AM Radio Seminar at Burniversity - The Artist's Perspective

What:    AM Radio Seminar: the artist's perspective

 

When:  December 27th, 2009 at 2PM SLT

 

Where: Burning Life - Afterburn Art Project

 

 

Earlier this month AM Radio helped us to launch the Burniversity educational program with two very technical seminars designed for experienced SL artists and builders.  You can find the transcripts of those classes at the Afterburn plot.

 

On December 27th, 2009, at 2 pm SLT AM Radio invites you to his third, final Burniversity presentation.  For this session no knowledge of scripting or building is necessary.  Interest in Arts is a prerequisite, as always.

 

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From AM RAdio:

 

"I will be hosting a discussion this Sunday at Afterburn. I'll be taking questions. Below are some thoughts which relate directly to the Burning Life afterburn graffiti project. We can discuss these topics or go with the flow. This Sunday is for discussion about creativity in Virtual Worlds, but for fun to. There are no requirements for attending. I hope to see you there.

 

-AM

 

 

Why Explore Art experiences in a Virtual World

 

Second Life is a popular choice among virtual worlds. Second Life is unique in that it allows residents of its virtual world nearly unrestricted control over content subject matter creation and presentation. Second Life is a full 3d virtual world using openGL technology to present a game like, simulated 3d environment. This is a leap from previous flat virtual worlds, and so-called 2.5D virtual worlds which used isometric 3d allows artists to create full environments. The goal of artists using 3d environments is often to immerse the viewer in an environment and engage them through 3 dimensional spaces. The result is often cinema like, with the artist taking in considerations such as the screen, and the viewer’s relationship to it. Art created and presented within a Virtual World falls somewhere between film, performance art, theater, public art and installation art. 

 

Some view Second Life and virtual worlds as a game, or a toy. Artists however are approaching these simulated worlds in much the same way the military or flight training might immerse soldiers and pilots in computer simulations, utilizing the senses to immerse the viewer in a virtual situation which requires decision making, task completion, and direct input which engages, manipulates and changes the virtual world environment in real time.

 

The primary problem for virtual worlds in Fine Arts today is the question of validity and integrity of Virtual Worlds as an expressive medium. Secondary problems such as discovering methods and techniques which create a successful art experience are explored as artists continually test the validity of the medium. The Arts in the Virtual World space contains a massive range of possibility and approach. The past few years have seen artists experiment with completely controlled cinematic experiences, massively scaled 3D sculpture, to full immersive environments that range from realism, to impossibly dimensional abstract experiences.

 

My purpose in the use of community created art in Second Life is to explore the relationship between the viewer and the three dimensional space. One of the more exciting possibilities within a virtual world is the ability to allow users to manipulate, define, even control their environment. In real life, walking into a gallery or museum and leaving an object on the floor would seem rude, out of place and frankly prohibited (unless as an act of performance art itself). However, as seen in much Second Life press (http://www.businessinsider.com/2008/10/second-life-offers-business-teleconferencing-now-penis-free), users yearn to understand their relationship with virtual 3D space, building their own environments, architecture, vehicles, identities and Art. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0_ke0WOAHE). The user is constantly testing their boundaries, authority and depth of their presence. By manipulating the environment they seek to understand its limits, to understand the boundaries of their own ability, and discover the radius of the sphere of their own influence upon the world. This search might be likened to graffiti art, the medium of generations with little understanding of their role in dystopian like inner cities, and now modern, anonymous suburban living. 

By exploring the relationship between the user and the virtual space I seek to close gaps in our understanding of what is acceptable. The primary gap is currently what Second Life sim and virtual world owners might be missing by disallowing deeper creation and manipulation interactions. By locking down a sim, disallowing users to create, the experience is reduced to tourism. While tourism may in fact be the primary experience of massive virtual worlds, I seek to challenge how spaces are experienced, remembered, and transformed by those who dwell within the space. One needs only to tour Flickr for a few minutes to find the thousands of tourist like images produced within Second Life by users every day (http://www.flickr.com/groups/secondlife/).

 

My work traditionally utilizes realism and surreal environments which engulf the user in a complete experience. No facet of the environment is left unconsidered, with careful attention to detail which might affect the viewer’s suspension of disbelief (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspension_of_disbelief), unless otherwise explored (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_wall). I base my environments on known landscape design theory, specifically Jakle’s Visual Elements of Landscape (http://www.amazon.com/Visual-Elements-Landscape-John-Jakle/dp/0870235672). Jakle presents a theory of Refuge and Prospect. Jakle writes, “In landscape, the sightseeker seeks views that compose involuntarily in the mind’s eye as satisfying place images. Sightseeing is a search for scenes by which the objects of place can be effectively discovered and related.”  Once in these discovered places or refuges, the viewer seeks prospects for more. Jakle writes, “Effective views contain prospects that enable the viewers to survey considerable distances over several successive horizons.” Jakle explains that some prospect opportunities are arbitrarily constructed or pointed out as vistas, photo opportunities, and known panoramas within the landscape which are discovered and shared. Environments in a Virtual World are at an advantage in that vistas and panorama, the sense of place can be purposefully constructed, manipulated and even act as a tool which guides the user in way-finding through the space by enticing the user into ever more promising potential refuge. The title and theme of my Second Life work is The Space Between these Trees, a title which exemplifies the possibilities of space as defined within the boundaries the users of a virtual world construct.

 

Once in the space and immersed, I will present the users with tools to affect that environment. I seek to find out how the space might evolve as a haven, a recognizable and familiar space for regulars, or a potential target for users who wish to understand the limits of the control users have over the space.

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To stay informed about Afterburn Art program make sure to remain in Burning LIfe group or join the Subscription board.

 

The Seminars are presented by the Burniversity, Burning Life/Burning Man

 

White Lebed -  the Burning Life Art Department Lead; the Curator of Afterburn Art Program

white.lebed@gmail.com

http://twitter.com/white_lebed

 

 

Virtual Ability Presents Information on Windows and Mac Accessibilty Options

On December 28th at 1 pm PST/SLT and again of December 30th at 6 am PST/SLT, a presentation on "Windows and Mac Accessibility Options" will be hosted at The Sojourner Auditorium on Virtual Ability Island in Second Life. Information on Window s and Mac Accessibility Options will be presented by Edmondo Barbosa and will be in both text and Voice simultaneously. Gentle Heron of Virtual Ability provided the following summary:

 

"Windows and Mac computers have several built-in options to make computers more usable for people with disabilities.  This presentation will cover options to adjust the keyboard, mouse, visual display, and system sounds.  Assistive technologies provide alternatives to standard ways of interacting with the computer (keyboard, mouse, visual display).  We will discuss some built-in assistive technologies in Windows and the Mac operating system, and briefly review types of assistive technologies which are available as third-party software and accessories."

 

 

 

Author Convention and Exhibition 2010

The following came to me by way of Jilly Kidd, of the Written Word Group:

 

Go to our social network for writers to discuss the convention in the Author Convention and Exhibition Group on Written Word Ning

 

The first Author Convention and Exhibition will be taking part in the early months of 2010 on the London School of Journalism Island. In the run up to the Convention we're inviting authors and publishers who would like to take part to have a free display area in the Orb Space Station above the island.

 

As well as having a display opportunity in the Space Station, authors and publishers will be able to collaborate on how they would like the Convention to be organised. Everybody will be able to help organise and work together for a calendar of events. Perhaps authors in the same genre will get their heads together for panels etc. Readings, talks, book signings and sales will all be part of the Convention. Highlights of the Convention will be filmed and broadcast, including whole events. There will be no cost involved in taking part in the Convention.

 

If you would like to take part, contact me and I'll invite you to the London School of Journalism group so you can set out your display in the Orb Space Station. There will be an easy TP or TurboLift from ground level to the Space Station, and also the Convention can use all of the venues at ground level - an Amphitheatre, the Southbank Theatre, tutorial/discussion cabins, outdoor campfire seating, an ice rink which will be a London Park, offices and a beach area which will also have an outdoor stage over the water.

 

This is sure to be a wonderful and well promoted event and will get a lot of interest. I'll be writing about it myself for RL press and publishers in Publishing Talk. So let's get our heads together to plan a really good first one, and it will then run every year.

 

To take a look at the venues come to the Orb Space Station:

 

And take a look at the island:

 

For more information contact Jilly Kidd in Second Life.

 

How Many Avatars Can Fit Inside a Phone Booth?

My finger was poised on the mouse button to click on quit Friday evening, when an urgent instant message arrived inviting me over to help out with an experiment. With a naturally inquisitive mind set, I’m generally open to learn something new, so I replied with a “Send me a TP.” I arrived at the NC WeBIEE 2 SIM to find myself standing in front of a phone booth that had several avatars stuffed inside. As I arrived and the site began to rezz full, my friend called out.

“I’m in the back with my butt up in the air. See if you can click on the phone booth and sit.” She said.

“I thought I recognized the butt.” I replied with a grin and did as she instructed. With a left click, the sit option came up in the pie menu and I was soon stuffed inside the booth.

“I thought you would ... with Nazz that makes ten and if John returns, that will be eleven.” She said when I did then added; “Everyone, IM your friends.”

I moved my camera view around to see from the front and found the virtual me at the front of the booth, seemingly with both arms stretched across the opening holding the rest of the avatars from spilling out onto the street. I moved the camera view around to the back of the booth for a look. There were now eleven avatars stuffed inside and several more had just arrived.

“I’m taking a few pictures.” Someone called out and several others chimed in with similar comments.

“OMG! Nazz, do you have your head up her skirt?” I was asked. So I moved the camera view back around to the front of the booth to find that the virtual me was now partially obscured by a pink poodle skirt which covered my head and shoulders. My outstretched arms still held the now fourteen avatars inside.

“I’m not looking … honest … my virtual eyes are squeezed tightly shut.” I said in chat to the woman perched on my shoulders.

“Well that adds a new dimension to the poodle skirt.” My friend called out and then laughed.

“We’re now at fifteen with Jup on top.” Someone called out and we all let out a virtual cheer.

My virtual arms had grown tired from holding everyone in and I clicked on the “stand up” button. We all spilled out of the booth in a fashion reminiscent of the stateroom scene in the Marx Brothers movie, “A Night at the Opera”.

Afterward, I found out that the instigator of “How Many Avatars Can Fit Inside a Phone Booth” and the lady who sat on my virtual shoulders were one and the same, Lorraine Charron. After apologizing I asked, “I hear that you are the originator of the stuffing the phone booth. Where'd you get the idea?

“Just by reading online about the 50’s” She replied.

“Was the phone booth here or is it something you built?”

"The phone booth was built by DrJohn Lane." She replied.

"This SIM is a great build, is it yours?" I asked

“Yes me and Tayren … my alt … she makes the clothes too.” She replied and then added; “My clothing store is in Blue City.”

With everything and everyone sorted out, we all began to TP out. So how many avatars can fit inside a phone booth, fifteen.

Merlina Rokocoko Exhibition at Tanalois Art Gallery

I stopped in to view the latest exhibition of artist Merlina Rokocoko, the exhibition opened on Sunday, the 20th of December at Tanalois Art. Well known in Second Life for her work with the PIRats Art Group, Ms Rokocoko is also an accomplished artist in real life. On exhibit are eleven pieces, ten of which are new. They are digital works based on her real work. The exhibition will be open for one month.

A Fundraiser for the Central Asia Institute

A Fundraiser for the Central Asia Institute
Originally uploaded by Nazz Lane

I stopped in at Trill Zapatero's Central Asia Institute (CAI) event Sunday evening held at the Untold Art Gallery. There are twenty artists and over sixty works of art on display and sale, all for the benefit of educating girls in the Pakistan/Afghanistan regions. CAI is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the mission to promote and support community-based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The art will be displayed indefinitely, so stop in enjoy the art and donate to this worthy cause. She also told me she has an incredible line of afghan inspired fashion, HIMALYALA and BOHO HOBO, some of which is on sale here as well.

MachinimUWA: The UWA Machinima Challenge

WHAT: MachinimUWA : The UWA Machinima Challenge

 
 

WHEN: Submissions are open 18th December 2009 - 31st January 2010

All entries will be displayed on the University of Western Australia (UWA) Second Life Blog.

 
 

Winners will be announced during a ceremony in February

 
 

WHERE: In front of Winthrop Tower (Main SIM of the UWA presence) & starting point of all Machinima

 

THEME: Architecture, Teaching, Research & Arts on the UWA SIMS

 

THE CHALLENGE

Create a Machinima between 2 and 5 minutes in length that captures the 4 main elements that make up the heart of the University of Western Australia SIMS. These elements are the RL architecture, the teaching, the research and the arts. The purpose would be to show that UWA's presence in SL is comprehensive and covering all these areas, creating true bridges between SL & RL for prospective students, current students, staff, alumni & the community (this is the snapshot - more details below). Note that there are 3 SIMS making up the UWA presence, namely UWA, Uni of WA & WASP Land, and this challenge covers all 3.

 
 

Method of Entry:

* Load the Machinima anywhere, and provide the link to both Jayjay Zifanwe & White Lebed (co-hosts of MachinimUWA)

 
 

Closing Date:

* Midnight 31st January 2010 (winners' announced in Mid-Feb 2010)

 
 

OVERVIEW OF UWA (RL)

The University of Western Australia (UWA) is a leading Australian research university and has an international reputation for excellence, innovation and enterprise. A member of the Australian 'Group of Eight' research universities, it is also among Australia's leading research universities. Sitting on the banks of the Swan River, the UWA Crawley campus is the oldest in Western Australia and among the most picturesque in the nation with its grand sandstone and terracotta buildings sitting among elegant heritage-listed gardens.

 
 

MORE on the CHALLENGE

As follows will link some of the key areas that could be looked at in the preparation of the Machinima. The Machinima should start with a view of the Winthrop Clock Tower & the Reflecting Pond which is an icon of the state of Western Australia. Graduation ceremonies are carried out here, and it is named after UWA's founder, Sir John Winthrop Hackett.

 
 

Start Point of Machinima : Winthrop Tower & Reflecting Pond (RL & SL location)

 
 

The rest of the following areas can be used (or not) as you see fit, and in any order you choose.

 
 

UWA Sunken Gardens (RL & SL location)

This is a place of great significance to the staff and alumni of the University. Many many people get married in this location in RL every week, and it is a place of nostalgia, and quite a few people who got married in RL at the sunken gardens, have been here looking at the SL version of the place they exchanged vows.

 
 

UWA Sky Theatre (SL only location)

This is a theatre we have created for use by Professor Wade Halvorson of the School of Business and Professor Mark Pegrum of the Graduate School of Education. Profesor Halvorson ran an entire 2nd year Bachelor of Commerce Unit using this as his primary location. It was run for the first time ever this semeter, in a unit called Electronic Communications Strategy.

 

 
 

UWA Square Kilometer Array - SKA (to be created in RL)

Now, these are replicas of telescopes that will be built in the Australian Outback, at a place called Boolardy station. 40 of them will be built for a smaller project caller ASKAP, or the Australian Square Kilometyer Array Pathfinder. Currently the final telescope design is presented in SL and the unique characteristic of these dishes is illustrated, namely the three rotational axes where most telescope dishes only have 2. Australia is in a battle with South Africa to secure the rights to the Main SKA, which will comprise 4000 radio telescope dishes. This will be the biggest land based science project in the hsitory of mankind.

 
 

Visualisation Research @ The West Australian Supercomputer Programme (WASP), UWA

Visualisation Research is being run by Tranguloid Trefoil (RL - Paul Bourke). A critical component of this is the automatic representation of data in SL, rather than manually modelling. There are a number of examples of this such as the volume rendering of a human cortex. Among other things, Paul has an interest in fractals and how they may be used to describe and model real world objects. There are a number of fractal objects on the WASP land, one is the famous Menger sponge. For more information.

 

3D Art & Design Challenge

UWA runs an extremely successful 3D art & architecture challenge, with some of the greatest artists and architects of SL displaying their works for the challenge. This has been one of the most important components of UWA's SL offering, and has been listed as an SL Destination for Arts.

 
 

THE PEACOCKS, THE DUCKS, THE GALAHS, THE RAINBOW LORIKEETS, THE PARROTS ad other fauna are a significant part of the RL campus, and these are represented on the SL campus. These are found mainly on the Uni of WA SIM

 
 

The Wonders on the Ground of the UWA SIM

Wonderful art by quadrapop Lane, Soror Nishi & Glyph Graves (seek out 'Strangers also Dance'). This is here to give the UWA presence a mixture of the RL aspects of Second life, as evidenced by the recreation of the RL buildings as well as the truly out of this world aspects of SL, as evidenced by what is found here.

 
 

OTHER AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE

The Physics Building

Hackett Hall

The building housing Astronomy, HR & Facilities Management

 
 

PRIZES

A first and a 2nd Prize will be awarded for this. These prizes come courtesy of the University of Western Australia, VR Shed Pty Ltd (Dr Chris Thorne) and other benefactors.

 
 

1st Prize - $35,000L + a UWA T-Shirt

2nd Prize - $15,000L + a UWA T-Shirt

 
 

JUDGING PANEL

1. Professor Alan Robson (RL) - Vice-Chancellor, The University of Western Australia

2. Professor Ted Snell (RL) - Director, Cultural Precinct, The University of Western Australia

3. A/Professor Wade Halvorson (RL) - Lecturing in Marketing, Business and Electronic Commerce, The University of Western Australia

4. Colin Campbell Fraser (RL) - Principal Adviser (External Relations and Advocacy),

Vice-Chancellery, The University of Western Australia

5. Kelly Smith (RL) - Director, International Centre, The University of Western Australia

6. White Lebed (SL) - Lead of Burning Life Art Department, Curator

7. Jayjay Zifanwe (SL) - Owner of The University of Western Australia (SL), Creator & co-host of the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge

My Guest Appearance on Brooklyn is Watching Podcast

A few weeks ago, I had the honor and opportunity to join a stellar cast on the Brooklyn is Watching on the weekly Podcast. The podcast is hosted by Jay Newt and appearing on this episode are podcast regular Misprint Thursday and BiW artist Oberon Onmura. The venue is the BiW site in Second Life and the format is an open discussion on the art present. Great conversation and great art …

Enjoy a listen here or pick it up off iTunes … also, definitely stop over to see the art and meet some of Second Life's most intriguing people.

Live Holiday Benefit Concert For the ACS At Callidora Club Cure

A notecard from good friend Renfew Sperber:

Come on over to Callidora Island's Club CURE for a holiday live stream concert to benefit the American Cancer Society. "A Christmas Carol" is the theme tonight. So don your favorite Dickens look and come on over for some music for a cure!

Saturday, December 19th from noon to 9pm PST/SLT

The incredible musicians donating their time and talent to this event are:

Noon to 1 SLT/PST: Jana Kyomoon

1-2 SLT/PST: Erin68 Frog and Satin Galli

2-3 SLT/PST: Mance Moonwall

3-4 SLT/PST: John1234567 String

4-5 SLT/PST: Paulette Oldrich

5-6 SLT/PST: Stella Silvansky

6-7 SLT/PST: Beauregard Freenote

7-8 SLT/PST: Annabel Trafalger

8-9 SLT/PST: Goyamoon Zapatero

Thank you for all that you have done to support fund raising toward cancer education, prevention, and research for a cure. So far for season 2010 (October and November) we've raised just a little over $800 USD for the ACS.

Caerleon Art Collective Activities on ReactionGrid

I logged into Second Life on Thursday to find a notecard from Georg Janick awaiting my arrival in-world. The note was a brief update on recent activities and included twenty eight pictures from Caerleon's first two weeks on ReactionGrid, a virtual world based on OpenSimulator software. He went on to explain that," Things are developing there faster than we expected and we are in the process of upgrading our SIMs so they can handle all that activity". His closer was an invitation to come over for a visit. I'd registered an account with ReactionGrid several months ago and had paid a few short visits initially, but hadn't really spent much time there. After leaving Second Life and with the invitation as incentive, I found my notes and login-in information, then launched the Hippo viewer for a trip into ReactionGrid.

On rezzing, I tried to do a search and it came up with no results for either Georg or Caerleon. So I opened the map and within a few minutes located what I hoped to be the right SIM. The teleport worked and I found myself on the Caerleon-Charon SIM. A system message said on my arrival,":: Nazz Lane enters Caerleon-Charon (now 3 visitors in this region)", which I took to be a positive sign I'd selected the right SIM. Opening the mini-map now, I located the other two avatars present and headed in their direction. Closing in I realized one was Georg, so I sent him an instant message to which he replied with both a greeting and a TP request. I was close enough to where he stood, so I rejected the TP request and in the chat window called out a greeting.

"There you are Nazz. I didn't see you." He said in reply and then asked, "Do you know Marnie?"

"Good to see you Georg. I got your notecard with the pictures and had to come over to look around. We've not met, but I have seen Marnie at a few Second Life venues." I replied and then exchanged greetings with Marnie Reinard.

"Oh great, I'm glad. We have seventeen people here now … on and off from Caerleon in Second Life."

I'd scanned around with my camera controls and saw several of the builds. Based on the number of pictures he'd sent, I knew there were more. "That's a lot done in two weeks … congratulations!" I said.

"Thanks … I'm surprised myself at how many have come, and we are running a major collaboration here on AI and A-Life led by Nonnatus." He replied and then added: "ReactionGrid has great owners and tech people … they make up for the glitches. That's one reason I like being here. Plus I'm tired of LL taking money and giving little back … the cost of a SIM here is 1/16th that of Second Life. Artists in the broad sense have built Second Life at no cost to LL."

"And allot of prims." Marnie added.

"The tool set here is the same or better?" I asked.

"Well there are differences. The prims here are fully scalable … no mega' and there are 45,000 of them per SIM … three times the number in Second Life. The tools are very much the same, the in world tools but you script in C# and Java as well as LSL if you know how." He replied.

"It provides more flexibility?" I asked.

"Yes, but of course it's also a bumpier ride sometimes." He responded.

"The stability of the regions?" I asked

"We just doubled up on our resources. We added an extra server with a full set of RAM, CPU, etc … so that should help a lot with stability." He answered.

"You have four islands here now?" I asked.

"Yes and we made add one more … we have to see, the upgrade is coming tomorrow." He said in reply.

"You have four SIMs in Second Life now, right?

"Yes, but we are going to drop one in about three months so we will have three there and four or five here." He replied.

"I really liked what I saw in the pictures ... remarkable stuff being created here." I said in comment and as I did, his avatar disappeared from the screen. I said to Marnie, "We lost Georg."

Before she could reply, a system message appeared in the lower left corner of my screen. ":: Georg Janick enters Caerleon-Charon (now 3 visitors in this region)".

"He is coming back." Marnie said.

As his avatar rezzed, he typed in chat. "Speaking of crashing … "

"But that happens in Second Life to." Marnie commented.

"I'm trying to bring Thoth, he's here on another of our SIMs. He made a great video structure." He said and then added; "Actually, let's take a look. I'll TP you."

Georg left first, followed by Marnie and then me. I arrived quickly at the new location and as I rezzed, Georg said. "My map shows Thoth somewhere around here. Make sure your video is on Nazz and set to midnight."

We were joined shortly by Thoth Jantzen and the four of us exchanged pleasantries. Georg then explained that he'd brought us over to show off the build. After getting my video set up in preferences, it started playing for me and the build lit up with the video and my headset with sound.

"Lead the way Thoth." Georg said.

"Just walk through the cube ... straight." Thoth directed then added; "You can stop and look around to …"

"How how did you do this Thoth?" Marnie asked.

"Very carefully." He replied with a grin and then added; "Actually, just a matter of slapping prims together and texturing them right and I'm more a builder … I sort of make canvasses for art to be shown on."

"Is this Cirque du Soleil?" I asked thinking that the video and music was familiar I added, "This is the same one you'd shown me a few days ago in Second Life."

"Yep it is Cirque du Soleil, but no I don't think it's the same one." He replied and then added; "Well, let's walk on through to the other side … this way kids … you sort of get disoriented in there. It's been a trip building here … but it's fun. I also have stuff at 300m and 2500m. I'm not finished yet though."

"Yeah but you've made a lot of progress in a very short time." Georg commented and then added; "Well you have a lot of prims to play with."

We spent the next fifteen minutes marveling at the sights and sounds presented in Thoth's build, but it was coming up on 2 pm and I had an appointment in Second Life. Georg commented that he also had to leave shortly. I thanked him for the tour and complimented Thoth on his build.

I was about to log out and leave ReactionGrid when Marnie said to Thoth. "You have done it now I want a notecard with how you did on it and the scripts."

"Well, there's no real scripts except for spinning and stuff. The rest is building and texturing and whatnot. I have a thing that shows how... has static and active versions of different pieces on it It's really simpler than it looks fundamentally … it's the arrangement of the pieces that does it."

As they continued the discussion, I said my good bye and logged out, delighted that I'd stopped in.

"Moving in Stereo" Day 13

"Life's the same it's all inside of you."

The Cars, "Moving in Stereo" on day 13 of Nazz's Playlist.

"5:15" Day 12

"Inside outside, where have I been? … Out of my brain on the 5:15"

The Who from Quadrophenia "5:15" day 12 pick for the Nazz Lane Playlist.

Virtual Worlds, Engineering and Public Works - Live Virtual Event

Virtual Worlds, Engineering and Public Works - Live Virtual Event
Originally uploaded by Nazz Lane

On the SmarterTechnology set is Pam Renoir (aka Pam Broviak), PE, City Engineer/Assistant Public Works Director-City of Geneva, Illinois. She has been involved the last three years "in exploring how those working in public works, engineering, and government can best use social media and virtual worlds to enhance their work". Facilitating the conversation is SmarterTechnology Wizardly (aka John Jainschigg) and Rissa Maidstone (aka Kim Smith).

--
Want to try out Second Life for yourself? Sign up at
secondlife.com/?u=fc679673bebd4a679af0b2be90d895a3

"Train for Success" Holiday Party

The invitation came in via a group notice, "Join us for the first Train for Success Holliday Party (actually, our first party of any kind!)". I've been a regular attendee of the weekly sessions, where Anders Wildcat (aka Anders Gronstedt) hosts a series that brings, "together professionals from around the world to explore how leading corporations are transforming work and market place performance with virtual worlds and social media". The meetings are always informative and entertaining along with the opportunity to network with leading edge companies and people exploring virtual worlds.

Congrats, to Light Sequent on a wonderfully done holiday themed build.

Cellandra Zon’s Christmas Show

Ms Zon had broadcast an invitation on Tuesday evening through her instant message conference for her soon to start Christmas Show. Celleandra Zon is the owner of the Dance Troupe "LIGHT DANCERS of AURORA", and I've had the opportunity see her and the troupe perform several times in Second Life. On Tuesday it was about Christmas. Accompanied by a traditional set of favorite carols, Ms Zon entertained the audience first with a figure skating exhibition and then a dance routine, replete with light show and wings. For an enjoyable evening during the holiday season, be sure to find and attend one of her performances, you'll be delighted that you did. See my Flickr for additional photo's of the show.

Pixel to Pixel Foundation in Second Life

While attending the opening of Virtual Treeline on Tuesday evening, I was introduced to Jadyn Firehawk and we exchanged pleasantries while chatting about the art. She also shared with me a little information about her work in Second Life as founder of the Pixel To Pixel Foundation (P2P). Ms Firehawk passed along a note card with information (reprinted below) and asked me to stop by when I had an opportunity, to which I readily agreed. It was a little later in the evening before I had a chance to read the note and I then realized why her name was so familiar. I'd written a short piece here in Lane's List several weeks ago on her having won "First Place Novice" in the Frank Lloyd Wright Virtual Museum's Craftsman Home Build-Off 2009 contest.

Here's the informational note card from Jadyn about the foundation:

PIXEL TO PIXEL FOUNDATION: ABOUT US

Pixel To Pixel Main Office

Satellite Office

CONTACT: Pixel Falconer (Director) or Jadyn Firehawk (Founder)

The Pixel To Pixel Foundation (P2P) was established in 2009 to enhance the Second Life experience for people living with disabilities.

Second Life is a lifeline to many people with disabilities. Some (such as those who suffer from severe depression) may live in social isolation, and SL keeps them connected with others in the outside world. Other people may have physically disabling conditions, and SL allows them the virtual experience of full mobility, and even gives them wings to fly.

The P2P Foundation, which exists only in SL, gives direct financial assistance in the form of weekly Linden-dollar stipends to people on disability -- that is, those who are supporting themselves solely on disability assistance program benefits. Participants can reside in any country, and their disability assistance can be either from their government or from a private disability insurance company.

Donations to the foundation go directly to recipients, hence the name, Pixel To Pixel (avatar to avatar). The amount of the stipend is $500 Lindens per week, which is equivalent to about US$2 per week in real life. This amount may seem trivial to someone who has regular income from a paying job, but for a person on disability who may have very little money to spare, it can make a real difference for their quality of life in SL. As one participant so succinctly put it, "two dollars for me means a loaf of bread for a week." The weekly stipend from P2P may enable a participant to rent an apartment or shop, for example, or take photographs or upload textures in SL.

Some donors give weekly (or monthy) and directly sponsor one or more participants. However, any and all donations are always gratefully accepted in the Donation Boxes located at any of the foundation offices, or, you may pay Pixel Falconer directly. Non-regular donations go into the Sponsor Fund, which supports the majority of participants in the program. We also welcome you to give of your time in helping to spread the word about the foundation. Occasionally, the P2P Foundation also gives discretionary grants for participants to start a business or pursue a major creative project in SL.

There are a few guidelines for participating, designed to ensure that the P2P program runs smoothly and that nobody abuses the system. These guidelines are available in a separate notecard, entitled "Participant Information."

Contact us if you would like more information on how to participate in the P2P program, or if you have any questions. Or, stop by the foundation offices for the other two information notecards.

Thank you for your interest in the Pixel To Pixel Foundation!

~Pixel Falconer (also known as Jadyn Firehawk)

ALSO AVAILABLE AT OUR OFFICES:

"Frequently Asked Questions" notecard

"Participant Information" notecard

(For program information in languages other than English, please inquire.)

Additional photo's of the P2P Main Office.

"Voodoo Child" Day 11

I've heard it said that you can't listen to Jimi Hendrix … you feel it.

"Voodoo Child", day 11 on the Nazz Lane Playlist.

"Internet Use for Older Adults" Presentation at Virtual Ability

On Friday, December 18, 2009 at the Sojourner Auditorium on Virtual Ability Island, Bathsheba Darkfold, a PhD candidate in anthropology at SUNY-Buffalo will present and lead a discussion on "Internet Use for Older Adults". The presentation will occur twice with the first one starting at 5 am PST/SLT and again later on the same day at 1 pm PST/SLT.

From the notecard:

"Older Adults increasingly need and want to use computers and the Internet to stay in touch with friends and family, to keep up with current events, and for entertainment. This presentation will focus on what interests and concerns older adults may have in using computer technology and how loved ones and educators might address those concerns."

Talk With a Fake British Accent Day at Writers' Circle

A group notice from Jilly at the Writers' Circle:

Today's Writers' Circle celebrates the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, and if you don't fancy that it's also Talk With a Fake British Accent Day. The British among us will choose a different British accent as we each have our own countries. British accent - what is that anyway?? You can also bring writing on any other theme and in any form to read out - fiction, nonfiction, poetry, whatever. Or sit back and just enjoy. Free Boston Tea Party Sweaters and a nice warm British cuppa tea for you all.

"Be Funky" on Day 10

Brad “JooZz” Monnett is a man of many talents, when he isn’t playing at his club or one of the several other venues he favors, his second life is about business, serious business. He is the owner of Interlocuteur M, a Dutch Business Consultancy and has worked with several national and multinational companies facilitating their entry into SL.

JooZz wrote and performed this piece, "Be Funky". It is the day 10 pick for the Nazz Lane Playlist

Seba Sideways at Club Orfeo

PRESS RELEASE

From: Alizarin Goldflake

Topic: Seba Sideways @ Club Orfeo

Event date: Saturday, December 26, 12 Noon PST/SLT

Seba Sideways will play for an hour on Saturday. December 26, starting at twelve noon in Alizarin's immersive art build; "Orfeo's Oratorio."

Everyone is invited to come recover from Christmas and soothe your soul with sounds from Seba's beautiful tenor sax. Orfeo's Oratorio will be transformed into a night club for the event. We promise you an elegant and mysterious environment with not one single Christmas decoration! From Buenos Aires to SL, Seba is generously devoting his time in December to performing in art galleries and museums with Jazz, Bossa Nova, Blues, Funk, Reggae Roots, Ballads and Tango. A music event not to be missed!

TP blocks on the west wall take you to many other beautiful Atelier Alizarin art locations.

Exhibition Opening of Virtual Treeline

I received the following information in a notecard from Juanita Deharo:

Please join us on Tuesday December 15th at 2 pm (SLT) for the opening of this important project. Opening exhibition featuring: Soror Nishi, Alizarin Goldflake, Fuschia Nightfire, RAG Randt, Asmita Duranjaya, Sheba Blitz and Bocan Undercroft. Virtual Treeline is part of a larger real world Treeline project that aims to raise awareness of local and global environmental issues and encourage action through art. The work on show in our galleries will be shown in real life galleries and schools and on the internet as well as in Second Life. We are interested in showing artworks, performances, science projects and any builds that relate to the Treeline project.

Please contact Juanita Deharo if you have a project for Virtual Treeline.

"The Rising" on Day 9

This one speaks for itself …

Bruce, "The Rising" on day 9 of the Nazz Lane Playlist.

"Deacon Blues" On Day 8

The phone rang and I picked up the handset to look at the caller ID. The LEDs in the little display window spelled, "Unknown Name … Unknown Number". I clicked the red button to stop the ring and said aloud, "Call me back when you know who you are." Then I layed it back down on the table next to a coaster and lifted the coffee cup from it with the same hand.

It's cold and damp outside on this December morning. A gentle rain that had started sometime late yesterday evening had continued through out the night. A car drove by and its headlights glared briefly as it passed. I watched it do so, perched comfortably on a sofa which sits across from the picture window looking out onto the street. There I sat in a semi lit living room and sipped my coffee, as this song began to play.

Steely Dan, "Deacon Blues" on day eight of the Nazz Lane Playlist.

"You Can't Always Get What You Want" on Day 7

It had been a day when wrestling with demons had gotten the best of me and I was tired. I went to a quiet spot and sat my virtual self down and then slipped into "busy" while the real me took a short break. When I came back there occurred in a series, three encounters in the virtual realm that took on a surreal feel. I bring this up for one reason today, because I heard the song playing early this morning and when I heard the words, "But if you try sometime you find .. You get what you need". My mind made the leap and I went back to that day … I did get what I needed.

Rolling Stones: "You Can't Always Get What you Want" leads off day seven in the Nazz Lane Playlist.

AM RADIO Seminar: Effective use of HTML on a prim Part 2

What: AM RADIO Seminar: Effective use of HTML on a prim Part 2

When: December 13th, 2009 at 2PM SLT

Where: Burning Life, Deep Hole


AM RADIO presents

Effective use of HTML on a prim Part 2!

This second seminar is brought to you by popular request. The seminar will cover deeper scripting concepts. PHP knowledge is helpful.

This is a seminar for Second life content creators. This seminar will cover using PHPFLICKR to connect with the Flickr API and display Flickr images in Second Life.

Topics

How it works

Getting a Developer API Key and Secret

Using PHPFLICKR to obtain a static token

Building a PHP script which uploads an image to flickr

Building a PHP script to build a webpage of flickr images

Presenting the result in Second Life

Prerequisites

Understanding of part 1 of this course (available on the Burning Life 09 Art Dept Art Seminars Transcripts board)

Working knowledge of PHP, HTML, and basic knowledge of LSL

Understanding of developer APIs and the Flickr API is helpful

The Seminar is presented by the Burniversity, Burning Life/Burning Man

White Lebed - the Burning Life Art Department Lead; the Curator of Afterburn Art Program

white.lebed@gmail.com

http://twitter.com/white_lebed

"Can't Find My Way Home" Day 6

Two legends combined early in their careers for the day six pick on the Nazz Lane Playlist. The group they formed, Blind Faith didn't stick around for long as they each moved on with their musical careers. Their album and the song , was released in 1969. The video is from a few years ago, Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton at the Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007.

"Can't Find My Way Home".

"Statesboro Blues" on Day 5

"Wake up Mamma … turn your lamp down low …"

A fan of the bands, the genre and the slide guitar, here's the pick of the day in two versions for the Nazz Lane Playlist.

Allman Brothers and Taj Mahal.

"When the Levee Breaks" Day 4 Nazz Lane Playlist

After dithering around for most of the afternoon trying to come up with a pick for the playlist, I finally chose one and started to write the post. As I did, a fresh one popped up when the classic rock station spun up a song I haven't heard in quite awhile and it sounded great. So I switched gears and rewrote parts of the introduction.

Finished with it, I didn't post it right away thinking that I would while in world so I logged into SL. I rezzed in and immediately got an instant message to come over and vote for AMForte Clarity in the Best SL Musician 2009 contest. Being a fan, I took the ride over, voted and listened as she wrapped up her part of the session. Up next was Jean Munro, and not having heard her perform before I waited as she took the stage. I was delighted that I didn't leave. After she finished, I selected my LM and went back to my office or so I thought. Instead, the "You Have Been Logged Out of SL" box popped on screen.

Crashed!

When I tried to logg back in, I got a network error message, my network was down. We'd had a good amount of rain last night and this morning along with some nasty winds most of the day, so I thought my broadband went down. I checked and after resetting the router and wireless box, I was finally able to get back in. When I did, the virtual me was in his office. As I rezzed a song began to play.

"Aha!" a new pick I thought. Here it is "When the Levee Breaks", one of my favorite Led Zeppelin songs.

Holiday Performance VB13 - Peace

PRESS RELEASE:

=====VB13 - PEACE=====

Saturday, 12 December 2009, noon - 2 pm SLT

On location at the University of Texas at San Antonio's Administrative Island, Vaneeesa Blaylock & Company celebrate the turn of the year with a holiday performance featuring 20 child avatars.

VB 13 is especially exciting to us because we are partnering with UTSA in the early days of their new expansion in Second Life.

We also dedicate this performance in memory of Dr. Leslie Jarmon/Bluewave Ogee, whose enthusiasm and leadership helped insure that others can experience the wonders of SL with the same childlike joy she shared.

Call us hopeless romantics, but the idea of finishing a year without considering the possibility of rebirth and renewal, simply because we're wise enough to know how badly we might screw-up this fresh start, is just too nihilistic to bear. And so, with a little bit of wisdom and a lot of hope, we bring you our most optimistic work, featuring a large cast of child avatars greeting the world of possibilities that will soon be: 2010.

********************************

Vaneeesa Blaylock is a performance artist who challenges you to stop and consider your virtual identity during her series of new performance artworks created in and for Second Life.

********************************

With gratitude to our partners and sponsors:

VENUE provided by our hosts, the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Academic Island. Special thanks to ConstructivIST Solo, Zola Zsun, and Sapphoria Shilova.

WARDROBE: Clothing provided by Bellamy Amat, whose inner child gives her the heart to create fashions for children and teens in Second Life.

Assistance and advice:

Child Avatar Information Center

Official Photo Studio: Fross Maruti

________________________________

PROGRAM:

CAST:

Agnes Sharple

Bear Morgwain

Clancy Huckleberry

CodeWarrior Carling

Eos Akina

Friday Blaisdale

Fuzzie Nyoki

Glenn Milneaux

Jami Mills

LadyKath Avon

Lothar Leborski

Lyssa Varun

NightOwl Meridoc

SaintLEOlions Zimer

Sevena Silverfall

Taisie Sugarplum

Theoretical Afterthought

Trilby Minotaur

Vaneeesa Blaylock

 

Company Staff:

Stage Manager: Friday Blaisdale

Wardrobe Coordinator: NightOwl Meridoc

Design Director: Zola Zsun

Managing Director: Seasprite Destiny

Artistic Director: Vaneeesa Blaylock

_____________________________________

For more information:

Contact Vaneeesa Blaylock or Seasprite Destiny

SL GROUP: VB Friends

VB Master Schedule

VB SL Group-Free Audience Group

"Sorry" Day 3 Pick for the Nazz Lane Playlist

I saw her when she arrived, at first a puff of white cloud before the avatar materialized and the cloud dissipated. She stood just outside the doorway to the club and didn't move from there for several minutes and I assumed she'd waited until the site rezzed for her before she moved. The hostess and the DJ had greeted her, but she didn't reply to either. There weren't many of us there and the DJ and his hostess were the only ones who's chat scrolled up the screen. I sat with my feet up on the table, a cigar in my virtual mouth and worked on a note while I listened to the music.

An avatar moved past me. I didn't see where he had come from, he must have been behind me. He walked past me and onto the dance floor. She moved her avatar closer to where he stood and I expected a set of dance balls to arrive between them at any second. But none did. They stood across from each other while several songs played and the DJ worked hard to stir up those of us seated out and onto the dance floor.

I set the notecard aside while I watched the screen, my curiosity piqued. I wondered if they knew each other or if it is just happenstance that they were here. I imagined they were perfect strangers, then thought maybe they'd just met. Neither moved as the music continued to play. A few people popped in and were greeted. And several also left with a "cya's" or nothing as their avatars faded away. And the two stood a meter or less apart from each other, the only movements came from the AO's they each wore.

The DJ announced that his time was about over and that if anyone had a request, send him an instant message so he could fit it in. I had an idea, a hunch and so I messaged him with my request. I asked him to dedicate it to all of the ladies present from the men in their lives. He replied with a grin and said, "sure thing."

The song began with a guitar a chord repeated several times and then the lyrics began with "Oh I … Had a lot to say ... Was thinking on my time away … ". Part of the way through the song, a pair of dance balls arrived next to the couple on the dance floor. He clicked first, she next and they were soon swaying softly to the Buckcherry song, "Sorry".

Avatar Repertory Theater Presents - The Real Christmas Story

Press Release from Avatar Repertory Theater Group:

Does your Christmas look less like Norman Rockwell and more like Norman Bates? Does your family put the "Diss" in "Dysfunctional"? Does your Uncle Fred use the Andy Williams' Christmas Albums for target practice? Well, welcome home Buckaroo! The actors of the Avatar Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) invite you to "The Real Christmas Story", starring Y.A.D.F. (your average dysfunctional family). These original Christmas stories will premiere on Friday, December 11, at 5 pm SLT/PST at the Dove Theater. Two other performances will be presented on Saturday, December 12 at 3 pm SLT/PST, and Sunday, December 13 at 2 pm SLT/PST.

Written by three members of the A.R.T., "The Real Christmas Story" presents three views of the pain and pleasure of the holiday season. Sodovan Torok, Kayden Oconnell and Rowan Shamroy have googled their internal computers and found stories that embrace the past, endure the present and anticipate the future. Scrooge may have survived the spirits, but Tiny Tim might need counseling after spending time with these ghosts.

In his "The Xmas I Met Santa", Sodovan Torok brings us a sweeter tale of how Santa made an unexpected entrance and a somewhat painful exit. Rowan Shamroy shows us how old family dynamics are magnified and amplified during the requisite holiday gathering. And Kayden Oconnell shatters some Christmas myths when a hotshot reporter visits a young old man who knew Santa before Santa was cool.

Directed by Em Jannings and produced by AvaJean Westland, the Christmas shows include A.R.T. actors Prospero Frobozz, Thundergas Menges, Mickie Nikolaidis, Kayden Oconnell, Persephone Phoenix, Ada Radius, Rowan Shamroy, MadameThespian Underhill and Dolgoruky Umarov. The sets have been built by JubJub Forder, with costumes and animations assembled by Ada Radius, Joff Fassnacht and Rowan Shamroy. We are also introducing the new A.R.T. English Sub-titler for the hearing impaired designed by Prospero Frobozz and managed by JudyArx Scribe. Admission to the event is free.

“Mississippi Queen” Day Two on Nazz Lane Playlist

I reached back into the past for this one, around 1970 I think. Leslie West and Mountain playing “Mississippi Queen”, loved the signature guitar work of this master musician. When I hear the name Leslie West and Mountain, this is the song that comes to mind.

Interstitial Fiction and Music Tonight at Jackson Street Books

The following came to me by way of BookemJackson Streeter:

On Monday, Dec 7 at 6pm SLT, five authors from the short story collection Interfictions2 will discuss their works in a panel at Jackson Street Books
Lacamas Reading Hall. What is interstitial art? It is art made in the interstices between genres and categories. It is art that flourishes in the borderlands between different disciplines, mediums, and cultures. It is art that crosses borders, made by artists who refuse to be constrained by category labels.

Interfictions2 (Small Beer Press $16.00) Signed Bookplate will be sent later for all book orders.

“Dream Police” Starts off the Day in the New Nazz Lane Playlist

More than a year ago, I published the "Nazz Lane Playlist" and recently had thoughts of doing a refresh. When I scrolled through the list, I of course took a listen to several of the selections and thought; "Yeah, they still belong here". I then recalled why they had made their appearance on the list. At the time I had posted it, the songs had comprised a list of songs that had resonated with me for a particular day or week and either gave me pause to reflect or served as a muse for a passage in my fiction or simply because the song was one that I liked and admired for its artistry. Unsure of what to do with the playlist then, either refresh or come up with a new one, I set it aside where it slipped it into the queue of things to think about or do when I had some quiet time. Admittedly, it sat there for quite awhile before it rose to the top of the queue today and truthfully if several things hadn't happened these last few weeks, it may well have languished there for a lot longer.

The first thing was when I had worked on the photo album for my serial novel, "Borders of our Lives". It had been while I organized the photographs and searched for text from a chapter to insert next to each, that I came across a passage where the main characters were having a dialog about their dreams. In the text, they recounted their first experience of having had a dream where they saw themselves as their second life avatar. The passage is slightly auto-biographical, I've had similar conversations with several people, and in fact one just recently. While the association with a musical playlist may not be readily apparent at this time, please bear with me for a few more sentences while I get you there. The second thing was while looking at my RSS feeds and reading Chestnut Rau's daily posts in her blog, "Second Life of My Dreams", where she is posting, "x of 356", a daily pictorial journal. I check it regularly to see the picture and read her thoughts and it's always with enjoyment that I do. Which got me to thinking of the similarity in my original list, but of course her approach is much different than what I had done and may be worth mimicking I thought. Then this morning while listening to the classical rock radio station I heard "Dream Police" by Cheap Trick and it was while listening that these three things linked together for me with an approach in revising the playlist … all of which led to this the first post in the new "Nazz Lane Playlist".

CMC Designs Celebrates Its Move with a Special Event

At 3 pm SLT / PST today, CMC Designs is pulling out all the stops with a huge celebration in recognition of having completed its move to a full SIM. The founder, CHUCKMATRIX Clip will host a five hour event with three performers; Ender Zeitman pianist, DJ Kilolo Jenkins and DJ Barbarick (Pete Westminster). At 4 pm, Mr. Clip stated in a press release:

"And if that's not enough, at 4pm SLT, as DJ Kilolo Jenkins takes the stage, something so incredible, so AMAZING will happen that it will boggle the mind. To my knowledge, no one in SL has done it before. One problem... it's going to happen quickly, and it will be done this once, and then never again. So ... if you miss it? Well... you'll just have to hear how cool it was from everyone else, and WISH you'd been there for it. Or... you could make sure you're there for it."

A graphic design major in his first life, CHUCKMATRIX Clip is an artist in Second Life. Besides enjoying the musical festivities, guests at today's celebration will be able to view an extensive collection of his works that include sculptures, static and scripted and paintings. Mr. Clip has had his work exhibited at several venues in second life such as; Blackwater Sculpture Art Gallery, Caerleon SIM's, Omega Art Gallery of the PiRats Art Network and The Crescent Moon Museum.

Artis Reloaded Exhibition Opening

ARTIS PRESS RELEASE

From: Marly Peapod, with the collaboration of Siera Adored and Lasch Avro.

Topic: Artis' new exhibit

Event date: Sunday. December 13th @ 12:00 PM SLT, at the Artis Gallery.

Artis Reloaded

Patrick Cournoyer is proud to present the latest Artis exhibit in its exciting new location. Three new artists will dazzle us with their diverse creations which range from fractal art to collages and paintings.

Alecio Mavendorf is a multidisciplinary artist who enjoys trying new techniques. She has tried many art forms, from black and white photography to colorful impasto works, making whimsical windowpane painting and even trying abstract art along the way. Her collection of artworks is an insight into the many facets of her personality and a pleasure to discover. A native of South Carolina, she is influenced by Jackson Pollock, Van Gogh and Bosch. In the following interview, she guides us through her paintings, sharing how she made them and the inspiration behind them.

Arlow Bonetto is a self-taught artist who used his natural curiosity combined with his artistic eye to take him from pencil drawings to his current project, fractals. After years of experimentation, the result is worth the effort -- stunning digital art. Arlow finds inspiration in the world that surround him as well as in his desire to touch people through his art. Read on to learn more about his process and how his relationship with his uncle continues to inspire him to be a better artist.

Tonya Boucher [AKA Tonyascarper Boucher] is a talented artist who uses various forms of artistic expression, including poetry. Her use of recycled and organic materials is exemplified in her art giving her paintings and collages a "life" of their own. This New York State resident leads a busy life but still manages to do something creative everyday; a mantra that she has passed down to her family. In the following interview, you will see how Tonya's collection of work is a personal journey as she opens her heart and soul for your interpretation.

Holiday Window Dressing Contest

I happened across the Holiday Window Dressing Contest via an RSS feed and stopped over to look around the first chance I could. The contest is being sponsored by the SL Group Sound Bytes. Beside the window display contest there is also a snowman build contest. With the construction phase for both window dressing and snowman having ended on December 1^st, visitors can now cast their votes for their favorite in each. In the note I read, visitors can also expect snow while they stroll through the display, so dress warmly and don't forget to bring along your ice skates. Voting occurs between December 1^st and December 19^th, and the winners will be announced on the 19^th.