text:
House of Fox
n.39 12.2011
Styled & Photographed by Cade Nansen
Publisher's note
t's almost hard to imagine another year is nearly behind us. What seems like just yesterday is well in our past and all that remains are hopes for a better tomorrow. Looking back on a year full of growth and accomplishments, we're so proud and thankful for those who continue to support us. We can't thank our staff enough for the countless hours of creativity and excitement that they bring to this publication each month, always challenging themselves and setting the bar higher with a common goal of greatness. Like this month's Arts Feature, "The Path," a continual art installation started by Bryn
Oh where each participating artist adds on to the story with their own vision, AVENUE is on a continuum of evolution. With the addition of each new family member, our original mission grows and collaborates with new thoughts and fresh ideas. Second Life® is truly a focus on the creative. Be it fashion, lifestyle, or the arts, every facet of what we enjoy day in and day out in this virtual world is the physical creation of our vastly talented residents. The continued mission of AVENUE is to not only discover and explore these talents, but to awaken the creative emotions from within ourselves each month.
We leave you in closing with a wonderful vignette of photography pieces in Inspirations that is aptly called "Looking Back". It's been an amazing year and we look forward to another year with you.
Rusch Raymaker Rusch Raymaker Publisher & Editor in Chief AVENUE
Editor's note
hen it snows, ain't it thrillin'? Tho' your nose, gets a chillin'. We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way, walkin' in a winter wonderland." It's that time of year when the snow has begun falling, the holiday spirit is in the air, and your sexy sandals have begun gathering dust in the back of your closet. Fashion-wise, we've started adding more layers, and more and more Residents are giving up their tropical paradise for a, well, a winter wonderland! And we here at AVENUE couldn't be more elated! We're busy wrapping up another incredible year here at AVENUE Magazine, and it has been one amazing ride! We've seen many changes here, including new, talented staff, and even our hot new redesign of the magazine, and we are confident there are many more to come as we prepare to welcome a new year and a fresh start.
With that said, it's time to titillate your senses with another hot off the press issue filled with the crème de la crème that of Second Life®. Our coveted cover is home to the next household name: Fashionboi Landar. Join us as we sit down and get into the mind of the design guru and his classic brand, House of Fox. Bringing you a little change of pace, our own Cade Nansen and Kallisto Destiny give you just a taste of the sexiest styles male and female styles for to spice up your oh-so-cold winter in their respective spreads. And of course, we leave you drooling with more of Brie Wonder's Trendspotting as she reminds us while it may be cold outside, the temperature is just right inside, and it's time to strip down and get comfortable! Outside of the fashion world, this issue we take a look at a truly commendable cause that brought out the beauty of many SL residents with our feature on the Pretty, Bald in Pink
Campaign. Read more about this noble cause that didn't ask for your money, only your time and your attention. And because we couldn't end the year without bringing a little of the kid out of you, our newest addition, Linda Reddevil has a little fun riding the ducks in this month's feature "Quackerstone Grandstand Duck Racing." There's so much more to explore inside this issue, so turn the page to truly end your year with a "bang!" As always, we will continue to bring you the latest, only the greatest, and the finest content Second Life has to offer. Happy reading!
Sensuous Soulstar
Sensous Soulstar Managing Editor AVENUE
Styled by Jesika Contepomi Photographed by Cade Nansen
Cover Story House of Fox
78 Edge of Style
266 Arts Feature The Path
Fashion 34 44 50 60 68 78 94 106 132 142 156 168 176
Cover Story House of Fox Featured Designer Faster Pussycat Trendspotting Fashion Icon CHIC Management Winter Styles Edge of Style Homme Fashion Agenda Gizza Model of the month Dahlia Joubert Fun with Fashion GOLden Shopping BOOM My Precious Queen Contest Blogspot Thalia Heckroth Lifestyle
184 194 204 218 224 234 240
AVENUE Magazine December 2011 cover Featuring Fashionboi Landar of House of Fox Photographer Asia Rae
For The Love Of Pretty Bald in Pink Interiors Cheeky Pea Interesting Sims Clockwork Kingdom Sports & Recreation Duck Racing Perspectives DJ of the month Daphne Kyong Live Music Long Pausch Arts
246 256 266 284
Media Mojo Spiral Silverstar Featured Artist Anon120 Arts Feature The Path Inspirations
n.39 12.2011
Publisher Assistant Publisher
Jesika Contepomi
Editor in Chief
Sensuous Soulstar
Fashion Editor
Vixie Rayna
Creative Director | Photo Editor
Paola Tauber
Marketing Director
Jesika Contepomi
Senior Marketing Executive
Livia Mastroianni
Marketing Executives
Emlies Xeltentat Xandrah Sciavo Tandra Parx Blaze Petrov
n.39 12.2011
Rusch Raymaker
Paola Tauber
Augusta Carver Huckleberry Hax Linda Reddevil Sensuous Soulstar ShaiLi Alex Spruce Canning Umberto Giano Strawberry Singh Vixie Rayna Xandrah Sciavo
Senior Writers
Boe Cortes Brie Wonder Cade Nansen Kallisto Destiny Lulu Jameson Strawberry Singh Vixie Rayna
Annough Lykin Asia Rae BlackLiquid Tokyoska Blaz Halfpint Brie Wonder Cade Nansen Diconay Boa Kallisto Destiny Lulu Jameson Miaa Rebane Nala Kurka Natasja Schumann Ozz Larsson Paola Tauber Seashell Dench Sophy Meridoc Strawberry Singh Tillie Ariantho Anabella Ravinelli Lulu Breuer Saligia Syra Hyun Thalia Heckroth
AVENUE Magazine is published and managed by AVENUE Inc which owns and operates Couture AVENUE, AVENUE Models + Academy and AVENUE Marketing + PR. Online issues: issuu.com/avenue AVENUE Magazine blog: avenuemagazine.blogspot.com AVENUE Inc website: www.avenuesl.com
Visit us inworld at: AVENUE at GOL 45.153.22 For exclusive updates, gifts, events and latest releases, join our inworld group: AVENUE Magazine Readers Press releases to: firstname.lastname@example.com Ad queries: email@example.com
Advertising and vendor requests: Jesika Contepomi Livia Mastroianni Xandrah Sciavo Emlies Xeltentat Tandra Parx Blaze Petrov
Cover Story
Foxy Designs Written by Augusta Carver Photography by Kallisto Destiny
ouse of Fox is a wellknown, innovative fashion house that was born nearly two years ago. During those two years, its brand has evolved and designer, Fashionboi Landar has become an influential fashion designer within Second Life速. Landar is known for an avant-garde spirit in his clothing, frequently creating designs far removed from the current trends. His diversity and versatility is what sets him apart from other designers.
Originally starting SL® after designing on The Sims 2, Landar wanted to explore and see just what this virtual world had to offer. "Seeing that there was really not much avant-garde [fashion] I felt the need to try adding it on here," Landar shares. With two years of designing experience behind him, Fashionboi Landar has created a strong and effective brand that people across the grid love to clamor to. There is nothing ordinary or run-of-the-mill when it comes to his designs. "I call my designs avant-garde because it's more on the edgy wild side, with a bit of class." "House of Fox," an unusual name when you hear it at first, sticks with you and makes you wonder what the store has to offer. "Well I am a bit crazy with names, and I have gone through a few name changes when I was finding my style, but for some reason, I just felt like using the name 'fox' in some sort of way. And when I thought 'House of' I was in love with it because it had this bit of class and to me set this high standard feel of the name," he shares. Coming up with ideas and designing seem to be a big part of his life, so it would stand to reason that he has at least one or two all-time favorite items to date. According to Landar, "I
would say Queen Me, because it has the perfect idea of who I am, and what I love. It's very striking and sets this high standard bar. It came out perfectly how I imagined. The detail is just perfect. I wouldn't redo that one for anything, and I also feel it was a mile stone for me. At that point I knew I had progressed and gained more skill and learned to take my time with things, and also to experiment; also because it can be the look for elegance, or even edgy." Creating edgy and stylish pieces is not always an easy task, especially when if you have been doing it for some time. Normally, taking an average of one day to create items, depending on how much sculpt and texture work needs to be done, Landar makes designing seem easy. Though one of the challenges he faces when creating, he says, is working with color: "I don't know why it is, but because I have been working with black for so long, I have a hard time working with color getting the right detail and look of it." Even though there are challenges, he has a real passion for creating and given the choice, Landar wouldn't want to do anything else in SL besides design. "I love fashion so much and I love creating. Maybe if there is something else that would allow me to use my creativity I might,
but if it's a choice, I wouldn't chose designing over anything." When he's not designing, he likes to do a bit of shopping around SL at places such as Vive 9, Milk Motion, Priss, Chantkare, Fleshtone, and Royal Blue, just to name a few. When asked if there was anything new we can look forward to seeing from House of Fox in the near future, Landar responded: "Yes, there is a whole new store in the works, along with the new Fall/Winter collection." Fashionboi Landar is an avantgarde fashion designer. He draws on his extensive experience to produce personalized designs that are stylish and eye-catching for the residents of SL. He creates gorgeous haute couture confections that would look amazing, no matter what the occasion. He has a true talent for creating pieces that are unique and "different," which challenges that fine line between the casual and the catwalk. On your next shopping surge, find the finest avant-garde fashions in-world at House of Fox by visiting Oscoda 155.118.831.
Featured Designer
outfit: Faster Pussycat | Octopus Geisha
The Wonderful World of
Faster Pussycat
f you are searching for a unique creative vision in fashion, look no further than Honey Bender's Faster Pussycat. Her shop is filled with cutting edge male and female fashion with inspiration collections like Neo Geisha, Velvet Elvis, Circus Life, and much more. You'll be amazed and inspired by the sheer volume of choices, with everything from lingerie
to formal couture. One thing I noticed from the start was her interesting color theory – her unique combinations elevate the designs and truly make them stand out. Every fashionable man and woman should put Faster Pussycat on their must-have list! The New Year is just around the corner and you will want to be wearing the next big thing!
Written, Styled and Modeled by Vixie Rayna Photography by Brie Wonder
outfit: Faster Pussycat | Lady Garden Cabaret
jacket: Faster Pussycat | Circus Princess Jacket skirt: Faster Pussycat | FrouFrou Skirt hat: Faster Pussycat | Marie Antoinette Hat tights: Faster Pussycat | Glitter Tights t-shirt: Faster Pussycat | Star Tee
tuberosa Styled, Modeled & Photographed by Brie Wonder
top: Mon Tissu | Lycia Lace Bandeau Bra bottom: Doppleganger | Suspender Tights shoes: Baiastice | Jyo Boots hair: Clawtooth | Modern Gibson skin: Nylon Outfitters | Honey Beige, French Wings Teeth
outfit: Snatch | Carilon Bodysuit ring: DDL hair: Fashionably Dead | Spider Queen skin: Nylon Outfitters | Honey Beige, French Wings Teeth
underwear: Ooh La La | Polka Party Set shoes: Lelutka | Pow Pumps tights: Style | Pantyhose hair: Maitreya | Evi skin: Nylon Outfitters | Honey Beige, French Wings Teeth
top: U.F.O. | When Cecile Gets Cold shoes: Willow | Creek Moccasin bag: Mon Tissu | Weekend Traveler hair: Tram | A811 skin: Nylon Outfitters | Honey Beige, French Wings Teeth
Fashion Icon
Working Stylishly Written by Augusta Carver Photography by Cade Nansen
remember hearing about Keira Seerose and CHIC Management when the Black and Blue Fair started during the summer of last year. I loved the concept of it: raising awareness about mental illnesses while shopping. It was a creative concept that garnered a lot of attention. Now CHIC has grown into a business that gets bigger and bigger with each event. The events that Seerose and her team put on always amaze as each one gets better and better.
Augusta Carver: So why did you want to join Second Life®? Keira Seerose: I first joined SL® in 2006. My ex-boyfriend told me to join because I suffer from social anxiety disorder, which is kind of like being afraid of people, and this was a way to keep in touch with the world… and be creative. I loved both of those things. After I joined, my ex, oddly, proposed. I said no, and kept SL and ditched him...and SL and I have been very happy together ever since. It's a great place for people to interact; that's what I love most about it. I can meet so many different people in a day. AC: Before you started CHIC Management, what did you do in-world? KS: Oh so much! (Laughs) I've tried lots of things in my SL life. I was a motorcycle racer when I first joined SL in SLMRA, and then I co-edited a magazine called OMG Magazine, way back when. I've had my store, House of Magoa, in many different evolutions. I had a club at one point. Mostly, I just spent time with my family here. I never expected CHIC to get so big or for it to be something I love so passionately. I don't want to give it up now. (Laughs) AC: What made you want to start Chic Management? KS: CHIC began June 2010. My best friends, Kristy Seerose
and Prue Genira, had just tried to run an Easter egg hunt and found it very difficult, and I thought, "Hey, why don't I try an event. What's the worst that could happen?" I came up with the idea for the Black and Blue Fair, which was about 130ish brands with one new item each, in a little sky venue, and we had mental health awareness facts all over the walls and in notecards with the products. I'm very passionate about mental health awareness, so I think that is where it all began. I got really lucky with my first event, with the support of Sabina Gully and Nena Janus, which helped me slowly build on a bank of people helping out for future events. It kind of snowballed. AC: What goes into planning a big event, such as the Vintage Fair? KS: When I'm thinking about an event, I go through a checklist in my head: when, where, and what; what the concept is, i.e. vintage or whatever. Then, I get in contact with the designers. We have to make sure that there is a balance. Like finding menswear is the thing CHIC struggles with the most, but we keep trying. We have to build the venue and make sure it's lag appropriate and that people can see the products fairly easily - so that smaller brands can impress with their products even if someone doesn't know
who they are. Then we have to work out which press we will let in and when…it goes on and on. But one of the things people value so much from us is that we do everything directly when we can. We don't send notices, we send IMs, and we keep copious notes. So if a designer is set up already, they don't get a reminder to do so. We try to make it so that the designer trusts we have everything under control; they just create and rez, and don't have to fix our mistakes. Sometimes things blow up, but we try to fix it ourselves. We are trying to liaise with 200+ designers for a major event, 100 for a hunt, and their store managers, and then all the bloggers. So, it does get a little chaotic sometimes. When I'm trying to coax a brand to join, to put their faith in us, and they say yes, that is as big a thrill as the opening night for me. AC: I know you just completed the Vintage Fair, do you have anything planned next? KS: Yes I do, I am planning another CHIC hunt which will begin on December 9th and run through the new year. The CHIC hunts are 100 really high quality brands hiding an item for 10L, and people love them, and I love doing them; the designers get so excited and it's always a lot of fun. For 2012, I don't have any concrete plans yet. I like to only plan about a month and a half
in advance, unless it is a major event like Vintage Fair was. AC: What do you think is important to consider, or is an important factor, when trying to organize events or hunts? KS: Balance. I think people underestimate how much I think about everything. Everything is planned. It's hard to find menswear, and we always have lots of pose and shape makers wanting to be involved. It has to be balanced. The order the stores are in, and even what stores we let in, has to be balanced. Menswear, women's wear, unisex, furniture, big brands, small brands with a lot of talent, I try to make every event work all the way through, not just for the biggest names or the ones at the start. Sometimes, that means making difficult choices, like asking a "big brand" to go near the end of the hunt so that people do it all the way through. But I am really lucky that people trust my judgment; I don't often have to explain my reasoning to them. I really love bringing new undiscovered talent under the spotlight. So, that is one of the major factors that I have to consider very carefully.
down, and I'm already dreading it. So I guess the last thing I want to say is, I hope you enjoy the next few months of events, and thank you to everyone involved in them, and thanks for talking to me AVENUE. (Smiles) Over the past year and a half, CHIC has managed to catch the attention of just about every shopper, designer, or resident of SL. From fairs to hunts, and everything in between, Keira Seerose has managed to establish and maintain a tremendous business. Her upbeat personality and impeccable organizational skills help to pull things together. One of the things that I always enjoyed at each of these events was that I got to see some of the latest items from stores where I love to shop, and I would also discover a brand that I never knew, but wish I had found it even sooner. So, I would be introduced to some great finds. If you are interested in finding out more about CHIC Management and their upcoming events you can visit their website at http://www. chic-management.com.
AC: Any last words you would like to share with the readers? KS: I love CHIC; I've loved, almost, every minute of it. Next Autumn, things will change a lot in my RL, and CHIC will wind
Winter Styles
l a p l a n d Styled, Modeled & Photographed by Kallisto Destiny
hair: Lelutka | Knotted hair skin: League | Sia earrings: Donna Flora | Rosalinda jacket: Celoe | Rossi Jacket scarf: The Secret Store | Giant Collar Scarf shirt: Whippet & Buck | Cole Boatneck Top pants: Armidi | Gisaci Brindisi Slacks gloves: SHI | Glove Black Leather boots: Lapointe & Bastchild | Elise Knee Boot
hair: Lamb | Witch skin: League | Sia jacket: SHI | Berrow Tweed Coat shirt: Coco | TurtleneckSweater necklace: Je Suis | Sophistique dark necklace pants: Celoe | Lolong Trousers boots: BAX | Ankle Boot
hair: LOQ | Brandy skin: League | Sia hat: Baiastice | Iko Fur Jacket Short jacket: DeLa | Trench Coat (Anne) shirt: Friday | Basic.Turtleneck necklace: Glow Studio | Decoy Necklace skirt: Baiastice | Guyapi Long Skirt boots: Kookie | Armarda Boot
Edge of Style
Picka Pucka
Poncho Written, Styled, Modeled & Photographed by Boe Cortes
onchos! Yep, that's right you heard me. Long gone are the days of dressing as a cowboy in order to justify wearing a poncho. For some time now ponchos have been considered a fashion item for the ladies, but not anymore; if you're brave enough to venture out in one, here are a few styles to give you some ideas of how to "man up" a poncho for the winter. Come on lads, lets show the ladies that we can carry off a poncho just as well. So, next time you go shopping, why not "picka pucka poncho" and see what you can come up with.
skin: Tableau Vivant (for Halloween) hair: MADesigns HAIR | THOMAS hairbase: MADesigns HAIR | Tintable Hair Base poncho: Maknie | Many Style Poncho pants: NV | Crash Baggy shoes: COCO | Homme Engineer Boots earring: ROZOREGALIA | Gemma Earring 06
skin: Fruk | Lennon Skin (Stubble) hat: Mr.Poet | Bakerboy Cap & Hair poncho: Vive9 | Bryan's Wool Poncho sweater: Iruco | Roll neck jumper pants: Sartoria | LE Pants shoes: Gizza | Comfy Boots
skin: Body & Co | Hunter hair: LeLutka | RUSH hair scarf: Aoharu | BT Knit Scarf G2 poncho: Tokid | Poncho (knitted) pants: Iruco | bellbottom shoes: Gos | [Docs V2] 8 Hole
Le Rouge et le Noir Styled, Modeled & Photographed by Cade Nansen
jacket: Hoorenbeek | Suede Jacket sweater: Aoharu | Cashmere Turtleneck pants: W&B | Boyd Dress Trousers scarf: Gizza | Tricot Set - Ultramarine gloves: Mentine | Soft Leather Gloves glasses: Kalnins | Respect v1.61 shoes: Hoorenbeek | Ray Ray hair: NSD | Justin
coat: Oyakin | Pcoat undershirt: Gizza | Barong Tagalog pants: Chantkare | CKD Jeans gloves: Reek | Cozy Mittens scarf: Mr. Poet | Wide Scarf glasses: Reek | Aeroplane Shades shoes: Fir & MNA | The Harrison Boots hair: Shag | Rebel hair base: CheerNo | Hair Base Blond 9.1
vest: Lapointe & Bastchild | S'Wear Leather Vest shirt: Gizza | SweatShirt [Lines] pants: Ladies Who Lunch | Billie jeans (his) scarf: Aoharu | KnitScarf G2 glasses: Duboo | Grandpa's Glasses shoes: Reek | Boston Boots hair: Burley | Biff
Fashion Agenda
Warming up your winter with
Written by Sensuous Soulstar Photography by Nala Kurka
t's yet another winter...and yet we here at AVENUE are sweating from the heat! And what heat you ask? The searing heat that has come from yet another fiery debut by none other than the fashion guru, Giz Seorn.
Absolutely outdoing herself, Seorn debuted Gizza's new Winter 2011 collection in the grandest way possible...an overthe-top AVENUE production. Attended by some of the biggest names in the fashion industry, and even, dare we say it, the magazine industry, this latest show pulled out all of the stops. As if the decor itself was not enough to drop your jaw, with its , intertwined vines, and glowing, almost steamy, ethereal look, then there was the stage. Pulling off a feat most companies would never dare, guests were treated as VIP as models graced the main runway, and then some. Walking so close that you could touch them, guests were delighted to not have to fight with their cameras just to catch a glimpse of the latest release from the famed brand, as the stage wrapped itself around the audience.
And the release itself: stunning. As the lights dimmed and the perfect accompaniment of music by DJ Seashell Dench pulsed, guests were teased with this sumptuous introduction: "we are pleased to have you accompany us today into a world of luxury, where rich hues and sumptuous fabrics and textures create a lavish symphony for the eye. This is a world where imagination meets innovation...� and then it began. Model after model of fabulousness. And in the spirit of exciting the room, the show began with the men.
Seorn outdid herself this time around by showing that there's nothing wrong with men showing skin. And while we are all fans of comfort, a great view of toned abs makes for an even better fashion statement! With half shirts abundant, Gizza proved that with the right clothing, men too can be the head turners. But make no mistake, as Seorn shows with her Male II outfit, warmth will not be sacrificed for sexiness.
Another statement made clear: fur is this season's staple... and it is a must! Braving the winter chill in style is a second must. Gizza's Albion is a must have for every man this winter. The tiered mid length, fur stuffed coat paired with any sexy pair of trousers will not only warm him up, but will make her melt! But ladies, Gizza has not forgotten you. Shown that fur can make any woman ten times more fabulous, Seorn debuted the female version of this piece, and paired with sexy fitted trousers for a stunning look, proved any woman can be hot and cold at the same time.
And while our furry friends weren't the only ones getting attention in the fashion world, animal prints were definitely hot hot hot! The Fusion Zebra coat makes you want to run to the nearest safari to find these stunning patterns and make all of the accompanying accessories! Wide, mid-length and definitely toasty, this coat screams "I am the center of attention, now look at me," proving yet again that you don't have to freeze your buns off to truly be gorgeous in the elements.
And oh how we love Tartan! This is truly bringing back retro as Seorn pulls from the medieval period to give this pattern a stunning, strikingly modern look. Plaid is plaid, but Tartan is classic. Paired with solid color matching pieces, looks such as Gizza's Tartan Trousers give a sophisticated look that is perfect for an evening out, or even a day on the green. The Fall Outfit V was a deliciously gorgeous male outfit that gave one a new appreciation for stripes. Rugged, handsome, and sophisticated are just the tip of the iceberg in descriptions for this piece.
I think it was safe to say Gizza showed a much more tamed, conservative side with this collection, catering to a much wider audience of men that may not be as brave as the fashionistos that we all know and love. With these new styles, men have more options, more range, and definitely more style...all in the comfort and warmth for the season. Yet, Gizza wouldn't be Gizza without throwing in some splashes of bold, vibrant colors, such as cherry reds, grass greens and more in looks such as her Male Outfit IV. Much of the winter collection was inundated with sweaters and leg warmers, but it was an interesting combination pulled off perfectly by Gizza.
From animal print to Haute Couture, this show kept us on the edge of our seats. And the constant flow of models moving in and out of the room, walking across and then making the grand show down the main runway kept our eyes moving and our palettes craving more and more. Each time a model rushed across the screen in front of you, you were teased with a sneak peek of something amazing.
And while the show may have started off a bit tame, the bold and innovative Gizza that we have come to know and love was not lost with her truly Haute Couture collection. With still more surprises up her sleeve, who else but Gizza could mix both the masculine and feminine and tweak it so perfectly to make it completely feminine, showing off the style, elegance, and power of the female form with pieces such as the open Velvet Jacket and sweeping, flowing Maxi Skirt, the Dotty Maxi Dress and the B&W Maxi Skirt. With such a selection, there was no shortage "oohs" and "ahhs" and even some list creating as fans couldn't run to the store fast enough to get their hands on this season's must-haves.
And it wouldn't be Gizza without debuting at least one piece of magnificent artwork in the form of a gown, as with her Galliano Inspiration dress. This intricately detailed dress belongs on display rather than in our closets...but it doesn't mean it still shouldn't be in our closet!
Highly anticipated and never one to disappoint, Giz Seorn once again showed why she is a fashion guru. Her innovative style, flair for design, and ability to not follow the trends, but create them continues to remind us why Gizza is here to stay. With looks for every walk of life, the Winter 2011 collection was a smashing success. With the perfect decor, the innovative new stage, and scrumptious designs that made us all drool, together AVENUE and Gizza once again created a piece of fashion history. Now, as we settle into our new threads and warm our buns, we will be anxiously awaiting the next release, all the time knowing that with these two powerhouses together, we will never be disappointed.
Model of the Month
Written by Linda Reddevil Photography by Boe Cortes
I Dahlia Joubert
quietly speaking
n real life there are celebrities whose entire lives are fodder for the tabloids. Then there are celebrities whose lives are so private that their accomplishments alone are the only things that give us a glimpse into their lives. AVENUE Model, Dahlia Joubert, reminds me of just such a person. You've most likely seen Dahlia's beautifully chiseled face on numerous vendor ads and in magazines in Second Life® and have probably stopped to stare at them in wonderment of the model who graces those pictures. By the time you've reached the end of this article you will wonder no more, as Dahlia was gracious enough to speak with me as I uncover some of the mystique surrounding her life as our AVENUE Model of the Month.
Linda Reddevil: Hello Dahlia! I appreciate you taking some time to answer a few questions. First, we are always interested to hear how people found out about SL® and what piqued their curiosity to join, so let's begin there. Dahlia Joubert: Hello Linda and thank you for having me. The first time I heard about SL was from an advertisement on a website. Before signing up, however, I did some research through Flickr, websites and blogs to see what this community really had to offer. I was very intrigued by the presence of all kinds of artists from all around the world and was curious to see their installations in a 3D virtual platform. I was also interested because of the items I saw made by content creators in the SL fashion blogs. In addition, the chance to interact with creative people through such a unique community was new to me, so I became enormously curious. LR: I think all of us can relate to your curiosity. So, after spending some time learning your way around, exactly how did your SL modeling adventure begin? DJ: In the beginning of 2008, during my early SL days, I was an eager reader of GLAM Magazine, published by Minnu Palen. What impressed me was how her photography and concepts were gorgeous and timeless. The proof is that all of those pictures still look great today after nearly
4 years. That is something almost impossible to accomplish. Anyway, it made me determined to get into modeling, as a means to express my ideas especially in print works. Thanks to a very dear friend of mine, who gave me a big opportunity to post on her blog as stylist, I slowly found my own way to do so. The greatest challenge is having new ideas every time. LR: You've been a model for AVENUE for a year now. What made you decide to work with AVENUE?: DJ: I attended the AVENUE Academy back in July 2009. I had very good instructors who helped me a lot with my runway technique. I also amassed very remarkable advice about modeling, which I have meticulously followed during my career. After learning so much at the AVENUE Academy, there wasn't even a second thought about wanting to work for AVENUE as well. LR: That's really great to hear! So, what really intrigues you most about modeling in SL? DJ: When content creators rely on you to showcase their items something very important happens. They give you the chance and the trust to build something around them and to put your own personal touch to something they've made. I never take for granted that trust. The challenge is to have the right idea for each collection and the right
concept so the look will always be timeless. Of course, it must also be fitting according to the designer's style. Just like in real life, you see amazing editorials from the 1960s which are just as great today, making the designs iconic. LR: You made me think of Coco Chanel's little black dress and how it will never go out of style for just those reasons you pointed out. Now, can you share with us one especially memorable SL modeling experience you've had? DJ: I'd have to say my most memorable experience so far has been organizing the Modavia Fashion Week in SL for the past two years. The work behind it is enormous and I, along with a lot of other people, spend the whole summer, and longer, organizing it. This past year, Modavia Fashion Week had more than 50 brands showcased over 8 days with 6 shows per day. The difficult thing is combining quantity with quality but I personally worked very hard to achieve this. I would never let a show take place without taking care of the minimum details myself. Working on the Modavia Fashion Week as a model, as well as an organizer, is truly memorable for me. LR: So now I'm really curious. Which do you love most: runway, print or behind-the-scenes? DJ: I love print over runway, but of course I can define being
behind-the-scenes as my natural inclination. First of all, being trusted with anything you do gives you the right enthusiasm to work on anything. Seeing any project of yours taking shape in SL and seeing how your ideas become reality is really amazing. LR: Now that you're sort of on hiatus until next summer, we'd all like to take a peek in your closet. Tell us what's in there and how you'd describe your style? DJ: I love to change styles due to this job, and as I have said, it is continuous research. However in my daily style I am usually quite ladylike and tend to wear contemporary classics with essential lines and warm tones, sometimes with an urban twist. I also have a flair for couture designs. LR: In addition to sticking my nose in people's closets, I have to inquire about who you admire most in SL. DJ: I admire anyone who can inspire me. Of course, I admire Poptart Lilliehook, who first gave me a real opportunity here in SL. My friends also, because they motivate me a lot every day and always give me the right advice and a lot of support in anything I do. I admire the amazing group of models and photographers I work with since nothing would be possible without their abilities and enthusiasm. They are a continuous source of inspiration to me. Last but not least, the
designers and artists I deal with on a daily basis. LR: Having good friends and connections is so important which brings me to ask if you have any words of wisdom to share with model's just starting out in SL? DJ: I do not consider myself especially wise, but, of course, I can share my observations. Besides the obvious qualities that any professional should have in any field, reliability, flexibility, etc., one should always be discrete and modest. Don't try to appear everywhere at all costs. Good work speaks for itself and if you feel the need to force everyone's attention on you by imposing your image and screaming about your achievements everywhere, it is not a good sign. True talent doesn't take too much to be noticed so you shouldn't have to speak too loud. Always choose quality over quantity, even if you are just starting your modeling career and always face rejection with class. Rejection is not something to hold a grudge over, nor something that is definitive of you as a person. Never imitate or copy the models you admire because if an agency has them, it's very likely that they will reject clones since they already have the "original." Always think about the different things you can offer that may attract their attention when they're searching for someone new to hire.
LR: All of that sounds pretty darn wise to me, Dahlia. I have one last question, though. Can you share with us something about yourself that might surprise those who think they know you? DJ: I'm sort of a cinéphile in real life. I especially love those old French and German movies like the Nouvelle Vague movies. Those are my favorites. I also like to watch them in their original languages and with subtitles. I just find them more spontaneous that way. I honestly didn't want my interview with Dahlia to end since she was so open and forthcoming with all that I asked of her. I found her to be intelligent, witty and charming, which really comes as no surprise. People always say that you have to watch out for the quiet ones and with Dahlia this holds true. It's sometimes the quiet ones who speak in the loudest volume through their accomplishments and Dahlia most certainly screams style, beauty and grace in hers. You can see Dahlia's portfolio online at http://www.flickr.com/ photos/dahliajoubert.
2011 we got it covered.
Join AVENUE Magazine. Proud to be your favored Second Life速 publication since 2008. Sit back and enjoy. www.avenuesl.com | www.issuu.com/avenue
Fun with Fashion
Vintage Love Written, Styled and Photographed by Vixie Rayna Modeled by Matteo Bettencourt and Vixie Rayna
his season is all about the retro fashion, using classic textures, colors and locations. Vintage Fair 2011 by Chic Management motivated many designers to create unique pieces for the event. Matteo Bettencourt joins me this month, as we find our vintage inspiration. Journey with us to The Mother Road, where you'll fall in love with the vintage of Second LifeŽ.
Sissy Pessoa of Baiastice is an SL速 fashion icon with her prolific collection of designs. Her Alexander gown in white and pink is a soft confection of beauty. Adding classic elbowlength gloves from LeeZu, and exquisite jewelry from Donna Flora elevates the classic formal look. Matteo wears a military inspired suit from Defectiva; the sheen of satin adds elegance to his look.
Vixie: hair: Boon | ARK554 skin: R.icielli | EOS pale gown: Baiastice | Alexander collar: Baiastice | Macrame Lace earrings: Magic Nook | Baroque gloves: LeeZu | Miss Tre rings: Donna Flora | Alair shoes: NX-Nardcotix | Edna Matteo: hair: Shag | Stroked skin: Birth | Reese outfit: Defectiva | Oppressive Force shoes: K | Boots
Vixie: hair: Boon | DBH090 skin: R.icielli | EOS pale_DB poncho: Baiastice | Anouk turtleneck: LG Femme | Zoya skirt: Baiastice | Seila tights: Baiastice | Winter gloves: LaGyo | Zarema earrings: Glow Studio | Secret booties: Baiastice | Jyo
Matteo: hair base: VCD | Express Yourself Collection Style 6 skin: Birth | Reese mustache: Valiant & Sacred | 2.0 V2 in Darker hat: Mon Tissu | Wool-lined Deerstalker coat: Mon Tissu | Fur Trimmed shirt: Ronsome | Lontee [wo102] pants: Gizza | Tartan boots: 380 | Civil
In the classic c3100 truck from Garage R.H. by Renn Luik, Matteo and I take a trip to the country in our vintage inspired threads. I'm wearing pieces from the new collection from Baiastice. The Anouk poncho sweaters are a stylish way to add warmth to any outfit. Paired with the Seila Argyle skirts and Jyo booties, you'll have any country boy falling at your feet. Matteo warms up with his Wool-lined Deerstalker hat from Mon Tissu, and Tartan pants from Gizza.
Vixie: hair: Boon | WMO003 skin: R.icielli | EOS pale_DB outfit: Indyra Originals | Sia shirt: COCO | Skinny Tie hotpants: LeeZu | Glitter headband: LouLou&Co | Lotus earrings: Kunglers Extra | Perola boots: Indyra Originals/Coquette Noir | Augustine (v2) Matteo: hair: Pocket Mirrors | Robert skin: Birth | Reese vest: Mr. Poet | Vest shirt: Airflow | Natural pants: CT | Full Seat Breeches suspenders: Kari | Schwarz boots: Hoorenbeck | Riding
In a step back in time, Indyra Seigo found inspiration from classic riding outfits in her latest release entitled Sia. It was created for this year's Vintage Fair 2011, and is one of my favorites from the event. Mixed with the classic skinny tie shirt from COCO, and the new romantic WM0003 hair from Boon, you can make the outfit your own. Matteo harnesses his inner "horse whisperer" with classic riding breeches from CT, paired with the Mr. Poet vest and Hoorenbeck boots. Take your own fashion journey through time. Vintage inspiration is all around us! Until next month... remember…Fashion is FUN! Visit the Mother Road at J Peace Islland 17.118.23.
GOLden Shopping
BOOM Written by ShaiLi Alex Photographed by Seashell Dench
he popular style designer, Aranel Ah, whose provocative style collections offer a great variety of colors to suit all tastes, is our special attraction for this month. Upon visiting, you will encounter all kinds of various sensations inside the BOOM shop. Ah's creations are pieces that everyone should have in their inventory, especially since they are so easy to combine with just about anything. She is quite simply an excellent fashion designer, and if you are also a lover of BOOM, then read on and check out this month's interview with its creator.
ShaiLi Alex: How arose the idea of making clothes in Second Life® and when did you decide that this was the way you wanted to go? Aranel Ah: When I first came to Second life, I couldn't find much to wear. Most stores I saw had gowns or silks or just stuff that wasn't my style. SA: What were your goals at the beginning of your career? AA: Initially, I just wanted to make fun clothes that I would enjoy wearing in Second life. SA: Since your start, what have you found to be the most difficult aspect of the business? AA: Well, these days I think it is the saturation of the market and the popularity of sales events. With the use of full permission templates, it is easy for some stores to flood the market and participate in several sales events. It has become a lot harder for creators of original content to keep up. SA: And to what do you attribute the success of BOOM? AA: Hard work, diligence, great friends and amazing customers. SA: And how do you work? Do you work alone or are there others that assist you? AA: When it comes to the actual creation of BOOM clothing, I work by myself. There
is the "good buys" line and poses, which are made by Claire Dallin and the newer "demi" line by Ophelia Demina. SA: What is the main style of your creations? AA: I like to consider my items to be a mix of both cute and sexy, with a little bit of everything else in between in every color you can think of. SA: At the beginning, what was your target audience? AA: Female avatars who wanted a look to fit an 18-35 year old look. SA: And now, what have you found to be makeup profile of your customers? AA: Amazing shoppers with great taste! SA: Where do you find your inspiration? AA: Mostly out of my head. I tend to think up stuff and sketch it out in a little book I keep with me at all times. Either that or it is items I want that no one quite has. SA: What does the name, BOOM, stand for? AA: In relation to the store, it means nothing, but is simply a name. The store got that name after a series of crashes while speaking to friends about what I should name the store. It seemed appropriate.
SA: And how do you feel with the store having so much success in sales? AA: I don't really think of myself as a success. It's flattering though that you asked that. Thank you. SA: What can shoppers expect now from BOOM? AA: Lots of fun, new items. A new vendor system with faster redelivery and improved gifting options. Hopefully a bit of mesh releases for people out there who are fans! BOOM is just one of the many stores available for your shopping pleasure at GOLden Shopping. GOLden Shopping is the home of the best fashion and design in Second Life. This exclusive shopping district is home to a host of modern boutiques featuring everything from casual styling to edgy couture. If you are one of those shoppers that always wants to innovate your look, make sure you visit BOOM at GOLden shopping at GOL 5 110.89.22.
My Precious Queen Contest
Roadto Royalty
Written by Xandrah Sciavo Photography by Natasja Schumann
eginning in July, contestants hailing from all corners of the grid have submitted entries for the My Precious Winter Queen contest, hoping to become the next face to represent Agnes Finney's My Precious design house. My Precious is a brand well-known throughout Second Life® for featuring ladies' clothing truly fit for a queen, ranging from extravagant ball gowns to classic and sexy dresses for any occasion. Over the last six months, entries have poured in by the dozen from hopefuls who believe they possess the qualities required to serve as ambassador for this design house.
This year marked the beginning of a new format for the My Precious Queen contest, one in which the original My Precious Queen contest has been divided into two contests to occur semi-annually: the My Precious Summer Queen contest which was held in June, and the My Precious Winter Queen contest, in December. This year's My Precious Winter Queen will succeed My Precious Summer Queen, Elle Ahren, and will enjoy cash prizes and gifts from various sponsors, including a voucher for AVENUE Models Academy and the opportunity to appear as the featured model in the new upcoming My Precious
Memories publication. She will represent My Precious until June, making appearances at shows and other events and hosting the My Precious Queen blog. The last two contestants have been selected, and we now have the final seventeen contestants who will be competing in December's My Precious Winter Queen final. AVENUE Magazine is happy to introduce you to AddisonLynn Blaisdale and Bodza Mubble.
AddisonLynn Blaisdale
ith an enthusiastic and sunny disposition, AddisonLynn Blaisdale comes to the My Precious Winter Queen contest ready to make a lasting impression. AddisonLynn has been involved in the SL® fashion industry on various levels, from modeling to assisting with production, which includes script-writing, hosting shows, and performing as a stylist. She explains that SL offers her an escape from her real life duties of lesson planning and taking classes, so she enjoys each moment to the fullest, exploring the grid, spending her time with friends and loved ones, and learning new skills such as building. AddisonLynn describes herself as a woman who values loyalty and compassion, and explains that these attributes are a part of her personality both on and off the grid. She states that of her most valuable experiences in SL are the deep and lasting friendships she has made. When
it comes to her personal sense of style, AddisonLynn identifies her favorite look as casual glamour. She enjoys using her favorite go-to pieces and mixing and matching them with other items to create a cohesive and beautiful style. Favorite My Precious Design: "If I had to pick my one absolute favorite, it would be the Empress gown. It has this beautiful gold and white wing attachment with a golden key in the back. The first time I saw it was during a My Precious show, and it was breathtaking! I don't think I've ever been left that speechless by a dress before!" Thoughts about winning the My Precious Winter Queen Crown: "I could not be more excited about this opportunity! I had just logged in and hadn't yet been able to check my notecards and a friend messaged me who was
excited for me! This opportunity is definitely appreciated. I am looking forward to learning more about my styling capabilities, meeting the other finalists and just enjoying the overall excitement of being a My Precious Queen finalist! Agnes Finney's My Precious has long been a favorite fashion house of mine, and the chance to represent such a well-known and reputable fashion house is beyond thrilling!" Personal Styling Tip: "Find your own style! Don't be scared to play around with different styles, but make sure you always feel like you in what you are wearing. One big thing I like to do is to take snapshot of looks I have created and create a styling notecard to go with the photo. This way I always have a way of going back and look at looks I have worked on and how to better style them. Don't be scared, and be confident in what you wear!"
Bodza Mubble
odza Mubble is an artistic and creative lady who has a passion for photography. As the owner of her own studio, she says that people are among her favorite subjects to shoot, and she enjoys tailoring the environment and angle to craft the perfect shot. Bodza loves to explore the virtual planet, finding fascination in shops and interesting sims, explaining that she is in awe of what others can create when there is no limiting boundary. An aspiring model, Bodza is also working on her education, having recently graduated from one model academy and in the process of pursuing additional studies at another. Bodza credits SL with having led her to an individual who became her real life partner and father of her child, so she is grateful for having been fortunate enough to find that very precious gift on the grid. She says that SL is full of abilities and describes it as a place where you cannot only
escape from real life, but where one can make their dreams come true. When it comes to styling, Bodza enjoys adding extra details that add a bit of creativity and exotic flair to her outfits. Favorite My Precious Design: "This is the toughest question. I had to go to the store to look around to be able to answer. Those are the most beautiful dresses, so the most honest answer would be that the whole shop is my favorite. But if I really have to pick, I'd say Silence. I can't really tell a reason, at the moment that touches me the most."
gorgeous ladies selected. We all have one goal and dream. I really couldn't pick the winner because everyone in this competition is just amazing. But I do dare to dream." Personal Styling Advice: "Don't just get an outfit and be pleased with it as it is. Dare to change it, try mix and match, make it yours. Also when you accessorize, don't buy the first jewelry, hair, etc. that would look good with your outfit. Keep looking. You have to find the best that complements and makes the whole look glamorous...and yours."
Thoughts about winning the My Precious Winter Queen Crown: "It is such a true honor to be selected as finalist in this contest - a true honor to share the experience with the other
dress: Miamai | Avalanche Gown boots: Mentine | Tycoon Boots hair: Bliss | Nizami pose: The Muse Poses | Lion Tamer nails: Love Soul | Prim nails
Thalia Heckroth Written by Vixie Rayna Photographed, Styled and Modeled by Thalia Heckroth
his month's Blogspot features Thalia Heckroth, a virtual fashion mogul as owner of Ciudad de Mexico Sim, The Magazine, the Miss America Latina pageant, as well as other social groups and publications. Thalia Heckroth enjoys bringing together the finest designers to keep the Second LifeŽ community updated with the latest fashion trends. You can find her own personal styles on her website, http://thaliaheckroth.com, and her Flickr, http://www.flickr. com/photos/ciudaddemexico/. Thalia also works for the Costa Rica Sims as Executive Director for the fashion blog, and currently leads a team of twelve experienced fashion bloggers, who, on a daily basis, post their looks on http://costaricasims. com/. This busy fashionista took time to share her personal style with the readers of AVENUE Magazine. Enjoy!
dress: EMO-tions | Elea shoes: NX-Nardcotix | Zoe Platform L SLV.3 hair: Wasabi Pills | Orion Fem Mesh gloss: Jesylilo | Lips Gloss lashes: Violator | Absolute Ambition eyelashes skin: CIA | Kayla Skin nails: PM | Sculpted Nails V2 prop: Exposeur | Shadow Box
pants: Ison | Distressed leather pants necklace: LaGyo | Kai belt: Celoe | Abelt Sienna/Silver sweater and vest: Xanadu | Autumn Leaves Style skin: Lpd Skins | Zoe eyelashes: Chaisuki | 28 hair: Burley | Liu hands: M-Arc Mirror | Real Hands boots: Baiastice | Nicki ankle boots
coat, pants, tunic: Amarelo Manga | Thalia hair: Lelutka | Hair Attachment skin: Lpd Skins | Zoe eyeliner: Miamai | XGen Makeup Basic Liner shoes: NX-Nardcotix | Zoe Platform pose: The Muse Poses | Lion Tamer
For the Love of
Pretty, Pink in Bald Written by Sensuous Soulstar Photography by Anabella Ravinelli, saligia, Syra Hyun and Lulu Breuer
hile Second Life provides a platform to create, explore, and imagine anything possible, it is also another way to spread the word about causes that truly matter to all of us. And one of the greatest features of SL is that the possibilities are endless when it comes to how to spread that message about awareness. One savvy and instinctively creative resident, LovelyMiwako7399 Menna, took a cause dear to her heart and found a way to encourage others to bring out their own unique looks through the Pretty Bald in Pink campaign, an encouraging drive that raised awareness of the effects of cancer on all involved. This month, we take a moment to draw attention to this noble cause, and talk with the woman behind the idea to find out more about the cause, the results, and the inspiration.
artwork Š Syra Hyun
artwork Š saligia
Sensuous Soulstar: I have to say that this is one amazing campaign. I always love people that are passionate about a cause, but this is beyond noble. Please tell the readers a bit about the Pretty Bald in Pink campaign, including how it came about and the idea behind the campaign. LovelyMiwako7399 Menna: (Smiles) I am glad to hear that people still feel passionate about causes as much as I am. The idea of the Pretty Bald in Pink Campaign was born around December of 2010. I have always felt this cause was very close to my heart, as I have lost family, as well as close friends to it. The Campaign was like no other before. I had in mind not doing a campaign that raised money, but one that instead raised awareness; and to see the turnout that it had and the impact it created...well, it made me feel like I was on Cloud Nine! SS: There are so many side effects from breast cancer, and the treatment and therapies involved, what made you decide to focus on the hair loss aspect out of all the things that you could have chosen and what was the response like when you initially launched the Campaign? LM: Well, to me the greatest attribute a woman has is her personality, but as everyone says "first impressions...� So, I wanted to focus on what happens when a
woman looses the one thing that always makes her look awesome - her hair. So, why not embrace the bald and make it beautiful? Another thing that made me choose this specific aspect was the impact that a bald woman has on society; it is a really harsh image that makes you think. In regards to the response to the campaign, well... I have to thank everyone involved, not only the photographers for giving their time, but also the sponsors who gave absolutely no money, but instead they gave us a great deal of advertisement. SS: Since you mentioned the fact that this Campaign did not aim to raise monetary donations but rather awareness, do you feel that you accomplished what you sought out to do? LM: The aim of the campaign was to raise awareness, in all senses; awareness about getting yourself checked, awareness about those that fight, and the families behind them, as well as friends, awareness for those that perished to this disease, and awareness about not letting this disease get to a point where you, your family, friends and everyone that cares for you ends up involved. I believe that the campaign turned out great. We had a total
artwork Š Anabella Ravinelli
of 131 members on Flickr, with 179 photos posted to the group, as well as the others that joined Moolto and added their images as well. So, I believe that for its first time, the campaign did really well, and I am quite proud.
use only "our" photographers, as long as they followed the rules. Everyone was welcome to join, but to me, giving the option of these photographers to people was a plus, which is what got us so many entries. (Smiles)
SS: Who were some of the people involved in this campaign? LM: Omg, well, that is a very long list. The photographers included Lulu Breuer, Anabella Ravinelli, Dasia Mocha, Marir Parkin, Saligia Resident, Abileane Dayafter, Izabelcia Lemton and so many more that did it free of charge for others. And definitely the amazing sponsors, Maniera, Finesmith Designs, Moolto.com, House of Europe, Opium Fashion Agency, IMA Inc., O-Glam INC., Kunglers Fashion Designs, sYs, Skip Staheli Photographer, Philo, BlackLiquid, Faster Pussycat, Corpus Motion, Morphine Poses, The Magazine, Costa Rica Sims, Artistry by E, and also all of those who helped us to get the word out there.
SS: Are there any other people/supporters/sponsors that you'd like to thank or recognize for there help with the project? LM: Well mainly Nox Deigan, who always supported me and the project as well as Topaz Joubert, who, since day one placed her faith in this, as well as every single person, photographer, model, and everyone that decided to join the campaign, and helped us keep the word rolling. Not to forget AVENUE for also asking me to do this interview about the campaign.
SS: I know that part of the hitch was that anyone interested had to make an appointment with selected photographers. How did you select which photographers would be used, and why were people limited to just those? LM: Well, I gave options, which is always best. But, if you go into the group you will find that people were not limited to
SS: Can we expect to see this campaign as a regular staple in Second Life or was this just a one-time thing? LM: Definitely regular. I hope that next year we get even more sponsors that would love to help get the word out, and that truly believe in this project as much as we do. I'm hoping that everyone will want to join and make it an even bigger event, but I would definitely make a few changes, keeping that a secret of course. (Smiles) SS: Finally, I want to thank you for taking the time out to answer
my questions, and I always like to leave the readers on a positive note. So with that being said, is there anything as far as advice, a life lesson, or even a funny story that you'd care to share with our readers? LM: My grandfather always told me "LIVE as if it was your last day on earth; WOW yourself as if you were a kid discovering something new, and LOVE with the same passion with which you embrace life." It's probably the biggest lesson he left me and I want to thank you for taking an interest in the campaign. It's a noble cause in itself, but even more noble is her passion about awareness. We are always asked to give, give, give, but LovelyMiwako7399 Menna was the one doing the giving this time around. She gave us men and women a reason to feel beautiful again without all of the things we usually depend on for beauty, and she gave us a reason to take more interest in ourselves, to keep ourselves healthy, and she opened our eyes to the cause. I can't speak for everyone, but I know that I, for one, will be counting down until the next Campaign to catch a glimpse of the beauty of baldness.
artwork © Lulu Breuer
To view all of the images from the Campaign, visit the Campaign's Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/ groups/1738181@N25.
Written by Augusta Carver Photography by Sophy Meridoc
ne of the very first things I think of when purchasing new land is what kind of house I want on that land. Then, of course, the next step is finding loads of gorgeous furniture to go in that house. Aside from clothing, houses and furniture are my second loves. I am always buying a new house every few months, or switching up my furniture with something I saw in store that I just had to have. That is one of the great things about Second Life速: the possibilities are endless. When it comes to quality furniture, that is where Cheeky Pea comes into play. The designer, Isla Gealach, makes a fun assortment of furniture and accessories that make your virtual home feel as close as possible to your real life one.
Cheeky furnishings to create a home
Augusta Carver: Have you always wanted to build? Isla Gealach: Actually I didn't start building until I'd been in SL® for about a year and a half. AC: What piqued your interest about it? IG: I started building because I wanted a chair and I thought paying 700L for this particular chair (made of spheres) was scandalous. I knew just enough about building to be dangerous, but not enough to actually do much. AC: What kind of style would you say fits your furniture? IG: I think it's a lot of things. It leans more towards comfortable. I think it's all suited to a cottage or a family-home style. I make things that appeal to me. I can't say any one thing is the same as the next style. AC: How do you find inspiration for what you build? IG: Really all over. Sometimes I see something I like in an online, real life blog, or I might find a fabric that I love; other times things just...are there. I know I want to make something because I love the piece. So, I just start with the main bit and work outwards. AC: What do you enjoy the most about designing? IG: Oh, I love to see my stuff in pictures. That sounds funny, but
I love to see how people make it their own, using things in ways I never thought of. I love Flickr; I'm addicted to Flickr. I also love sculpting. It's a relatively new skill, but I love making things in Maya more than I ever thought I would. AC: What is Maya? IG: Maya is Autodesk Maya for the long form. Maya is a 3D modeling program people use to create sculpts. You start with big blobs of wires and turn them into great things. AC: What do you find challenging about building? IG: The actual act of building? I find texturing to be my biggest challenge. I naturally gravitate towards soft clean lines, and it really makes me step out of my comfort zone to do things that are brighter and louder. Though I do try! (Laughs) AC: Cheeky Pea seems like such a fun and funky name. How did you come up with it? IG: It was my daughter's nickname in real life when she was a baby. In the UK, someone is cheeky if they're a little well… cheeky and she was! (Laughs) The pea just followed. It was that or her other nickname: the sausage. (Laughs) AC: What do you like to do in SL besides building? IG: When I'm not building, I'm usually shopping or I just hang
out with friends. Sometimes, I just like to wander around and explore. But most of my time is building. AC: What do you think sets Cheeky Pea apart from other stores? IG: I think I have a comfortable feel to my stuff. Nothing is too formal or too busy. It's all a hodgepodge of stuff. There is nothing that really fits with anything else perfectly. (Laughs) It's like a home. AC: Sounds like a great combination of items that you have. IG: It's certainly different. Half of it is stuff I'd love to have now, and the other half is stuff I'd love to have had when I was a kid. AC: What has been your favorite item that you have created to date? IG: Up until this week, I would have said my vanity. But I think this bed I am creating might be a serious contender. This is something I dreamed of having as a child. I love big old beds. AC: Do you have any advice for people looking to start building? IG: Just to keep going. Keep building your skills, never get complacent. If you feel you have mastered one thing, move to another, but also, most importantly, don't rush ahead.
And don't get discouraged if you aren't exactly where you want to be immediately. Practice often. And don't listen to anyone except yourself. AC: Can you tell us what we can look forward to seeing from Cheeky Pea in the future? IG: Hopefully my sculpting will continue to improve. I want to start working on houses and prefabs some too. I'd love to try some Mesh pieces, but I will stick with mostly sculpts for the time being. But there is that someday. (Smiles) With quality designs that are affordable and fun, Cheeky Pea is the perfect choice. Isla Gealach is dedicated to providing the most appealing and realistic architecture and furniture in Second Life for customers who love to decorate and even for those who are unsure. Visit Cheeky Pea in-world to see more of what Isla has to offer at The Nest 137.150.21.
Interesting Sims
steampunk brought to life
Written by Spruce Canning Photography by Sophy Meridoc
hen one thinks of steampunk, the thought of modern conveniences powered by steam and mechanical means as inspired by the imagination of 19th and early 20th century man comes to mind.
The first experience that this writer has had with the genre has been through the viewing of apparel created by the leading fashion houses in-world and presented by AVENUE Models, a division of AVENUE Inc., as well as through science fiction novels. When I first landed in the Clockwork Kingdom, I saw the massive gears turn and felt that I had been transported into a Jules Verne novel, such as "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" or in the present day, the works of Geoffrey Falksen. After landing at the NS6 mainstore, I was led into the Kingdom's center which showcases the massive gears and futuristic buildings that would come from the imagination of Verne, H.G. Wells, and even, Geoffrey Falksen. The Second Life® rendering of the Clockwork Kingdom, from the remarkable talents of Nightshade Sixpence, shows great attention to detail and imagination as the build showcases the vision of the original science fiction writers. When asked about his vision of steampunk in relation to such popular films as "The Wild Wild West" and "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," Sixpence replied: "To me that's what steampunk is, access to modern futurist technology in the 19th Century." As in most steampunk-themed works,
most modern conveniences are mechanically based, and the Clockwork Kingdom is no exception. From factories making robots, to observatories, ships, and public gardens, Sixpence has encapsulated the Victorian imagination of the future as envisioned by Verne and Wells. "I think people relate more to things of the past more than the future, and at least it doesn't feel too high tech at this sim" he added. Steampunk is more than a genre in literature or a fashionable style to its adherents; it is a way of life with many modern conveniences such as watches and machinery being run by steam and a mechanical means, like a computer based on Babbage's Analytical Engine, which was programmed by Ada Byron. It is a world where one can step out of the Modern Era with most, if not all, conveniences run by electricity to have those same things that were imagined by steampunk pioneers such as Wells, Verne, and Falksen, through works such as "The Cities of Ether," run by steam. It is a world that is starting to grow in popularity both in real life, as seen through the favorable reviews of Falksen's works, and in SL® with the appearance of sims such as the Clockwork Kingdom and the emergence of Steampunk inspired fashion by the major fashion houses.
As steampunk grows in popularity, one will see the growth of the genre through the eyes of Nightshade Sixpence, and others like him, and the talents of the fashion designers who create apparel that reflects the mechanical and the Victorian vision of the future. One should take heed of this movement as it grows on the popular culture in the 21st Century. When you're ready to take a steam-powered journey, start by visiting the Clockwork Kingdom at Custard Developments 198.184.2003.
Sports & Recreation
Quackerstone Grandstand
Duck Racing W
Written by Linda Reddevil Photography by Brie Wonder
hen I realized one of my first assignments as a new writer for AVENUE Magazine was for the Sports & Recreation section, my heart ended up in my throat... and with good reason. To put it mildly, my knowledge of sports can be summed up in one word: laughable.
Although, in real life I live in a city where college sports rule the seasons, I only wear my college logo jackets or shirts to fit in. In fact, a few years ago I was offered tickets to one of our famous college basketball games and since I'm not one to miss an opportunity to try something at least once in my life, I accepted. After halftime was over, the basketball players took to the court and our team scored. Imagine my embarrassment as I loudly exclaimed "Oh no, what are they doing? They just scored a point for the other team!" After laughing harder than I'd ever seen them laugh before, my friends had to explain that the teams change sides when halftime is over. I'm not even going to discuss my knowledge, and I use that term lightly, of football. In any event, I set myself up for this new challenge and headed over to Gospel Voom and Elpis Oh's Quackerstone Grandstand Duck Racing. For those of you unfamiliar with Gospel Voom, he is the very talented owner of the Gos Collective line of furniture, watches, eyewear, cafe` equipment and, most notably, Gos Footwear in Second Life®. And his business partner, Elpis Oh, it a very skilled scripter. When I landed at the track, I was greeted by a black and white checkerboard floor which
I assumed was the starting point for the races. Okay, so I'm not a complete sports lamebrain! Surrounding me were electric blue ramps which contained a racing scoreboard flanked by Gos product advertisements on one side. The other side of the ramp had a magical red button which would summon my racing apparatus when pressed. With some trepidation, I clicked on the red button and, to my delight, there suddenly appeared a cute, bright yellow rubber duck waiting for me to begin the race. Staring at the duck bobbing in the lake before me, I quickly reminded myself of my lack of ability to maneuver automobiles and motorcycles in SL®. Knowing that I usually have a tendency to end up in a lake while driving them, I deduced that I was one step ahead here at the Quackerstone Grandstand race track since I was already starting the race in a lake, which I should note was quite vast. I chuckled to myself and hopped on my duck. Empowered by the thought of a rubber ducky versus cold, hard metal, I began making my way through the first of eighteen gates with my legs flailing about in the water to help gain momentum. So far, so good, I thought, as I continued through Gate 2. It starts to get a bit hazy from Gate 3 on, though, due to me and my squeaking duck
crashing into quite a few of the gates and each of us suffering a mild concussion as a result. You should know that if you time it just right, there's an available power-up advantage button as you pass through each gate. A little bell goes off and all of a sudden you get this burst of speed and zoom past that gate towards the next. For novices like me, it's a terrifying experience to literally think of your rubber ducky as a speed demon, yet, it's an essential feature if you wish to place in the Top 10 Fastest on the scoreboard and, ultimately, win a prize. After numerous squeaks from my poor little rubber duck due to hitting every obstacle in sight including other ducks, and the gates themselves squealing at me in chat because I either went the wrong way or missed a gate entirely, I finally made it to the finish line. Eureka! Surprisingly, I didn't place as one of the Top 10 Fastest, but my name did appear on the scoreboard as one of the most recent racers. I laughed to myself as I reasoned that it was better than nothing and I could have had my ducky deflate, midcourse, causing me to drown instead. All in all, the Quackerstone Grandstand Duck Racing is great fun and can cause infectious laughter amongst you and your friends in your race to the finish
line. Even if you're racing solo, it's a great stress releaser and I highly recommend giving it a go. I'm heading back there soon, as I'm determined to get my name on that Top 10 listing. SL is filled with hidden rare gems, and the Quackerstone Grandstand Duck Racing is certainly one of them. Now, if I can only get the Sesame Street "Rubber Ducky" song out of my head! Make sure you stop by and have a little fun with the ducks today by visiting Gos 225.141.22.
Christmas and SL
Written by Huckleberry Hax Photography by Brie Wonder
hristmas in Second Life® is a slightly odd thing. Land owners texture their soil in snow, home owners erect prim Christmas trees alongside fireplaces (complete with socks hanging from the mantle), and the increasingly complex creations of the fashion industry manifest into a month-long trade of assorted red outfits with white and fluffy trim. It's sort of like being trapped inside a slightly sexed-up version of a Coca-Cola commercial; on the one hand, a soothing and familiar experience that activates those long-ago blurred memories of the indefinable magic and naivety of Christmas; on the other, a guilty pleasure in the incongruity between childhood innocence and adult sexuality, with short Santa-girl skirts hinting at pleasures in front of the fireplace that never once occurred to us on those long Christmas Eves spent in front of the window and watching the sky.
Christmas, they say, is for children; yet there are no children in SL® (not "actual" children, that is). There are, of course, other orientations to the festival – I imagine Christians, for example, would be fairly pressing in their desire to point this out to me. I'm not a Christian – atheist would be the best word to describe me (although I can never quite escape the feeling that saying so is a bit like admitting membership of an extreme left-wing political movement) – but I was raised one and, as a result, listening to carols is an essential part of my Christmas each year. This is a habit which might appear hypocritical, but which to me is no different from enjoying a few replays of "Last Christmas" by Wham!, or Shakin' Stevens' "Merry Christmas Everyone," the video of which, incidentally, is one of the finest examples of seasonal insincerity I've ever seen, perhaps even a masterpiece of social irony – albeit, inevitably, an unintentional one. I just like listening to this sort of music at this time of the year. It's a brief reacquaintance with the warm fuzziness of my long-lost childhood, and the assumption buried therein that all was well with the world. All, of course, is not well with the world, which brings me to that other great incongruity of Christmas: the celebration of
luxury and comfort whilst others are literally dying of starvation – at a rate of one every four seconds – and those who aren't actually in the process of dying are living in conditions that would represent the end of civilised life to most of us if we ever had to endure them ourselves. But, it's thanks to them and their low wages that phones and laptops and games consoles affordably fill our Christmas stockings each year in such an agreeable manner. Did I say affordable? Let's not forget that Christmas also represents the purchase of food and gifts which many of us actually can't afford – a phenomena not unrelated (one might even propose causally connected) to the current economical slope down which we inescapably find ourselves slipping. Why do we do this, year after year after year? Because we want the dream of the perfect Christmas: the lie every seasonal commercial, every greeting card and every yuletide movie colludes to be true. The failure of that dream results in that other great incongruous Christmas tradition: the family argument. But this isn't one of those let's-all-slag-off-Christmas articles; I'm as happy as the next man to turn an uneasy blind eye to human inequality during the festive period. Last year I worked for a day at a homeless shelter
on Boxing Day, that's December 26th to non-UK people, and I'll admit here and now that the dissonance created both by seeing the need of the have-nots and by being part of a too large group of people all competing to show the most seasonal warmth – and alongside all the regular volunteers, who must sicken all of these people showing up for a measly couple of days to do their bit for their conscience – left me rather wishing I'd stayed at home and watched the Bond movie on TV. I'm quite prepared to look upon Christmas as a good thing, at least in theory. And this brings me back to childhood, because there's nothing wrong in a child who knows no different than to experience joy. If Christmas for adults is a guilty pleasure, then for children it's just a pleasure. My most vivid memories of Christmas concern either my own childhood or that of other children I've known. I remember Philip, for example, the eightyear-old when I was a teacher who was neglected by his parents to the extent that he sometimes wore adult shoes to school because no one got him up in the morning and got him ready. On the day of the Christmas fair, Santa's grotto was being set up in the music room and I caught him sneaking in during recess to peek through a tiny gap in the blinds, all his normal aggression and anger replaced by an
expression of pure innocence and wonder. I remember Nina, the little girl in Romania when I was an aid worker, who was so entranced by her Christmas tree she snuck back into her flat one afternoon and lit its candles, and the ensuing fire destroyed almost everything in that room. And I remember how my father used to set up a tape recorder on Christmas morning so he could record the reactions of my brother and I when we were very small and opening the presents left by Santa. Christmas back then seemed so much less complicated than it does today, a feeling that's probably been experienced by every grown-up generation. Whilst it's certainly true that "the good old days" are a product more of our imaginations than factual historical detail, it's worth remembering that, whilst we might over-inflate the season now with unwise and unnecessary expenditure, Christmas itself is much older than modern commercialism, and children have been entranced by it for far longer than the existence of Apple, Sony or Nintendo. As I mentioned last month, November marked my entry into SL; December, therefore, was my first full month in the Metaverse. As a result, thoughts of Christmas in SL evoke memories for me of newness and exploring, and
not quite understanding the world – an innocence of sorts, just like the innocence we all search for when it comes to this time of year. Perhaps Christmas, then – for those of us who embrace it – is an annual attempt at cleansing ourselves of the accumulated grime of adulthood, by which I mean the cynicism, the scepticism, the entrapment in current and employment and social affairs; the agendas; the drama; and the tangled web of modern existence – whatever that might be. We know it's a fragile bubble; we know the real world continues outside and we'll have to reconnect with it once we're saturated by our attempts at disengaging, and we know, in fact, that the attempts themselves will be meagre and weak and hopelessly superficial. It's a bubble that could pop at any moment. But we try anyway. We try because not to do so would feel like giving up in some way on our souls. If Christmas really is just about the chasing of a simple dream, SL might not be such a bad place to do it in. Thanks to the Metaverse, I no longer dread so much those Christmas parties of people connected to me by the loose threads of employment or geographical locale; I no longer dread so much the faking of jolly
conversation with colleagues I can hardly stand or neighbours I barely know. I still do all of these things, I might add, and consider them worthwhile things to do, but that feeling of dull hopelessness, that feeling of vague, numb despair is pretty much absent. In SL, I've found meaningful connections and those internal questions we try not to ask ourselves at this time of the year – "Is this it?" and "Is this all that I essentially am?" – are plaguing me less and less. The parties I go to inworld are, mostly, of people I've actually chosen to spend time with in my life; there's no need to fake good will, for I wish it upon them always. And feeling that way towards distant people I've never met somehow makes it easier to feel it towards the people I have to rub shoulders with in the real world. Perhaps I'm just getting older, but whatever it is that makes us wiser, makes us wiser just the same.
For all its Coca-Cola tinsel, there's something about the season in SL that somehow captures its essence. Christmas isn't just for children, it's for the part of us that we knew best when we were children ourselves; the part of us that doesn't see why we shouldn't all just get along. That voice got drowned out by all the noise of the adult world, but the struggle to recapture it each year – if only for a fleeting moment – goes on. SL allows us to drop just a little bit more of that everyday baggage, to cast aside a few more grams of cynicism as we enter the bubble. As with all opportunities in life, it isn't one that necessarily gets taken or even seen; but seeing it and taking it might just bring you one step closer to your humanity. Read more of Huckleberry's thoughts by visiting http:// huckleberryhax.blogspot.com.
DJ of the month
...a girl in love with music
Daphne Kyong Written by ShaiLi Alex Photography by Seashell Dench
he started as a deejay at La Isla and Spanish Orientation, the first Spanish community recognized by Lindens Lab® in 2007. In 2008, a friend invited her to see a club; it was Element, the 5th Club at GOL, and as she stood there, the only dream she had was to deejay in that club more than anything. So she applied, and that's what she's done since then, and is certainly the best at what she does. Her name is Daphne Kyong and she is our DJ of the Month.
Kyong is from Argentina, and in 2011, she was promoted as DJ Manager of GOL where her dreams became true: "I worked in many clubs in Second Life®, but as of two years ago, I decided to DJ exclusively for GOL," shares Kyong. And for her, the most memorable experience of her career has been becoming an official GOL DJ. Check out our exclusive interview below, and find out more about this indemand deejay. ShaiLi Alex: Where do you find your inspiration? Daphne Kyong: Well, there were many things that inspired me, but most important are other DJs that I admire in Second Life. For example, Jhonatan Vyper, he's my favorite DJ and his style inspires me a lot, as well as ManuSalao Dagostino, and SAO Tokyoska. Those are the DJs that I admire most. SA: Is there a specific genre of music that you prefer to play? And what kind of audience do you think receives this kind of music better? DK: Yes, definitely techno and tech house are my favorite styles to play and what I love most; I feel so comfortable playing those styles. I think people who follow me like my Latin style and people like underground music too.
SA: Do you have any new projects in the works? DK: Yes I have new projects; I make jingles and vocals for DJs, and I'm working with some Second Life DJs and real life producers. You can check out examples by searching Google for "Jhonatan Vyper and Daphne Kyong." And here's a link as well: http://www.amazon.co.uk/GirlRequest/dp/B0054PHC4S. SA: What can people who have not yet heard your set expect? DK: Well, definitely Latin beats mixed with tech house and a comfortable scene, and be ready to fly high! SA: To what do you attribute your success? DK: GOL Clubs; GOL gave me a big chance to show my style and that's why most people know me. SA: For those who still do not know you, where can they find you and a sample of your work? DK: They can find me at Element, the 8th Club at GOL. I'm definitely a GOL DJ.
On a final note, Kyong shares that music has always been her passion, and that she has always wanted to show people different styles. "I do not play just one style; I play many. I had a radio program about music and fashion in Second Life, and after that, I thought it was a good idea to learn how to mix tracks. One day a friend of mine told me, 'Dap you have very good taste in music, why don't you try mixing?' and I tried it. It was not so difficult because when you have that passion for music, everything comes so easy." She shows us that to be better at something, you just have to love what you do; this is a good tip for anyone who aspires to a successful career. And to Daphne Kyong, thanks for the wonderful interview.
Live Music
An immortal talent Written by ShaiLi Alex Photography by Ozz Larsson
he concept of what constitutes a great singer is subjective, but the key qualities a great singer must possess include: range, timing, phrasing, pitch, timbre, emotional impact and originality of style. Long Pausch has faithfully represented all of these great qualities. Pausch brings life to music with such energy in his voice that makes his talent immortal.
Having had a full Second Life® since he first stepped inworld, which includes: tipping strippers 1 Linden at a time, going clubbing and dressing up for the event's theme, photography, making poses, designing and creating clothing, making shapes and, of course, now singing live shows. "The longer I've played the more absorbed I've become into the culture here. What isn't to love about so many endless ways to express yourself and customize your avatar? Read below to find out more about why he is one of the greatest singers in SL®: ShaiLi Alex: When did your interest in music begin, and when did you officially begin to sing in SL? Long Pausch: I've always loved singing to the radio and enjoyed choir throughout my school years. I found a karaoke place here and started going there regularly. It was fun. SA: How was your first experience and who most encouraged you to sing? LP: My first performance, I was really nervous. I did not know what to expect but after I got on stage everything felt natural and I just had a good time. The people who encouraged me to sing were my karaoke friends and my close virtual friends.
SA: What do you think about your performances so far in SL? Has there been one that was the most striking? LP: I think my performances are filled with passion ready to explode. I enjoy interacting with the crowd and making sure they are involved as much as they can be. Last week I was taking shots of tequila between each song. I felt like I was on fire that night. SA: Do you have any funny stories about some of your experiences during your career? LP: They hand out panty throwers before my show. SA: What kind of music do you sing? LP: R&B, Soul, Rock, Pop, Dance. SA: What people can expect to find at one of your shows? LP: They can expect to find sexy people and of course great music. SA: To what do you attribute your success? LP: I am continually trying to improve and find new music to learn and genres to try. Not only do I put time and effort into practicing, but I really enjoy singing. SA: What is the makeup of your fan base?
LP: They are all wild and sexy people and they can get very loud in local chat. SA: Where can people find you and what do they have to do to listen you or to book you for an event. LP: People can go to my profile to find and join a group named "Long" for notices on upcoming shows. If you'd like to hire me for an event, please contact my manager Phooku Ohmai. SA: Has anything else changed in your life since your career started? LP: I have felt my vocals grow stronger and mature from all of my performances. It is really an amazing feeling if you've ever experienced it. Long Pausch ends our interview saying that his fans are very important part in his singer career and by thanking them for all of their support, saying: "You've helped me evolve to a better musician." With such amazing vocals and a passion for his music, it is clear to see why he has such staying power. Make sure to join his group, "Long" to find out about his performances all over the grid, as this is one performer you will want to watch over and over again...and it wouldn't hurt to grab one of those panty throwers either!
Media Mojo
A visit to
"The Aerie" Written by Sensuous Soulstar
achinima is a genre that never ceases to amaze. The beauty that can be captured on moving images, even the beauty of still art, is amplified by a slow moving camera, dimmed lighting and just the right soundtrack to really draw the emotion out of the piece. No one knows that better than Spiral Silverstar, a true machinima artist in his own right. Join us as we find out more about the fractal artist turned machinimist, and speak to the inspiration about his homage to the work of Cherry Manga with his film "The Aerie."
Sensuous Soulstar: I definitely want to thank you for taking the time out to answer my questions. I want to just jump right into the meat of the questions. I'm very curious about the man behind the avatar. What is your personality like and how does it influence or show through your work? Spiral Silverstar: I am a very laid back, easy going person. I have been in SL® for 5 years now, and it has lost none of its magic for me. While I have had no formal training in art or machinima, I allow my "gut feelings" and impressions to guide my views of Second Life in my films. SS: While I do hate asking the standard background questions, I do think many readers are curious to know how you got your start in the world of machinima, and what, if any, of your first life skills assisted your experience in the world of machinima? Sp.S: I am a fractal artist, and have been involved with fractal art for about 15 years. My first films were made to display the intricate beauty of my fractals. As I saw machinima being created by others, I became fascinated with it as another art form. The only first life skills that I have brought to bear in creating machinima is my somewhat intrinsic ability to bring color, light and movement to my films in what I hope is a unique, distinctive manner.
SS: Before I ask about "The Aerie" specifically, I want to talk about your previous works. What inspires you to create a film? Does your inspiration come from the visual, or rather do you start with an idea and then search for the pieces to bring that idea to life? Sp.S: There are many things that can inspire me to produce a film. One thing that has always bothered me about Second Life is the transitory nature of so many sims and art installations. I will always regret that I have so few photographic memories/images of the now defunct Rezzable sim with its "Greenies" alien inhabitants and massive depictions of an average house. The sheer size of it was overwhelming and amazing, and now it is gone forever. I wanted to capture some of the fantastic, magical beauty of SL for myself and others to have for years to come. Quite simply, my inspirations come from the other artists in SL. I also plan to create more abstract/surreal films using elements of Second Life and real life. I consider myself to be a very "sense aware" individual and I want to present images and sounds to the viewer in ways that are new and appealing to the senses. SS: Let's talk a bit about "The Aerie." It features a few selected on-display works by Cherry Manga. What is it about these pieces that inspired you to create this machinima?
Sp.S: I have been a great fan of Cherry's art for a long time. In general I love abstract and surreal art and her sculptures appeal to me in some strangely dark, yet beautiful way. For me, art that beckons to my soul is what moves me. I also love the manner in which her art is displayed there, with the small bits of land and all the water surrounding the artworks. The multitude of birds flying around the sim is awesome and a powerful statement of its own as well. I can only hope that I have been able to capture on film the overall artistic intent of Cherry's exhibit.
manner in which the subject was represented. There is a wonderful site where anyone can find, download and freely use music from musicians all over the world, in as many genres as one could want. It is populated with many amazing independent musicians who present their music for the world to enjoy. The site is: www.Jamendo.com. I highly recommend this site to all. There are also several sites where one can find sound effects as well. I wanted to have some bird sounds mixed in with the soundtrack and felt that was an important part of the film.
SS: And while these works are absolutely stunning by themselves, your angles, the chosen soundtrack to the film, and the ways in which you slowly approach each of the pieces, so methodically, tends to bring out a new life in the artwork. How did you approach this film? What led you to choose the accompanying music, and what feeling or vision were you trying to evoke with this film? Sp.S: As I stated above, the manner in which I filmed this exhibit was, at least in my own mind, to present the atmosphere, mood and artistic vision that Cherry had in mind as she created it. I seem to be lucky in choosing appropriate music for my films. By that I mean that so far I have been able to find music that I feel represents the
SS: I know I'm jumping around a bit, but I want to talk a little more about you. You're a Fractal Artist, and have been for a number of years. Tell me the readers a little about Fractal Art and how you became involved with this form of art. What was it that led you from Fractal Art to photography and machinima? Sp.S: Very simply put, fractals are shapes which show similar features at different sizes. Much as a very close inspection of a rock can show similar features to an aerial view of a mountain, fractal shapes are characterized by this property of self-similarity. Much of what goes into fractals is based on mathematics. Sometimes the math is complicated; sometimes it isn't. But you do not need to know
or understand the mathematics behind the art to appreciate it. The basic images are created using fractal generating software. There are some who will feel that if this is all just based on mathematics, that it cannot be art. Fractal art does not pop out of nowhere, mathematics notwithstanding. To produce an aesthetically pleasing fractal image requires enormous input on the part of the artist. It also requires patience, and an eye for form and color—skills that are required for virtually any artistic discipline. (Damien Jones) I made the jump from fractals to photography, then to machinima largely because I felt that my fractals were becoming too similar and the process of creating fractals is, for me, a rather organic process. I was feeling somewhat "burned out" on them and wanted to expand my artistic horizons. (Smiles) SS: And while I know the focus is on your machinima, I would be remiss if I didn't at least mention your gallery inworld. Tell me a little about it so that our interested readers can visit and view your work. Sp.S: My fractal art gallery contains what I feel to be some of the best of my work in that medium. I would be surprised if almost anyone could not find at least one piece that they did not
like. There are many moving art pieces, fractal kaleidoscope art and lots of bold, colorful pieces too. I have never been one to overprice my art, for after all it is only virtual in nature and one cannot place it in their RL home. SS: I want to thank you for taking the time out to answer my questions, and I always like to leave the readers on a positive note. So with that being said, is there anything as far as advice, a life lesson, or even a funny story that you'd care to share with our readers? Sp.S: Simply, that I believe Second Life® is a magical, amazing world that can enrich our real lives as well. One merely needs to take the time to explore and search out all the amazing builds and live music here to see this. Allow yourself to be totally immersed in it when you are here, and carry your memories and experiences with you into your real life. I thank you for this interview and hope that my art and my films can add to the overall enjoyment of Second Life. View the amazing machinima, "The Aerie" by visiting Youtube at http://youtu.be/lcZtcsFlYws. Your journey through the art world would not be complete without stopping by his Fractal Art Gallery in-world at Cyaboz 226.234.3801.
Featured Artist
Anonymity in name recognition in Art Written by Sensuous Soulstar Photography provided by Anon120
imply known in the art world as Anon120, a name that previously stood for anonymity, but through his work, Anon120 has become synonymous with amazing skill, creativity, talent and moving art. Pretty amazing isn't it? But amazing is exactly what you should expect from this artist as his images are not just photographs, they're timeless art, pieces that make your eyeballs drool and your heart melt. Words don't do his work justice, as you must truly see it to experience it, but this month we will provide a little insight into the mysterious artist and try to pick his brain on his talents, his inspirations, and even a little about the man himself.
Sensuous Soulstar: I definitely want to thank you for taking the time out to answer my questions. I want to just jump right into the meat of the questions. Without revealing too much personal information, tell the readers a bit about the person behind the avatar. What is your personality, and how does it show through your work? Anon120: My pleasure.. an honor to be interviewed.. not used to such close inspection! (Smiles) The person behind the avatar – well I'm male and work as a graphic designer in real life, this would explain my desire and passion to create whenever possible. It also explains that through most of my work, I look for an idea, story or some wit in the image - and if all that fails, I'm just trying to get my technique as good as it can be (I'm never truly happy with the results and can always see room for improvement). There are also some personal pieces within my work that just seek to be an outlet for my thoughts in general, I'm a private person in real life and rarely show emotion, so here is a place I can lay my soul bare. SS: Let's talk a bit about your background. How did you get your start in photography in Second Life®? What was that one thing that made you decide you were going to put your all in photography?
Anon120: The start was just through my competitive nature. I met someone inworld who was bragging about their image-making skills. I took a look and thought, "I could do that.. if not better." Then I started looking into the world of Flickr SL® artists and was amazed by the talent and diversity of work. Inspired. I started making my own just to see what was possible. It had been a while since I had used Photoshop to such an extent, so it was a challenge to get my skills to match my vision. SS: Tell me about the first piece that you ever shot, and how you felt it turned out then? How do you feel it compares to the incredible quality of your pieces now, and would you change anything about that first piece? Anon120: First piece - well me of course. (Smiles) I think most people who do their first pic will look to do a pic of themselves for their online profile. With regards to how I feel about it, hmmm, it was just a pic; I didn't have any intentions when I took it, I just wanted a good pic of my avi. And this was back when there were no shadows, etc., and avis were a lot different! I would add that whilst initially I took all pics in-world, these days, I pretty much take from the pileup groups. It's a challenge
to see what I can make from a raw image and generally I like the idea of surprising someone who wasn't expecting to get the image I create and hopefully, in most cases, it's a nice surprise! SS: Tell me a little about your inspirations. While looking through your images on Flickr, I've noticed that there isn't always a common theme to your artwork, although all of them seem to tell a story within themselves. What inspires you? = Anon120: As mentioned earlier, I rarely take images inworld these days; time in RL prevents me from doing so, but I love the challenge of flicking through the pileup groups and finding an image that I can create something with. I generally just get inspiration from the image itself. I look at the avi, the shot, and think of an idea; the process is quite fluid, quite often I can start down one road only to change direction and create something else. That's the general approach. Occasionally though, I want to say something in the image and I'll look for a picture that will fit what I have in mind; if that fails I'll take a quick pic of my own avi. (Smiles) SS: Since you've mentioned it, please tell the readers about pile ups, and a little about your process, without sharing your
secrets of course and how you get the final result, even though you have been so kind as to show the progress in a few of your images. Anon120: True, I don't generally share how I get the final result, mainly as the process is organic and it's not something I can just write a 20 point list on how to create the image. I play with the image and just work until I achieve what's in my mind's eye. I still intend to produce a magazine which will have more in-depth tutorials and tips, but that project is way off completion. Pile up groups for those who don't know are Flickr groups intended to have raw pics submitted to the groups to be "piled up" by members; everyone can see the original image and what the image maker has created from that picture. If you are after a free pic of your avi, it's certainly the best way to go! SS: And just because I'm sure they want to know, for our interested readers, do you create your art just for your own personal enjoyment, or do you also do work for others as well? If so, do you have a studio or place where readers could visit to view more of your work? Anon120: Purely personal, mainly as I cannot commit to any commission work. I do get
a fair few offers, even the ones that say "name your price," but I generally avoid any commission based work as I have no desire to get SL clients - RL clients are bad enough! SS: I absolutely want to tremendously thank you for taking the time out to answer my questions, and I always like to leave the readers on a positive note. So with that being said, is there anything as far as advice, a life lesson, or even a funny story that you'd care to share with our readers? Anon120: Racking my tired frazzled brain for a funny story...and coming up blank. I've done many things in my time that would be amusing, and pretty embarrassing, but I'll save those for those that know me best! (Smiles) As for a life lesson, the thing to have is persistence if you enjoy something. I remember a teacher once saying to me I'd never make a good airbrush artist; well that was possibly true at the time (this was precomputers for those that can remember the old airbrushes! God, O sound ancient now.) Anyway I think it's wrong to dismiss something just because it lacks technical ability. If the idea and vision are there, then the technical stuff can be learned and crafted with experience. We all live to learn.
SImple, yet sage advice. And with the success and recognition of his work, persistence has definitely paid off for Anon120. While we still may not know his true SL persona, his work is well known in both worlds, and that's the only thing that matters; we can always find a little piece of Anon120 if we look in just the right places. Enjoy more of Anon120's work on his Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/ photos/52541170@N08/.
Arts Feature
The Path a profound example of true art
Written by Spruce Canning Photography by Sophy Meridoc
pon hearing about Bryn Oh and the Linden Endowment for the Arts gaining the use of twenty sims for the promotion of the arts in-world, I wanted to know what he and his fellow artists have developed on their welcome sim. The sim is known as The Path, which according to Oh is a concept that can be started by one artist and handed off to others who create their own interpretations.
Says Oh about the concept: "The idea was to compose an opening scene which would create a bit of personality for the main character, while leaving lots of space for the other artists to shape their own story. I didn't want to dictate anything to the following artists as far as having to use elements of my own scene or force a direction in their own narrative. So, for example, I didn't want to say '...the inventor went through the portal to find...the Eiffel Tower covered in thousands of birds.' That would have forced Marcus, the next artist in line, to build that scene rather than create his own. He likely would have wanted to give me a stiff kick in the bum if I did that. He need only incorporate the main character, but I suppose he could have killed him off in the next scene had he wanted to. For the guest visiting the build, I wanted to create a character that had some frailties, as well as an element of quirkiness. He is an inventor, so quite intelligent, but not a very successful one as you can see by his flooded, rundown apartment. He is likeable, but, if you view the machinima "Cerulean" (http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=GhIKEak5p3Q), held within the blue butterfly, you will see that he is a bit indifferent to his creations, and perhaps, contains a bit of callousness in his character."
As you walk through Oh's part of the sim, you can see the main character as he walks with you through the depths and recesses of his mind as you view the work in front of you, and then you move to the other areas of the story starting with the build by Marcus Inkpen which contains hallways with many doors in four corridors facing a nexus in the build, each signifying a path that one's life can take, and the corridors of doors that signified the cells in the citadel. Marcus set this writer straight on the point that his build has in The Path: "Interesting. I didn't think it felt like a dungeon, but it's always interesting to see how other people interpret your work. What I was going for was a kind of train station of sorts between worlds, where each door is a gateway to another world, but you only have one key. It is kind of an analogy of that twilight space between the dreaming and waking worlds, but in the context of the rest of The Path, it's more of a way station. Plus, I also wanted you to see the 'Workers' about their business caretaking of this place. I love the idea that a dreamy, trippy situation for us could be completely mundane to someone whose job it is to polish the floors and change light bulbs. So hopefully it's a slight 'off The Path' kind of feel."
Another interpretation of The Path comes from Colin Figzig who has a very diverse view of the paths that many people take through their lives, and their perspectives on life. "To me, everything: life, thought, reality, is about perspective. My 'path' has been to discover this, and in turn, to try to see the world from other people's perspectives. Toward this goal, I wanted to create something simple but profound," shares Figzig. He continues: "My epiphany was to discover that we experience reality as a series of 'bubbles' and we interact with these 'bubbles' through portals or contact points where the 'bubbles' meet. My build for the path is a very rough attempt at trying to show this 'world view' and also give people a chance to see something simple from many different perspectives," Figzig shares. As I walked through these builds, I saw the many different interpretations of a man's path through life, which had a very profound effect on this writer. Bryn Oh summed it all up beautifully: "The Path is based off the exquisite corpse concept sometimes used by the Surrealists. Many of you will have played something similar while in school. One person
starts a creation and then passes it on to another to continue it they then forward their portion on to the next and so forth. I felt that Second Life® was a perfect medium to try out this method of creation. The artists chosen are some of the best virtual world artists, with each having their own unique styles and strengths. The Path was a project to showcase some of the unique abilities of this medium over traditional ones such as painting, sculpture, cinema or what have you. It has the potential to create a degree of immersion superior to other mediums while incorporating elements of interaction. The viewer is not a passive observer, but an active participant in the artwork." Oh said. Inkpen concurs with that statement, and also shares his rendition of what The Path had for him and the viewers of his work: "If anything, I wanted to get people to think about what other possibilities there are out there. In this case, what worlds are behind the doors. But really, it's about the wonderful depths of randomness that both the dreaming world, SL® and RL can bring you." On walking through the builds, I began to see how the path of life can be interpreted by the many different people who will view the artwork, and
how they will relate to that in both their first and second lives. This work moved me deeply, and accomplished what Oh and his fellow artists set out to accomplish: it will make you, the viewer, contemplate on your life, and hopefully, see that there are many opportunities ready to present themselves. The question that has been posed to this writer, and to others who will follow him through the builds of The Path is this: there are many opportunities that life will present, are you curious enough about them that you will make the most of them? Take your mind on a journey by visiting The Path today at LEA2 179.185.22.
Curated by Paola Tauber
looking back
artwork Š ellivu.
artwork Š Quika B.
artwork Š Dae Dollinger
artwork Š Piedra Lubitsch
artwork Š Rob Danton
artwork Š Yammy Karu
artwork Š Kean Kelly
artwork Š ~ sophy ~