Category: Reviews

Visiting a Tudor Rose

Posted on by Inara Pey

I’ve been a little behind things of late due to a project elsewhere taking up a large portion of my time and RL in general being somewhat awkward in its scheduling of things. So there are a few SL Destinations pending a write-up, including another Halloween theme or two which may or may or now seen the light of day. If they don’t my apologies to the creators concerned, both for my failure to get them blogged and because when I do make it in-world, I get totally distracted.

For the latter, you can blame Honour :). You see, I love castles; a good deal of my time has been spent travelling around England and Scotland visiting castles and the ruins of castles, so when Honour blogs about a castle I’ve not seen in SL, then that was it as far as the day’s plans were concerned; I was off to see for myself.

Tudor Rose
Tudor Rose

And Tudor Rose, with its castle, cathedral and waterfront, is certainly worth seeing. It has been developed by Amas Veritas (ppeapod) on behalf of region owner Elizabeth I (Elizabetth Chester), and the Whiteraven group. About Land provides the background to the region:

The setting is north of London along the Thames River to a castle that has been occupied by King and Queens alike for over 900 years, the Elizabeth castle.

This beautiful kingdom is a stage for councils, state ceremonies, summit politics, important feasts and Renaissance dances rich in culture.  A place where Queen Elizabeth I takes respite from the hectic life of court in London in this country retreat.

Tudor Rose
Tudor Rose

I admit that I wasn’t aware that the Thames ran north from London, nor did I realise the lands north of that great city were quite so hilly (the region has a near-mountainous surround on all sides); but this really is nit-picking on my part. What we’re presented with here is plenty to appreciate, enjoy and photograph.

Tudor Rose can be split into a number of distinct areas. The castle itself sits on an island on the north-east side of the region. To the west and south of it lies a small waterfront town, dominated by the huge bulk of a cathedral . Here can be found an inn, a quayside with two ships alongside and a slipway where a third vessel is under construction, its hull looking ready to be tar-sealed. Together the castle the cathedral with its entourage of houses and places of business make up the focal points to the region.

The cathedral is imposing. While built on lower ground to the castle, the spires atop its towers almost match the highest spire on the castle itself. Both the castle and cathedral are open to exploration, although in the case of the former, you may well want to take care if Her Majesty is in residence. Period costume does not appear to be a requirement for visitors, but I’m sure it would be appreciated.

Tudor Rose
Tudor Rose

Beyond the cathedral, moving southwards between it and the woodland separating it from a river, one can find the remaining features in the region. First are the jousting butts, heralding the days of chivalry, and which appear to be in frequent use. Make your way through the trees south-east from here and you’ll find a small church. From her, a path leads the way to a bridge crossing a stream, and which in turn brings you to a mystical dance circle, shrouded in mist and overlooked by a tall, round tower.

I’m not sure how much role-play goes on here; during my visit there were a good few people in period costume, but no-one accosted me for wearing modern clothing, and I didn’t come across any note card / rules giver either on my arrival or in my travels around the region.  Certainly, the opportunities for role-play would appear to be many; be it of a courtly persuasion within the castle itself, possibly involving Queen Elizabeth and her courtiers, or out jousting or perhaps (and possibly more mysteriously) at the open-air dance circle, where the rolling mist and surrounding gnarled trees suggest something of a dark nature may well be acted-out here at certain times of the year. There’s even a hint of the Arthurian within the castle.

Tudor Rose
Tudor Rose

There are a couple of slight incongruities with the architecture within the region in that both the castle and the cathedral have elements which are suggestive of them belonging more in a European landscape than perhaps having once sat close to London. However, as with my earlier quibble, this is a little bit of nit-picking; as a fantasy / role-play region, Tudor Rose has much which is welcoming, and the design lends itself to allowing several different activities or scenarios to be acted-out simultaneously.

For those looking for a period region offering opportunities to meet others interested in the Tudor history of England or similarly role-play, or if you’re simply looking for somewhere new to visit and photograph, Tudor Rose may well be worth adding to your list of places to visit.

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ToS changes: Legal panel discussion transcripts

Posted on by Inara Pey

On Saturday October 19th, a panel of legal experts  – real-life attorneys – sat down at the Rose Theatre, Angel Manor in Second Life to discuss the August 15th changes to the Second Life Terms of Service, address questions on the matter and remove some of the FUD which has built-up around the subject.

In attendance were Agenda Faromet, who in real life is an attorney specialising in privacy and internet law operating out of San Francisco, 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., and Juris Amat, a Massachusetts bar member who runs the Virtual Intellectual Property Organisation (VIPO). All three are members of the SL Bar Association, based in-world at Justitia.

In all, the session lasted just under three hours, with initial presentations by Agenda Faromet and Tim Faith (Juris Amat had difficulties attending the first part of the session). Tis was followed by a question-and-answer session moderated by Maxwell Graf, with Kylie Sabra relaying Juris Amat’s replies via voice.

For ease of reference, the transcripts are broken down into seven parts, as listed below. Each one includes the audio recording I provided in my original report on the meeting.

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Of collaboration, rafts and Gaia

Posted on by Inara Pey

PosterCollaboration in Second Life is not new, it goes on in many ways and in all corners of our virtual cosmos. Nevertheless, it’s always interesting to see what results when several minds come together in order to create something new.

With this in mind, I hopped over to the Linden Endowment for the Arts recently, where two new installations opened during the last week. Each involves multiple artists working to a common theme (albeit a very broad theme in the case of one!), and each of which has, in the eyes of this beholder at least,  produce very different reactions to one another.

Moving Islands [Rafts] sees Eupalinos Ugajin bringing together  no fewer than 24 of SL’s artists (click the poster, left to see the names) to create a piece that freely interprets the central theme of moving islands or rafts, with Derek Michelson providing assistance with scripting and Takio Ra with sounds. The result is a collection of remarkable pieces which are eclectic, quirky, fun, different, provocative, interactive, and more.

With twenty-four participating artists already involved, and the chance for more to be added (Eupalinos is still open to accepting ideas and submissions for artists – even you, as the exhibit’s poster indicates), this is a very busy installation – yet it is not by the same measure crowded. The space above and below water (not all of the islands  / rafts are floating) has been used to the fullest, and there’s a lot to see (be sure not to miss the world’s first deep-sea diving … cow!). Do make sure you have sounds on as you move from piece to piece, and you may also appreciate the streamed soundtrack compiled by Eupalinos – all four hours of it!

Rafts-3_001
Moving Islands [Rafts] – Maya Paris
This is very much an interactive installation as well; objects and pieces are always on the move (which makes taking snapshots interesting!) and there are places you can sit and be a part of things – giving another twist to the exhibit’s poster noting you can join the exhibition…

It’s not really fair to single out individual elements in a work like this – especially when some of my favourite artists are featured; but I confess to adoring Meilo Minotaur’s undersea “forest”, and Pallina60 Loon’s Nautilus and its accompanying Steamfish had me smiling, if over-exercised after riding on it!

Moving Islands [Rafts]
Moving Islands [Rafts] – Meilo Minotaur
This is an installation you’ll want to take time exploring; some of the artists have provided note cards describing their works, but I felt it more interesting to let each speak for itself. Eupalinos has also compiled a note card listing all of the artists’ websites / Flickr streams, all of which are worth visiting as well. He’s also provided a link to a Dropbox of images for those who wish to make use of it.

Another of the pieces in Moving Islands is Haveit Neox’s Mythic Rafts, which pictures the aftermath of the destruction of the Earth as a result of humankind’s history. “A raft survives the big flood after the polar ice caps had melted,” reads the note card for the piece, “No landmasses were high enough to poke through the new ocean. The Earth had been stretched beyond its limits – pulled apart at the seams.” Given the underlying theme of loss and destructions, It’s something of an interesting (if entirely unintentional on the part of the artist) link to the piece which forms the second part of this review.

Moving Islands [Rafts]
Moving Islands [Rafts] – Oberon Onmura
Destruction, decay and ending seem to be the focus of  The Gaia Theory Project, which also pened this month at the LEA. Presented by the Tanalois Group and the torno Kohime Foundation, and directed by Aloisio Congrejo, Tani Thor and Nino Vichan, this installation brings together a total of eleven artists in what is designed to be an interpretation of the Gaia Theory. And therein lies a problem.

As already noted, the installation is very much directed toward themes of destruction and decay, with extinction, loss and death also featuring. Yet the Gaia Theory is about the organic and the inorganic interacting in a complex system which helps maintain the conditions for life  to exist on the planet. So by focusing on just one side of the equation – desctruction and decay, etc., – the installation comes across as decidedly lopsided; where’s the re-birth, the growth, the renewal?

The Gaia Theory Project
The Gaia Theory Project – Tani Thor

There also appears to be something of a negative towards humanity’s role in things which is presented here, The contributions of man appear limited to toxic waste, the extinction of animals, urban decay, etc. Again, it’s not uncommon in discussions around the subject of Gaia for humankind to be referred to as a parasite responsible for upsetting the balances proposed by the hypothesis. However, it again lends a bias to the installation which some might say is at odds with Gaia Theory when taken as a whole – as Ziki Questi argues in her considered review of the installation.

All that said, there is nothing wrong with using art to raise awareness of the destructive forces – natural and man-made – at work in the world today is a valid activity (especially where humanity’s more destructive or environmentally damaging efforts are concerned. Were this the intent with this installation, I’d venture to say it succeeds. However, as an exploration of Gaia Theory, I can’t help feel that it largely (with one or two small exceptions) falls wide of the mark.

The Gaia Theory Project
The Gaia Theory Project – Kicca Igaly

Both Moving Islands [Rafts] and The Gaia Theory Project will remain open through to the end of December 2013.

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Postscript: following the publication of this review Melusina Parkin, one of the collaborators in The Gaia Theory Project contacted me as to her own approach to the piece, which she has presented on her own blog. If you’re planning to visit the installation, I recommend you give her piece a read first.

Something Seanchai this week comes …

Posted on by Inara Pey

It’s time to kick-off another week of fabulous story-telling in Voice, brought to Second Life by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library SL.

As always, all times SLT, and unless otherwise stated, events will be held on the Seanchai Library’s home on Imagination Island.

Sunday October 20th, 13:30: Tea Time at Baker Street

Sherlock Holmes in “The Adventure of the Abbey Grange.” (Sidney Paget / Strand Magazine, 1904)

Caledonia and Corwyn bring us another installment in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s volume of stories The Return of Sherlock Holmes.

Inspector Stanley Hopkins, who sought Holmes’ help in The Adventure of the Pince-nez once more appeals to the Great Detective for assistance. Sir Eustace Brackenstall, late of the Abbey Grange near Chislehurst, has been most foully murdered – and Hopkins believes it is the handiwork of the infamous Randall Gang, a family of burglars thought to be responsible for a number of robberies in the area.

Brackenstall had not been the most likeable of individuals in life; prone to heavy drinking and violence – Hopkins reports him as having once poured petroleum onto his wife’s dog and set the poor beast alight. Nevertheless, he has been murdered, and Hopkins would like Holmes’ input on the matter.

Travelling to Abbey Grange withe the Inspector, Homes and Watson meet with Brackenstall’s wife and examine the scene of the crime. Other than the fact the robbers departed with very little, everything appears to be much as Hopkins has told them and Lady Brackenstall described when they interviewed her. Clearly annoyed at being called to attend what appears to be an open-and-shut case, Holmes departs for London with Watson. However, during their journey, Holmes has a change of mind and hauls Watson off the train at a suburban station with the announcement that they are returning to Chislehurst – and thus they delve deeper into The Adventure of the Abbey Grange.

Monday October 21st 19:00: Classics of Science Fiction

With Gyro Muggins.

Tuesday October 22nd, 19:00: Spookable Irving: The Spectre of the Bridegroom and Others

Derry McMahon and Bear Silvershade return once more to deliver-up more tales from the pen of Washington Irving.

In The Sprectre of the Bridegroom, another tale from Irving’s The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent, and written while he was travelling in Europe, we have a ghost story of sorts, laced with satire and rib-poking at the aristocracy, particularly one Baron Von Landshort, his relatives and – to a point – his daughter and only child, one so accomplished in the arts, Irving notes with tongue firmly in cheek, that she “could sign her own name without missing a letter, and so legibly, that her aunts could read it without spectacles.”

The Baron has arranged for his daughter to be wed to the Count Von Altenburg, whom neither  have ever met. The Baron therefore arranges a banquet at his castle for the Count, but on the day on which it is to take place, the Count is mortally wounded in an altercation. Before dying, he beseeches a friend to carry word to the Baron and daughter why he could not keep his promised appointment. So begins a love / ghost story of a most unusual kind and with more than one little twist.

Wednesday October 23rd, 19:00: Doll Bones

doll-bonesLong-time friends Zach, Poppy and Alice like nothing more than playing with their action figure toys, using them to create their own world of fantasy, adventure and heroism. Unfortunately, twelve-year-old Zach’s father is not of the same opinion, and throws out all of his son’s toys, declaring the boy is “too old” for them.

Embarrassed and upset, Zach determines he must stop seeing Poppy and Alice completely. Something, however, has other ideas about this, and one night the two girls pay Zach a visit and tell him of a series of mysterious and frightening occurrences.  Between them, the three youngsters are charged with a task they must complete – or face being cursed for all eternity …

Join Caledonia Skytower as she reads from Holly (The Spiderwick Chronicles) Black’s latest novel.

Thursday October 24th, 19:00 Something Wicked This Way Comes

something-wickedWith Halloween almost upon us, Shandon Loring brings us one of the classic modern tales of fantasy and horror, penned by the great Ray Bradbury himself, and inspired by events from Bradbury’s own childhood which spurred him on to become a writer.

At the age of twelve, Bradbury visited a carnival and encountered a magician, “Mr. Electro”, who commanded Bradbury to “live forever” and to embrace life, while also proclaiming him to be the reincarnation of a friend lost in the Great War. Such was the impact of “Mr. Electro” that the young Bradbury started writing “non-stop”.

Then, in 1955, Bradbury suggested to his friend, the actor, dancer and director Gene Kelly, that they collaborate on a film together, with Bradbury writing and Kelly directing.

Bradbury used a 1948 short he’d written about “Mr. Electro”, The Black Ferris and expanded it into a full-length film treatment. When the film idea failed, Bradbury revisited the treatment and developed it into Something Wicked…, with the benign “Mr. Electro” being replaced by the far more sinister “Mr. Dark”, himself inspired by Bradbury’s own earlier creation, The Illustrated Man. Thus a classic was born, one which did go on to grace the silver screen some twenty years after its original publication, adapted by Bradbury himself.

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Please check with the Seanchai Library SL’s blog for updates and for additions or changes to the week’s schedule. The featured charity for September and October is Water for People. Have questions? IM or note card Caledonia Skytower.

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Mixed Pixels while in a Dream of India

Posted on by Inara Pey

Mixed pixelsQuan Lavender sent me an invitation to preview a new exhibition at Art India Galley. Mixed Pixels, which opens on Thursday October 17th, 2013 at 14:00 SLT, will run through until November 30th, 2013.

The exhibition brings together a number of SL artists from differing backgrounds, all of whom have two things in common: they’re actively engaged in Second Life, and they all hail from Germany.

There are also two reasons for the exhibition, as Quan (who is herself German and is the exhibit’s curator) explains in her invite to bloggers.

Burk Bode - Mixed Pixels
Burk Bode – Mixed Pixels 1

Firstly, the exhibition is a virtual contribution to the Festival der Liebe (Festival of Love), a cultural event run by the German Community in Second Life, and which this year takes place between October 17th and October 21st. Secondly, Quan feels that the German Community’s contribution to art in SL has perhaps been a little overshadowed by other nationalities, with German artists preferring, as she puts it, to assimilate with others rather than present on their own.

This exhibition, covering two display areas at Art India linked by a teleport system, brings together the work of Ataro Asbrink, Burk Bode, Cutea Benelli, Draxtor Despres, Kayle Matzerath, Nelson Lorvannagan), Ole Etzel. orlando di strada (gnupf Gufler), Quika Basevi, Sina Souza and WuWai Chun, each of whom has been provided with space in which to exhibit works of their choosing. Together they demonstrate just how broad and deep art is within Second Life.

Nelson - Mixed Pixels
Nelson – Mixed Pixels 2

Each of the individual exhibit spaces has its own appeal; the subject matter encompasses everything from delightful creativity through inspiring photography, the power of media to political statements on the shape and state of our society.

Several of the pieces on display are interactive in one way or another; there’s a puzzle to solve, buttons to press, levers to pull. Nelson Lorvannagan offers a number of his photos which demonstrate why, since arriving in Second Life in July 2013, he has become one of the most highly regarded photographers on the grid – as his Flickr stream more than demonstrates. His creativity and composition are to be admired and aspired to.

WuWai Chun - Mixed Pixels
WuWai Chun – Mixed Pixels 1

As well as presenting his Coded Movie at the exhibit, Ataro Asbrink will also be hosting a workshop on Sunday October 27th. Cutea Benelli, meanwhile, offers up two fun pieces which add a dash of humour and demonstrate beautiful creativity.

Her Shakespeare 2.0 Apparatus shows us that the infinite monkey theorem is actually incorrect. Rather than needing a monkey a typewriter and an infinite amount of time in order to reproduce something like Shakespeare’s works (in whole or in part), all you need is a chimpanzee, a banana and a time machine. The banana actually appears to upset the apple cart somewhat (if I might mix my fruits) given some of the results, but the Apparatus isl only a beta unit, so allowances must be made :). It does, however, show that the late Douglas Adams may have been somewhat closer to the mark in his interpretation of the theorem!

Cutea Benelli - Mixed Pixels
Cutea Benelli – Mixed Pixels 2

Alongside the Apparatus sits the Evil Haiku Automaton, an exquisite piece of work (also available to buy), which will offer-up a personal Haiku with more than the usual twist. For example:

Well, bon appetit /  I am so hungry / Dark murmur of my chainsaw

This is small, but fascinating exhibit, well-worth the visit. The 14:00 SLT opening will be accompanied by music from DJ Dixie Jefferson, and as noted above, the exhibit runs through until the end of November.

Dream of India

When visiting Mixed Pixels, do take time to wander around the Art India region. There are more exhibits to see, both in-door and out. In the grounds, you’ll find works by Tyrehl Byk, Trill Zapatero, Claudia222 Jewell and elros Tuomimen , as well as Robin Moore’s Relation Tower.

These all sit amidst a reworking of the land around the gallery, entitled Dream of India and which features places to sit, paths to wander and additional builds, including a magnificent palace built by Nepherses Amat, and on loan to the gallery.

Dream of India
Dream of India – the Palace by Nepherses Amat

Elsewhere is a temple (please remove footwear before entering!), a new bazaar with Indian-themed and inspired goods, a meditation centre, dance floor, and more, all of which is also officially opening on Thursday October 17th.

Teleport boards scattered through the region make getting around easier if you don’t fancy walking. If you prefer, you can take to horseback or you can even take a guided tour, courtesy of – what else? – a magic carpet!

Dream of India
Dream of India

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Oriental promise in Southern Marvel

Posted on by Inara Pey

I’ve received a number of suggestions for places to visit and blog about. Some have come from people who have enjoyed visiting the places they recommend, some have come as an invitation from the creators to pay a visit.

As I’ve mentioned before, all such requests / suggestions are always welcome. I can’t honestly say everything will end up being blogged about (I might fall under a bus before I get to a sim!), and I certainly can’t say how quickly I might get to a particular region, but I will take a look at all the suggestions that come in, and hopefully work my way through blog posts on them.

Nagare
Nagare

A couple of suggestions which came my way recently were as a result of people picking-up on my own love of the orient, as reflected in blog posts such those for the Moonlight Teahouse,  Taka no Sakura and Kusanagi. Coincidentally, while the suggestions came from different directions, they were both pointing to combat-themed regions. I wasn’t sure which one to visit first, so it came down to a coin toss.

Nagare is the home of the Blue Lotus Clan and occupies one-quarter of Southern Marvel. The work of Lila Aquacade and Ryansilver Philipp (Ryuan), it is a dojo for the Blue Lotus Clan who use the C:si combat system, and in addition to a combat and training centres, it’s a home, a garden and a meeting-place.

Nagare
Nagare

The main combat areas are up in the sky – a teleport system offers access to them – while the ground level has been beautifully and richly landscaped. Here you’ll find a temple, a training area, walks, a small beach for relaxation and even a seafront club house with modern DJ equipment and room to dance.

From the arrival point, you can cross a bridge over a stream to a  training area, or take a short walk to a walled house with its own local rainstorm in the garden. Inside, a warm cup of tea awaits, as does a game of Ban-soguroku (or Shuanglu, as the Chinese originally called it), a form of Backgammon.

Nagare
Nagare

A path leading away from the arrival point, following the stream as it tumbles down to the sea, leads you past a temple to the waterfront. Here sits an old oriental house-boat, which clearly isn’t going anywhere given the tree growing out of the middle of it, and a small restaurant facing the sea and offering a filling meal for those seeking sustenance after a morning’s training.

The beach is just across another bridge next to the restaurant. Here people can let their hair down, forget the disciplines of the day and relax around the open fire or listen to music in the beach house.

Nagare
Nagare

Nagare really is beautifully put together, and given the majority of the arena space is up in the sky (all the better to avoid the lag), there’s little chance of accidentally walking into a combat / training sessions and making a nuisance of yourself. For those who get particularly bitten by the oriental bug, the Tsunami Japanese/Chinese Creations store is right next door, where you can pick-up a few things to decorate your own land.

Nagare is well worth the visit, particularly if you have a katana and fancy a little combat as well as pleasing walk in inviting surroundings. In the meantime, and as it’s been a while, here’s another piece from The Piano Guys I’ve been listening to of late, and which fits the oriental theme, given the setting.

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