Category: Reviews

Derry and Bear: Bright Lights, Dark Shadows

Posted on by Inara Pey

poster-1bDerry McMahon and Bear Silvershade are a couple I first got to know via the Seanchai Library SL. As well as being skilled with the spoken word, both reading and acting, they’re also skilled photographers, albeit with very different styles.

Where Derry’s work is full of vibrant colour, Bear focuses on monochromatic / greyscale images of Second Life. While Bear most often tends to centre on the landscape as a whole, Derry draws in more closely into focal points for her images, although this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule for either of them. Thus, they contrast yet complement one another in their work.

As noted photographers, they have shared exhibit space in SL in the past, but Bright Lights, Dark Shadows, which opened on Saturday March 22nd, at the Timamoon Arts gallery, is rather special, as Bear explains:

This isn’t the first time I have exhibited with my partner Derry, but it is the first time we have done so on this scale and purposefully setting out to contrast our very different styles.

Although our styles differ in the extreme, many of the images in this show were taken at the same time on the same sim as we explored Second Life together.

Bright Lights, Dark Shadows
Bright Lights, Dark Shadows

That many of the pieces were taken within the same region and the same time, such is the difference in their approach to composition that it is not always immediately obvious – something Bear himself notes. However, this further serves to underline the character of their respective work. Individually, the pieces selected for this exhibition each tell a story of their own; when presented together like this, the two styles combine much like different voices in a chorus; both playing off one another and amplifying the other, all the time fusing into a harmony of light and colour, and grey and white.

Bright Lights, Dark Shadows
Bright Lights, Dark Shadows

Pieces in the exhibition are simply but effectively displayed over the two floors of the gallery, with plenty of room to wander and admire, or to sit and contemplate. The latter is appropriate, given Bear states his goal with his imagery is “to create an emotional response from the viewer – if one of my images make you cry, laugh or just think, I’ve done my job.” Derry, meanwhile focuses on trying to make her images look as real a possible, stating, “I love it when someone asks if the picture was taken in real life.” Given both of these goals, there is much to admire here, and having space to sit down and study encourages one to tarry and give all of the pictures their due attention.

Bright Lights, Dark Shadows
Bright Lights, Dark Shadows

This is an evocative display by two talented photographers, and one I have no hesitation in recommending to people to go and see. To Derry and Bear themselves, I’d like to say just this: congrats on a marvellous exhibition and happy “double rezday” to you both 🙂 .

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The Freedom Project: Thank you ceremony and exhibition

Posted on by Inara Pey

The Freedom Project FINAL 26 Aug, 2013

Launched on Sunday September 1st, 2013, the Freedom Project is a joint undertaking by the University of Western Australia,  Virtual Ability Inc., and the Centre for ME/CFS and Other Invisible Illnesses.

A 2D and 3D art and film event, the project extended an open invitation to artists suffering from a disability or chronic illness, or associated with those suffering from either, to demonstrate how virtual life has enabled them to engage in activities and interact with others in ways which may not be possible in the real world.

iSkye Speechless Freedom
The Freedom Project: iSkye Silverweb – Speechless Freedom

I reported on the project at its launch, and again as submissions came in, and the organisers have now announced the formal opening of the public exhibition part of the project. This will  commence with a special Thank You Ceremony, to be held on Sunday March 23rd, at 17:00 SLT.

The ceremony is to thank all the artists, filmmakers, and writers for contributing their works and of themselves, as well as to thank the many individuals, groups and organisations who made the project possible. An open invitation is extended to anyone wishing to attend the ceremony, and for them to visit and experience all of the submissions to the project.

Roiben Sweetwater: Alice and The Many Sodes
The Freedom Project: Roiben Sweetwater – Alice (l) and The Many Sodes

Entries to the project comprise 2D and 3D art, text, and machinima, featuring individual and collaborative pieces, all with their own stories to tell. The pieces on display provide some very powerful statements, and viewing of the complete exhibition is highly recommended.

About Virtual Ability

Many disabilities in the real world can be a barrier to entry into the digital as well. People may have difficulties in dealing with the keyboard due to illness or disability; others many be reliant upon voice recognition software, and so on. Virtual Ability, Inc. helps people with these kind of challenges get into and become successful in virtual worlds like Second Life.

From an individual skills assessment undertaken during a unique intake process, Virtual Ability inc., are able to refer clients for help with assistive hardware and software as appropriate, and provide customised training and orientation. Once clients are in-world, Virtual Ability Inc., helps them integrate into the virtual society, and provides an ongoing community of support.  The community offers members information, encouragement, training, companionship, referrals to other online resources and groups, ways to contribute back to the community, and ways to have fun.

The organisation runs a number of in-world centres, which can be read about on their website.

The Freedom Project: Xia Firethorn - My Body is a Cage
The Freedom Project: Xia Firethorn – My Body is a Cage

About the Centre for ME/CFS and Other Invisible Illnesses

The Centre for ME/CFS and Other Invisible Illnesses provides resources, support and guided relaxation sessions, for people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Gulf War Syndrome, and other invisible illnesses.  They host general and research discussions once a week on Mondays at 18:00 SLT, and guided relaxation sessions every day, twice a day, at 08:00 and 20:00 SLT, in the Centre to help people manage their illness.  This Centre is open to all, and all are welcome, including anyone with an illness, their families and carers to meet here and help each other. The Centre is located in Curtin University in Second Life.

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With thanks to Gentle Heron for the reminder, and Jayjay Zifanwe.

The [Void] of insomnia

Posted on by Inara Pey

The [Void]
The [Void], LEA 27
Storm Septimus’ newly opened AIR-6 installation The [Void] is not, in the words of one of her friends who witnessed it being built, “a happy fun town”. But then, it’s not designed to be, as Storm explains in the comprehensive introductory notes:

The idea was to create a representation of the space that falls between waking and sleeping, but one born of an exhausted mind.

As such, this is a place where insomnia rules, and the line between reality and the imagination becomes increasingly twisted, mixing the two together the longer the condition goes on, confusing the eye and mind.

The [Void]
The [Void], LEA 27
Insomnia isn’t the easiest of subjects to tackle for many reasons – the most obvious being that few of us ever suffer from it, and for those who do, it isn’t perhaps the easiest sensation to describe, even when willing to do so; particularly once it has gone on so long, our mental faculties are less than optimal unable to correctly process even the most basic sensory inputs.

This is a very dark piece – literally. If your viewer doesn’t automatically switch to the region’s default windlight, flip it over yourself to AnaLu Outdoor City Night (or failing that, Midnight, if your viewer doesn’t have a really dark option). Do bear in mind the images here have been toned-up to reveal details. The darkness is intentional; long-term insomnia is said to induce feelings of confusion, disorientation and upset, and the use of an extremely dark setting of this piece soon induces the same feelings in the visitor.

The [Void]
The [Void]. LEA 27
You start off boxed into a claustrophobic environment where the only sources of light coming from flickering television sets, the first of which will provide information on the installation, the rest of which appear to be literal flashes of random thought from a tired mind (and also, in places, the artist, offering words of comfort).

Nothing is linear here; movement is a case of feeling your way around, walking, falling, flying and discovering things as shapes and forms loom out of the darkness. Here and there, power cables from the different television screens snake through the murky world, offering guidance; but how much guidance rather depends.

The [Void]
The [Void], LEA 27
Frustration is liable to be a common reaction to initial attempts to explore, as will be the temptation to try to “turn up the lights” with a brighter windlight. I’d encourage you to try to resist the latter and accept the former; frustration and confusion are very much a part of the experience, as noted above. Just stay with things, and you will find your way around. Remember, as per the hints card, touch is an important part of the experience, and keys and a heart play important roles in moving you between the various levels of the piece, which range from high in the sky, right down to beneath the waves and back again (the last being the one genuinely bright element o the exhibit).

Symbolism is strong throughout the piece, such as with the aforementioned televisions. Poppies are also much in evidence here as well, unsurprisingly given their link with opiates and sleep (perhaps the greatest desire of the insomniac), their association with death and remembrance (the memory of times when sleep came), and their classical links with resurrection after death (perhaps mirrored in the insomniac’s mind as their awakening after that hoped-for deep and peaceful sleep they long to experience).

This is a quite powerful piece, assuming you can keep your frustration from getting the better of you – I confess, I read Honour’s post on it in the LEA blog late at night and hopped over only found my own (minor, in the scheme of things) tiredness caused me to get frustrated enough to give up first time around!

The [Void]
The [Void], LEA 27
I understand from the introductory notes that some live events may be planned for The [Void]. Keep an eye on the LEA blog for details.

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Starting spring with a Smile

Posted on by Inara Pey

It All Starts with a Smile, March 2014It All Starts with a Smile, March 2014

When exploring, I often find myself re-visiting familiar regions. There are several reasons for this: they tend to change with the seasons; they are eye-catching; I like spending time sitting in them and keeping an eye on what is going on; they are often dramatically and beautifully remodelled and so on.

It All Starts with A Smile neatly encompasses all of these reasons as Kaelyn Alecto and Maxxster frequently refresh their region with a new look and style – so I tend to get pulled back there very frequently. In this case, however, there was another reason for my visit as well: the region is the subject of its very own photography contest, of which more anon.

It All Starts with a Smile, March 2014It All Starts with a Smile, March 2014

One of the things I love about IASWAS is that when the region is remodelled, it is completely remodelled, offering lots that is new to see and experience while also retaining certain elements which link each rebuild to the last, giving a sense of history to the region.

Following a winter scene with windswept roads, cottages with snow-laden roofs and a small town square offering some shelter against the winter winds, the region is now basking in springtime. and with the change in season comes much to see.

Onyx Isle is now a very rural location. Yes, there is still a small collection of houses and buildings towards the centre of the region which exhibit a Mediterranean feel, with shuttered windows, bright colours, and sreets winding between them with places to sit and eat al fresco.

It All Starts with a Smile, March 2014It All Starts with a Smile, March 2014

Follow the path down from the arrival point, and it will lead you out over the water, past assorted works of art and critters, to the IASWAS cafe, then on around the headland and past a dance floor before it finally returns you to dry land, where you can continue your explorations along a choice of routes. Throughout, there are places to sit and tarry, either on your own or with one or more friends, and enjoy the surroundings. Those who feel particularly active can take a rowing boat around the island while those looking for something a little more relaxing can sit a while and paint if they wish.

This is a place where you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled – there are a lot of subtle details which can be easily missed, not all of which are in plain sight. And for the photographer, there and lots of opportunities for landscape, wildlife and portrait picture-taking, which is just as well, given the aforementioned photo contest.

It All Starts with a Smile, March 2014It All Starts with a Smile, March 2014

This is running from now through until the end of the month, and anyone is invited to join-in. Some L$10,000 on offer to the winner, with Dutchie, Essential Soul & XIAJ   providing store credit/gift cards. There are also second and third place prizes to the value of L$5,000 and L$3,000 apiece provided by Studio Skye. Entries are limited to three per avatar, and should be submitted to the competition Flickr group no later than March 30th. In addition, entrants should note:

  • Pictures HAVE to be taken at It all starts with a smile, and past as well as present of the region are acceptable
  • Pictures may include avatars and do not have to be landscape shots
  • Post-processing is allowed, but not required – a good raw shot will have just as much chance to win
  • Pictures should not contain any nudity.

The judges for the event are Alex Bader, Froukje Hoorenbeek, Steven Dean & superjaix.

Whether you opt to take part in the contest or not, if you’re looking to find early signs of spring in Second Life, It All Starts with A Smile is the place to visit.

It All Starts with a Smile, March 2014It All Starts with a Smile, March 2014

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Copyright and fair use: an SLBA presentation transcript and audio

Posted on by Inara Pey

copyright-fair-use

On Saturday March 1st, members of the Second Life Bar Association (SLBA) – real-life attorneys – sat down at the SLBA’s auditorium to discuss matters relating to copyright and fair use as they apply to US law and might impact content creators in Second Life.

In attendance were Agenda Faromet, who in real life is an attorney specialising in privacy and internet law operating out of San Francisco and Tim Faith (SL: Yoss Kamachi), a Maryland attorney with a strong background in IT and who deals with matters related to copyright, IP, trademark, etc.

Tim Faith and Agenda Faromet (stock)
Tim Faith and Agenda Faromet (stock)

In all, the session lasted just under 90 minutes, with initial presentations by Tim and Agenda, followed by joint coverage of a number of fair use cases in the US, prior to an open Q&A session.  An audio recording was made of the meeting, but suffered somewhat from microphones being overdriven.

What follows, is a transcript of that recording, which has been cleaned-up as far as possible, with unnecessary background noises, echoes, and pauses / repetitions edited out. For ease of reference, the transcript and audio have been divided into four sections:

To wander Caelestivm

Posted on by Inara Pey

Caelestivm, Palau, March 2014Caelestivm, Palau, March 2014

Caelestivm occupies the full region of Palau, and belongs to the Lockhart family (Erwin Lockhart, Lord of Caelstivm and Sathiam Lockhart, Lady of Caelestivm, whom I had the pleasure of meeting when visiting the region). It offers a mixture of “Medieval light RP (English, Francais, Deutsh, Dutch, Italiano) Fantasy, Celtic weddings, Riding, Jousting” and rental opportunities for those so interested (contact the Lord of Lady of the land for details). It’s a new undertaking, so new, I understand the official opening is scheduled for the weekend of the 22nd-23rd March.

And I have to say, it’s an interesting mix, one SL photographers and those looking for an special backdrop for a photo shoot may well find worth a visit (although again, if thinking on using Caelestivm for a photo shoot, please contact the Lord or Lady of the estate first!).

Caelestivm, Palau, March 2014Caelestivm, Palau, March 2014

This is something of a region of two halves in some respects, although everything flows together to form a whole. On the one hand, there is a very period setting for the region – medieval times, as indicated by the About Land notes – with visitors arriving in a very atmospheric port area. The attention to detail here is immediately apparent. Do have local sounds turned on when you arrive in order to enjoy the atmosphere of the place and take your time looking around; there are some lovely touches, including a hint as to the fantasy nature of the region, out in the harbour…

Beyond the port town lies more rural countryside, in places wooded, in others open for grazing  or rutted by well-worn cart tracks. Watermills slosh the water of a broad river spanned by stone bridges, washing is set out to dry on the river bank, and in a cleared field lay the lists and berfrois for jousting tournaments.

Caelestivm, Palau, March 2014Caelestivm, Palau, March 2014

Slightly further afield, the countryside rises and takes on a more fantasy feel to it. Trees houses (one of them under the tree it’s built against, rather than up in the branches) can be found here, while up on a high plateau sits the Lord and Lady’s grand manor house, with smaller buildings parched on the lower reaches of the plateau, wooden walks linking them and a bridge leading to an ancient stone circle, Celtic in origin, and which appears to be the site for wedding (and other?) ceremonies.

Ruins down in the woodlands below also add to both the fantasy element of the region and its historical setting, again drawing them together. Are they the remains of an old medieval structure – an abbey, perhaps? Or are they even older still, the remnants of an elder race? Elsewhere standing stones and what appear to be ancient statues hewn from living stone add further depth to the region’s mixed history.

Caelestivm, Palau, March 2014Caelestivm, Palau, March 2014

At the time I visited, Lord Lockhart was still working on the layout and refining things – so it is possible that some of the details seen in some of my shots here and on Flickr may well have changed since my visits. However, the overall look and feel should be pretty much as shown here.

In terms of role-play, the emphasis is very much on “light”, as Lady Lockhart explained to me during my visit, “We don’t want a true RP with rules and hierarchy and story, we want to let people live as they want, so long  as they follow the dress code.” Certainly, there is more than enough here to encourage a range of role-play, and the overall design does mean that individual activities needn’t get in the way of one another.

Caelestivm, Palau, March 2014Caelestivm, Palau, March 2014

Whether you’re looking for a venue for light RP with a medieval / Celtic / fantasy feel to it, or if you’re looking for a photogenic spot to visit, Caelestivm may be just the ticket. As noted above, the formal opening will be on the 22nd / 23rd March.

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