Category: Second Life

Soul Portraits in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Itakos Project: Soul Portraits

Currently open at the Itakos Project, curated by Akim Alonzo, is an exhibition entitled Soul Portraits. Featuring the work of ten individual photographers and one couple, it’s an exhibition that evokes – for me at least – mixed feelings.

To frame the exhibition, it is easiest to quote the introductory note card:

With this exhibition we celebrate 4 years of life of the Soul Portraits-Itakos Art Gallery group on the Flickr platform, with more than 5700 photos published by about 250 photographers registered in the group. A collective exposition that focuses on female portraits, and the selected artists all have a particular and personal eye on the emotions that a second life avatar can express. Feminine looks that touch, sometimes deep and inextricable, or tender, half-closed or hidden eyes, looks that wander beyond or that stare at you, questioning your soul.

Itakos Project: Moloe Vansant

The selected participating artists for the exhibition are: Mr. S, Sonic, Roberta Barineaux, Miuccia Klaar, Katia Lavecchia, Charlie Namiboo, Izabela Navarathna, Maloe Vansant, Lula Yue, and the pairing of CFaleny and Moki Yuitza, who between them have a total of 30 images on display, with the majority having three images apiece within the exhibition.

I will admit that in viewing the works, I tended to have something of a personal bias; three of the artists participating in Soul Portraits – Mr. S, Charlie Namiboo and Moloe Vansant – never cease to fascinate me with their work; they have the ability to frame entire stories within their photographs I find incredibly alluring. As so it is the case here, where I immediately gravitated towards Maloe’s four pieces as they formed pair bracketing the three from Mr. S at one end of the gallery’s  Grey Pavilion.

Itakos Project: Akim Alonso

Which is not to say narrative isn’t present in any of the other pieces on offer; far from it; there are stories or threads of stories to be found within many of the pieces in the exhibit; and those that don’t perhaps carry a full narrative do convey emotions and provoke a subjective response – which as the liner notes indicate, is the goal of the exhibition.

However, I do confess to finding the similarity in approach to many of the images – a close focus on head shots sans broader background – coupled with their close proximity to one another, for me tended to lessen the overall impact of individual pieces.

But this aside, Soul Portraits is a further engaging exhibition at Itakos Project.

Itakos Project: Mr. S

SLurl Details

Celebrating Fran’s life, Saturday, May 11th 2019

Posted on by Inara Pey
Fran Swenson (Fran Seranade) and her daughter Barbara Richard (Barbi Alchemi) – image courtesy of San Diego Union-Tribune / Bill Wechter

On March 7th, 2019, I sadly wrote about the passing of one of Second Life’s most recognised residents, Fran Seranade (Fran Swenson in the physical world).

Fran, a Parkinson’s Disease sufferer, came to prominence in Second Life and in the media due to the remarkable positive effect her involvement in the platform had on her condition. I had the privilege to write about Fran’s story far back in 2013 in Of Parkinson’s, Second Life and a story worth reading, after coming across an on-line article by the San Diego Union-Tribune. Her situation became both the focal point of studies into the benefits of virtual worlds on a variety of physical and mental conditions, and was the trigger for Fran’s daughter, Barbara Richards (Barbie Alchemi in-world), with the help of her brother (AlmostThere Inventor in SL), to establish Creations for Parkinson’s, designed to  raise funds to support the work of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and to provide an in-world meeting place for those stricken by the illness and those seeking a sense of community and support.

Event schedule

At the time of Fran’s passing, it was noted that an in-world memorial event for her was being planned – and this has now growth into a celebration of Fran’s life and times, which will take place throughout Saturday, May 11th, 2019.

Commencing at 11:00 SLT and running through until 21:00 SLT at the Savoy Ballroom in Creations Park, the event will feature the voices and talents of some of Second Life’s best-known performers, many of whom knew Fran directly, by both performing at her 90th birthday celebrations two years ago, and in performing in support of Creations for Parkinson’s events.

As with all events at Creations Park, the celebration will present people with the opportunity to show their support for the work of the MJF Foundation by offering donations to Team Fox, the official fund-raising arm of the Foundation.

Those who cannot attend the event, but who would like to commemorate Fran’s life and the work of Team Fox / the MJF Foundation can do so by donating through any of the kiosks at Creations Park or by visiting the following web page:

In addition, and planned to be available by June 1st, 2019, a memorial honouring Fran and this celebration will be established at the Savoy Swing Era Museum, and will be available online at SavoyBallroom.org/fran.

Additional information and links to performer details can be found at: https://www.savoyballroom.org/may-11.html.

2019 SL User Groups 19/2: Content Creation summary

Posted on by Inara Pey

Ukivok; Inara Pey, March 2019, on FlickrUkivok – blog post

The following notes are taken from the Content Creation User Group (CCUG) meeting, held on Thursday, May 9th 2019 at 13:00 SLT. These meetings are chaired by Vir Linden, and agenda notes, meeting SLurl, etc, are usually available on the Content Creation User Group wiki page.

Environment Enhancement Project

Project Summary

A set of environmental enhancements allowing the environment (sky, sun, moon, clouds, water settings) to be set region or parcel level, with support for up to 7 days per cycle and sky environments set by altitude. It uses a new set of inventory assets (Sky, Water, Day),  and includes the ability to use custom Sun, Moon and cloud textures. The assets can be stored in inventory and traded through the Marketplace / exchanged with others, and can additionally be used in experiences.

Due to performance issues, the initial implementation of EEP will not include certain atmospherics such as crepuscular rays (“God rays”).

Resources

Current Status

  • The next viewer RC update is “close”. This should:
    • Include a batch of shader updates that will hopefully improve things “considerably”.
    • Be merged to the current LL release viewer (version 6.2.1.526845 at the time of writing, promoted May 7th).
  • An issue of late has been that of new bugs popping up as existing ones are dealt with.
  • A recently noticed issue has been with day cycles – cloud scrolling across the sky will suddenly “hiccup” slightly in their motion, rather than scrolling smoothly throughout.

Animesh Follow-On

  • Vir continues to work on adding shape support (or similar) to Animesh, specifically on the infrastructure requirements for being able to send slider parameters for Animesh objects to and from the viewer.
  • No decision has as yet been made to whether to offer full body shape support or to use individual parameters, but the underpinning infrastructure requirements for both are more-or-less the same.
  • The focus is therefore on developing the infrastructure (messaging, etc), to a point where both can be tested as a decision made on the basis of that testing.

Bakes On Mesh

Project Summary

Extending the current avatar baking service to allow wearable textures (skins, tattoos, clothing) to be applied directly to mesh bodies as well as system avatars. This involves viewer and server-side changes, including updating the baking service to support 1024×1024 textures, but does not include normal or specular map support, as these are not part of the existing Bake Service, nor are they recognised as system wearables. Adding materials support may be considered in the future.

Resources

Current Status

  • There is a simulator change pending. This includes a means of accessing BOM UUIDs.
    • These were changed in the last back-end update as a result of underlying asset property issues. If there is BOM content using the old UUIDs, this will have to be updated.
    • The simulator update is intended to allow access to the texture UUIDs without having to do so numerically, as is currently the case. This should re-enable the ability to access them via their name abbreviations.
  • There is also a further Appearance Service change pending, deigned to correctly handle tattoo layer with partial transparency (currently, if a tattoo with partial transparency is sent for baking via the new BOM channels without any underlying opaque layer, then the alphas are not correctly resolved). This is with the Lab’s QA team.
  • There are no BOM-specific updates pending to the RC viewer, but this will, as per the Lab’s viewer release policy, be updated to maintain parity with the latest release version of the viewer (6.2.1.526845) at the time of writing.
  • Given the overall status of BOM and EEP, it would appear likely that BOM could be promoted ahead of EEP as a released project and viewer.

aZiLe: a Second Life curio

Posted on by Inara Pey

aZiLe; Inara Pey, May 2019, on FlickraZiLe – click any image for full size

We were directed towards aZiLe by Shakespeare, who dropped a landmark over to me recently. Occupying the bulk of a Full region (a corner parcel to the south-east is a separate private residence), it is a multi-faceted environment predominantly designed by Zoé (zoeliah), with assistance from Boro Moretto (boromir22) – within additional elements I’ll get to – that is a little hard to define.

With its mix of public and private residential units, the region might at first seem to be your typical rental estate – but to view it as such would be a mistake. The region also has an Adult rating and a D/s leaning – but to view it as a D/s role-play environment would also be a mistake.  There is also a strong arts flavour to the setting that offers a further twist of curiosity to it.

aZiLe; Inara Pey, May 2019, on FlickraZiLe – click any image for full size

Perhaps the easiest way to define aZiLe is to quote region holder Boro:

We wanted to create a space for relaxation in a welcoming setting of beach and holidays. The design is by Zoé, our architect and gardener whose design you will be able to appreciate by touring the sim. It is incidentally a residential space. If you would to live here, contact Zoé for parcel availability, and she will build your house on the beach in the spirit of the region.

aZiLe is above all a friendly space with freedom and a little note of madness because we like lightness and humour. And this offbeat touch gives the people who live here their group name: zinzins. We have no rules, except for common sense and courtesy between adults.

aZiLe; Inara Pey, May 2019, on FlickraZiLe – click any image for full size

To describe the setting would be a little self-defeating; it is unique enough to deserve to be seen for itself. While “beach and holidays” might be suggestive of sands, surf, palm trees and shady parasols, this is most assuredly not aZiLe. Instead, the region has a certain “shabby chic” run-down look to it that is quite captivating.

The landing point sits just off-centre within the region, looking out over a small beach that has something of the appearance of a holiday setting – albeit it a possible low-cost one. The sand flows down to a small bay where inflatables sit on the water and flamingos strut under the umbrella of trees and palms while a bar sits on one shore, offering a place to sit and relax.

aZiLe; Inara Pey, May 2019, on FlickraZiLe – click any image for full size

Beyond this, gravel paths, steps and walks wind among an eclectic mix of building, some stone and or brick, many wood; some old, some new. Not all of the building – particularly those near the coast – are private residences, but others are open and sit as galleries or spaces where light D/s role-play might take place – such as the church. Although again, this is not a place in any way devoted to D/s and / or RP.

aZiLe is not a D/s sim and at the same time, some of us are D/s lovers. Since we established we’re a crazy tribe, we’ve decided to try to combine a friendly sim, welcoming everybody, with a spicier side, that we want present, but discreet. We are quite normal people; we need to relax and breathe and laugh. We found the D/s world of SL to be a little too heavy for our taste. The constant need to have rules, the hierarchy, the eternal question “To RP or not RP”… We don’t fit in that mould. We love the exchange. But as conversations, not discussions. We like the idea that SL is like RL. One evening we’ll act light and stupid, or will go dancing, or will simply cuddle. But the other evening we might get deeper.

aZiLe; Inara Pey, May 2019, on FlickraZiLe – click any image for full size

The art to be found within the region is as broad as the setting itself: sculptures by CioTToLiNa Xue and Mistero Hifeng share space with pieces by Bryn Oh while hippos and giraffe stand within the waters and open spaces. Off to the north-east of the region, there sits on a sandy headland the Gallery Pinot Gris. It stands like a giant bunker and offers a circular display space featuring the art of Rob Barber (Rob Steenhorst in the physical world).

Eclectic and fascinating, aZile is a step outside the more “usual” public region, and well worth the time taken to explore it. For those who take photographs, there’s also a Fickr group where they can be submitted.

aZiLe; Inara Pey, May 2019, on FlickraZiLe – click any image for full size

SLurl Details

  • aZiLe (Satotage, rated: adult)

 

2019 SL User Groups 19/1: Simulator User Group

Posted on by Inara Pey

A L T I T U D E; Inara Pey, March 2019, on FlickrA L T I T U D E – blog post

Server Deployments

As always, please refer to the server deployment thread for the latest news.

  • On Tuesday, May 7th, the SLS (Main) channel updated to server maintenance package 19#19.04.25.526669, primarily intended to correct the simulator-side EEP regressions that resulted of the roll-back of Thursday, April 18th. This update also includes a number of other internal fixes.
  • On Wednesday, May 8th, the three RC channels should be updated with server maintenance package #19.05.01.526856, comprising internal fixes.

SL Viewer

The Teranino Maintenance RC viewer updated on Friday May 3rd, to version 6.2.1.526845. This viewer was subsequently promoted to de facto release status on Tuesday, May 7th.

The remaining viewer pipelines remain unchanged:

  • Release channel cohorts:
    • EEP RC viewer version 6.2.0.526104, dated April 11th.
    • Bakes on Mesh RC viewer, version 6.1.1.525409, dated March 26th.
  • Project viewers:
  • Linux Spur viewer, version 5.0.9.329906, dated November 17th, 2017 and promoted to release status 29th November – offered pending a Linux version of the Alex Ivy viewer code.
  • Obsolete platform viewer, version 3.7.28.300847, dated May 8th, 2015 – provided for users on Windows XP and OS X versions below 10.7. This viewer will remain available for as long as reasonable, but will not be updated with new features or bug fixes.

Teleport Disconnects

Following the deployments of server maintenance package 19#19.04.25.526669, it appears that there has been a significant improvement in teleports, with Simon Linden noting that the “TP crash has been mitigated and success rates are back to what they were months ago.”

This doesn’t mean that the Lab is ceasing efforts on trying to improve teleports and region crossings; rather that the priority of the work over that last few weeks has been on easing the problems people have been experiencing the last month.

Script Processing Issues

As reported in my week #18 SUG summary, there have been numerous reports of script run time issues, with some reporting that problems only started occurring following the roll-back on April 18th, 2019. BUG-226851 outlines some of the problems.

There is no specific update on this, other than the Lab’s engineering team has been asked to put together ways for them to look at script run times and performance grid wide.

The magic of images and words in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
The Edge: ViktorSavior and AlenaPit

Currently open at The Edge gallery curated by Ladmilla, is an ensemble exhibition entitled Visual Poems. It features pairings of art and poetry, with some of the artists providing both the words and images, others working in pairs: one producing the images and the other the words.

Pieces are spread between two of the gallery’s exhibition spaces: the castle – notably the upper rooms and the parapet walks around the curtain walls – and in and alongside the cathedral. Those participating in the exhibition are: Mirabelle Sweetwater (images and words); Kapaan (images and words); PatrickofIreland (images and words); Thomascrown11 (images and words) VenicioArmin (images and words) Pearl Grey (images) and Klaus Bereznyak (words); TaraAers (images) and Oleanhorok (words); ViktorSavior (images) and AlenaPit (words); and Ladmilla (images) and Eli Medier (words).

The Edge: TaraAers) and Oleanhorok

This is a fascinating exhibition  – and one that, by virtue of the its scale, may require more than one visit to fully appreciate. The combining of words and images is always an interesting concept (something we have often explored with Seanchai Library with exhibitions at Holly Kai Park), perhaps doubly so when the creator of an image is entrusting their work to the imagination of another to produces the words around it.

Hence, within this exhibition there is an attractiveness to the pairing of artist and poet that can captivate, and without wishing to appear to select favourites, I admit to being particularly drawn to the pieces by Viktor and Alena (two of which form the banner image for this article). There is a minimalist beauty to Viktor’s images that is perfectly balanced by Alena’s 4-line verses. Together they paint a complete story that is deeply evocative.

The Edge: Mirabelle Sweetwater

Alena is a prolific writer, having produced more than 200 poems, and what fascinates me with this particular pairing is the question of which came first: the image or the poem? Or perhaps they have independent origins, with the artists matching words and pictures after the fact.

All my feelings from the heart and soul are reflected in poetry, which makes up most of my life in SL and RL. I write about different things: about romantic relationships, about feelings, about family, about nature, about hope and love. Many people say that my poems are positive and easy. I hope you leave me your opinion about them too. I write poems in Russian, but now I begin to prepare translations into English and arrange visual exhibitions in SL art galleries.

– AlenaPit on her writing

The Edge: Venicio Armin

Alongside the gallery’s cathedral is Venicio Armin’s selection of images for the exhibition, and I must again confess I found these to be completely engrossing. Presented in monochrome the images and words, provide a story of two relationships: the relationship between a man and a woman and the love Argentines have for the Tango. Through six images and short poems bother are beautifully framed and presented in magnificent depth, with Venicio also offering the opportunity to hear the music of the Argentine Tango.

Also on offer at the gallery is an exhibition of art by  anibrm Jung and 3D art by Sempiternel and Mariemadeleine38. These add further depth to an engaging visit – but again, you should allow time to give the exhibitions the attention the deserve.

SLurl Details