CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Posted on April 7, 2024 by lannewise

Count Her In: Invest in Women.Accelerate Progress.

1 in 3 women around the world experience violence

Less than 15% of landholders worldwide are women

Women make up just 25% of parliamentarians worldwide

When women are given equal opportunities to earn, learn and lead – entire communities thrive. The theme for International Women’s Day 2024 was Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress.

__________________________________________

What did you do to celebrate International Women’s Day this year?  Although March is past – the entire month of March is designated Women’s History Month in the States, the UK and Australia. It is important to remember why the day  – and the entire month – are important for women regardless of where they live on the planet.  Especially now.

On March 8th, Vic Worbridge – creator and own of the well designed, well run and – all around fun club, TIEMPO – decided to hold a fundraiser for International Women’s Day.  I was excited and moved to hear this event was going to take place.  After 17 years in SL – I remember many more of these club events happening in the past, for all kinds of things (not just Relay for Life – which is a great yearly event that many clubs and DJs participate in). 

Vic Worbridge (taken by Peterkes Beaton)

    In the spirit of promoting events like this and International Women’s Day / Women’s History Month – even beyond the month of March, I asked Vic if she would share her thoughts about organizing this fundraiser at TIEMPO.  Enjoy!

    Tell me about your decision to hold this event?  Why is International Women’s Day important to you?

    A lot of what connects me to this cause is due to the environment I grew up in. I grew up outside of Boston watching both my Grandmothers and my own Mother and Aunt who were business owners and instilled strong work ethic in me. That being said, I acknowledge my privilege in coming from where I did and how that’s allowed me opportunities, and shaped me into the woman I am.  

    However, not every woman has access to these things.

    My world view shifted when I was 19 and I was cast out into the world – uncertain of so many things and outside of my sheltered bubble.  I lived briefly in South Africa, on a wildlife reserve where I worked as a photographer and did various conservation projects. The opportunity to volunteer in some of the local schools in KwaZulu-Natal gave me first hand experience of how others live in the world with little to no access to even basic needs and education.  It was there I witnessed how much the women of the community lift things up and work hard to raise and keep their families and community afloat, often times sacrificing their needs in order to support and care for others.

    Open photo
    Open photo

    When we would come to the school the kids would get lunch.. ordinarily they wouldn’t – and clean water for the whole school was in 2 jugs on the side of the school…. if kids needed to go to the bathroom they’d have to go to the edge of the property as there was no bathroom or outhouse available.

    I chose Womankind Worldwide for this reason. Even though so much is going on here in the US with women’s rights (Vic and I both live in the States), the support that we have here doesn’t even compare to how little support there can be in marginalized communities of the world.

    Womankind Worldwide is a global women’s rights organisation working in partnership with women’s movements to transform the lives of women and girls. Together with our partners, we are working towards; an end to all violence against women, women’s economic rights and control over resources, and women’s equal influence in decision making and ability to exercise political power. They partner with women’s rights organizations in Africa and Asia to challenge discrimination and hold governments to account to ensure they advance women’s rights.”

    Our vision is of a just world where the rights of all

    women are respected, valued and realised.

    Some additional areas that they work in are: ending violence against women and girls, and advancing women’s economic rights and strengthening women’s participation and leadership.  The communities they serve are located in Ethiopia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Nepal, and  Afghanistan.

    Something I connect with in their approach is:

    “everyday Feminism is the blueprint we need to

    make gender equality a reality”.

    V. Worbridge

    Vic is encouraged by organizations and everyday women making a difference, whether that’s in small contributions or large, she believes (and I agree) that we collectively can be the change we want to see in the world and using our voices is a start.

    Bringing this cause into SL, she found a variety of clubs, friends, DJ’s and other sponsors who were willing and generous – giving both time and financial support.  Many donated money, and some put tip jars into their own venues to collect donations during their own events. 

    Sponsoring clubs:  The Drip Dance Club….VELVET….Pixel Swagger….WISH….Bebu Club & Gallery….Moonshiner.

    Additional sponsorship/support came from female owned businesses; EQUAL, RichB, RVN, Kika’s Script Store, Ysoral, HIDDEN, Cameo Tattoo Studio.

    Roughly 100 donors across all events for a total of L$131,423 ~ $485.41 USD.

    At TIEMPO there were four DJ’s:  Kayla Damor, Nelscat Kanya, Bee – and Vic herself

    Vic:  I chose these women because I respect them for their strength, talent and independence. Kalya is a business owner, creator and DJ. I am inspired by Nels for her true passion for music and travel – something we share. Bee is a close friend and inspires me daily – she’s is strong, wise and a true individual and a beautiful soul.

    1 in 3 women around the world experience violence.

    Less than 15% of landholders worldwide are women.

    Women make up just 25% of parliamentarians worldwide.

    ____________________________________________________

    Our #EverydayFeminism campaign is a reminder that we all hold power and we can use it to bring about meaningful change in our homes, communities and the world.

    Posted in lanne wise, secondlife, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

    COUPLE:  ALEC & ARIEL LYGON***

    Posted on February 3, 2024 by lannewise

    noun: couple; plural couples

    two individuals of the same sort considered together

         a pair of equal and parallel forces acting in opposite directions, and tending to cause rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane containing them

    two people who are married, engaged, or otherwise closely associated romantically or sexually

    an indefinite small number

    Part 1: Couples and collaborations

    It’s great to come across photography (well any kind of work for that matter) and have it begin to “talk” to you……am I right?  A work of art might remind you of a similar situation or person.  It might recall a similar story in your own life.  Collaborators end up talking to each other through the work as well.  In this way we are observers of their conversations.

    Creative couples – who chose to make work alongside one another or together – often navigate a delicate balance between collaboration and maintaining individual artistic identities. Whether through shared visions or complementary skills, these partnerships illuminate the many ways in which relationship and art can intertwine, shaping the creative landscape in diverse and compelling ways.

    Alec and Ariel Lygon.  I first met them through music.  I would see them at clubs – and they often came to the small parties I throw on Sundays.  Coming across their photography on Flickr.  Well.  Their work was striking.   Each of them creating a body of images that was unique – but also – influenced by (or in conversation with) the other.   Some of the conversation is stylistic (the use of contrast, texture or compositional choices) but in addition to that its much more direct.  They are often showing themselves as a couple – each taking photos of the same scene from their individual vantage points.  When this happens I find myself looking back and forth between what she is capturing and what he is capturing…enjoying both the similarities and the subtle differences.

    Well.  Their work was striking.   Each of them creating a body of images that was unique – but also – influenced by (or in conversation with) the other.  

    Alec Lygon

    Ariel Lygon

    Some modern/contemporary couples who collaborate.

    Artistic couples have joined forces to create captivating works across various mediums. From Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera’s iconic collaborations in the realm of visual arts to John Lennon and Yoko Ono‘s influential ventures in music and performance art, these partnerships often blend personal and professional aspects, resulting in unique and powerful expressions of creativity or calls to action for social justice. Working together allows these couples to share a deep connection, inspiring each other’s artistic endeavors .

    Another notable artistic duo, Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison, are known for their surreal and thought-provoking photography. Their collaborative efforts explore themes of environmentalism and the human connection to nature, creating visually stunning and conceptually rich images.  Also the photo duo Barbara Ciurej & LIndsay Lochman who look at “the confluence of history, myth and popular culture in their work.

    Artistic collaboration between couples often involves a deep understanding of each other’s perspectives, fostering a unique synergy. These partnerships not only produce compelling works of art but also present a window into the complexities of love, creativity, and shared passion within the realm of artistic expression.

    Consider the dynamic collaboration between Charles and Ray Eames, celebrated designers who left an indelible mark on modern furniture and architecture. Their innovative approach to design, showcased in iconic pieces like the Eames Lounge Chair, reflects a harmonious blend of form and function. The couple’s multidisciplinary work extended to films, exhibitions, and graphic design, showcasing the versatility of their creative partnership.

    In the realm of dance, the partnership between dancers, Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane stands out. They brought distinct styles to the stage and collaborated on dance productions. In 1982, Jones and Zane formed the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. Although the dance troupe met with great success, Zane took ill in 1984; and, in 1988, he died of AIDS-related lymphoma. Their artistic connection not only enriched their individual practices but also contributed to the evolution of modern dance.

    The work of Alec and Ariel Lygon will be on view at the Bebu Gallery opening on February 4, 2024. These photographs have a classic sophistication reminiscent of black and white film stills of the 1940s. The compositions work to create images that are imbedded in the cultural imagination. Until they’re not. The Lygons often inbue their work with a not – so – subtle tongue in cheek sense of humor. It can unveil itself even as you are thinking you KNOW what the conversation they are having is.

    *** Their work can also be seen at Love in Paris:

    After visiting the Bebu Gallery to see them, please go see them at Love in Paris.  It’s interesting to see the impact that installation adds to a body of work.  Also  it is just a gorgeous place to walk around.

    Part 2 of this piece of writing – on its way…..

    Posted in Bebu Gallery, secondlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

    small things worth seeing (IN NATURE).

    Posted on April 27, 2023 by lannewise

    NATTIMMEL

    For a long time I have been loving being affiliated with THE NATURE COLLECTIVE. The Nature Collective is a Second Life group created with the goal of cultivating a community around sims, spaces and projects which share a common focus on nature. They hope to foster a movement to help people engage and reconnect with the wonder and joy of nature, in the virtual world and beyond. Visit them inworld here.

    The have a great website – where I am going to be doing some more specific “nature” blogging about things I’m musing about – wandering through the natural world in both lives. My first post can be found here. Enjoy!

    Posted in The Nature Collective | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

    Solitary Mystery – Peter Beaton @ BEBU Gallery

    Posted on March 24, 2023 by lannewise

    My Name is Human:  The Condition of Digital Life.

    The title of this body of work is me trying to give words to something that I have been thinking about for a while now. I started recognizing “it” here and there scrolling through my flicker feed or making the rounds of galleries and builds inworld.  More often than not, I’d see it in Peterkes Beaton’s images. After a conversation with him about the work now in the gallery (through July) I was even more certain about how I wanted to frame this piece of writing.

    Michelangelo Merisi De Caravaggio, Saint Jerome Writing, 1607

    There is a slice of SL photography that focuses on the solitary figure with dramatic lighting seemingly emphasizing some unspoken drama or angst happening within. If you’ve taken any art history courses you are probably familiar with the term chiaroscuro, which refers to how light and dark are use to create the illusion of dimensional volume on a flat surface. The translation into english is ‘light-dark’ (chiaro – bright/clear and scuro – dark/obscure).

    This has been written about before (as it pertains to SL). You might want to check out Inara Pey’s article about the photos of Mihailsk from July of 2021, which can be found here. Many times images in black and white evoke different reactions (dramatic, powerful, magical) than images with color. Beaton works with both black and white – and color.

    But it isn’t just the drama of these particular images. Even those in color (at least those curated into this particular exhibit) show one man (Beaton) alone in a particular space with titles (Pray, I had a dream, Dreams, Realize) or non-titles (…) that clue the viewer into a thought process. Whatever he is contemplating – he is doing so in solitude.

    Beaton started visiting SL back in 2007 after reading about it in a magazine (the same year this writer rezzed). The first time he logged in, he stayed for 10 hours.

    “In the beginning of my SL, I was just curious how and what it was because some famous brands in my country were [inworld] so I had to check it out.” In contact with the content creators for those brands, he found himself working with one of the biggest radio stations in his country. “A few months after that we decided to make an orientation sim for the people from Belgium / Holland – and we did this together with Lindenlab.”

    So, Beaton has been in SL for well over a decade (although he took years off as many do). What brought him back/keeps him here? “I could answer this question many different ways, but I think the main reason for me is still the creative part and not only pictures and building but also the music that I play (He is a also a great DJ). The social contact and the small circle of friends I’ve made here are a [reason] to come back. I met one of my best RL friends in here and still have contact with him on a regular basis”.

    Beaton often posts both a color and a black and white version of the same image on his flicker page. Many of his images play with this idea or theme of being solitary – alone. Beaton describes himself as somebody who ‘works or lives on emotions.’ Bringing those emotions to an image with a solitary figure is the “most simple way for me to do for this. Being in my own mind set – in my “own” world brings me ideas…. When you showed me the [images you selected] I could almost remember each emotion.”

    I had a dream, Peterkes Beaton (black and white / color)

    “Color photography is like a novel that spells everything out in detail, whereas black-and-white photography is like poetry—its strength isn’t in what’s said; it’s in what’s left out.”  

    – Heinrich van den Berg 

    Susan Sonntag said, “a beautiful photograph is not just a picture of a beautiful thing…

    Time and Love (and Place)

    Our understanding of life (any life – virtual or real) is framed by time, from beginning to end, and from morning to night. While our experience is only ever of the continuous present, our understanding is shaped by history and memory. Even in a virtual life where your existence can be an eternal summer or offer you the ability to wander through spaces that are contemplative or frantic, your time is measured by logging in and logging out.

    A photographer (unconsciously or not) raises questions in the process of their work…as all art is (on one hand) the maker trying to answer or work something out for themselves. We are invited to LOOK at an image – and in SL this becomes even more complicated (and often more interesting). We are looking at the idea of a real thing (“what is real? asked the Velveteen Rabbit) — at least twice removed.

    Rebecca Solnit (who I admit, I love) has written that “Sense of place is the sixth sense, in internal compass and map made by memory and spatial perception together.” Maybe our relationship to the solitary – or our sense of place – is something we redefine – in our own, in vastly different and yet familiar ways – in SL. In spite of what Second Life was originally intended to be, it remains a platform that offers the individual a high level of interactivity. Musicians, scholars, artists – all members of the community have the opportunity to explore place and self – in spite of everything written to lament the “death” of the platform.

    I am grateful for this.

       

    Posted in Bebu Gallery, lanne wise, secondlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

    Layers and Conversations…Flo Nova’s work at Bebu Gallery

    Posted on January 4, 2023 by lannewise

    Flo Nova is not a person who has airs about her work.  It’s a diligent exploration and documentation of her time in SL.   When you talk with her about what it is  she’s doing, she doesn’t mention titles or money or posterity. She talks about  creative energy, layering visual information, and emotional input and output. She talks about influences.  She sounds like an artist.

    Nova exemplifies what Toni Morrison said about being an artist: 

    “You need intelligence, and you need to look. You need a gaze, a wide gaze, penetrating and roving – that’s what’s useful for art.”

    Or James Baldwin: 

    “An artist is a sort of emotional or spiritual historian. His role is to make you realize the doom and glory of knowing who you are and what you are. He has to tell, because nobody else can tell, what it is like to be alive.”

    Story Flo Nova, December 2022

    Like many of us, Flo comes in and out of SL – and also like many of us – her experience (good and bad) is defined by  “the friendships and little pockets of community I find.”

    Those folks in-world become influential in ways that are not easily seen right away.  When I asked her about this, she gave me a long list of folks – some who were familiar, and some who I look forward learning more about.   But about two individuals she had more to say.

    About Aegean:  “… I had followed Aegean’s work for a long time and this year we collided inworld.  His pieces are breathtaking … go look at them and absorb the greatness.”

    About Goodes Bade:  “… a hugely talented DJ. He paints with sound and in doing so tells a story, taking listeners on a journey.  He also has a Flickr with visual work and they are equally brilliant….”

    Nova’s work plays with layers….of color, or imagery, or just pieces of text other graphic elements. 

    Prints Flo Nova, December 2022

    About the work she says, “Physically… I think it comes from my background in painting. I love oils, nothing hits like painting with them… but in my time at art school I was using acrylics like a mad man – you can really layer with those as they dry quite quickly. I also spent a lot of time in the print room and the results you get from those explorations are really exciting. I was introduced to sugar lift at that time and I think that stayed with me ever since.”

    Featured print from Katherine Jones’ Eton Portfolio: ‘Drawing Schools’ (Sugarlift aquatint etching)

    Introduction to the sugar lift etching process

    “On a more immaterial note – creative energy feels like such a wild thing and often it is difficult to wield its power since it really has a mind of its own. Rather than beat it into submission I find I must work with it – layering gives me this ability to explore how it wants to talk to me that day. Then once I have that all down in disarray I can remove, rearrange and adjust to create something cohesive… something that lands where I want it to.

    In terms of what I’m capturing – it is similar to my RL practice. I love to explore landscape and figures. Lately my RL work in graphic design/illustration has taken me down a more abstract route as I am creating visual languages. My process chops and changes with each project… but this act of throwing it all down on the table first then shuffling through and finding the good bits remains my go-to way of making.

    Aesthetically my work in SL is so much more on point with what I want to create. I think it is because of my anonymity. On SL I feel more free to do what I want to do whereas with RL there is a sense of restriction and confinement. I think any artist starting out can say the same… you haven’t got the funds quite yet, you’re plagued by whatever is getting in the way of your creativity, this and that… blah blah blah.

    Somehow in SL it is all silent and it is just the art… I love it here for that reason. I think lastly my work in SL is entirely digital whereas I prefer analogue medium in RL… but through this I see the two now blending and I am just about ready to start making digital works with RL subject matter.

    As you get older the texture of life sort of unfolds… you have more patience to linger in the grey areas and that is where I have found a really beautiful conversation between sadness and joy.

    Lastly I would say – starting a career in Graphic Design has influenced my work in a huge way. Where you see typography, use of framing and graphic elements is where it reveals itself in my work.”

    Other Influences

    I have unconsciously harbored a million influences, my work is just a regurgitation of what I have seen throughout my life.

    The first artist coming to mind is Moonassi.  His black and white illustrations depicting figures wielding masks, diving through holes in the ground and meshing with one another… it’s really spiritual stuff.

    http://www.moonassi.com/about

    The next that comes to mind are the artists Peter Doig and Pierre Bonnard. I was exposed to Doig first – immediately taken with his powerful, expressive works (especially his Canoe paintings).

    The White Canoe Peter Doig, 1991

    Bonnard I found later when he exhibited at the Tate – wow. The colour and the scale of his work just blew my mind.

    The Bathroom Pierre Bonnard, 1932

    Music influences?   “This is an impossible question… all music everywhere.”

    But here is one that we share in common:

    The Bebu Gallery can be found here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Trilogy%20City/137/203/24

    You are welcome to visit – explore the area and enjoy the exceptional work in the gallery.

    Posted in Bebu Gallery, lanne wise, secondlife, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

    At 15: a few remarkable things….

    Posted on July 29, 2022 by lannewise

    I turned 15 in January… 

    That is a good amount of time in any life – especially Secondlife.  Of course – time is relative.

    Also,  I’m coming out of COVID years, and out of a long recovery time back to health.  Over the past few years – I came inworld in the middle of my night, set myself on “unavailable” and proceeded to sit on beaches, sail boats, ride horses, and wander aimlessly distracting myself.  I came to love the work of nekonuko Nakamori and her “wandering_world” series (https://www.flickr.com/photos/nekonuko/).  I too, was wandering – but without the energy to document it.

    For me, whose Secondlife has always involved  music in a big way, it felt like there was a big hole in what I was doing.  I knew I was starting to feel better when I started reaching out to people, showing up at clubs again – and finally wanting to re-open Bebu.

    I love having a small gallery – and having the work of people I respect in the gallery.  It’s not fancy – and not part of any art “scene.”  (I tend to avoid those in RL too.)  As I began pulling ideas together, I came back to turning 15.  There are 15 years of “things” in my inventory.  Including a lot of wonderful art/design pieces by creatives whose output has kept me awed and entertained for those 15 years. 

    This isn’t an exhaustive list by any means.

    Please visit and enjoy these pieces from my personal collection. They will be up for a couple more months at the Bebu Gallery …. which you can find here. And you are welcome to wander around the place. Nice spot for photos and chilling out.

    Peace. Lanne

    ______________________________________________________________________

    Kean Kelly   (keke) (* Be kind. Always. *)

    **[ keke ] Snow Jar – Fox / part of the snow jar collection

    Sadly, keke seems to have left SL. But the body of whimsical (and well designed)

    Work she has left behind is scattered across the grid.

    ____________________________________________________

    Mistero Hifeng

    Cammino & Vivo Capovolto

    http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Fashion%20Boulevard/47/96/1503

    **Eppure esisto

    **Ti nascondero’…un giorno

    **Tra ragnatele… (b)

    **Bella...-mesh2014+resize/pillar

    che ci importa del mondo

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Bryn Oh Artist working in oil paint, bronze and virtual spaces.

    https://www.instagram.com/bryn_oh/

    http://brynoh.blogspot.com/

    My group/sim is called Immersiva

    **Bryn Oh Lobby Cam birds / Lobby Cam

    ___________________________________________________________________________

    Aino Beresford

    **Alices Garden* bird chair-large

    ______________________________________________________________________________________

    Oldie (oldschool.spittler)

    current SL landscaper extrordinare

    **Cloudballomsitting – Bazaar creation

    _______________________________________________________________________________________

    Strawberry Holiday

    I am Jennifer Burlingame, an artist and teacher from Washington State.  For more info, check out my art at website http://www.wingedstrawberry.com or find me on Deviant art at http://jenthestrawberry.deviantart.com

    **Strawberry Holiday’s Word Tree

    **Pink Rapture Tree

    **Rapture Tree

    ____________________________________________________________

    Mitsuko Kytori (Nature is an Art)

    Hayabusa Design CEO – Main Designer.

    **Hayabusa Design – Art One M1-2 LPE Animated

    **Hayabusa Design – Art One M1-2 HPE Animated

    _______________________________________________________________

    antonio (elros.tuominen)

    Artea orokorki, eta musika partikularki, beste mundua bisitatzeko, barrukoa…

    1973/XII/18 an jaiota.

    Zeozer gehiago jakin nahi baduzu, just IM me, mila esker

    **Guiding Domch Lights small

    **Silent talking

    __________________________________________________________________________

    Spiral Watcher

    I’m not really in this world anymore.

    **Wall Piece 9

    __________________________________________________________________________________

    dazai Voom illustrator

    I make toys, furniture, homes, animals, and vehicles.

    D-LAB main shop sky garden, Poecila  (10, 131, 3002)

    **D-LAB Valentine Tree

    **D-LAB+andika  Planet to dream06

    **D-LAB Star clock Green

    ___________________________________________________

    Pira (piraiyah.novikov)

    **NOMAD Wall Planetarium

    ____________________________________________________

    Shami Azalee

    **TLG – Glam Poppy Floral Bust

    ____________________________________________________________

    Hattie Panacek (hatris.panacek)

    Owner and builder of Ex Machina

    **Terrarium 2

    **Ex Machina Terrarium

    **Museum Cabinet 1 Tall

    **Museum Cabinet 3 Wide

    Cato (cato.basevi)

    **Rothko poster chair #2

    **Rothko meditation mat

    __________________________________________________________________________

    FionaFei

    I am an artist, and I use SL as way to express my art in the virtual world.  You can visit some of my art in my picks.  Upcoming project: SLEA grant artist for 2022

    I dream, and I paint.

    Here’s a link to an interview about my art:

    **Chinese 3D Painting – Bamboos – S

    **Egg Decor Gift By FionaFei

    **Chinese 3D Painting – Koi Fish 02

    ___________________________________________________________________________

    Jake Vordun

    Owner of:  Fancy Decor / The Vordun Museum /  Burin

    **02 Fancy Decor: Opulent Egg II (onyx)

    ___________________________________________________________________

    Alla Baroque

    Builds & Furniture direct SLurl: Selidor (215,128,1528)

    **~Libertine~ Collectable Egg 05 “Safe Haven”

    _____________________________________________________________________

    Canolli Capalini

    No, it’s not usual to have a woman woodworker in the industrialized 1800’s. But my furniture speaks volumes about the care I was taught to put into my work.

    **CFF – Ornate Egg – Blooming

    _____________________________________________________________________

    AM Radio

    **shadowBoxDragonFly AM RADIO

    **microscope AM RADIO

    ________________________________________________________________________

    michi Nino (michi.organiser)

    1★[MONKEYGirl]

    **[MG]shelf -macaron Green

    _______________________________________________________________________________

    Zinnia Karu

    I make creative, lovingly hand textured, furniture with a Southwestern/Mexican bent.

    **Zinnias Mexican Nicho Vintage Madonna

    _________________________________________________________________________________

    菊之介王子 (kikunosuke.eel)

    **LAMP

    ______________________________________________________________________________________

    Nur Moo

    Photographer, event creator

    Poetik Velvets

    **#1 Image

    **#2 Image

    _________________________________________________________________________________

    terrygold

    RAIN – Terrygold Art Gallery , Peaceful Land  (242, 100, 1107)

    **TERRYGOLD EMPTY CHAIRS – N1

    **TERRY – RAIN – N10

    **TERRY – RAIN – N35

    _____________________________________________________________________

    Lundy Lovely

    hive mainstore, hive  (139, 55, 25)

    **hive // words is (y)ours sign

    ________________________________________________________________________________________

    Lanne Wise

    Bebu Club and Gallery

    **Image “Lanne Wise and Nur Moo”

    **Image “Cato’s Build

    ___________________________________________________________________________________

    (I ended up having to take some of these objects down because they were so prim heavy! Ask me if you want to see them and I will pull them out for you.)

    Posted in lanne wise, secondlife, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

    LIVE THE QUESTIONS NOW

    Posted on July 7, 2021 by lannewise

    I am a turn of century person – as was Rilke.

    Holding the questions and loving the questions. If you are faithful to questions, will they be faithful back. FItfully? Are we, as Rilke wrote, “Two solitudes that border and protect each other.”

    Tom Uttech (American, b. 1942) paints imaginary woodland scenes that celebrate the verdant natural world he has been closely acquainted with since his childhood in Merrill, Wisconsin.

    We who are alive now are witnessing something that has never happened before … you don’t want to die without knowing how beautiful this is. Yes, there is bad. Yes, there is evil. Beyond comprehension – the daily pain of existing in the world. And yet. There is beauty. Rivers, mountains, forests, lupines, bees and birds.

    “See, I live. On what?
    Childhood and future are equally present.
    Sheer abundance of being
    floods my heart.” (from, Letters to a Young Poet. Rilke. A New Translation and Commentary).

    https://www.worldcat.org/title/letters-to-a-young-poet-a-new-translation-and-commentary/oclc/1249108979

    Imagine my surprise finding this spot in SL. Like stepping into one of Uttech’s paintings and being able to wander around. Summer Quest @ Four Bridges (Four Bridges, rated Moderate) – is an incredible build – see Inara Pey’s detailed review here.

    Do we even realize how life is never normal?

    Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

    Virtual appetites

    Posted on January 6, 2019 by lannewise

    There is a journal called Appetite which describes itself as ….an international research journal specializing in cultural, social, psychological, sensory and physiological influences on the selection and intake of foods and drinks. It covers normal and disordered eating and drinking and welcomes studies of both human and non-human animal behaviour toward food.

    I wonder what they would make of the amount of attention paid to eating and drinking in a virtual world?

    Street vendor, Pandora Resort, Kamigami….

    Food is everywhere in SL. As are places to find it – kitchens, bakeries, coffee shops, street vendors, hot dog stands (I guess that counts as a street vendor) Dining room sets that allow you to sit alone or with others and chat over elaborate tableware and delicious looking dishes. Plates of cookies and candies that are set out on coffee and cafe tables.

    Candy, Spirit of Sun…..

    In a study released in the May/June 2013 issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (May/June 2013), investigators (who are these “investigators”?) from The University of Kansas Medical Center explored alternative weight management delivery methods. The solution they are investigating — virtual reality for weight loss and weight maintenance. They were doing this in SL. One intriguing observation, “Individuals who want to participate in real-life scenarios without real-life repercussions can use virtual reality.” Maybe. If it works – more power to them.

    Back to the dining room sets – one of the most beautiful I have seen of late comes from Apple Fall. It’s called the Anashara Dining Set. Look at the richness of the design and the detail of the different elements that come with it. Stunning.

    One of the best things about being around a table are the things that happen there. I like my tables to have a patina of use. The scratches, knicks, burns and bruises that remind me of the life that has been lived around them. Like to Harjo poem below.

    Perhaps the World Ends Here

    Joy Harjo, 1951

    The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live.

    The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table. So it has been since creation, and it will go on.

    We chase chickens or dogs away from it. Babies teethe at the corners. They scrape their knees under it.

    It is here that children are given instructions on what it means to be human. We make men at it, we make women.

    At this table we gossip, recall enemies and the ghosts of lovers.

    Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms around our children. They laugh with us at our poor falling-down selves and as we put ourselves back together once again at the table.

    This table has been a house in the rain, an umbrella in the sun.

    Wars have begun and ended at this table. It is a place to hide in the shadow of terror. A place to celebrate the terrible victory.

    We have given birth on this table, and have prepared our parents for burial here.

    At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We pray of suffering and remorse. We give thanks.

    Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite.

    From The Woman Who Fell From the Sky by Joy Harjo. Copyright © 1994 by Joy Harjo.
    https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/perhaps-world-ends-here









    Posted in Apple Fall, lanne wise, secondlife | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

    Long time no see….

    Posted on April 4, 2018 by lannewise
    bremen-musicians_001.png
    Bremen Town Musicians at North

    Yes I know – I’m a slacker when it comes to keeping up on blogs.  I was going to say this one especially – but that isn’t true.  Since it’s coming up on a year with no posts – I figured that I better get on the ball here, lest you think Lanne Wise is no longer around.

    She is – but often wandering or shopping late at night.  And she is hanging out with animals.  A new jack russell puppy in RL, and a variety of deer, sheep, puppies, foxes, cats, horses, eagles and songbirds in SL.  Oh – and a gecko.  We can’t forget the gecko.

    fullsizeoutput_5fb4gecko_013

    The American Veterinary Association says, “The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that is influenced by behaviors essential to the health and well being of both. This includes, among other things, emotional, psychological, and physical interactions of people, animals, and the environment.”

    As with many other things I realize as I wander about the grid – my pleasure in coming across animals is always satisfying.  Sometimes they speak to me – which is even better.  Recently I had a long conversation with this dog at alirium.  We talked about the beauty of the area, what it was like to be a dog (who was actually wearing a police jacket) on patrol and the beauty of alirium.  I asked if they would pose for some images this was readily agreed to.  Noble, right?

    a good dog is hard to find....

    On another note – I am currently having an exhibit of my images at the Flossify Gallery in Second Life.   Wonderfully curated by Joss Floss, there is also an interview which you can find here.  I am grateful for the positive attention – and everyone kind enough to show up at the opening.

    pups_015

    Posted in lanne wise, secondlife, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

    Boots and Horses

    Posted on May 12, 2017 by lannewise

    She had horses who danced in their mothers’ arms.
    She had horses who thought they were the sun and their bodies shone

    and burned like stars.

    She had horses who waltzed nightly on the moon.
    She had horses who were much too shy, and kept quiet

    in stalls of their own making.

    She had some horses.

    from… She Had Some Horses, Joy Harjo

    1.

    I did not grow up with horses, much to my chagrin.  I grew up in Detroit – where cars and freeways populated the landscape.  But I wanted to ride horses.  Of course I didn’t – not until much later.  Early on I dreamt about them, drew them, collected Breyer horse models.  There wasn’t the money or the inclination on the part of my parents to make my horse dreams happen.  Later on, when I did186274643_09cf9352c2_o have the opportunities to ride – I loved it.  But it was never often enough for me to feel like I knew what I was doing.  If the horse I was riding decided to turn around and bolt back to the barn, I was helpless to do much.

    So imagine my delight when a friend introduced me to a beautiful breed of horse in SL, the work of

    Zed Avedon at Realistek.  I can ride them alone – or with someone else.  I can race them all over the sim.  They are always there for you to come and ride too.

    By identifying with these dynamic, strong animals, Orenstein says, girls are expressing their own power.

    “They’re all active, they’re all sources of power and motion and transformation,” she says.

    Laurel Braitman, an MIT graduate student in the history of science who writes about animals and what we think about them, says girls’ fascination with these animals is more than power — the animals fuel girls’ imaginations.

    “Horses and dolphins and unicorns — these are all borderland creatures; gateway animals to other worlds,” she says. “They help us imagine wonderful other ways of being in the world. They let us be cowgirls and oceanographers and mermaids and princesses.”  Peggy Orenstein

    collectible_horses_figurines_-_Google_Search

    Horses from the Breyer collection.

    2.

    The comings and goings of people in SL is interesting to say the least.  Because time is so out of wack, relationships can be intense and fleeting, or spill over into other parts of other lives.  I spent a night in London with Boots – a SL friend who used to gallery hop in-world with me when I couldn’t sleep.   He took me to an underground (literally) bar that looked like Elvis Presley’s living room.  It made me laugh out loud all night.  We drank whiskey and did card tricks – and talked and talked and talked.  He delivered me back to where I was staying as the sun was rising, in one of those big black taxis.  I wouldn’t want to meet everyone I know in SL on this side of the screen.  But I don’t regret any of the meetings I’ve been lucky enough to have.

    There’ve been quite a few reunions of late.  Recently, old friends reconvened for a full day of music.  Thanks to Sage Sautereau’s organizational skills; DJ Extrodinaire’s Mach V,  2ndThoughtsBrando, Briddy Boucher, Transient Zeluco (to name a few) provided live sets.  (click their names to link to their sets) Panning the room – global representation with Una Gackt, Nur Moo, Karizmah Avro, Dave Attenborough along with Morgan Kincess.  These are all folks I see rarely, always feel happier when I do. Pixel dancing  and laughing together in that way you only can with people you have spent multiple hours pixel dancing and laughing with.

    Also reconnected with Miel Nirvana as well.  Miel has had a line of clothing in SL for quite a while.  I have a closet full of his clothes that I can no longer wear – and it bugs me to no end.  After a hiatus he as back – with a store here and on the marketplace here.
    For creators who leave and come back, I suspect the changes that are ongoing in terms of fashion and technology can be daunting.  Miel sent over a pair of updated Miel Dandy Boots. and as all of his work – they are both attractive and fun.  Plus (coming full circle) they are great for riding horses.

    horsey_003horsey_004

    Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

    The Art of Knowing Who We Are…the work of Rita Glad and Roseleiya.

    Posted on September 20, 2025 by lannewise

    the universe took its time on you
    crafted you to offer the world
    something different from everyone else
    when you doubt
    how you were created
    you doubt an energy greater than us both. Rupi Kaur

    Recently I was introduced to two artists by my good friend, Kika Yongho. Kika is someone who always has her virtual eyes and ears to the ground – looking for interesting new artists. builds, music – and even sales! Generous of spirit, she facilitates all of this information amongst her friends (lucky us). I hadn’t met or known either of these individuals before – and I wasn’t familiar with their work, but I was immediately intrigued. A first visit only left me wanting another. And after meeting them both and talking to them – I started pulling my thinking together to share with y’all.

    Currently at the Rita Glad Showroom & Art, artist Rita Glad invites the viewer to join her on a journey.  Her journey – your journey – or the journey of someone you know.  Personal.  Vulnerable.  Courageous.  Real.  These emotions/feelings culturally induced – can travel with us to any life we are living.

    “My Eating Disorder Diary” is truly a visual crash course. A walk through lays the issues bare. Interspersed between mixed cultural signals and the overload of social media – are the real ramifications of the disconnect – between celebrating who we are – or suffering the debilitating consequences of feeling that we don’t measure up….which can sometimes lead to self hatred.

    We binge – on culture….using the current crop of social media platforms that are trending at the moment, on whatever our current food of choice is – something salty, something sweet, something that can be easily inhaled – because it could never be / we could never be – enough.

    The images in the exhibit show the viewer two different sides of what life with an eating disorder often is. Externally: bent over an open fridge….in front of the television surrounded by junk food…kneeling in front of a toilet. These images are straightforward and intentional. We see what is happening. In addition, there are images that speak to what is happening internally. The internal confusion. carefully laid out in images that are chaotic in their composition. How Glad uses color and surface composition to portray this “inner” and “outer” space is worth looking at – especially when they are displayed together.

    While this story is shaped entirely by my personal experiences and observations, it’s also a very universal problem; in fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to call it a problem specific to a “specific sexual identity.” Because statistically, the leading roles in this story are mostly women.

    Rita Glad

    Banquet / Rita Glad Die off / Rita Glad

    ________________________________________________________________

    Over at Photo Cafe, Kika Yongho is hosting “Femininity” by artist Roseleiya (Rose). Here, a series of carefully considered images are conversing with each other – and the viewer – about exactly how to define the word femininity. What it mean, how we wear and inhabit it. Overall each image is carefully considered and detailed. They are what Rose calls (and I agree) “harmonious…. compositions with a single color emphasized. I also appreciate monochrome imagery, though I prefer to keep the colors whenever possible.”

    There are recurring themes and imagery in these pieces. Rose prefers to place her subjects slightly off-center, to blend into their surroundings rather than command attention. The goal is not to highlight the persons presence, but to let the story of the image be seen.

    These images have a quiet power. They are meditations that ask for careful reflection.

    The idea of this exhibition, Femininity, comes from my personal experiences as a woman. These experiences led me to reflect on how femininity can manifest beyond physicality. While appearances can only be altered so much, our sense of femininity is something we can always feel from within.

    Roseleiya

    The artist intends for these images to have “a hint of naturalness to them, and she considers how this virtual world can look “naturally,” untouched.” (More about this virtual world in a minute.)

    Well aware that femininity and female characteristics are different, again – based on culture, based on faith traditions, based on personal history — for everyone; Roseleiya hopes that folks who struggle with what this means can find peace.

    Femininity / Roseleiya

    My own take on this – both artists are dealing with the ways that culture and/or the opinions of others can damage the way women see themselves. How they, as Kaur writes, doubt an energy greater than us both. Rita asks us to rethink the concept of ‘imperfect” and Rose invites us to consider with her what femininity is – and where it comes from.

    Rose represents her ideas about femininity in the most romantic of ways – romantic in terms of a kind of self love that a woman must recognize and cherish in herself (however she sees or defines this). While Rita is taking us through a journey about struggling to find that self love.

    A note about body image in Second Life – which could be it’s own post (or two or three). Early research on body image and SL explored how users create and perceive virtual bodies (avatars) and the implications for self-concept, social interaction, and psychological well-being. They found that the freedom to manipulate avatar appearance in Second Life leads users to experiment with idealized bodies that often reflect personal aspirations or societal beauty standards.

    And this can be both positive and negative. Consider:

    • Second Life’s thriving fashion scene and influencer culture sometimes reinforce specific beauty standards, contributing to pressures that resemble those found in the real world. Users can create highly stylized, “idealized” looks, but there is also a visible presence of body-positive, diverse, and alternative avatars breaking conventional molds.
    • For some, avatar creation is a way to overcome real-life body insecurities and experiment with self-acceptance, while others may experience pressure to achieve a certain level of attractiveness or uniqueness online.
    • For many users, Second Life provides a safe environment to explore aspects of gender, body shape, and style without real-world risks or stigma. Customization allows for avatars representing disabilities, nonbinary identities, and fat-positive or unconventional bodies as well.
    • Users frequently discuss experiences of self-esteem, body image, and the balance between fantasy fulfillment and authenticity in community forums and social groups.

    Body image in Second Life is a complex blend of empowerment, creativity, and sometimes the very same ideals and insecurities present outside the virtual world. How users engage with these possibilities depends heavily on their personal intentions and the communities with which they interact.

    Visit the Photo Cafe to see Roseleiya’s Femininity.

    Vist Rita Glad Showroom & Art to see My Eating Disorder Diary

    Visit Kika’s Script Store

    Early studies on self image in Second Life:

    https://ejournals.epublishing.ekt.gr/index.php/homvir/article/view/30319

    https://cyberpsychology.eu/article/view/4270

    https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1077699017722105

    Get The Facts

    Posted in lanne wise, photo cafe, secondlife, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

    HONORING WATER IN SL : I AM VENUS

    Posted on October 7, 2024 by lannewise

    An Exhibition/Installation by Kika Yongho

    I’m standing in a field.  The sky is blue, the clouds are high above and a large crowd has gathered to listen to singer Vic Worbridge and after her,  DJ Goodes Bade.  It’s a sunny afternoon….and on top of the hill in front of us, Vic sings a SADE song. As exceptional as they both are – what we are really here for is:  I AM VENUS.

    Around us, on the cliffs and floating in the water is the photography of Kika Yongho.   It is both an exhibit and a meditation on the life force that is water – and how a group of women in second life reflect on the place water plays in their world.

    “Water is the ink with which life writes its stories.”
    Rachel Carson (American marine biologist) submitted by -❈´- Josephine Delvalle

    The installation is at ARTSVILLE, the always interesting and ever growing art venue(s) that co-owners Jerzzie Reece-Redstar and Frank Atisso created and manage. You’ll find I AM VENUS above the main galleries – and it can be accessed via the teleport system from the main galleries landing point.

    I’ll get to Kika’s exhibit in a sec – but first I want to mention her practice – which is all about collaboration. There is a methodology in some academic circles known as “collaborative poetics” which aims to harness the skills and knowledge of artists, academic researchers and community participants working together as a ‘research collective’  to produce innovative, creative pieces which enrich our understanding of social issues and the lived experience of these issues. This in turn helps to communicate this new knowledge in engaging and accessible ways. From my vantage point that is what can make Second Life such a satisfying place to work if you are a creative – and it is exactly what Kika brings to her community in Second Life. This exhibit is a perfect example.

    Photo Cafe is another (The most recent flyer.)

    Yongho calls  I Am Venus a female portrait gallery that explores the relationship of the participants with Love, “Life, the Universe, and Everything”, here symbolized by Water.

    -`❈´-[[ The Venuses ]]- 》》》

    Each woman invited (each Venus!) was asked to give Yongho a written statement that reflected her own connection or thinking about water. That, in turn, inspired each photograph. You are able to read all the captions in a notecard given at the exhibit, or walking near the frames of the exhibit, in local chat.

    Here are a few of them interspersed with the names of all the Venuses:

      “I love the ocean. The vastness of the Ocean evokes feelings of freedom and liberation. I find solace in the boundless horizon. For me it’s a symbol of endless possibilities. The sound and sight of waves crashing or gently lapping at the shore have a soothing, meditative quality that make me feel at peace.” `❈´- Moonsoul Kiyori

         “Nurturing. It represents life itself, offering a profound sense of safety and comfort when immersed in it. Water provides a release of emotions, allowing one to dissolve into the vastness and find solace. To me, water is home.” -`❈´- Creamy Teardrop

       -`❈´- αкι™ (Aki Kiyori)  `❈´- A. (Ava Darkheart) `❈´- ღ Babe ღ (Babe Whimsy)

            “Water, in all its forms, has been a confidant, a muse, a healer. It has taught me to flow with life’s currents, to embrace change, and to find beauty in the journey. My relationship with water is a dance of reverence and gratitude, a testament to the profound connection between nature and the human soul. It is in water that I find my true self, ever fluid, ever evolving, boundless and free.” `❈´- Ⴆҽҽ (Filipa Emor)

    `❈´- Clementine Rosca        `❈´- Elena (Elena Amethyst)  `❈´- Ŧคlєภץ (Faleny Resident)

      -`❈´- Franny BlameTheCat (Francesca Pfeffer) `❈´- Igi (Igielka Resident)  -`❈´- Josephine Delvalle

            “In some indigenous traditions women carry an open vessel of water great distances as a way to bring awareness to endangered bodies of water.  It is based in the traditional belief that women are responsible for caring for the water. We are water.”  -`❈´- Lanne Wise

    ❈´- Lika Cameo `❈´- Loony Carabosse – Moretto (Louna Perl)

    -`❈´- Louisa Camino -`❈´- Moki Yuitza

    -`❈´- Moonsoul Kiyori -`❈´- onceagain (manoji Yachvili)

        “Water means emotion. feelings. water transposes all that’s to be found in our hearts. look at the sea. it is the calm feeling on a morning under the sun. it is the brightness and joy of a new beginning. it is the restlessness before the dark clouds appear. the rage during the storm. it is both gentle and disruptive. it is our mirror.”    `❈´- Syd Specter (Syd00 Resident)

    `

        -`❈´- Pink Arkin -`❈´- sabr Zirgar -`❈´- Soile (HarperRose Starchild)

    -`❈´- v ɪ ᴄ (Victoria Worbridge)

    -`❈´- ϮƗ Vɪᴏʟᴇᴛᴛᴇ Mᴏʀɴɪɴɢꜱᴛᴀʀ ƗϮ (Violette Rembrandt)

            “I am water that reaches the tiniest crack of earth, touching it and being touched deeply just before evaporating with all its humors back up to the sky, condensing into clouds, mingling all the flavors together and raining them back down, pouring them back on fertile soil. I am water, you are water too now.” -`❈´- Kika Yongho

    The party continues, all the Venus’s dancing on stage with the DJ.  Not in a line.  Not all the same….each their own dance. All individual strong women bringing their messages to the world.

    “The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost cannot bear it, that is a door. If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door.”
    — Clarissa Pinkola Estés (Women Who Run With the Wolves    )

    Posted in lanne wise, secondlife, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

    mist

    Posted on March 16, 2022 by lannewise
    Parked at Peak.

    Praise crazy. Praise sad.

    Praise the path on which we’re led.

    Praise the roads on earth and water.

    Praise the eater and the eaten.

    Praise beginnings; praise the end.

    Praise the song and praise the singer.

    Joy Harjo

    Posted in secondlife, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment