”Unexpected Collaborations
In celebration of seven years of flying, tping, pose-balling excitement, the Lindens have put together quite an exhibit—200 sims of art, literature, music, and just plain fun, all on the theme of “Unexpected Collaborations.” The celebration runs until June 27th, so hurry!
This is a good weekend to wander the exhibits and reflect on your own experiences in SL—your first time at Greenies or your first visit to the Space Park. SL for me is about creativity and interaction and the “unexpected collaborations” behind all the gorgeous sims we get to encounter and enjoy. AvatarStyle itself is an unexpected collaboration of great minds and big talent, and I can’t imagine my SL without it. What in SL makes you log in?
I crashed before I could hear Philip Linden’s keynote speech on Monday. Taking a philosophical approach to the past seven years, Philip expressed both his pleasure at what SL has become, and a realistic vision of what still needs work. “I think one of the nicest things about the company is that it’s all done out of enthusiasm, it’s done out of excitement, it’s done out of love for the world.” Right on, LL. (For full text or MP3 http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/SL7B/Philip-speech.)
Frolic Mills, Emperor of BOSL, had this to say about the recent layoffs and Linden optimism: “I asked Philip Linden if he had any words of encouragement to all the SL content creators who make their RL living off this grid. Philip said that now with the layoffs, Linden Labs was far stronger as a company and that they were no longer borrowing money from outsiders. That together with all the wonderful creations from users would signify a stronger economy for all of us. (not an exact quote, since he answered in chat). I really believe he was sincere, and I truly believe this will be a strong economic platform for all of us who want to express creativity. I think Phil did well answering the question, and I pray that his wave of hope carries out to bring ease of mind to all of those who were worried. ”
So everyone, get your happy on!
As for the event itself, all week there are readings, events, concerts, and exhibits. Though my little exploration barely scatches the surface of everything SL7B has to offer, here are a few offerings I found particularly fun and striking…I made some new discoveries and found a few old friends.
Bryn and Sledge!
For starters, Bryn Oh and Sledge Roffo (both profiled in previous posts) have great exhibits at SL7B. It was great to see them, and their exhibits were, as usual, brilliant and exciting. Bryn’s exhibit is on behalf of the Linden Endowment for the Arts, and Sledge offered LL a beautiful birthday cake with confetti candles! So much FUN! Be sure to check them out!.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/SL7B%20Contradiction/167/250/22
http://slurl.com/secondlife/SL7B%20Contradiction/210/147/22
BOSL Radio
My adventures started with a tp up to the top of the BOSL Radio Tower. Stop by and give some props to the hardworking team who bring us hilarious notices, great contests, and a groovy stream. You get a great view of the exhibition grounds, including Sledge’s fun birthday cake!
http://slurl.com/secondlife/SL7B%20Contradiction/246/153/22
Written Word
Jilly Kidd is a resource for All Things Writerly in SL. I had the pleasure of running into her at Written Word’s SL7B auditorium, and she was so helpful and welcoming! Written Word is hosting readings all week…I stopped by for some terrific readings by our local talent, and I encourage you to do the same! Fiction, poetry, song lyrics…WW is always a welcoming place for writers, and their spot in SL7B is no exception. The walls are lined with resources for writers in SL.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/SL7B%20Contrary/114/21/22
Voices Project
Collaborators: Georg Janick (Gary Zabel) and Aequitas
One of my favorite exhibits was this simple yet provocative installation. As you pass the transluscent prims, they light up, and the voices of SL—bits of narrative, simple greetings, the occasional poem (listen for Torley!)—speak to you. This simple reflection on the people behind our cartoons made me think about how all of our voices, whether typed or spoken, combine to make up our collective experience in SL. From the creators: “The idea was to illuminate the shift of perception from outside to inside the virtual world.” At Voices, this is beautifully achieved.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/SL7B%20Absurdity/183/116/22
Identity Crisis?
Raul Crimson et. al.
Remember those board books you had as a kid with the head, body, and legs that you could flip and change? (I have been trying to find the name of those…) Raul has an interactive avatar version that is not only fun, but gets you thinking. Identity Crisis? highlights the famous old SL adage “there’s a person behind every avatar”..but adding a twist—who? Exploring the mutability of the virtual world, Raul also has a dome of prims overhead that change as you click them, and displays that read “.” A glowing, stylish white exhibit that is not only fun and interesting, but beautiful, Identity Crisis? is worth a visit. It’s shape-shifting prims underscore the shifting sands of identity in SL and the possibilities for self-invention.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/SL7B%20Miraculous/193/192/22
Capricious
By Windyy Lane et al.
Few things are more fun than art that invites participation. In SL, we touch, sit, and climb on sculptures without wearing them down or leaving our greasy fingerprints behind. Thank goodness for that, because at Capricious, the fun is in the touch! Capricious is a giant twriling, swirling sculpture that offers umbrellas for its passengers. Once you hop on one of its many platforms, viola! You’re a balancing acrobat! As for unexpected collaborations, my new friend Awen stopped by to join me. We had an entire conversation balanced on each other like Flying Wallendas. It was a blast!
http://slurl.com/secondlife/SL7B%20Contradiction/210/147/22
Mystery
Alazarian Mondrian et al.
Part performance space, part sculpture, Alazarian Mondrian’s Mystery is a great place to play. I mean, literally— I picked up their drumsticks and got to take my turn as Ringo. I hope to catch a performance under the fascinating, teetering build. There’s a dance machine for insta-parties, so tp in your friends and enjoy the beauty and fun of Mystery!
http://slurl.com/secondlife/SL7B%20Absurdity/105/227/22
Boiled Words
Pallina60 Loon et al.
An exploration of physical language…the body making letters, the physical engagement of bodies and books, Boiled Words is a really fun exhibition, too! You and your friends can act out the letters to YMCA, spell a name, and you can ride the magic book. A beautiful exhibit that worships those dusty relics: leather-bound books and fountain pens. Here for the pure pleasure of being here, it’s worth a stop and a photo.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/SL7B%20Absurdity/48/136/22
After all that exploring, there are tons of sound stages and dance spots all over the exhibition grounds for unwinding and meeting new friends…best bet is to bring up your map and click on any of the social spots on the map…and get yer groove on! Wander, explore and have fun!
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