AVENUE Magazine September 2012 by AVENUE

n.48 9.2012

Stylist Boe Cortes Photographer Sea Dench

Publisher’s note

f there is anything that we can be sure of in both lives, it is the inevitability of change. Welcome it, resist it or embrace it…change carries with it the possibilities for progress. Without change, we will never get to the next destination point in our lives nor will we know how far we have come. So this issue will mark the final chapter of what would be the soon-to-be former design of AVENUE Magazine. The passing of the old to make way for the new…and we’re excited as we cross the mark towards our 5th Anniversary issue next month with a whole new outlook.

Mon Tissu. From their dynamic collaboration, they give us a most phenomenal cover and fashion spread aptly named, “Resurrection”, that is truly out of this world.

So we honor this final issue with an exclusive with fashion bigwigs, Celoe, Lelutka and

One thing you shouldn’t miss is this month’s recreational highlight which comes by way of

Joining the upper echelons of fashionistas in this issue are the vibrance and extravagance of Vikeejeah Xevion of LD Major | Loovus Dzevavaor, MONS and Ladies Who Lunch. Our fabulous team of fashion stylists, contributors and AVENUE Models have also put together some standout styles to help you prepare for a fashionable autumn ahead in mesh.

the debut of The Arcade. Harking back to the penny arcades of Coney Island and Brighton Pier of the early 20th century, you’ll want to arm yourself with your camera and luck as you try your hand at the myriad of gacha machines created by over 65 of your favorite creators. So have a super fun September and we will see you on the flip side next month!

Rusch Raymaker Rusch Raymaker Publisher and Editor in Chief AVENUE

28 Cover Story Celoe

Featured Designer Ladies Who Lunch

176 Interesting Sims The Arcade

Contents

Fashion 28 42 54 70 88 104 114 128 142 152

Cover Story Celoe Fashion Icon Vikeejeah Xevion Fashion Spread MONS Featured Designer Ladies Who Lunch Trendspotting The Lady from Shanghai Fashion Forward Coming over Edge of Style Antinomy Homme Nevsky Prospect Blogspot Autumn Threads AVENUE Models Style Up Lifestyle

166 176 186 200 210 226

Interesting Sims Mischief Managed Sports & Recreation The Arcade Architectural Designer Designer Prims Perspectives Architecture & Interiors Meshworx Club of the Month Deep Connection

AVENUE Magazine September 2012 cover Featuring Thora Charron (Lelutka) Jewelry: Celoe Hair: Lelutka Makeup inspired by MademoiselleMu Photographer ShaySibrian (Celoe)

Arts 234 244

Arts Feature Fun for Charity Arts Feature Dreams of an Artist

n.48 9.2012

Staff

Publisher | Editor in Chief Creative Director | Photo Editor | Designer

Paola Tauber

Lifestyle Editor

Umberto Giano

Copy Editor

Vivienne Graves

General Manager

Xandrah Sciavo

Vice President of Marketing

n.48 9.2012

Rusch Raymaker

Amazon Silverweb

Marketing Manager

Absinthe

Marketing Executives

Carley Benazzi

Augusta Carver Breezie Noel Huckleberry Hax Imani Enzo Isadora Fiddlesticks Kathy Nikolaidis Lexie Jansma Prad Prathivi Quan Lavender ShaiLi Alex Silly Avro Spruce Canning YeriakTH Couturier

Writers

Boe Cortes Brie Wonder Dantelicia Ethaniel Diconay Boa Gabe Bookmite Lulu Jameson Miaa Rebane Strawberry Singh Thalia Heckroth Winter Jefferson

Stylists

Annough Lykin Eve Kazan Mikey Batriani Natasja Schumann Neva Crystall Ozz Larsson Piedra Lubitsch Seashell Dench Tillie Ariantho

Photographers

Leah McCullough ShaySibrian

Contributors

AVENUE Magazine is published and managed by AVENUE Inc which owns and operates AVENUE Models + Academy and AVENUE Marketing + PR. Online issues: issuu.com/avenue AVENUE Inc website: www.avenuesl.com Visit us inworld at: Zenshi East 112.134.2004 For exclusive updates, gifts, events and latest releases, join our inworld group: AVENUE Magazine Readers Press releases to: editorial@avenuesl.com Ad queries: ads@avenuesl.com Advertising and vendor requests: Amazon Silverweb Absinthe Carley Benazzi Xandrah Sciavo

Cover Story

Photographer ShaySibrian (Celoe) Model Thora Charron (Lelutka) Male models Zensual (statues)

Clothes and Jewelry: Celoe and Mon Tissu available at Mayfair sim Hair: Lelutka available at Lelutka sim Makeup inspired by MademoiselleMu

Fashion Icon

Vikeejeah Xevion Catching

Writer Isadora Fiddlesticks Photographer Mikey Batriani

ashion icons are those people whose aesthetics and sensibility move style forward . Our atomic world had icons like Coco Chanel, who changed fashion by liberating it and paving the way for trousers and the “little black dress”. Such changes to fashion bring something new and different everything evolves, so why can’t fashion and style?

The same is true in Second Life; as the platform and its capabilities have evolved, so too has fashion – from humble texture-layer clothing to the latest detailed mesh styles. The options for avatar style and fashion have evolved from the cookie-cutter tanned Barbie lookalike to the sort of style embodied by this month’s AVENUE Fashion Icon, Vikeejeah Xevion. Xevion is multitalented - she designs, models, blogs, and uses her aesthetic sense and expertise to make other avatars look their best as a personal style consultant. She’s a firm believer in a polished and professional appearance. but at the same time believes in the importance of diversity and individual style.. Before Miss Xevion was introduced to Second Life®, she was a resident of another virtual world, IMVU. She recounts how she learnt about SL®: “I was told about SL from a fellow content creator I knew on IMVU. She told me that developers were moving from IMVU to SL for more opportunities and that I should try it, so I did. That was 3 years ago. I haven’t looked back since.” Her IMVU experience was also as a model, designer and agency owner, and she finds Second Life a far superior platform as a content creator: “They called us developers there. The problem was that you had to pay both IMVU and the original mesh creator before you

were paid each time an item was sold. This meant meager profits for the work put in. So many designers felt the transition to SL made sense. Also, I realized that things are so much more interactive here. There really is no comparison. You can’t walk on IMVU, a room there only holds 10-13 avatars, in SL you can have up to 100 avatars on a sim at a time. It’s just another level of fabulousness. Much more conducive to promoting fashion.” So the 14th of July 2009, she found herself in our virtual world, and according to her, it took about two months to settle in. Eventually she was reconnected to the friend who introduced her to Second Life while she was wandering aimlessly about trying to find out how to make herself look good. “I decide to spend a couple of months doing whatever I could get myself into. I was a dancer for two months before I settled into learning how to designs clothes on SL. My first pieces were pretty terrible, but I started a brand anyway just to see how it was received I had a shop in a mall next door to Wetherby’s. Alejandra Jumanya took me under her wing and taught me a few things. In fact, I had my first taste of modeling through her brand and walked in her weekly shows.” She shares that Karen Blackthorne taught her how

to walk the runway, and then after another couple of months, decided to model as a career. She was formally trained by MA Photography and Modeling Agency before she started with AVENUE. “I joined AVENUE Models through their casting in 2010. I was so nervous because it was a major goal of mine to become an AVENUE Model. It was their very first public casting. I still felt like a new model, so I wasn’t sure I would cut it amongst the pros. I had been a working model for only about 7 months or so”, she says. Xevion is now in her second year with AVENUE and loving it. For her AVENUE “has been a great fashion family” that has given her “so many opportunities” and is very grateful for being part of the AVENUE family. “Being an AVENUE model has continued to inspire me to keep stepping it up. I love Rusch and all of the staff I have interacted with. Everyone is very professional and a pleasure.” Going into the subject of her style, she describes it as “a combination of urban, ethnic influences, and Euro-chic. I love vintage fashion of the 60’s and 70’s. I also enjoy lots of color and patterns. I prefer to wear big earrings and lots of rings or

something to adorn my hands like gloves and nails. I also like to play with various hairstyles from shaved bald to slickedback ponytails and messy model hair. Keeping on trend while maintaining my personality is key for me as well. I would say in a nutshell my style is all about confidence and taking risks in a way that translates from RL to SL.” When asked, she says me that she’s African-American in real life, and “grew up in the city most of my life on both the east and west coasts”. She went to college in NYC and is very much influenced by urban styles as well. As a result, she stands out. She projects a demeanor that commands respect and attention. Her style celebrates her ethnic heritage while blending it more traditional Western aesthetics. Miss Xevion truly represents what a fashion icon should be all about, as someone who redefines “normal” and take us to new heights. Her timing for starting in Second Life was also fortuitous. It was a time when diversity was starting to become more common - she was one of the first models to wear an ultradark skin and veer away from the plastic Barbie-doll look. “Finding dark skin was hard at first,” she reflects. “But

now it is celebrated and even commonplace which I think is wonderful.” Finding models like her here in SL convinces everyone that as long as you feel comfortable and creative, your skin shouldn’t be limited to only one shade. Miss Xevion definitely feels creative in Second Life, especially now that mesh is out. Her store LD Major features mesh-based items that celebrate her ethnic roots and the beauty of diversity. “(mesh)... was familiar to me from my IMVU days, which is why I have done much better since the introduction of it,” she says. An active blogger, Xevion started blogging in 2011, with her “Xevion Fashion Guide”. She then started another blog called Albino Ambition, and finally her current blog, Forma Pura. She is part of a group of bloggers who call themselves the Godivas of SL. Her style consultancy work is about creating customized looks for clients; models come to her for styling lessons or custom shapes in order to stand out and look unique, and she also has clients who aren’t SL models, and she advises them with general tips on how to look their best and guides them on where to shop. She enjoys working with

new SL residents and giving them style pointers: “It’s my favorite thing to do outside of designing. I love to pay it forward. Someone taught me how to walk, how to model, how to present myself and how to look the part. So I always enjoy giving people that same feeling of pride in their avatar that I had when I finally got it. I work with models and non-models so I design shapes and looks for all kinds of clients. I work with men and women and it helps me keep current with the brands out there and the latest fashions which in turn helps me as a model. But mostly it is about being able to help others feel good about themselves.” Between modeling, content creation, and her avatar consultancy work, Xevion keeps busy - but when she finds herself with some free time, she enjoys activities including interior decorating and does paintball wars, and playing Greedy, SLopoly or go dancing with friends, and occasionally doing Resident Evilstyle combat roleplay Xevion says, “I constantly set goals for myself and enjoy the satisfaction of checking them off as I go”. She gives a lot of thought to her purpose in this virtual world: “My advice would be to be introspective. Think about why you do what you do, no matter what that is. I meet many models starting out who are

unsure of why they are in this. I would say to them that fashion is about more than just playing Barbie or dress-up. It’s about art and expression and showing the world, or in this case the grid, who you are. You need to know who you are in order to do that, so look within to figure that out.”

Fashion Spread

MONS photographer Miaa Rebane models Ekilem MONS, Miaa Rebane

Earrings: Drop Makeup: Eyeshadow Wet Makeup: Lipstick Johanna2

Miaa Rebane Dress: Luda Longdress Makeup: Lipstick Johanna 2 Makeup: Eyeshadow Wet Earrings: Drop Collar: Triangle Collar Type 2 Skin: Johanna Eyes: Shocking Ekilem MONS Dress: Luda Longdress Makeup: Eyeshadow Mystery Makeup: Lipgloss Candice Earrings: Cross Collar: Cross Collar Skin: Masha Eyes: Shocking

Makeup: Black Eyeliner Series-1 Makeup: Black Eyeliner Series-5 Makeup: Eyeshadow Shiny Dress: Disco Mini Dress Earrings: Diamond

Hair: Sweet Dreams Dress: Luda Longdress

Collar: Cross Collar Makeup: Eyeshadow Shiny Makeup: Lipgloss Candice2 Skin: Jelena Eyes: Deep

Featured Designer

Couleurs de l’automne by Diconay Boa

LWL - Secular Humanist - Female

LWL - Shimmer

LWL - Back to Campus

LWL - Fashionista Bite

LWL - Bursting with Fall

Trendspotting

The Lady from Shanghai by Dantelicia Ethaniel

Yukata: Sweetaholic | Ryouga in Navy mesh Head scarf: Ameliarae Beauparlant | Viva la Melia Tube scarf Skin: Glam Affair | Sakura

Pants: Leverocci | Anklelenght white jeans mesh Belt: Mimikri | Renee putty hip scarf mesh Tank top: GizzA | Tank mesh Bolero jacket: Mimikri | Renee putty suede shrug mesh Hairbase: Unbra

Pants: BareRose | part of Ao Dai outfit Shoulder piece: Shi | Imperium Shoulder Ornament Beret: Saikin | Knit fur beret Jacket: GizzA | Blazer Suit

Dress: Aliza Karu | Loneliness dress Cardigan: Le Primitif | Slouch Cardigan Hat: Eshi Otawara | part of Radiant outfit

Lace dress: SLC | Mesh Lace dress Tulle skirt: Vero Modero | Radius Line dress Hairbase: 99Elephant

Dress: Rebel Hope Design | Lalani mesh gown Scarf: Shi | Shoulder wrap beige Hat: Shi | Imperium Hat Hair and hairbase: Lelutka Skin: Glam Affair | Sakura

Fashion Forward

Coming over by Thalia Heckroth

Edge of Style

ANTINOMY by Winter Jefferson

t’s only the light that can cast a shadow. It’s the edge of the known that defines infinity. We are never more alive then after we have faced down death. ….so why can’t we find beauty in the bestial?

Horns: The Plastik | Triz Horns Hair: Lelutka | Charlize Skin: Tableau Vivant | Damon B Makeup: Sopherian | Ultra Eyeliner Jacket: BC322 | Bone Leather Jacket Shirt: Hoorenbeek | Mesh Dress Shirt with Tie Corset: Etchaflesh | Dystopia Male Corset Pants: Entente | Couleur Jeans Homme Shoes: {Elygo} | Spike Sneakers

Horns: {Lemon Tea} | Bestia Cornu Hair: Lelutka | Athena Skin: Tableau Vivant | Damon B Jewellery: CheerNo | Faisao Claws: {Lemon Tea} | Alta Painted Fingertips Pants: Miamai | Juka Leggings

Homme

Nevsky Prospect by Gabe Bookmite

Blogspot

Autumn Threads

by Leah McCullough

AVENUE Models

STYLE UP photographer Mikey Batriani models Amazon Silverweb, Amita Yorcliffe, Leah McCullough, Vivienne Coppola, Zaara Desmond

Interesting Sims

Writer Silly Avro Photographer Seashell Dench

Mischief Managed

“I

n dreams, we enter a world that is entirely our own.” Albus Dumbledore

In Second Life®, we can make our dreams a reality— and that’s what the creators of Mischief Managed have done. As soon as one arrives in the sim, one finds oneself in the world of Harry Potter; in King’s Cross Station in London, nearly ready to board the Hogwarts Express and begin your journey as a young witch or wizard. At the landing point, one will find all that’s needed for this adventure. A guide on what one’s avatar should look like for any given school year is clearly displayed on the wall, and free uniforms are available. There is a wall full of enchanted posters depicting people who can offer assistance. They are students and staff of Hogwarts and are prepared to help in or out of character. New to roleplay? No problem, there’s a class for that! Don’t let a lack of roleplay experience dissuade you. The staff of Mischief Managed are incredibly helpful and welcoming. Mischief Managed has been open since July 2012, though mainly Out of Character (OOC). On August 12th they had their official roleplay launch with students arriving for their trip to Hogwarts, as well as First Years being sorted into their houses. The event was impressively well orchestrated, and was an hours-long affair, so many had the opportunity to join in. It was certainly a

spectacle to behold. With that many avatars in one place, one would expect an incredible amount of lag, but due largely to the build of the sim and the cooperation of the players, lag was barely noticeable. The event was truly a dream come true for any Harry Potter fan. The smoothness with which it was accomplished is a testament to the time and investment the administrators have put into Mischief Managed. Classes began the week following the opening; however, anyone who’s interested may still join in the roleplay at any time - all that’s needed is an application, which is available on the Mischief Managed website [http://mischiefmanagedsl.com/ index.php?page=apps]. You can apply as a student, professor, or staff; the choice is yours, but be prepared to have a story in mind! As with everything else about Mischief Managed, there are sim administrators to help you every step of the way, you need only ask. Once you’re ready to embark upon your Harry Potter roleplay adventure, all you have to do is run through the wall at Platform 9 ¾ to find the Hogwarts Express waiting and ready to whisk you away! If you’d prefer to get to know Mischief Managed outside of a roleplay context, there’s a group for that: Mischief Managed OOC. The group is notice-

only (no chat), with notices of upcoming OOC events and public viewings. Whether you get to Hogwarts in or out of character, once setting foot on the grassy rise just outside of the iconic building, you will be impressed. The entire build is mesh, and remarkably crisp. You won’t be able to resist strolling the grounds as well as the castle taking in all the attention to detail and recognizing locations of your favorite scenes from the books and movies. This backdrop strongly promotes roleplay giving players any number of places to act out their story. To encourage roleplay on the sim, classes are offered daily at various times to serve multiple time zones, house meetings happen weekly, and dinner is served nightly…all with the intention of bringing players together to engage one another in their stories. Sim administrators also offer a notecard of any ongoing storylines or plots taking place in Mischief Managed so that players can become a part of the larger story should they choose. Since its kickoff event last month, Mischief Managed continues to be well populated at all times of day. Whether you’ve roleplayed in any of the numerous genres in and out of SL®, or are brand new to roleplay, Mischief Managed is definitely a sim worth visiting.

Website: mischiefmanagedsl.com Forums: mischiefmanagedsl.com/ forum/index.php Visit Mischief Managed Expecto [87.200.3004].

Sports & Recreation

THE ARCADE

Writer Breezie Noel Photographer Neva Crystall

emember tagging along with Mom to the grocery as a child? The stop-gostop-go was torturously boring, but you hoped, if you were really good, that Mom would reward you with a shiny coin or two for the vending machines on the way out. Oh, the prizes that awaited...temporary tattoos, dinosaur stickers, maybe even that shiny “diamond” ring! Can’t you still recall the anticipation as you turned the crank and heard the plastic capsule rattling down the chute, that thrill when the treasure finally plopped into your hand?

Well, mark your calendar for September 15, ladies and gents. Because, thanks to the organizers and creators of The Arcade Gacha Events group, SL residents can soon relive that childhood thrill to their hearts’ content. What is a “gacha,” anyway? Named by the Japanese after the sound made by the turn of the crank of a toy vending machine, gacha (pronounced like “gotcha” and also referred to as gachapon, gasha, or gashapon) refers to both the machines themselves and the toys they dispense. Coin-operated toy vending machines are still found outside of grocery stores and retailers. But gacha machines are different. The Japanese re-imagined this childhood staple in a way that has elevated the nostalgic concept to a whole new level. Originating in Japan and now widely popular throughout much of the world, Japanese gacha are much higher in quality and can cost anywhere from 2-12 times more than the 25-50 cent toys vended from the old American machines. By nature a “blind purchase,” gachas are typically released in sets, and many gachas are considered collector’s items, with rare ones fetching extremely high prices in secondhand markets. Not surprisingly, the gacha trend is catching on in Second

Life as well. Some content creators have placed gacha machines with special items at the doors of their stores, enticing customers to come in and browse. And who wouldn’t appreciate inserting L$25 into a gacha machine and receiving a cool tee or a pair of kicks? Even more compelling is the surprise factor – the not knowing which design you’ll receive – or that bittersweet gamble as you play the odds, inserting your hard earned lindens again and again for the thing you want the most. No one really loses, since most gacha items are transferrable, enabling you to trade or gift your extras. And now, The Arcade Gacha Events has stepped in to promote what promises to be the biggest Second Life gacha event yet. Organized by co-founders Octagons Yazimoto and Katharine McGinnis, Art Director Emery Milneaux, and Event Organizer Umberto Giano, The Arcade will open to the public September 15th at The Grove Country Club Estates. Continuing for 30 days, the event will feature gachas by over fifty of Second Life’s most prolific designers of fashion, style, and décor. Yazimoto explains why she approached her fellow organizers about opening The

Arcade. “I really missed gacha events. There was too long of a lull without any, in my opinion. One silly conversation between some friends led to a serious proposition, and everything started falling into place. Our intention from the get-go was to make the event something special for both designers and shoppers. A place that was not only beautiful to look at, but would also offer great items by a diverse array of SL brands.” Emery Milneaux recalls their group decision on a theme. “When we broke it down, we concluded, gacha is a game. What, then, is a gacha event? Well, a space full of games...an arcade! We unanimously agreed: Our gacha event would be called The Arcade. Our real research began, and we found ourselves dazzled by turn of the century penny arcades: the twinkle of their lights, the character of their Victorian architecture, the romance of it all. In their day, these arcades were something special, and we thought they could be special again within Second Life.” Umberto Giano (owner of The Grove Country Club Estates) next turned his expertise to the task of finding a builder. “I only know a handful of builders who are capable of the type of venue we wanted to house The Arcade. I turned to Loz Hyde of

Meshworx.” Loz jumped at the chance to construct a turn of the century penny arcade as a 100% mesh structure. Loz says, “One big reason to take on this build is to further the awareness and importance of mesh in SL. The amount of detail along with the low prim count is so important when building big venues like this.” Combining the ambiance of Disneyland’s original Main Street and the late Victorian Brighton Pier on England’s south coast, Hyde describes his Arcade build as “a hybrid old style with a modern twist; a mix of late 18th century ironwork with a Coney Island flavor.” Visitors will arrive on a wooden pier, jutting out into the water. They’ll enjoy gacha machines and fun attractions as they walk along the pier toward the heart of the event, The Arcade. Crowning The Arcade is a glass plated dome, reflecting the graceful turn-of-the-century industrial aesthetic of the late Victorian era. “We are thinking of installing an elevated tramway, raised on stilts, so visitors can ride above and center down the whole length of the pier passing through the arcade.” One popular attraction of old penny arcades was the mutoscope, an early version of moving pictures achieved by motorized flipping of sequential picture cards viewed through

a lens. In a brilliantly creative way to echo The Arcade theme, designer Anya Ohmai of Mischief Managed designed the gacha machines in the form of brightly painted mutoscopes. Anya’s version will display each designer’s logo and dispense gachas. And what gachas! Over 50 top designers will offer their wares in the charming vending machines, including such luminaries as Nardcotix, The Loft, Bare Rose, Adorkable, Burley, Art Dummy, LISP Bazaar, House of Fox, LaGyo, and MIAMAI. Event visitors will be thrilled with the range of offerings from home furnishings to interior/ exterior decor, from fashion to shoes, from animations to hair, all at enticing price levels. And, of course, the excitement will build as they relive the giddy anticipation of childhood, waiting to see what prize they’ve gotten. Amateur and professional photographers are welcomed to The Arcade event as well, which will offer the added attraction of a photography contest. Co-founder Katharine McGinnis sums it up, “I think that the diversity of the participating brands, customers, photographers, and just about every walk of life is going to offer something pretty special: You’ll meet new people in a beautiful

environment and have fun while doing so. What more could you ask?” Visit thearcadesl.com for more information and ongoing announcements. The Arcade Gacha Events is sponsored by AVENUE Magazine, The Grove Country Club Estates, Collabor88, Intrigue Co., Sleepy Bones and Tableau.

Architectural Designer

Designer Prims Writer Silly Avro Photographer Natasja Schumann

odern, contemporary, modular design... straight lean lines... rustic stone... exposed beams... these are just a few of the things Elle Crescendo loves and incorporates into her builds at Designer Prims.

Crescendo categorizes her designs as urban contemporary, which is a style known for blending inner city and industrial with sustainability and environmentalism. Her work maximizes space and light... it is functional, flexible, and fashionable. Crescendo began to build her own houses in Second Life® when she ran out of houses she wanted to buy. She says she’s “always been an avid fan of architecture,” and began to build her dream house. From that pursuit Designer Prims was born, and is now in its third year in SL®. Crescendo says of her design process: “Inspirations come along when you least expect them, I can see a shape or a color, a set of feature windows, a table with a vase of flowers and suddenly I’m envisioning an entire house around it. The rest of the design aesthetic is usually a combination of an extension of my personality and personal tastes. I’m also forever inspired by my customers and the fact that they continue to lend me their support. That always keeps me going if only to meet their expectations every time.” Elle is very focused on giving her customers the ability to make her homes their own “I always provide a texture change menu in my homes, so the customer can ultimately decide on the ambiance for themselves.”

When asked about her current projects, she replied “I recently finished my first mesh design, which is a small loft and was a bit of experiment in my abilities to create and work in a 3D modeling environment. So now I’m taking my leanings from that and working on a modern luxury design which is pretty much complete.” We were fortunate to have a sneak peek at this latest Designer Prim home, and it adds some very nice enhancements, like a trellised garden space and a cozy book nook. It’s clear that Crescendo loves what she does and is very detail-oriented. “I put a huge amount of passion in my designs, there is a little bit of me in every design and I hope that transcends. Because of that passion I tend to experience a fair bit of anxiety before a design comes into fruition and I relax into the design as everything falls into place. I live in every home I create before I send it out into the world. I find that by doing that and furnishing a build myself I find every little oversight that I otherwise wouldn’t have noticed and at that stage I will often redesign certain elements if I find aspects of it just don’t work.” Elle has been very busy exploring her passion these past three years in SL. Designer Prims is a marvelous showcase of her work. Upon arrival you will find the products of her

labor all around you, laid out in such a way that invites you to stroll through it all. Her latest homes are scattered beautifully across the well landscaped sim, for you to explore and imagine yourself living in. She has a section of all of her furniture and accessories for your perusal and decorating needs. Her pricing is as impressive as her designs. Her well-crafted furnishings and home enhancements are reasonably priced and will work in just about everyone’s budget. Shopping at Designer Prims is a Linden™ well spent. Elle has homes for all budgets and parcel sizes. Many of her homes and skyboxes are sold with furnishings. Her homes range from L$899 to L$2400 and are perfect for parcels sized 1024 square meters and up. She has a splendid assortment of skyboxes... two of which are only L$50, and represent an excellent value and an inexpensive introduction to her designs. The price range for skyboxes goes up to L$1500, sized to fit a variety of parcel sizes. Visit Elle Crescendo’s Designer Prims at Dreamy Isle [215.149.21].

Perspectives

Proposing the

Second Life® Games

Writer Huckleberry Hax Photographer Eve Kazan

s I write this, the London Olympics is drawing to a close. Much to everyone’s surprise, Team GB did rather well this year. Third place on the medal table, in fact. Not that I want to gloat or anything, but… wow. An historic bronze in gymnastics. A gold in the heptathalon. A victory for Andy Murray over Roger Federer at Wimbledon that – following his defeat at the Wimbledon finals just a month earlier (in itself an historic event) – felt like the climax to a summer release feelgood movie. In fact, a more or less flawless games, North Korean flag incident notwithstanding. And an opening ceremony that somehow captured everything we would like as a nation to have captured about us. We even managed to help Mitt Romney make himself look like an idiot. It’s been quite a year for us Brits. The memory of the Diamond Jubilee still in our hearts, the Olympics came along at just the right moment to catch us standing at our tallest for as long as I can remember. Right now, I have this feeling in my chest I’ve not felt before with respect to being British; there must be a word for it… sort of a swelling… It’s probably just indigestion. All this has got me thinking about Second Life® and the current lack therein of such

positive feelings. We need our own Olympics, I’ve decided; something that brings us together, celebrates our skills and similarly swells our chests at being part of the amazing metaverse revolution. And, after much reflection, I propose the following events: 100m Lag Hurdles. The more spectators the better in this exciting and dramatic event. Flying is of course prohibited and competitors receive penalties for sailing through hurdles in a lag bubble. Although it’s tempting to propose that the hurdles themselves be made physical so that they fall on impact, a scripted response to contact will probably be preferable in order to avoid hurdles flying around the stadium according to Linden’s somewhat bizarre laws of motion. Alternatively, hurdles could be made physical and unlinked, the resulting prim explosions serving the additional function of a celebratory firework display. Expect the event to take about five hours and several simrestarts to complete. Championship Outfit Changing. Starting with plain white gym shorts and t-shirts, competitors race to be the first to strip down (underwear is obligatory in this popular family event) and put on – item-by-item, and in a predetermined order – an outfit supplied by one of the games

sponsors. Extra points can be earned for added flair through improvised emotes, as judged by a panel of literary experts. Mainland Sim Marathon. Starting at Bear Infohub (being the originator of the SL Games, I get to decide such things) and following the main road, a minimum of 50 competitors race a track through 26 sims (or multiple thereof). This unticketed event will allow spectators from all over the grid to enjoy watching these prime avatar athletes battle it out, not to mention provide expanded advertising space. Security for this event will include air-to-ground missiles in case any car-owning residents should contemplate imposing their own ‘Tenpin Avatar Bowling’ contest upon it. Synchronised Avatar Swimming. Teams of eight avatars present performances consisting of sequenced animations from stores of their choice, however a minimum of ten per cent of these must be from dollarbie vendors and include – in a contextually appropriate manner – at least one sitting-with-legs-crossed pose. Athletes are required to select each pose during the sequence from their inventory, a policy which is enforced trough random HUD testing. Teleportation Triathlon. This trio of events aims to find the best overall TP Olympian. In Full Sim

Sprint, avatars compete in groups of ten to be the first to spot a vacant space in a full mainland sim and teleport into it. In Accidental Random TP Acceptance, competitors must accept a TP request whilst running a four sim circuit and are then timed to see how quickly they can get back to the exact spot on the track they were at when they clicked on ‘Ok’. In Suspected Infidelity Speedway, avatars attempt to set the lowest time for teleporting into a named sim, locating the target avatar with their cam and teleporting back out again. Championship Chat Spam Archery. In this individual event, competitors take it in turns to stand in the middle of a nightclub mock-up surrounded by twenty dancing avatars. At random intervals, one of the dancers spouts chat spam that fills up the screen (the werewolf howling thing, probably; a committee will make the final decision). The competitor is then timed to see how quickly s/he can locate the spammer and shoot them with a prim bow and arrow. Extra points will be earned for a shot between the eyes. Team Gymnastics event: the TP Tower. Teams from each of the mainland continents compete under a time pressure to create the highest tower of avatars formed by teleporting in someone on top of their heads.

Points are deducted for any avies that appear in ‘walking on the spot mode’ but added for upside down materialisations. On the issue of team entry, private islands will be divided into north, south, east and west so that they may form their own co-operatives. Team Zindra will carefully monitored. Underground Exit Swimming. Less well-known than the TP of Death is the TP of Depth which, rather than sending you outworld following a teleport attempt, transports you to the waters beneath whatever building it had been your intention to leave. Swimmers compete individually in this event, which teleports them initially to the waters beneath a popular casualwear shopping destination, to be the fastest to find a point at which they can surface. As an extra complication, this voice event requires entrants to hold their breath in RL. Championship IM Juggling. Starting at three, competitors must manage an increasing number of parallel instant message conversations, the time between a correspondent’s and their own Return key being hit (measured to the nearest hundredth of a second) being added to the correspondents’ ratings for the quality of conversation experienced. Topics are drawn from the last seven days of world affairs and use of

the ‘lol’ term or any associated acronym (asses off or affixed) is strictly prohibited. Emoticons are permitted, but only as part of a sentence. This event employs the full-nosed smiley of a colon, a dash and a closed bracket; use of the abbreviated smiley of a colon and closed bracket only incurs a five point penalty. Newbie Hoopla. No further explanation required. An adult only event. Yes, I can see it now: the joy; the glory; the copybotted merchandise; the last minute hunt to find a sim to host the stadium; the arguments over how the medals table is calculated; the boycotting of the games by Gorean roleplayers in response to the controversial ‘no leashes’ rule. This is what SL needs to bring everyone together; a gridwide event in which everyone can play a role. And maybe – just possibly – we might – kind of like us Brits this year – come to realise along the way that actually we’re a pretty grand collection of people with more in common than we realise. You never know. Huckleberry Hax writes novels set in Second Life®. You can download these for free from www.huckleberryhax.blogspot. com

Architecture & Interiors

MESH WORKS! W

Loz Hyde of Meshworx

Writer Umberto Giano Photographer Neva Crystal

hat leads a professional 3D artist with experience in movies, print media, and commercial work take on the significant commitment to create objects and open a store in Second Life®? In Loz Hyde’s case, the answer is, in a word, mesh.

“When I heard mesh was coming to SL, I got very excited,” says Loz Hyde, the artist behind the up-and-coming brand of Meshworx. “I know the power of what is possible with mesh and how it will enhance our SL experience.” Loz began applying his RL experience as an accomplished 3D modeler with a small mesh wood-burning stove in November of 2011. The response was positive, which encouraged him to create more pieces to sell on the SL® Marketplace. As demand for his highly detailed mesh furnishings increased, Hyde realized it was time to expand with his own in-world retail presence. As for choosing an aptly descriptive name for his brand, “Meshworx seemed a natural solution,” Hyde chuckles, “I finally broke down and converted my Factory loft skybox into a ground version with huge hangar doors and opened it... around April of this year. Then I realized I had to make a lot of stuff to fill it!” To simply say he has “filled it” is an understatement of epic proportions. Hyde’s talent and skill with mesh result in creations that many on the grid would characterize as revolutionary. A cursory glance around Loz Hyde’s Meshworx warehouse reveals a wide array of furniture

styles from remarkably diverse eras. A gritty, hard-lined industrial architect’s table, developed for Vintage Fair 2012, sits beneath his airy, gilded, almost ethereal Grand Chandelier. A soft, modern Lex Couch of sleek upholstered cubes contrasts with the voluptuous Rococo curves of his Bombay-style veneered Louis Chest. While it all may seem random at first, there are no incongruities in this picture. A similar mix of wellcrafted designs from multiple eras and styles frequently graces the pages of that bible of real life high design, Architectural Digest. As Hyde modestly says, “I like to see things mixed and matched.” While he maintains that he only builds what he likes, his work reveals good taste and a discerning eye. Intentional or not, Hyde has his thumb on the pulse of the cutting edge of interior style. Hyde elaborates by saying “I like nice things and get excited when I see pieces by George Nelson, Eames, and Herman Miller. I collect midcentury items in RL and love the patina and feel of older things. My father shipped antiques from England, so I was around a lot of beautiful old things pretty much all my life. As far as what inspires my work... these are the things I would want but can’t find in SL with as much detail and low prim count. With

my mesh work, I guess detail is what excites me... the small things. Like the wing nut on the back of the Toledo Chair, or the tell-tale worn edges at the base of a chair, where a person’s feet would have rubbed against the surface for many years.” Like the Toledo Chair, everything offered by Meshworx evinces the same rigorous devotion to detail. The Industrial Light, for example, exhibits mesh elements usually forgotten, like a twisted cord and the nuts and bolts which secure the wire and glass face in place. Just glancing at the Industrial Light in-world, you cannot be sure it’s real or from mesh. As virtual representations go, their resemblance to the originals upon which they are modeled is stunning. The most striking examples of how mesh can revolutionize contentcreationaretheMeshworx Baby and Grand Chandeliers. In the past, alphas were used to represent the long draping strings of crystals in similar light fixtures. No more. “The Grand and Baby Chandeliers are probably two of my favorite items, because they are very detailed with over 4 and 5 thousand mesh crystals respectively, yet are only 6 and 9 prims each!” Like everything at Meshworx, the chandeliers are enchanting in both traditional and modern homes.

Likewise, Hyde’s texturing and rendering of shadows is highly detailed and realistic. In the past, content creators were forced to work within the constraints of sculpts and regular prims when applying textures (and vice versa), but, using the transformative nature of mesh and his considerable 3D modeling experience, Meshworx items defy conventional limitations. The abstract design texture, lilac blue and yellow floral on white, of the Loop Vase hugs around the curves of the free-form vase in a manner previously unheard of in Second Life, effectively marrying a liberated design aesthetic to realism. Loz Hyde’s textures exist in joyful abeyance to the purpose of each piece. The Jessie Sofa, for instance, is Hyde’s take on the classic Chesterfield vintage sofa design. With its ample cushions and padded curves, it comes in 10 different and unique texture choices, including the popular Union flag, yet this exquisitely rounded and comfortable sofa displays no texture distortion whatsoever – a feat previously impossible with sculpts. With 67 animations (Kabuki Animation) in the adult version, including a pillow fight, drinking coffee, and eating popcorn, the Jessie Sofa (an economical 5 prims) is a favorite in many homes. It even features a highly detailed 1-prim laptop with 3D keyboard (not

a photo) upon which residents can surf the web, check email, and watch YouTube videos. Nowhere, however, do Meshworx’s textures evince a more palpable, mood-enhancing presence than in his two builds. The Warehouse Loft is dark, grungy, and industrial to an extreme. While it’s a simple structure, the light, shadows, and texture differentiate it from anything else of its ilk in Second Life. The atmosphere within the Warehouse Loft is intense. You can imagine yourself crouched behind dusty wooden crates, hiding in the deep shadows from a masked serial killer - or, with the addition of club lighting and a DJ booth, it could be the newest, edgiest club in town. “For the most part, a building takes longer to design, model, and bring into SL,” says Loz Hyde. “Usually it is way more complex, and the lighting has to... look real. I normally do a simple lighting pass on anything that is not a building and goes inside a building, like furniture, for instance. I feel inside items should not have strong or long shadows like inside my Factory loft.” Hyde’s ability to utilize the advantages of mesh is most apparent in Meshworx’s much acclaimed Grand Hall. The scale is monumental, the floor plan

expansive, yet strict attention is paid to detail throughout its marbled corridors. “As an artist, the goal in building the Grand Hall was to push the boundaries of mesh in SL and to understand it better,” Loz Hyde notes. “In RL, I understand mesh modeling very well, but SL is so different, and the Grand Hall represents a big learning curve for me. I also wanted to create unique custom textures for everything. I painted a lot of gold leaf with highlights and baked lighting.” “With such a big build, I learned to build things simply but give the look of more detail,” explains Hyde. Mere words are insufficient to do justice to this build. Every element fits together in a design jigsaw that reveals a rich, sumptuous image. From the subtly veined marble and tastefully dull patina of gilt accents to the warm wood of the worn parquet floors and cool limestone surfaces, the Grand Hall conveys wealth, age, and legacy. Its scale, lines, and layered texture stir the imagination. You can almost envision elegantly attired French lords and ladies, their velvet slippers whispering over the ballroom floor as they dance a courtly minuet for the Sun King’s entertainment. If rich textures are a mainstay of Meshworx, the other common denominator would be shape. Despite the diversity of form

and detail, every piece displays a clear, simple silhouette. Strip away the texture and shading and his chairs still very much remain chairs, his tables are unmistakably tables. This is the key to his success: well-shaped, detailed, yet simple forms draped in layers of beautifully rendered textures and shading. Hyde credits his years as a real life custom jewelry maker as the basis for the level of importance he places on the clarity of shape and richly detailed textures at Meshworx. “When people see my stuff, I just want them to ask, ‘How did he do that with so few prims?’ Well, that’s my goal... I’m pretty much only interested in building things that mostly can’t be built with conventional primes or sculpts. I want people to know this is mesh and, hopefully, enjoy the details and realism of what it brings.”

He keeps himself busy indeed. When asked where he finds the time for everything, Hyde chuckles, “Well, I don’t find time for everything!” He mentions that his in-world partner in crime Samantha Ohrberg has been promised (and is still patiently waiting for) a home for quite some time, then adds wryly, “My mum says, ‘marry a cobbler and you’ll get no shoes.’ LOL” Who knows, maybe shoes could be Loz Hyde’s next big challenge to tackle. Or race cars. One thing’s for sure. Whatever this dazzling mesh designer/ builder puts his mind to, it will be extraordinary.

SL store owner and builder; real life 3D modeler for film, commercial and print media; jewelry maker; and artist - Loz Hyde has produced some of the grid’s finest furniture and structures at a prolific rate since his November 2011 debut. Aside from a store full of outstanding quality furnishings, he just finished special pieces available in Vintage Fair and Collabor88, and his next work, a Brighton Pier-inspired turn-of-the-century penny arcade venue for The Arcade Gacha Events, is set to open September 15th.

Club of the month

L Get Connected

Writer ShaiLi Alex Photographer Eve Kazan

ooking for a hot spot where you can have fun, make friends and listen to good non-commercial deep house and techno? If so, then you’re not alone. The need to connect with like-minded souls and experience immersive underground sounds is pervasive but choices were limited ... until now. Enter Deep Connection.

Deep Connection is an authentic virtual source for underground deep house on the Second Life grid. Describing the sound of Deep Connection as “deep vibes,” owner Nurito Inshan says, “Deep vibes...is a new underground movement, (non-commercial), (and) dedicated exclusively to styles like Deep House, Deep TechHouse, Electronica and Nu Disco. The idea of DC was to serve as a connection between the different movements and styles of house music. In this case ‘deep house’ hence the name ... the true goal of DC is to create a balance between music, art and environment. To make people feel comfortable listening to deep vibes and also introduce new people to this style.” Due to its devotion to underground deep sounds, a drama-free atmosphere and an artistic eye-pleasing and always evolving build by Filipe Roff, Deep Connection draws huge crowds to its popular weekly event Saturdays at 1PM SLT. Co-owner and managing partner, Casha Fall explains the overwhelming response to Deep Connection’s winning formula. “It’s a fun place to come listen to deep house & tech house, and just have a good time on a Saturday night and get crazy sometimes! It’s one of the more lively underground clubs,”

says Casha Fall. “We know that people these days can’t afford to go out or even travel the world to listen to different styles. Deep Connection provides music you want to listen to with the added bonus of other people being there to interact with on all levels.” While Deep DJs and “party people” make up a core element of Deep Connection’s regular patrons, newcomers and the curious are welcome. The atmosphere is inclusive and without the attendant attitude found at other clubs. Casha maintains, “Most important to me is that everyone who plays or comes to listen has a good time. Without them we are nothing ... we are just the connection that brings the people and the music together.” Visit Deep Connection at Topaz Oasis [216.21.2702].

Arts Feature

Fun for Charity Writer Quan Lavender Photographer Eve Kazan

he world is divided in pessimists and optimists pessimists complain about the world, and optimists just get on with things. Trill Zapatero belongs to the latter group.

A resident of Canada in RL, Zapatero is an artist in both lives: “I’ve always been interested in art for as long as I can remember. Nearly all children draw and make things, the only difference between ‘artists’ and people who don’t think they are artists is that the others stopped doing art at some point but they can pick it up again anytime if they like. Art was my major in university, I majored in painting and printmaking, I started to do my thesis in painting but I dropped out after the first year and ran off to Asia with my boyfriend. So that was about teaching English, painting, drawing, travelling a lot. Travelling…informs my work a lot, also my design ideas. At the moment, since we’ve been back from Asia, I illustrated a book that my boyfriend wrote. It’s published by Tuttle Press. I’ve illustrated a few things for articles for Huffington post, political cartoons. I illustrated some storytelling cards and a map for a children’s writing program. I have odd jobs here and there making brochures and posters, but I have a lot of free time.” When a friend told her about Second Life®, she had the idea to use SL® as a 3D website. She brought some paintings inworld, and built a little outdoor space for them. That was the beginning of her building experience, but she quickly saw

that much more was possible. Today she uses SL’s virtual space for creating installations, using detailed textures and scripted parts, and sometimes incorporates real life works. Her last large installation in Second Life was a post-apocalyptic wasteland with small islands of hope; the build garnered a great deal of appreciation in the SL art world. Zapatero’s political activism and participation in the anti-war movement leads her to donate all of the proceeds of her sales to RAWA (the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan). Zapatero says of the organization: “RAWA is the oldest political/social organization of Afghan women struggling for peace, freedom, democracy and women’s rights in fundamentalism-blighted Afghanistan since 1977. RAWA, in my opinion, the most amazing and inspiring example of a charity, of an activist group and of feminism. The story of the women in the organization reads like an adventure. Their resilience and tenacity in the face of adversity is very inspiring. They started out as a group of feminists at Kabul University in the late ‘70’s. Throughout the years of Soviet occupation, then the civil war, the Taliban regime and the occupation by the west, the women of RAWA have been running orphanages, hospitals,

schools, clinics, and incomegenerating projects for refugees. Actually, during the Taliban years, they ran secret schools and it was RAWA members that snuck cameras under their burqas to document the abuses of the Taliban and get the images out to the West. Internet activism is hugely important to RAWA as a way to connect with the world outside of Afghanistan. Their award winning website is often cited as a prime example of Internet activism. In fact they are one of the first organizations to make extensive use of the Internet to reach people.” The rise of the conservative Taliban, and subsequent dramatic decline of women’s rights in Afghanistan, was in part caused by the intervention of Western secret services, which financially supported them during the Soviet/Afghan war. According to social scientists, Afghan women are the most endangered female victims of violence anywhere in the world. Zapatero says of the issues Afghan women face: “According to RAWA their struggle for peace and human rights is far from over. They want the establishment of an independent, free, democratic and secular Afghanistan. They are opposed to the occupation of their country by the US and NATO. They say that the present power structure in the country is the warlords/

druglords that are backed by the US because western corporate interests can buy them. Both rival groups, the Taliban and the US backed-mujahedeen, are anti-women fundamentalists. They also say that the Western media aren’t telling the truth when they say that women in Afghanistan are somehow being liberated by occupation forces. Despite much-touted progress, Afghanistan still suffers from shockingly high rates of infant mortality and maternal mortality. In 2010, Afghanistan ranked 173rd out of 178 in the UN’s Human Development Index. With so much suffering around them, it is impossible for RAWA to speak of human rights and women’s political rights, without also addressing the lack of access to food and health care, which are prerequisites to other rights.” She was aware that the Linden Dollars she makes in SL are a relative pittance if cashed out for Canadian dollars, but also that the money goes much further in a poor country. She decided that the proceeds of her sales from SL would be put to much better use in Afghanistan. Driven by the desire to contribute more to RAWA, Zapatero expanded her SL efforts to the creation of fashion. Her first collection, “BoHo HoBo”, features colourful, Bohoinspired accessories and styles

with excellent, natural-looking textures. Zapatero is generous with her customers; don’t forget to join her subscribe for classy gifts (the current gift is a beautiful mesh dress). Inspired by traditional Afghan women’s wear she created Meena, a collection of fashion and jewellery with an ethnic touch, named for the founder of RAWA. Meena can be found in the Afghanistan Museum, also created by Zapatero. At the entrance, visitors are overwhelmed by a breathtaking landscape. But beware of snakes! The flying carpet allows a nice sightseeing flight which ends on top of the mountains in the museum. The exhibition reveals interesting details about nature, daily life and culture in Afghanistan. It’s a great place to explore and to find nice places to relax with friends. The sim tier is paid by an anonymous donor; visitors can be assured that every single L$ they spend or donate goes to RAWA. Afghanistan Museum: [239.209.26].

Trillia

RAWA: www.rawa.org Shop landing [233.8.2001].

point:

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Arts Feature

Writer Quan Lavender Photographer Seashell Dench

“T

his installation is based on a recurring dream I had about my dog. In real life, after he died, I would often dream that he was still alive, but being aware of time passing, I knew it had been years since I’d fed him, since I’d walked him and held him. The dream is always in a dark factory, in mazes of rooms. I feel the presence of my dog somewhere in the expanse of the factory, but I fail to find him, and know he will ‘die’ if I cannot get to him. The sense of urgency is strong. This dream initiated the base for my build. You can still find elements of it included in the present work. But I made the narrative less personal, so that others could relate to their own sense of dreams. And I began introducing additional nightmares along with optimistic dreams.”

Dreams of an Artist

Haveit Neox shares the initial story behind the current exhibition: ‘Stirring the Dreams’. Everyone has to deal with sad events in his life. An artist is able to make use of it as a trigger to a creative process. And Haveit Neox is artist through and through. He prefers to keep his real life identity separate from Second Life®. However, the three things he admits are that he is “human, male, and an artist.” Entering the full sim work ‘Stirring the Dreams’ is entering an intriguing, beautiful and strange world. Following the path, starting underwater and moving up to the sky, we get the strong impression that this installation talks as well about a quest, perhaps for redemption or the sense of life. Haveit Neox is a passionate builder. The stunning results make the visitors almost speechless, and he found much recognition in the art world of Second Life®. AVENUE: How did you find Second Life®? Haveit Neox: In a way, I’d been in SL™ for years before it even existed. When I was a kid, I always spent the full day in the yard building civilizations from whatever material was around, ankle deep in mud, paint, clay. There were monetary systems, stores, institutions, transportation systems, and I even invented languages for my countries. I used to fantasize

how cool it would be if people could actually enter my miniature spaces. Little did I know that someday, the computer would fulfill that dream. My family, knowing my love for building cities, sculpting, and painting, suggested I check out SL™. Not being a gamer, at first I declined to investigate it. Fortunately they persisted and I took my first steps into the virtual world in December 2009, and have been wowed from that instant. AV: So we can assume that your main interest in Second Life® is building? HN: Yes. My SL™ experience is at times a twin of my real life one. I’m an artist in both, with a special interest in creating an environment for my exhibits. Of course, I can do much more in SL™ with installations than in real life. The financial limitations, making connections with galleries, shipping considerations, advertising, etc., in my experience, are far friendlier prospects to achieve in SL™. I also have developed the sim, ACC Alpha where I live, and the sim, Sparquerry, where I set up exhibits. ACC Alpha is more metropolitan in nature, with a museum, functional library, stores, places to chill, a transport system that takes you up to the top of the Paper Tower via a ‘chicken gondola’, game boards for chess and Parcheesi, and other interactive activities of

that nature. This all comes from my childhood wish of people using the spaces I build. One of the most frequent comments I hear from people is that my sim is ‘big,’ meaning that there is a lot to see, and many levels to discover. AV: I agree! It is just overwhelming. For us as nonbuilders, how can we imagine your creation process? HN: First I envision what kind of stories might fit the site. In a notebook, I begin writing down ideas, and making sketches. I cannot transfer an exhibit directly onto the sim from my ‘blueprints’ without first spending large amounts of time on site to see how it translates. Adjustments are constant. As I progress, I probably spend 90 percent of the time walking around my build to view it at all angles and see how the space feels. I ask myself questions such as: are the views interesting at any angle, how surprising is it when you round a corner, are the transitions between the spaces fitting, do the spaces carry the psychological atmosphere I wish to convey, etc. I walk while constructing places because I want to explore the physical ambiance of the space. If anyone has seen me build, it must look very funny… an avatar perching on, or circling around the structure like a determined vulture. Only during

the remaining 10 percent of the time do I actually rezz or move prims around. As for style, I’m a perfectionist of looseness. I tend toward movement, lively lines and expressive gestures, even if the motion is subtle. I correlate this with dance: I love the elegance of ballet, but the rare and most beautiful dances to my eyes are the spontaneous movements people make when they have a powerful emotional response to something. They move their bodies to the snake charmer within their souls, and you can see the celebration in their eyes, the primal smile on their face. This is what I try to achieve in my art. AV: You invited other artists to submit their ‘dream’ works and incorporated them in your installation. Please, tell us about the idea behind it. HN: In my previous exhibit, Second Libations, I had invited people to submit stories which would fit the theme of the installation. I preserved these texts which are written on scrolls and open faced books in a room of the current exhibit. Besides these, I invited my friend Lilia Artis to transform the room called Binary Court into her dream vision. She installed “Floating Along the Drift” which brings depth into that room. I also asked her to fill an animated sky checkerboard

I’d made in the highest level of the exhibit with her poetry. It is an enriching feeling for me to read her verses while walking ‘in the clouds’. I can always count on Lilia to produce something new and tailored to the site with great taste. I also invited Ziki Questi to participate. I’d built a bridge extending from the upper level of the Sparcurious Gallery to the floating Satellite hub, specifically with Ziki in mind. With eight long panels envisioned, she accepted my invitation lining the bridge with grace and optimism. Stephen Venkman also participated 4 of his paintings. Working with other artists gives a sense of community to an installation, something that makes it more dynamic for me. That’s not to say I always follow this approach. I also do solo exhibits where the work is exclusively my own. But I seem to gravitate towards community.

helpful for visitors exploring it. So finally, what should readers expect in the future from you? HN: I’m increasingly interested in making machinima, and I am planning an event. Ever since creating the Hatters’ Madness Parade at ACC Alpha in 2010, I’ve always wanted to continue a variation of that. Time has been limited. I hope to present another parade in the theme of Noah’s Ark. It will follow a similar pattern to Hatters’ Madness where artists wear their creations on their heads, and pause to let spectators climb atop the coifs to enter the artworks. I’m looking forward to building the ark. I hope to hold the event in December of this year, probably the weekend of December 8th and 9th, and I hope to welcome you all.

AV: Are there any other parts of the build you want to make our readers aware of? HN: The main tower of the Sparcurious Gallery is an ongoing project of mine. It is based on Hindu temple architecture of Southern India where enormous trapezoidal gates are packed with hundreds of gods and goddesses carved onto the surfaces. AV: Thank you for the insights in your work, which will be