Me in Skyrim

I have been playing a lot of Skyrim.  I am not normally much of a gamer but I do love this game.  The world is beautiful and the gameplay is pretty easy and fun.  Hey!  It might even be fast, easy and fun.  What do you know.

You be the Judge - Art in Second Life

I am one of the many who have been asked to "judge" the UWA 3D Open art Challenge and the MachinimaUWA IV: Art of the Artists Contest.  Here is a link to the page where you can find all 83 machinima entries. Lately I have been watching hours and hours of machinima and looking at art work after art work.  My conclusion is the talent of people working in virtual worlds is staggering.  Please treat yourself and have a look.  SLurl to UWA Grand Finale

Now to the subject of judging - I am not a judge of what is relevant, good or otherwise valuable.  I look at the work, I decide "hey this is interesting" or "this made me laugh" or "who's stupid idea was glowing, full bright lime green?"  Please don't be intimidated by "art" and "artists statements" and people who make you feel like you are in no position to know what is "good art."  If you look at something and think that is just some glowy, spinny prim and I don't like it - then guess what? Its probably nothing more than a glowy spinny prim (possibly made by someone with a fancy pants name in the "art world.")  So what?

Trust your instincts about art. If it moves you or interests you or even makes you think "huh?" then it is good because the work has made you feel something and react. Anyone who tries to bamboozle you with fah fah fah words about laaaa dee dahh probably has spent a lot of time in academic settings.  Now please don't get me wrong, I am not trying to demean people who study art and art history and who educate the rest of us.  I strongly value all of that.  What I am saying is no one should be intimidated and not enjoy art in SL or anywhere else because they are fearful that they don't know enough or don't "get it."

Go.  Enjoy.  You be the judge.

HuMaNoiD - Fabulous Art Sim

Today I followed a link someone shared with me to a sim called HuMaNoiD, owned by Wendy Xeno. The landing point places you in the center of a circle of doors.  You are surrounded by shallow water, dotted with random islands that call out to be explored.  But there are the doors demanding to be opened too!  Definitely visit HuMaNoiD when you have some time because there is a lot to see and you will want to savor the experience.

Click on the doors and walk through the openings and you will find yourself transported to imaginative places where the music and the lighting set the stage. Perhaps I was in a bit of a melancholy mood but there is a lonely feel to parts of HuMaNoiD.  Not a sad lonely but more of a long walk in the cold kind of quiet solitude.

I came across people quietly talking in several of the spots so rather than disturb, I left them to enjoy the music and the expansive skies.  Clearly this is a popular sim but it is on a homestead so there will never be more than a few others enjoying the spaces.

Yes, HuMaNoiD has a preferred windlight setting and in order to show the sim to you as the creator intended I have not adjusted the lighting in these images.

 Did you ever feel like you were in a cage?  My life has me feeling that way lately so I spent a bit longer than I intended in this birdcage.  Remember what I said about melancholy?  Note to self: hanging out in an actual cage does not help!

Shiny glittery trees are much more conducive to a happy mood.  Many thanks to Wendy Xeno for sharing her lovely sim with the rest of us.   Teleport to HuMaNoiD at this link