Musings on a Life Inworld

Yes, here I am chilling at home with Phin after the Steelhead meeting. I am always glad to see him. We've been talking about doing some kind of podcast with our musings about life in a digital world. Who knows?

Earlier, I had watched a Dr. Phil episode. I don't normally watch, but today's was about a young guy who had a gaming addiction (looked like Call of Duty despite the blurring). It started out with Dr Phil in Second Life, custom avatar and all. I braced myself for the usual negativity, but Dr. Phil seemed to be enjoying himself, exploring, flying, trying new things. SL was featured only in the beginning and an end segment, where Linden Labs CEO Ebbe Altberg was talking about its positive benefits. Dr. Phil himself never condemned SL or video games, only the addictive behaviors that sometimes result.

Many of us have been there. When I first came to SL in 2007, I was reeling from my mom having cancer. It was a place of quiet for me in a way. I wanted to explore and build and be left alone. Then I found the Steamlands communities. I lost a job and then really got kind of sucked in. In hindsight, I was depressed and probably spent way more time inworld then than I would remotely be comfortable with now. It was an escape. Between the birth of my son in 2011 and a glitchy computer, I was away for years and came in very infrequently for special events and to talk to friends. Last year, I returned, promising myself the following: No obligations. NONE. No building. No designing. No nothing to keep me inworld. Just enjoy and slip in and out at will.

I have found a balance now in my real life and my digital one. I didn't feel the need for the type of validation that being inworld can be so seductive in providing. I have seen it so many times: how one's avatar seems more authoritative, more popular, more beautiful, more accomplished. How for some, they crave the attention. For me, I know that SL had inspired me to go to grad school. I even put it on my admissions essay. SL inspired my creativity. That it could be a place of healing and discovery. That I have made great, interesting, intelligent friends that I count among my RL ones. That if it all went away tomorrow, I have had an incredible, unforgettable experience within it.

There's a very important thing to remember as our digital lives become more evolved: It is a complement to your real life. How will you make it work for yours?

SL12B: SL's Birthday Bash

I thought I would explore SL12B--SL's 12th birthday community celebration--spread out over 15 sims. This year's theme is "What Dreams May Come" and I thought Raglan's parcel was pretty appropriate...

 

I even managed to get in a nap...

 The pretty amazing stage at the SL Astonish sim...

 And the main welcome area...

 Of course, I found a bunneh...

 And the CAKE STAGE!

I've always enjoyed the SLB celebrations for the interesting things that I come across.

Steelhead Art City: 2D Pieces

In addition to sculptures, we also had 2D pieces on display in the train station, a brownstone, and a warehouse. Here are my abstract textile pieces and portrait sketches...

Lunar's drawings...

Otenth's photos...

Myrtil Igaly's paintings...

Willow Leafstorm's photos...

...and Steelhead Resident kitteh's kitty art...

I want to thank all of the artists who participated and helped to create something special in the Town of Steelhead!!!!

Steelhead Art City: The Sculptures

I was very busy organizing something super-special for Steelhead: Steelhead Art City! About 20 artists contributed pieces that were on display in various locations in Steelhead from June 12-30. 

Here are some highlights from the sculptors...

TC Despres' kinetic pieces. He is one of my oldest friends in SL...

Another Caledonian friend--Autopilotpatty Poppy--contributed kinetic art. I loved the poppies!

Searra Weatherwax

Gloriana Maertens's beautiful light-filled sculptures...

Jimmy Branagh's area was filled with art and sculptures related to his adventures!

Steelhead Bohemians!

As part of Steelhead Art City, we threw an Artists Meet & Greet, where we got together and ended up talking about art techniques, works in progress and creative things. Willow popped through for a moment and after she left (from l. to r.) Jimmy Branagh, Phin, Stew Macpherson, Gloriana Maertens and I came up with the idea to create a group--the Steelhead Bohemians!

The Steelhead Bohemians are a group of creatives who will meet biweekly at 7 on Mondays in the Steelhead Library to informally talk about art, poetry, writing, and whatever pops into our heads. Hopefully in the future we will hold exhibits and presentations in Steelhead. The group is open for anyone to join and feel free to stop through!

Raglan Shire ArtWalk!

The Raglan Shire ArtWalk is underway for the whole month of May. Covering multiple sims, you will find fantastic artwork--both 2D and 3D--throughout! karmagirl avro (SQUABBIT!) did a great job as the main coordinator and there are lots of events going on for the whole month. You can take a ride on the Hedgiepillar, which you can hop on and take an almost half-hour ride throughout the ArtWalk...

You can find some of my pieces there too! Here I am cruising by my work on a Hedgiepillar with Dizzy...

Atlas Obscura Positive Article About Second Life

The folks over at Atlas Obscura wrote a really great piece on Second Life called "Forgotten Wonders of the Digital World: Second Life."

Their reporter was teamed with a resident who took him on a tour of some of the most creative and wondrous sims in SL, including AM Radio's "The Far Away" (above). I remember when he first created it and it was so sensational because it was an example of how SL was more than the negative hype attributed to it.

I know SL as a place filled with creatives (me included) whose visions they share with the rest of us. I think about the "old" SL back in the day with the clubs and gambling and escorts and such, but that was just a piece of it. Just like in RL, there are other aspects. Even back then (and I'm talking 2007-8) there were folks building and creating artistic things. I know building was the very first thing I did in SL once I escaped the welcome area. I went straight to a sandbox and started playing with prims.

I really do thank them for writing such a positive piece about our world.

A Waste of Time?

A RL friend recently asked me "Don't you feel you are wasting your time playing video games in lieu of doing something creative instead?"

In addition to SL, I play Aion and also love console games (I have a 360 and a PS3) that I enjoy playing with my sister. I'll admit that we even wear matching headbands and have an absolute blast together! Call it family bonding with controllers in hand. That's not a waste of time to me.

My answer to my friend was that I enjoy it, it makes me happy and I'm good at it. I also told him that I suppose the time he spends watching lots of TV shows and movies and dissecting them to death online is time he could spend doing something creative as well, such as his own artwork. How is gaming different than any other hobby? Some folks like to read or scrapbook or make duck decoys. I like to wield a sword or run amok as a tiny bunny sometimes. Big deal. To each their own. I'm sure as hell not going to knock what brings someone joy.

If I wasn't doing anything creative at all in RL I could see the problem, but the funny thing is that I find inspiration from my gaming instead. It fires up my imagination and can help with a story or something I wish to draw. And my SL friends, for instance, have been just as supportive and encouraging of my RL creative endeavors and get on me if I slack.

Besides, as the artist Auguste Rodin once said: "Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely."

Metaplace Closing

I got a notice that Metaplace would be closing on January 1. I took part in its beta months ago after signing up on a whim...
I've heard it described as "retro" and coming from SL, it certainly had that kind of feel to it, but for some reason I kept returning. I enjoyed exploring all of the little worlds that folks created out of simple graphics and items pulled from Google's 3D warehouse. Browser-based and very easy to use, but it really did have a throwback feel to it though. The fun for me was finding worlds were people were doing interesting things, like this Victorian Jack the Ripper mystery-based one called Whitechapel 1888...And you know that I could not resist visiting "Steampunk"...There are/were a lot of creative folks in there who pushed the boundaries of what could be done in there, such as the "Wonka" world by Xue Mei...Whose "Happy" was also a standout to me...My own little place evolved during the time that I was in there and I essentially rebuilt my beloved gardens that I used to have in SL. I truly enjoyed creating this and I am sorry to see it go...

Gearz Club Signage...Ooo...Spinning Gears

Made a sign for the Gearz Club in Steelhead. I'm a sucker for spinning gears and I'm glad Sheriff Fuzz likes it. If you've never been there before, you should go if only to see the fantastic floor!

Death Rays, Tiny Nuns and a New Project

My evening started off in Winterfell Absinthe at the Jager Poetry Slam. Death rays, fire, explosions and nuns with guns are my idea of a good time. Oh yeah...and poetry too!
My evening ended with Lunar showing me the location of an upcoming project I'll be helping him out on. For those of you who don't know, he's a helluva builder, but I'm the one with the helluva knack for textures and texture tweaking...which leads to lots of notecards from him that make me say "You want what?!" (for instance, a sculptie conch shell. Yes, I did create it.) Ooo elf...be glad you're my friend! No really, I truly enjoy working on textures though and maybe when things slow down again a bit for me, I might even make a texture pack. I love the creative aspects of this world...

Reflections on St Torley

As part of the SL Bloggers Mix n Match, this is what I posted on "Samantha Speaks", the blog of Samantha Poindexter of the 1st Church of Rosedale (Immersionists) in Caledon Penzance. The topic, "Is SL Truly a Second Life or an Extension of the First?" was suggested by Kirasha Urqhart. I was feeling a bit...inspired.Pastor Poindexter has held many services here at the Church of Rosedale. After donning my vestments in the colors of the Order of St. Torley, I gazed upon the image of Philip our Creator and thought about the smiting of communities, but today I want to create positivity. WWTD? I wish to reflect upon the teachings of our beloved Saint--he who believes in the infinite goodness of watermelons, creativity, and our world with its power to change and transform us. We are in a time of trouble and turmoil, and for many of us, our lives inworld are mimicking that of our lives in RL and currently involve worry, stress and drama. We must ask ourselves, "What do we want from our precious time in here? What makes it all worthwhile for us to be present--to have a presence?" Our lives inworld are what we make of them and this is a world of infinite possibilities if you can see them. Believe me when I say that they exist. This can be a place of wondrous imagination if you know where to look for it and change can happen even easier than it can in RL. St. Torley once said, "Second Life should be a complement to RL." It does not take its place. It should not take its place. Reclaim your Second Life and make it work for bettering your real one. Our lives inworld can make us walk away afterwards understanding more...wanting more...or perhaps inspiring us more. I will leave you with these thoughts: "Blessed are the travellers on this path we call our virtual lives. Forgive those who conspire against you, as your life here is not theirs. Cherish those who make life inworld a joy, as our lives here are ephemeral and every moment is to be treasured. Go forth into this world and experience all it has to offer while you can. May your inventory stay intact, your prims rezzed, your lag nonexistent, and your crashes be few."

As I left the 1st Church of Rosedale, I thought about a question St. Torley asked, “What’s your greatest dream of being free?”

Thanks to Vint and ArminasX for all of the hard work they did herding us blogger cats to do this...I really enjoyed it. Young Geoffrion wrote about my suggested topic, "SL as an Exploration of Culture & Diversity," on Harper Beresford's blog.

How I Spent the End of Burning Life

Well, the festival's wrapped up. Installations are being taken down. The fun's now over. So when Lunar asked me to join him there, I was like "Why not?" and popped over. I found him chilling on a sofa with his feet up calmly munching on popcorn. I thought the glass walls and decor looked pretty comfortable and sat down with my own cup and happily munched away as well. He mentioned something about the "fish" and I thought he meant the one on the table across from us in its tank...Um...little did I know that he meant THAT one!
installation: "Fish Out of Water" by Khloe Carter

Lunar Finished the Build...FINALLY

Lunar has been working on a reproduction of the Mannheim Wasserturm (Water Tower) for a month now. I helped with some of the textures and a conch shell for a statue *chuckles* ("A conch is a critter Lunar! A sea critter! A yummy sea critter!") It is, in a word, "spectacular." He finally finished and has temporarily set it down in Steelhead City...I've been following its progress since the beginning, but held off on publishing photos until now:

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Lunar and I celebrated its completion with a tango on the lighthouse roof. Look at the expression on my face! I look like we've been caught by the paparazzi or something...

Elle @ Burning Life: The "Steampunk" Builds

Being a brass kitty, I couldn't help but to gravitate towards builds of brass and rusted metals and such that were "steampunk"-y in nature, such as Perefim Cao's "Cemetery of Broken Creations" (Meta)...The lovely "Clockwork Spider" by Stormfire Leandros (Micro)...The towering "Basalt Clock" by Elfod Nemeth (Babel)...
And "Bogon Flux" by Blotto Epsilon and Cutea Benelli. This beautifully textured build was there one minute, and when I returned about 15 minutes later, it was disassembling itself and on fire...only to rebuild itself soon afterwards...I became a bit tired and thought I'd take a break and peoplewatch. Burning Life 's going on until Oct 5. Get on over there already!

Elle @ Burning Life: The Exploring Continues...

Yes, I did manage to get through all 22 sims and here are more highlights from my wanderings. I peered through the telescope at AM Radio's "Beneath the Tree That Died" ...The simplicity of Moongold Munro's "When Worlds Collide"...
All of that money swirling around me in Jenene Lemaire's appropriately named "Mirage"...
I enjoyed Shellina Winkler's "Art Lab"...
Near Dia's build I heard drumming and saw folks dancing in long white robes with lanterns and fire...I couldn't help but to stop and watch for a while...