 2
With Caledonia Skytower.
Thursday, September 6th, 19:00: Don’t Make Me Pull Over!
In the days before cheap air travel, families in America didn’t so much take vacations as survive them. Between home and destination lay hundreds – perhaps thousands of miles of road, and dozens of annoyances.
During his childhood, Richard Ratay experienced all of them; from being crowded into the back seat with noogie-happy older brothers, to picking out a souvenir only to find that a better one might have been had at the next attraction, to dealing with a dad who didn’t believe in bathroom breaks.
Now, decades later, Ratay offers a paean to what was lost, showing how family togetherness in America was eventually sacrificed to electronic distractions and the urge to “get there now.” Through his words he paints large what once made Great American Family Road Trip so great, from twenty-foot “land yachts” to oasis-like Holiday Inn “Holidomes” and Smokey-spotting Fuzzbusters to the thrill of finding a “good buddy” on the CB radio …
Please check with the Seanchai Library’s blog for updates and for additions or changes to the week’s schedule.
Following on from their blog post concerning the restructuring of volunteer services (see here for more), the RFL of SL team has announced an “open house brainstorm session” on Wednesday, September 5th, 2018.
To be as inclusive as possible on a global basis, the event will comprise 3 core sessions (all times SLT): 07:00-09:00; 12:00-14:00 and 18:00-20:00.
We want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to share their ideas for growth and for how we can make the 2019 Relay season the best it can be.
This will be a ‘revolving door’ concept that allows you the chance to come and go as your schedule permits within [the] three different time-frames.
– from the RFL of SL blog post on the open house sessions
In particular the RFL team are looking for feedback in four core areas of RFL activities within Second Life:
Ideas on businesses, groups, and communities not currently engaged in supporting RFL of SL, and how they might be encouraged to do so.
For 2019, the Activities Regions will be replaced with a “5 Days of Relay” concept to allow new communities and new partners to host events/activities in the week prior to the main 24-hour event, and the RFL of SL team would like to hear feedback on opportunities to engage with new communities / partners and grow involvement with RFL of SL.
Additional ways in which cancer survivors and their caregivers might be more involved in the 24 hour relay weekend activities beyond the opening lap and gift bag.
Potentially moving the RFL season to be more effective with fund-raising.
The blog post notes this would likely comprise kicking off in January, along with the ACS national registration challenge, then holding the relay weekend in May, which would place it within the time period of ACS “signature” events held worldwide.
In particular, the team would like to hear about practical considerations that need to be kept in mind for such a move to be successful.
In addition, the team would to hear ideas on tactical ways that RFL of SL can help present the American Cancer Society as a service-first organisation that is available to cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers in Second Life.
We have met with so many people in the last few weeks and have identified several thoughts that were consistent from one person to the next; but we recognize that there just isn’t enough time to meet individually with everyone. So we’re using this open house concept for the final brainstorming session to give everyone the chance to participate in the creative and strategic direction of Relay For Life of Second Life. I’m excited about this because we get to hear from as many people as possible, and I’m especially looking forward to learning what creative ideas our volunteers and supporters have.
– Stingray Raymaker, Director of the American Cancer Society in Second Life,
on the open house meeting
As noted above, the three sessions will be run on a “drop in” basis, with those wishing to participate free to join or leave any session at any time at their convenience, or to attend more than one session if they wish. The sessions will all be held at the American Cancer Society HQ in-world.
It’s time to highlight another week of storytelling in Voice by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library. As always, all times SLT, and events are held at the Library’s home at Holly Kai Park, unless otherwise indicated.
Sunday, August 26th
13:30: Tea-time at Baker Street
Back from a well-earned break, Sherlock Holmes and John Watson return to their rooms at 221B Baker Street to be joined by Caledonia Skytower, Corwyn Allen and David Abbot and Bryn Taleweaver, as Seanchai Library’s popular Sunday feature resumes.
“This photograph” by Sidney Paget, July 1891 (wikimedia)
This week comes one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most well-liked mysteries to have engaged his Great Detective, and which first appeared in The Strand Magazine in 1891, before going on to be the first story in the 1982 collection, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. It was also the first of Doyle’s detective series to be illustrated by Sidney Paget. I’m of course talking about A Scandal in Bohemia.
In March 1888, Dr. John Watson, married and with his own medical practice is returning home when, on a whim, he drops in at 221B Baker Street to see Holmes. No sooner has Watson arrived, than Holmes demonstrates some of his incredible deductive powers – which are shortly given greater exercise when, after receiving his expected guest, who arrives during the reunion, Holmes pronounces him to be not “Count Von Kramm” as he purports, but rather Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein and the hereditary King of Bohemia.
Admitting Holmes has correctly identified him, the king reveals he is seeking Holmes’ assistance in a matter of some delicacy. It revolves around a liaison he had five years’ previously with an American opera singer, Irene Adler, and which could now threaten his upcoming marriage to a Scandinavian princess. Thus Sherlock Holmes comes to pit his wits against an adversary he will forever only refer to as “the Woman” …
18:00: Magicland Storytime: Aladdin and the Magic Lamp
In the 21st century utopia has arrived in the form of a repressive but seemingly benevolent, if omnipresent, bureaucracy. Their perfectly ordered world, seemingly run for the benefit of all, is actually ruled with an iron fist. In claiming to have people’s best interest at heart, those in power keep the population occupied and docile with menial tasks and the promise of advancement with the aid of the strictly controlled drug, R-47.
For the vast majority, R-47 actually does nothing.But for a special few, observed and selected by the ruling Council, it can massively enhance their intellect, elevating them to the status of “R-Masters” allowing them to solve problems, see advancements, and help ensure – wittingly or not – the Council’s control over the world, cosseted and pampered well away from the drudgery of ordinary life.
However, there is a darker side to R-47: just as it can elevate the intellect of some of those chosen to receive it, so to can it reduce them to imbeciles – and there is no way of knowing who the outcome might be in advance. Wally Ho is one selected to receive R-47 – and suffers the latter fate.
Determining it will raise his problem-solving abilities and restore his brother, Etter Ho obtains R-47 and takes it. But, once elevated to the privileged ranks of the R-Masters and witness the truth behind the Council’s rule, Etter determines the established status quo cannot allowed to continue, and Big Brother must be brought to heel.
Join Gyro Muggins as he reads Gordon R. Dickson’s 1973 novel about life in what is now our times!
Tuesday, August 28th 19:00: Calypso
David Sedaris is a Grammy Award-nominated American humorist and radio contributor, known for his collections of essays and short stories which are mostly autobiographical and self-deprecating in content and style.
When he buys a beach house on the Carolina coast – which in tpyical fashion he names “Sea Section” -, Sedaris envisions long, relaxing vacations spent playing board games and lounging in the sun with those he loves most. And indeed, that’s how it appears to start, apart from one annoying little truth he soon discovers. To quote an unrelated film: “no matter where you go, there you are”; which for Sedaris means when all is said and done, you cannot take a vacation from yourself.
This realisation brings Sedaris’ formidable powers of observation and dry humour to the fore as he considers middle age and mortality and the dawning understanding that life has reached a point where perhaps life has reached a point where the best parts of the story are behind you, rather than awaiting your arrival. Dark, yes; a little morbid, possibly, but the humour is unmistakable and so deeply rooted in the unfolding of this personal tale, it’s impossible not to become caught up within it.
Join R. Crap Mariner – the perfect voice to bring life to Sedaris’ words – and hear more.
Wednesday, August 29th 19:00: More Tales of the Arabian Nights
With Caledonia Skytower – check the Seanchai Blog nearer the time for more details.
Thursday, August 30th
14:00: Fireside Tales Eclectic Readings with Meteor Mags
“A Public Presentation of Poetry, Pirates, Pumas, Pussycats, Planets, Ponies, and Prehistoric Pteranodons.”
19:00: Ghost Pirates!
With Shandon Loring. Also presented in Kitelyhop://grid.kitely.com:8002/Seanchai/144/129/29.
Please check with the Seanchai Library’s blog for updates and for additions or changes to the week’s schedule.
Lovefest – the Second Life celebration of the birth of H. P. Lovecraft – opened its doors on Friday, August 17th, 2018 and will continue through until Sunday, August 28th. The theme for the festival this year is The Path of Madness.
This year marks the event’s 7th anniversary, and marks the 128th anniversary of Lovercraft’s birth on August 20th 1890. As with previous Lovefest events, there is once again a wide range of celebratory activities – shopping, music and dancing, live music, film showings, open microphone events, live storytelling in voice, dance troupes and an adventure for people to enjoy.
A high point for event Lovefest is the associated adventure visitors are invited to join. This year, things are taking a slightly different route, taking a walk along the event’s theme.; although the opening of the adventure has been slightly delayed to dealing with some last-minute issues.
With LoveFest 2018’s Story Quest (Hunt) we are treading along “the Path of Madness” this year…
Lovecraft Festival is thrilled to take on this new and extremely intriguing theme – inviting our guests to visit the notorious Arkham Sanatorium in the spirit of HP Lovecraft.
Please forgive the delay, but we will have this fine mini-quest in order soon. Our merchants and staff have some fine things in store for this great little experience. Hopes are to have it in full swing by Monday!
Arkham Sanatorium awaits adventurers – hopefully open from Monday, August 20th
Those visiting the festival will find themselves in a New England themed coastal town where the streets radiate out from a central landing point presided over by H.P. Lovecraft himself, in the form of a giant statue of the man. Here visitors will find a rich tapestry of merchant stores, entertainers, dancers and more within the market and the waterfront wharves.
Howard Phillips Lovecraft was born on August 20th, 1890 in Providence, Rhode Island, where he spent most of his life.
A child prodigy, he was reciting poetry when just three years of age, and writing his own poems by six. His grandfather – one of the adults who raised him – encouraged his reading, presenting him with a wide range of books and stories from the likes of One Thousand and One Nights, and the Iliad through to his own original stories of Gothic horror.
As an adult, Lovecraft was introverted, riven by a lack of self-confidence, was unwilling to promote his own literary efforts. Only published in pulp magazines in his lifetime, he was never able to support himself with his writing, and died in poverty at the age of 46 in 1937. It was only posthumously that his work gained recognition – notably the Cthulhu Mythos – and he was elevated to the status of one of the most influential writers of horror fiction in the 20th Century.
Rich in theme as well as narrative, his work has influenced generations of horror writers who followed after him, including the likes of Stephen King, Ramsey Campbell, Alan Moore, Junji Ito, Caitlín R. Kiernan, William S. Burroughs, and Neil Gaiman.
In addition, film directors John Carpenter, Stuart Gordon, and Guillermo Del Toro have all acknowledged Lovercraft as an influence in some of their work, whilst artist H. R. Giger of Alien fame has also pointed to Lovecraft’s tales as a point of influence.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 