ECLIPSE Magazine April 2019

A p r i l

2 0 1 9

w i l l

c o r r i g a n

Contents

32.

Through the Lens

80.

At Home With...

120. CandleWood

68.

Proust Spotlight

102.

SL Fiction

132.

Five photographers lend ECLIPSE a glimpse behind their lens for their interpretation of Spring Romance.

Teaming up with the Blogger & Vlogger Network, we shine the spotlight on the talented Victoria James!

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Hara immerses herself in the spring season with her inspired home and decor styling.

Cas kicks off our newest feature sharing a story of a day in the life of her roleplay character.

Adalynne Romano, Doc Romano and Ryanna Foxclaw welcome everyone to their incredibly photogenic sim

The Art Perspective

Oema offers her review of “TRANSIENTS�, an Artistic Installation at GBTH by Mr and Ms S.

s

ECLIPSE Magazine is dedicated to not only offering an aesthetically pleasing publication, but to also be considered a platform that offers rich and relevant content. Each month, we showcase residents and groups that have taken the concept of “your world, your imagination� to such great heights that they have impacted the culture and lifestyle of the Second Life community.

48.

Cover Story Will Corrigan Cover Photographer Lessthen Zero

144.

Voices from the Grid

166.

Places to Go...

180.

The Wayfarer

Writer Cajsa Lilliehook

Each issue ECLIPSE Magazine asks residents a question, see what they have to say.

Novaleigh explores the best places on the grid for group activities.

Join the Wayfarer on a journey exploring the sim, Salt Water.

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executive team

Trouble dethly

cajsa lilliehook

Taylor Wassep

autumn rose

Publisher

Copy Editor

Creative Director

Creative Director

jessyca teardrop Assistant Editor

the c

writers

photographers

Cajsa Lilliehook Grayden Foxe Novaleigh Freng Oema Taylor Wassep

Autumn Rose Hara June Fallon Lessthen Zero Novaleigh Freng Taylor Wassep Tempest Rosca Wicca Merlin

stylists Autumn Rose Hara June Fallon Taylor Wassep Tempest Rosca Wicca Merlin

guest stylist & photographer Cas (BrokenLovely), Cassie Middles & Dash Bloodmoon (Neekai)

interested in advertising with eclipse? have an idea for a great story? looking to start a new career in second life? email trouble.dethlysl@gmail.com

contributors

I am slowly trying to bring my publication date back to the first week of the month. ECLIPSE Magazine has a fairly large group of contributors and publishing monthly makes it difficult to really move it up too much more than the previous month. We have been doing it though, and I am so incredibly grateful for the team for all the work they do. And for putting up with me.

This month on the cover, I feature Will Corrigan. He is the creator behind Fourth Wall, the mastermind of Builder’s Box, a real life entrepreneur with TeaMates, and he happens to put up with me with our event company: Basic Boyos. No matter what he tells you: We came up with that name together. I truly am honored that we have the opportunity to tell you his story this month. It is inspiring and is a true testament to how in Second Life the only limitations placed on you are the ones you place on yourselves. Furthermore, it also highlights the positive impact this virtual world can have on our real lives, as well.

We have a total of 10 pieces this month with a new feature called “SL Fiction.” Instead of showcasing a roleplay community, we bring in a guest writer (and photographer) to tell us a day in the life story of their roleplay character. For this issue, Cas (BrokenLovely) kicks off the inaugural piece.

Also, my publisher’s photograph I didn’t take. I actually pulled it off Autumn’s flickr because she’s incredibly talented. Even when she’s busy with her own work and has deadlines pressing on her, she never fails to help me with ECLIPSE Magazine. Her constant support and words of encouragement mean the most to me.

With that, I do hope you enjoy this issue and happy readings!

letter from the publi

isher

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through the lens styling & photography by autumn rose, cassie middles, dash bloodmoon, novaleigh freng & temp

Each issue, ECLIPSE Magazine invites the many talented photographers from Second Life to collaborate. With this piece, they style, create and share a glimpse through their lens.

With the cold weather officially behind us (for the most part), the spring season is in full bloom. Thus, it is only fitting that we bring to you just a bit of spring romance.

s

est rosca.

Photographer: Autumn Rose Featuring: Autumn & Trouble Page 34 | ECLIPSE April 2019

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Photographer: Cassie Middles Featuring: Cassie

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Photographer: Dash Bloodmoon Featuring: Laura & Dash Page 38 | ECLIPSE April 2019

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Photographer: Novaleigh Freng Featuring: Novaleigh & Ryan Page 40 | ECLIPSE April 2019

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Photographer: Tempest Rosca Featuring: Legolas & Tempest

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Photograph by Lessthen Zero.

COMPLEX SIMPLICI

photography by AUTUMN ROSE, LESSTHEN ZERO & WILL CORRIGAN. written by cajsa l

ITY

lilliehook.

I have only made this letter longer because I have not the time to make it shorter.

—Blaise Pascal Beauty comes in many iterations.

Beauty can be as exuberant as a Gaudí cathedral or as refined as a Sheraton desk.

Blown glass can be as wild as Chihuly or as spare as Orrefors. Beauty can be loud or quiet, and every spot on the dial between them. Will Corrigan of Fourth Wall is a master of the quiet, practicing the refined economy of Minimalism. Corrigan describes his aesthetic as Industrial Minimalism, a nod to the spare color palette as well as the essentialist forms.

Like Blaise Pascal’s letter, it takes a true artist to create beauty by taking away.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, director of the Bauhaus School, one of the direct antecedents of minimalism, said, “Less is more.” From Bauhaus to Modernism, the art of less continued, with Dieter Rams saying, “Less, but better,” as he led the industrial design aesthetics of Braun.

In the Sixties, Minimalism exploded thanks to two impetus, a disgust with commercialism which made people want to strip away all but the essential and exposure to Japanese aesthetic principles.

In 1960, House Beautiful ran a cover story titled “Discover Shibui: The word for the highest level in beauty.”, one of the most consequential design articles ever. Shibui is an adjective that describes an honest beauty created by taking away everything inessential. Thus Japanese aesthetic principles and Modernism gave light to Minimalism.

Photograph by Lessthen Zero.

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Shibumi, the noun form of shibui, is one of the seven aesthetic principles of wabi-sabi, the ideal of beauty through simplicity and transience. Shibumi originally described the astringent bitter flavor of a persimmon. The thing about astringent flavors, they cleanse and refresh. Design that is shibui is clean and fresh. It is the bare essentials.

“Perfection is achieved not when the there is nothing le –Antoine de S minimalist designs that conform to the shibui aesthetic. They appear simple overall, but include subtle details in their textures and the use of materials. This balances their simplicity with complexity so they are not banal and boring.

Take the “Wave Coffee Table”, a Fourth Wall group gift in February. At first glance there is If you browse through Corrigan’s Flickr stream, a curved mass, a simple squiggle. There are you will be freshened by his handful of quiet, no legs, legs are not essential. But then there

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ere is nothing more to add, but when eft to take away.”

Saint-Exupery is the slight rise at the edge, how does that addition conform to the idea of taking away?

If you’ve ever had your cat tip your glass over on a coffee table, you can see this is a perfect example of “less, but better” and balancing simplicity with complexity. It is not a utilitarian simplicity, but a complex simplicity that is about what is essential. It is less, but better.

Corrigan, though, is no student of Zen and has never heard of shibui. He found his way

to that aesthetic organically. His ex was a creator who played a major role in his design career. He was fascinated by the process from start to finish, watching him create his newest releases. He experience a vicarious pleasure in new event invites or when textures turned out just right. “He’d often encourage me to start learning myself as he thought I’d have a good eye for it… so when university summer break began, that’s exactly what I spent most of my days doing.”

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“Good design is honest.”

–Dieter Rams It took Corrigan over a month to create his first release, but then he was determined it would be something he could look back on with pride. It was his Industrial Cabin. “I looked at it how an artist would with a first album, you only get one chance to make a first impression, and at the time, it really felt like such an achievement for me to finish that.”

He appreciates the value of events and notes that Fifty Linden Fridays produce his best sales.

Historically, his best-selling item was a his most recent Curve Multimedia TV. He sold over 2,500 copies of in 24 hours, he divulged with unusual candor. “I think as creators, we’re always struggling to find that balance between quality and cost, I think the SL economy has been changing drastically in recent times and we’re all having to price our items cheaper and more competitively to appeal to customers, and that’s why sale events such as FLF prove to be so successful.”

His personal favorite is an older design he recently updated. It is his Matcha Tea Set which was a common in a recent gatcha. “Of course it has a special place in my heart because matcha is one of the few things that helps me to function in the mornings.”

There is an aptness to his love for this tea set as the aesthetic principles of wabi-sabi, of which shibui is one derive from the traditional tea ceremony.

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like.

Design is how it works.”

–Steve Jobs Corrigan joined Second Life® at a low point in his life about five years ago. He sought an escape from a life that seemed to offer him little at the time. Acne made him self-conscious about his appearance and he struggled with depression and social anxiety.

“Having acne doesn’t sound like a big deal to most, it’s so common, but it affects us all differently, and it definitely gave me a warped perception of myself and damaged my self-esteem majorly.”

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In Second Life, people can take any appearance from the similar to the aspirational and while people can buy applier acne, stretch marks, and other blemishes, most people opt for the aspirational. For Corrigan it was liberating to join a virtual world where he was not defined by his appearance. As he put it, “I didn’t have to let acne define me or be anxious about someone judging my appearance that I had no control over, everything I was trying wasn’t working. From my memory, my avi’s earlier days looked like a hot mess, but I envied his clear skin majorly. In fact, I think I looked so bad back then that this really nice guy who stumbled across me took me to The Shops by The Mesh Project and bought me a mesh head, body and skin… he said I looked like Dobby before the makeover.”

Corrigan got a similar makeover in his first life when he was approved to take Accutane™, a strong prescription treatment for acne. His first

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life spin is as spot-free as his avatar. “It’s truly been the best thing I’ve ever done...I like the way I look and I’m grateful for that feeling every day.”

He has since been on dates and will not be played by Steve Carrell in any coming movies.

He went to university and got a degree in Web Media.

Add to that, in Second Life he has gone from strength to strength, his store Fourth Wall is successful and respected. He leveraged the goodwill from Fourth Wall to create the popular Builder’s Box subscription service. He recently shut it down to conserve his energy for what he hopes will be an even more fulfilling project. All this gave him the skills and confidence to launch a real-life business.

“Most importantly, I’ve learnt to love myself and recognise how far I’ve come as a person from the insecure teen I was years ago. Second Life’s played a huge part in me finding my confidence and my purpose again.”

“Get rid of everything that is not essential to making a point.”

–Christoph Niemann Corrigan launched the architecture subscription Builder’s Box in early 2017 alongside scripter Albion ScriptWorks. He was motivated by admiration for the varieties of buildings available in Second Life and wanted to supply creators a platform where they could share their work with customers of similar interest. When Deco(c)rate closed, they switched to home & décor to fill the gap being in the market. He thought it was the most reasonable thing to do to appeal to a wider audience and it certainly worked for the past few months.

However, two years of organizing the box “event” has been stressful and a lot of work.

Though Corrigan loved working with the many amazing creators such as Schultz Bros, anxiety, Kraftwork, Dahlia, Raindale, and

Merak, he decided to pull the plug. “This event has practically been my baby since the very beginning, I had so much passion for it and truly loved running it, but the stress it brings and the amount of effort it requires just isn’t worth it any longer.”

Perhaps a subscription box event appealed to his inner introvert, but his experience running the event World of Magic with Trouble Dethly convinced him that his future lay in organizing events where he got to see people’s reactions. ”I want to be doing things in Second Life that excite people. Seeing the response it received from people and seeing Linden Lab staff walking around the venue, it just felt a lot more rewarding and put things into perspective that I should be focusing my attentions elsewhere.”

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He realized there was something alienating about subscription boxes.

There is no group of friends wandering the stores and hollering “Look at this!” or “I’ve got to have that.” To restore that sense of community, some people would have unboxing parties or do unboxing videos, but often opening the box is a solo experience. Add to that, the large upfront cost for many people, particularly when they don’t know what they are getting. Not everyone can afford to spend so much on things they may not use whereas at an event, they can often find one or two things they can afford or just enjoy window shopping.

The contrast between an event people came to instead of received from was vivid and pushed him to redirect his energy to something experiential. “It’s hard maintaining a certain level of quality and managing expectations. For that reason, I think it’s a huge achievement that I was able to run the box for as long as I did as we’ve seen so many come and go, but I think that it’s time that I start doing stuff that’s more inclusive and caters to the community at large.”

“Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful.”

–John Maeda After how successful World of Magic was, Corrigan and Dethly teamed up to launch an event company they named self-deprecatingly named Basic Boyos.

“I’m not sure how the name evolved into this (blaming Trouble actually) but somehow it seems fitting, an amusing contradiction to all of the grand, epic scale ideas and ambitions we have.”

Photograph

by Lessthen Modulus: Rory AlphaZero.

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They want to organize large, theatrical events with a clear theme. They want you to remember their events long after your visit. They want to get back to the idea of an event as an “event” that is about more than shopping that will, as Corrigan puts it, “remind you of what a real event should be about: not just great creators, but a captivating theme and landscape that really blows you away and reminds you of the creative talents we have here in Second Life.”

“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”

–Albert Einstein For Corrigan, Second Life has gotten richer and fuller. He came at a low point and stayed because of the freedom SL gave him. In his first life, he has become so shy and reserved, he loved having a place to be himself without constant negative self-talk and second-guessing.

He could expect something new to happen, with new opportunities around every corner. From hosting for a friend to running a rental company “for about a week” to blogging for brands he loves like Stealthic and Gabriel, to running Builder’s Box and other events and opening his own store, SL has been a road for continual growth.

He loves the challenge as he explains, “I’ve been enjoying the steep learning curve of mesh and texturing. There’s always something new to tackle in Second Life. I think that’s why it’s been going for so long, there’s nothing quite like it and its user base around. Just genuinely passionate, creative people who perhaps took refuge here because they felt like an outcast in the real world.”

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Corrigan is an introvert in an extravert society animated by selfies, statuses, likes, tweets, and retweets. Wallace Stegner once wrote, “It is an easy mistake to think non-talkers are non-feelers.” However, introverts are seldom non-talkers. They are non-small-talkers. Small talk is a barrier to meaningful conversation which is more interesting to an introvert.

He is in that rarest of Myers-Briggs personality types, the INFJ. It is found in only 1% of the population. They have been designated the protectors or the advocates. He adds, “As the rarest MBTI for a male, it’s often been my theory as to why I usually feel like an outsider, misunderstood or out of place. I have a really hard time making friends and opening up to people, but I prefer to keep a small circle anyway my social battery drains fast.”

In a perfect entry for a dating profile, Corrigan describes himself, “I’m an introvert (INFJ), politically left, gay, an animal lover, a vegetarian, and tea obsessive. I’m a big believer in the saying ‘live and let live’ and think the world would be a better place if we all lived by that rule a little more. All in all, I’m just a very easygoing and relaxed guy who doesn’t really have a lot to say about himself.”

“Good design is obvious. Great design is transparent.”

–Joe Sparano There is an unconscious symmetry in Corrigan’s new venture, TeaMates. The aesthetic principle shibui derives from the Japanese Tea Ceremony, a celebration of mindfulness as much as tea. While most people think of the aesthetics that were developed from the tea ceremony, Corrigan has traveled in a different direction, working from an organic shibui aesthetic toward the benefits of tea for “mind, body, and soul.”

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Corrigan is a tea enthusiast and perhaps influenced by his Builder’s Box experience, he came up with the idea for his final major project at university.

The concept is a monthly loose leaf tea subscription for mind, body, and soul. “It was Second Life’s influence that came in and gave me the idea and confidence to take what I loved doing in a virtual world into the real world.”

Corrigan demonstrated wise forward thinking as he continued, “As much as I love all that I do in Second Life, it was important for me to diversify my income and not be totally reliant and dependent on it, because who knows what could happen.”

Own his own business outside of Second Life has been a longterm goal and he is pleased to see it come to fruition.

explains, “TeaMates promotes mental and physical health and wellness through the natural benefits of tea, conveniently shipped to you every month.”

It will be a fun, affordable, and informative way for tea enthusiasts to branch out and try new cultivars and blends, enjoying the many varieties of tea.

Corrigan is now shipping boxes to people around the world from Second Life, people he has known for years have turned from virtual friends to real life customers. “It’s really surreal, but I’m incredibly grateful for the support I’ve been shown and I really think my situation is a great example of the many wonderful ways this platform can enrich our lives.”

That is perhaps, the magic He has always loved tea. (He’s of Second Life. While it British.) He has also been blossoms and grows in beauty interested in promoting his and creativity through the own good health. However, contributions of its residents, when he began experimenting there is another flow from the with different tea cultivars and virtual to the physical, not only blends, particularly green tea, he the tangible income for creators noticed how beneficial it was for or the friends and contacts him. In fact, it made him feel so made, but also the intangibles good he wanted to share it. SL of confidence, experience, and showed a great way of sharing personal growth. is through subscriptions. He

Photograph by Lessthen Zero.

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Shop Fourth Wall

Shop Fourth W

Connect with Will Corrigan in-w

Check out Tea Page 64 | ECLIPSE April 2019

on Marketplace.

Wall in-world.

world, on Flickr and Facebook.

aMates online.

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the proust spotli

photography by victo

The Proust Spotlight is our monthly feature where we highlight one of the many creative residents of Second Life®. Utilizing the Proust Questionnaire, whose namesake comes from the late 19th century French writer, we will offer a glimpse into what makes them tick.

ECLIPSE Magazine has teamed up with the Blogger & Vlogger Network, so each month the blogger we showcase on the Proust Spotlight is a group member. The group member we feature this month is the talented Victoria James. She shares, “Hi, I’m Victoria. I’ve been a Second Life resident since 2011 and am happily married in my first life to a great guy I met in SL. I have been blogging almost a year now and have enjoyed it even more than I expected. The talent of the creators and my fellow bloggers is truly inspiring.”

ght

oria james.

What is your ideal of perfect happiness?

Having peace; inner peace and a peaceful life.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

I would say temperance, which is defined as moderation in action, thought, or feeling.

While moderation is generally a good thing I think there are times when we reign ourselves in too much or “moderate” ourselves too much for other people. Don’t be afraid to be silly, don’t always be worried about having have that extra piece of Chantilly Berry Cake, don’t be afraid to be passionate about what you like even if it’s not “cool” and don’t be afraid to love with your whole heart.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

“Let me Google that”...definitely! *Laughs* What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Being a mother and my daughter, who is hardworking, playful, loving, kind and just beautiful inside and out.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

The person who would find the cure for all cancers.

What is your motto?

What goes around, comes around!

Connect with Victoria on her Blog, Flickr, Facebook and Instagram.

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at home with...

STYLING BY hara. PHOTOGRAPH

ECLIPSE Magazine explores the long underappreciated and overlooked world of home and garden design. The flourishing diversity and abundance of choice since the mesh revolution has led to a bold new world of creation.

For this month’s feature, the talented Hara inspires and delights with her beautiful spring influenced home and decor styling.

HY BY hara.

See more of Hara’s work on Flickr.

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Exterior No13 - Narrow house Studio Skye - Enchanted Woods HPMD - Dirt Road Alirium - ItchyGrass Alirium - DwarfForest Soy. - Post Soy. - Abandoned Memorys - Bicycle Soy. - Potted Plant - F Soy. - Potted Plant - I Soy. - Potted Plant - J O.M.E.N - Spring Daisies - Potted White Ariskea - Dairy Sage Container

Living Room BAZAR - Berlin sofa BAZAR - Berlin rug BAZAR - Berlin painting1 BAZAR - Berlin painting3 BAZAR - Crete succulents Dust Bunny - Darling hanging plant Dust Bunny - Cheese plant Dust Bunny - Ivy planter Dust Bunny - Potted dragon tree Dust Bunny - Branch coat rack Dust Bunny - Umbrella holder Apple Fall - Macarons on Sketchbook Apple Fall - Cone Flower Study Apple Fall - Pine Cone Study Apple Fall - Leather Strapped Trunk Apple Fall - Designer Hat Box Apple Fall - Snowdrops in Cloche Apple Fall - Stacked Books Apple Fall - Decorative Artichokes Tarte - Hanging light Ariskea - Olive twigs Soy - Super long Hanging Hedera Nutmeg - Just a bunch of pillows Vespertine - Rainbow succulent bowl Sari-Sari - Arrow-shaped Succulent

Wine Bar Apple Fall - Masculine Bar Apple Fall - Cotton Cluster Apple Fall - Crocosmia Study Apple Fall - Argentinian Malbec Apple Fall - Whisky Decanter Apple Fall - Wine Glasses Apple Fall - Banana Tree

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Kitchen no13 - narrow table no13 - pipe chair wood no13 - Wooden oven no13 - Refrigerator no13 - Wooden Kitchen no13 - Tray set no13 - Coffee set Apple Fall Menu Shelving Apple Fall Elderflower Cordial Apple Fall Poppy Seed Loaves Apple Fall Stoneware Vessels Apple Fall Gourds in Vintage Bowl Apple Fall Rusted Flour Tin Apple Fall Rolling Pins Assorted Apple Fall Coffee Bean Sack Apple Fall Milk Urn w/ Wild Geraniums Bazar - Arizona-Black board Bazar - Berlin-Plant 1 Nutmeg - Pitcher & Wooden Utensils Nutmeg - Casserole Black Nutmeg -Tea Kettle 1 Nutmeg - Stone Utensil Holder Bueno - Hanging Lamp-Old Toro - Hanged Pans Vespertine - aloe vera plant Soy - Weeping Willow

Bedroom Nutmeg - Disarray Bed Lightgrey Nutmeg - Hardy Rack with Basket Nutmeg - Straw Bag Pink Nutmeg - Old Suitcases Pink Nutmeg - Disarray Old Pitcher Lamp White Nutmeg - Disarray Cushions Bazar - Berlin rug Bazar - Stockholm Clothing rack Bazar - Stockholm Bedroom Painting 02 Soy - Green Plants Wall Panel Soy - Potted Cheese Plant Soy - Potted Pothos Soy - Vintage Metal Basket Apple Fall - Design Books Apple Fall - Roses Box Apple Fall - Unknown Specimen Apple Fall - Fern Specimen Apple Fall - Annan Reclaimed Frame 1 Apple Fall - Annan Reclaimed Frame 2 no13 - Iron sideboard ionic - Morning Breakfast

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SL FICTION

written by cas (brokenlovely). photography by cas (brok

Second Life is rich in roleplay opportunities, and ECLIPSE Magazine’s newest feature is dedicated to telling each character’s story. Taking the concept of “a day in the life,” we invite our readers to SL Fiction.

For our inaugural piece, Cas shares a glimpse of her roleplay story.

enlovely).

If waking up at five A.M. wasn’t enough, let’s add being six months pregnant to the mix…

She groaned into her hands and slowly allowed her world to come into focus. She hadn’t been sleeping well lately and it showed in the dark circle under her eyes. She reached over to the left side of the bed and noted that it hadn’t been slept in. Bael danced through her thoughts and so she allowed herself a moment of peace before starting her day. It took every ounce of effort she could muster, but she did manage to slip from the bed and into a waiting dressing gown. A tray had been left just outside her privy chambers with a fresh pot of tea, a plate of bread and cheese, and her agenda for the day. “Lovely…” she cooed as she hurriedly washed her face, dressed herself, and had a bit of breakfast.

Her fingers slid gently over her child’s crib as she gave herself an approving look in the polished mirror. She had dressed for court but with her ever-expanding belly, her gowns were becoming more of a nuisance with each passing day and the annoyance was sure to present on her delicate features. Her agenda for the day wasn’t as full as she thought it’d be. Of course there were her normal meetings and duties but with the Palace hosting a festival things would be much busier. Courtiers, guards, and palace staff walked every which way and a flurry of activity suddenly swept Page 104 | ECLIPSE April 2019

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over her as she rounded the corner from her apartments and into the main hallway.

Bael leaned casually against a wall, speaking with one of his soldiers. Their eyes met for a moment but neither spoke nor made a move instead she continued on towards the Queen’s chambers.

Her duties varied, but as the Queen’s lady-in-waiting her main job was to be present and by the Queen’s side. She was glad she served a queen she not only respected but one who was less inclined to the formalities of court. Maids moved to and fro as she gave each one orders for the day.

They moved quickly and did as they were bid with a smile on their face. It was obvious that everyone was quite excited by the coming festival and so the entirety of court seemed to be dancing on air. The child kicked her hard in the ribs as if to tell her, his father was near. She glanced up from the letter she was writing to lock eyes with Bael. He wasn’t one to smile, but she knew she brought him joy. It was in the way he’d always find a way to touch her or the way her name sounded on his tongue. She smiled softly, the edges of her eyes wrinkling just slightly.

“Have you eaten?” he asked matter-of-factly. His furrowed brow suggested he was worried about her. She shook her head and set her quill down lightly.

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“No, but I will.“ She watched as he gently touched her arm.

“You didn’t come to me last night,” she whispered. A sigh escaped her lips as she turned from him. “I have a meeting I need to attend,” she said quite suddenly. She stood and pressed her lips to his hard. He stood there stiff for a moment as they were surrounded by others, but he slowly melted into her and they stood there for a long moment in silence No words needed to be spoken.

She took a deep breath. Every part of her was shaking. She gazed up at the long staircase, her mind racing with questions.

She sighed but slowly began to climb the stairs toward the top of the Mage’s Tower. Lark sat at her desk, going over maps.

There was a stack of scrolls that sat precariously on the edge of her desk, so much so, that if a gust of wind rushed through the tower, it would surely topple over. Her hands trembled as she knocked on the door to Lark’s chambers.

“My Lady?” She called out softly. Lark was obviously annoyed at the title but simply beckoned for her to enter. She entered slowly and quietly. Lark didn’t raise her head from her papers. “I…I need your help.”

Tears collected on her lashes.

Lark looked up but remained expressionless.

“I’m not a healer. If you’re here to give birth you’ve come to the wrong person.” Lark murmured simply. She stared at her for a Page 108 | ECLIPSE April 2019

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long moment letting the words flow over her. She shook her head.

“No. No,” the tears began collecting on her cheeks.

“I’m still three months from delivery.” She looked up and into Lark’s eyes...they were purple and seemed to glow with a fierceness that frightened her. “It’s not public knowledge though it’s also not hidden that Bael and myself have created a child.” She looked down at her belly. “The General is a Drow...and I am an Elf...clearly,” she grimaced as the child kicked her hard in the ribs. Lark listened in silence, then leaned back in her chair, interlacing her fingers across her own, flat stomach. She had suspected that Baelwhelar had impregnated the elf... though she had not known for certain.

The child would be a halfbreed. Growing angry at the two stupid parents to be, she shifts in her seat.

“What do you think I can do to aid you?” She noted the annoyance across Lark’s features.

“Listen, I realize this was... unplanned,” she sighed and began to pace back and forth before her. “It just happened and now we’re here and well...” she was growing angry herself.

She stopped and looked at Lark. “The child is killing me. I know it.” It was obvious Lark was growing agitated by the minute. She opened the front of her dress to show the sheer ECLIPSE April 2019 | Page 111

under-dress beneath. She slowly lifted it over her belly, which was covered in deep purple bruises. Some were beginning to turn yellow. It looked as if someone had continually beat her for days. “These are not natural.” Lark listened, her unnatural silvery lavender eyes glowing between the slits of her now narrowed eyes.

“Other Elven females have carried their half drow children without an issue before. You need a healer.

I cannot aid you in that. I am a mage,” she says, taking her seat once more and leaning back into it.” I can not do anything to guarantee that you would survive,but a healer can. So why come to me?” She began to lace the front of her dress back up. It was clear Lark was uncomfortable even speaking with her. “You need to speak with Bael before you do anything stupid.” She glanced at Lark and they stood there in silence for a long moment before she shrugged her hood back over her head, shielding her face in shadow.

“This was obviously a mistake…I shouldn’t have come to you.” She turned toward the door, resting one hand upon its ancient carvings. She didn’t bother looking back at Lark. “Let’s hope we all survive this.” The message was cryptic enough. As she stepped outside she realized the sun had gone down and stars now dotted the sky. She made her way back to the Palace for another sleepless night.

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candlewood

Photography by doc romano & ryanna foxclaw. Written by Tayl

lor wassep.

One of the greatest features of Second Life™ is its vast photographic opportunities.

Being able to explore the ocean of sim builds specifically for taking photos has become commonplace in-world. It would be difficult to imagine this creative outlet vanishing years down the road.

Creating the atmosphere through virtual means expands the ways in which someone can enjoy their time in Second Life.

There are sims styled to replicate real life cities such as New York City or Berlin. There are vacation getaways crafted to give the real experience of flying over the ocean to land in a tropical paradise. Even simply teleporting to a location to shoot a few photos for someone’s blog can be an adventure. Photographic sims are crucial to the flow of creative expression.

“

… sometimes it’s hard to let it go. And you wish that you could keep the set up that way because you love it so much.

– Ryanna Page 122 | ECLIPSE April 2019

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Candlewood is one such Photographic Sim, or as Adalynne Romano, one of the owners of the sim, would call it, a destination. Along with Adalynne, Doc Romano and Ryanna teamed up after years of jovial friendship to start this magnificent destination in Second Life. Starting from the incipient ideas of roleplaying and photography to wanting to find a place that has the atmospheric refinement they yearned for in Second Life.

“

It started out a little bit of New England with a little bit of New Orleans and then it just became..

CandleWood.

– Adalynne Romano

”

Through their passion of roleplaying and extending to photography, they forged their way from their initial, and more common, idea of keeping sets up to finding ways to expand on it. Adalynne spoke about how, before opening CandleWood, she and Doc previously owned a sim they named Nouvelles Aventures. In French it means, New Beginnings. She said, “I found it fitting because I was embarking on something new and different.” Designed with more of the rustic, picturesque qualities common in a destination sim, it just wasn’t the place Adalynne wanted at that point.

For its size, it felt quite small as Adalynne was new to designing entire sims. Just as quickly as the light of Nouvelles had begun to burn, it was out like the guttering flame of a candle. They spent two years putting their everything into it, but sometimes life has other plans even a Second Life. However, closing Nouvelles would only mean failure if they did not learn something from it.

They did. They took their experience of Nouvelles Aventures and added their passion to the project of creating a new destination. They invited a third party to this new venture of theirs. Adalynne and Ryanna were close friends and it made sense to invite her to the team creating CandleWood.

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“

The past is a wonderful thing that we all learn and grow from.

Without it, there is no future.

– Ryanna

”

It took some time, but the three banded together in crafting what is now CandleWood. Ryanna put into perspective what CandleWood is. It’s a journey, you could say. Just looking around the sim, you can see how the past does meld with the present showing that you can’t forget where you came from or the historical past. Like the old train tracks that weave throughout the sim; still coated in rust and grime, to the ruins all around the sim that house the the hobo cars, showcasing the passage of time. All of those things are there from what was. Growing out from it are all the wonders that the present can bring, the lush fields of flowers epitomize of life and hope for the future.

Even beyond the pure aesthetics of CandleWood, activities challenge the visitors in many ways. From a battle of wits on the Chessboard to the exploration of massive cave systems and on to watchtowers you can scale to watch ships pulling into the harbor, adventure abounds.

Wild Horses roam the sim as well, so when exploring this massive sim, be on the lookout for them. But if nature isn’t your preference, there are towns with very modern amenities, like bakeries and lounges to relax in.

Rentals are available too, with a few private parcels and townhouses scattered around Page 126 | ECLIPSE April 2019

CandleWood. The landscaped exteriors are complete, to fit into the Candlewood ambiance, though the interior are left undecorated so renters can fulfill their own dreams.. Among the different types of rentals; each comes with their own allowed set of prims that can be used for decorating or anything else. Each private parcel and townhouse comes with peace of mind with security, so no need to fret about your privacy when you’re living at CandleWood.

CandleWood isn’t a residential sim by any means, so their living quarters are limited.

That means you must rush to contact any of the owners if you might want to live in the community of CandleWood.

I brought up community because Doc had some words to say about his viewpoint of the community of CandleWood– both on the sim and out of Second Life. For one, CandleWood has a Flickr™ Group that allows patrons and visitors to the destination sim to post their experiences and photos they have taken while on the sim. All three of the owners, Ryanna, Adalynne and Doc make it a point to try and comment on every photo they see. Doc explained that they love looking through their Flickr Group and finding one photo to showcase on their sim for that week. What’s even sweeter is the additional prize given to the person whose work is showcased. “It’s a way to give back,” Adalynne said.

So overall, yes, CandleWood is a photographic sim and yes, CandleWood is also a destination in Second Life. It gives its patrons and visitors alike an experiences matched by few others in this virtual space.

Bridging the gap between atmosphere, adventure and community so they come together in one. So, if you ever have an urge to explore, you might want to think about checking out CandleWood.

Teleport to CandleWood.

Follow on Flickr and Facebook.

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the art perspect written by oema. photograph

Oema curates the ECLIPSE Magazine art column. Each piece, she discovers, reviews and highlights the work of some of the most creative and talented artists on the grid. She offers a fresh perspective in the vibrant and vast world of the arts.

For this month’s feature, Oema showcases “TRANSIENTS”, Artistic Installation at GBTH by Mr and Ms S.

tive y by oema.

“TRANSIENTS” is the most complex and emotionally challenging artistic exhibition I have ever visited. Eliza Wierwright’s exhibition confronting the theme of violence against women had held that position until yesterday when I visited the installation of Mr. and Ms. S (saka.ininity and LauraLar.resident) hosted at the GBTH Project (Art Gallery) “TRANSIENTS” is a very engaging installation. The art show stimulated me from a sensory point of view in various ways: the sounds and scenarios are, in some cases, disturbing. I, therefore, advise those who are impressionable or emotionally fragile to think long and hard before visiting.

Megan Prumier and Marina Munter founded the G.B.T.H. Project in October 2017, and it is one of the most significant artistic projects of Second Life®. Strawberry Singh wrote extensively about it in her fascinating article “The GBTH Project.”

As far as the “Transient” art installation is concerned, before starting on the path through the different rooms, I suggest adjusting your settings to the way by the artists themselves proposed, that is: • WL set to Midnight • Sounds ON (headphones recommended) • Advance Lighting Model ON • Shadows on Sun/Moon + Projectors Draw distance set to 100 or less Page 134 | ECLIPSE April 2019

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At the landing point, the visitor is invited to fix the lights as described above and to move between one art set and another using the green bicycle. From now on, the visitor will move through the installation using the teleport located inside the green bike. Even when we find ourselves in front of many bicycles, we will choose the green for go.

Why the “green bicycle?” One possible reason can be the environment theme is treated “in the round” and represents the starting point around which all the other aspects and themes revolve. It would be wrong to describe the different artistic rooms as I would deprive you of the of

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discovery and your own visual, auditory and emotional experience.

However, I can share my experience by suggesting the reader proceed further in reading only after visiting the gallery yourself.

As I said before, the theme of nature and the environment represents a central point of the installation around which all the other topics dealt with gravitate. I interpreted the installation as a “mirror� for the human being, that is as a way to make people aware of the consequences of the environmental damage that our species is causing to the Planet that hosts us.

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The human being treats the environment as if he owned the planet and could dispose of it at will, but our species is only a guest of the Earth, so each of us should relate to the planet as if it was the owner and us his guests.

The guest does not destroy, does not kill, does not hurt. The guest borrows and returns, grateful for the gift received. Unfortunately, the human being is not aware enough to realize that the damage he is doing to the planet is the same damage he is doing to himself. This particular aspect is at the heart of Mr. and Ms. S’s art installation.

Each room seems to be a consequence of our reckless way of relating to our surroundings, recalling the famous phrase from the Matrix movie “the human being is a virus.” Man behaves as viruses do, that is, he exploits the resources that the environment offers until the end, without worrying about the consequences. When the resources end, the virus takes root in a new environment, exploiting it until it is exhausted.

The consequences for Man are living in a social context that is not suitable for him: psychological suffering, disease, depression, mental disorders, distraction, anxiety are just some of the problems that our species knows well and with which it has to deal every day.

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We use the environment so that we can live in comfort and ease, creating a society based on efficiency and production. In this way, we no longer make physical efforts, as was the case in the past, but we feed our daily lives with such stress that we have almost constant psychological problems.

We were born to be in the green, but we force ourselves to live among the skyscrapers that are not good for our good humor (to put it mildly). In the end, nothing surprises us, nothing fascinates us anymore, to the point of seeking extreme forms of stimulation that further damage us.

It would take so little to be aware of the importance of safeguarding our planet. It would be enough to be mindful of the fact that we are all “transient.”

Teleport to “The GBTH Project.”

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Voices from the g

Voices From the Grid is a monthly survey of opinions and ideas of Second Life® residents on the salient issues of the day.

For this issue, ECLIPSE Magazine asked resident, “What’s the most Second Life thing that happened to you?”

grid

ERIPOM MOONWALL Page 146 | ECLIPSE April 2019

E

ripom Moonwall was a true daddy’s little girl growing up. She liked to play Legos™ and never asked to play with dolls. She liked to watch films with her father who introduced her to the finer points of film appreciation, pointing out the details and motifs that deepen film appreciation. He taught her film theory and how a director will meticulously plan from the layout of a scene, the camera angles and details that best convey the desired emotional impact.

product’s sales wo our best work in o knew the majority and ugly, with poo was better, but d

Before release, we d to combat regions asked when it woul saw what it could d In short, her father taught her to read the director’s a notecard to four mind when watching a movie. And now, she is making much I like YouTube movies and Flickr photos as a director herself.

Creating the layout of the scene, choosing the camera “Hello, I’m big fan angle, and even creating her own products to promote you released, wellher own community. textures, and funct made a gun by the In 2016, we, The SAC (SSOC Armament Co.) were and it will perfect fi ready to release our new product “MP5 A5 N” sub- photo and help us machine gun in Second Life, we knew actually this Photograph provided by Eripom Moonwall.

ould be “not bad” even though it’s our history, before it’s released. We of firearms in SL were unnrealistic They responded quickly, sending outfits, combat or scripting. We knew our product gear, sidearms, and one even allowed us use of his did not know how to promote it. private region to make the set. He told me “Go Eri, show me what you’ve got”. did a few demonstrations by going s and using it. Every time, people I felt that things happened to me is “Only in Second ld be released, so we knew if people Life”, a woman who has no background, no skill, no do, they would want it. So, I wrote connection and no marketing technique can make a r SL companies telling them how masterpiece with many people’s help. ed their products. I wrote.

“No Border”, I strong believe those words define n and always loving all products Second Life. “We can connect everyone and do -thought, more realistic, beautiful everything in SL, with faith and courage.” tions in Second Life. This time we way, we believe it’s our best thing, Check out her Flickr, Youtube, Marketplace, Blog fit your stuffs. please take a look my and In-World Store. s to make video if you want, thank you.”

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Photograph by Wicca Merlin.

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P

peninnah

eninnah [jaylah sass] joined SL in 2008 and was immediately drawn to the different forms of art that the grid has to offer. As an avid writer, her main hobby in SL has been roleplay. For the past eleven years she has been involved in several RP communities as a writer, mentor, and lead and still can’t get enough.

With the help of a friend, she’s taking the next step by building an up and coming RP community. The City of Juniper is set to open this summer, and aesthetically the worlds of city grunge and cyberpunk will combine in a present day, urban noir setting. SL has been a huge muse for her creative expression in both worlds. Aside from writing, she also dabbles in photography and the two tend to combine on her Flickr account where she posts poems and short stories along with her uploads, or photos depicting songs since she’s a music lover. Whether it’s outlets for the fictional characters she creates, characters other have created, or her own personal experiences, she likes to share it as a creative diary, and she likes to capture stories in pretty much any way that she can in SL. When I think about this question, ‘only in Second Life’, of course there are tons of funny stories that make me laugh, weird run ins or incidents that certainly wouldn’t have happened outside of this grid. I tend to think a little bit deeper than that though, on what has really impacted me that could only have happened in this special world that we’ve created.

There is one occasion in particular that immediately comes to mind, it was the day of my 21st birthday. For most people turning 21, they tend to go out and celebrate, but at this point in my real life I was in a bad situation that left me extremely unwell and isolated. With no one to turn to in the real world to celebrate the day, I tried to forget about it, not be too sad, and just move on like it was nothing.

My friends on the grid had a different plan though. When I logged on, they were waiting for me and our land was decorated to the nines. Live music that they had hired, all the bells and whistles. And most importantly, these friends that had taken the time out of their lives to dedicate to this day, to being there for me and celebrating with me. It didn’t take me long to forget I was sad at all, and it was that day that I realized SL really has the ability to connect you with people in ways that RL just can’t at times. We can’t possibly meet everyone in the real world that we are destined to meet - those friends that will stay with us, people that will impact us for the rest of our lives. Miles apart SL had the ability to bring these people together on that day for me, and on many other days beyond that, and surely more to come. Even though that birthday was spent on SL it’s one of the best birthdays I’ve ever had.

These types of things got me through hard times. I’m glad to say the hard times are gone now, but I do believe without SL, they would have been much more difficult. This world has always been here as an outlet to be myself when I did not feel like myself, and the support system that was there for me regardless of how long it took for Check out her Flickr.

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Photograph by Wicca Merlin.

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ornella batriani

O

rnella Batriani arrived on SL in September 2009 and began to discover this world in all its facets before finally turning to the world of photography.

For a few years now, she has become a well-known blogger with her own poses, and is always passionate about landscape photography.

When I arrived in SL I did not really know what to do in this world. After some time I discovered that some people published photos on Flickr and I said to myself: this is what I want to do!!

I practiced with my friends, without much success, and was attracted by the beautiful landscapes that some people take time to create. I have visited many sims and I continue to do so today, because the landscapes that are created always give me the pleasure of doing photography; I also like being able to share my discoveries with my friends or my followers. I chose to make my photos using Firestorm, as well for the landscapes as for the avatar photos; I find this viewer very complete and it allows me to have the lights adapted to each photo Later, I was approached by some clothing designers who needed a blogger to promote their products and my blogging career began.

Today, my time is totally devoted to photography where I try to pay homage to all those people who create such beautiful things on SL, be it the owners of sim where the creators of clothing and decoration.

Thanks to those people who help make our dream come true ...

Check out her Flickr, Blog and Marketplace.

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Photograph provided by Ming Xiao Clementine Twist.

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ming xiao clementine twist

M

ing Xiao Clementine Twist[mingxiaoclementine] enjoys role playing as a vampire in the Progeny Vampire role-playing ecosystem in the Second Life realm. She enjoys writing short stories and poems mostly about vampires, demons and unconventional twisted dark fairy tales for the quarterly Progeny magazine. She also enjoys dabbling in the dark arts creating some memorable photographs of the supernatural kind mostly with some form of hidden symbolic meaning documenting her journey in that Second Life realm. You can check out her work on Flickr and on Twitter where she is just beginning a chronicle of her journey titled “The Diary of Ming”. Ming runs a vampire house “The House of Twist” where her and her family enjoy role playing some characters with some fantastic plots and storylines. If you have interest you can contact her in the Second Life realm, or check out her house on Facebook.

In her spare time Ming can be found putting around in her virtual garden. She enjoys breeding black orchids and roses, mostly rares in her all black greenhouse. Only in the magical realm of Second Life can I come here to do all the things that one can only dream about or imagine, that one can only read about in books or watch in movies or television in that real life realm. Only in the realm of Second Life can I come and role play as a cutthroat, ruthless, bloodthirsty creature of the night!

What is it like, you might wonder, for me to come to Second Life and wander the dark nights seeking my next victim — my pale skin glistening, my dark wavy hair blowing in the gentle breeze of the night winds and dark eerie eyes illuminating the moonlit star-filled skies? I am blessed to partake in an incredible journey, traveling the many differently themed lands, visiting the most beautiful castles, rubbing fangs with the most notoriously famous vampires in the realm, watching vast armies and empires be birthed! Well, in short, it is nothing short of amazing!

I have always loved vampires. Ever since I can remember, going way back to my youth, I have enjoyed their mysterious ways, their secret coveted culture. Once I grew up, I was inspired to try something new, to find a way to role play as “one of them.” Second Life allows for that, with many role play ecosystems that offer belonging, companionship, families, and large communities in which I can fulfill this fantasy interactively with other like minded individuals. Many enjoy role playing here as vampires or lycans, and Second Life allows us that opportunity.

I enjoy coming here and role playing as a blood demon. My character is that of an interesting, quirky, cheeky, charismatic, unique vampire demoness who enjoys the dangerous ways and exciting lifestyle of being a politically correct, well- mannered renegade with an insatiable thirst and passion for the darkside! Within the vampire community, I role play in the Progeny Vampire role play ecosystem, where I have many opportunities not only to enjoy the erotic savage side of being a vampire, but also to entertain my creative side by writing for the Progeny magazine, dabbling in the dark arts of some morbid supernatural photography, and helping to plan events for the vampire community.

We have organized themed balls, weekly concerts often with live singers, music sets with some of the best D.J.’s in Second Life, and meetings where we delve into some heavy duty vampire politics!

I remember the day of my turning, the day I received the dark kiss of death and began my exciting journey down the path of immortality! My last sunset! One of the most exciting days of my entire Second Life!I enjoy dressing the part with an all black wardrobe, and attending to my vampire duties as my character sees fit. My ever evolving storyline is a collective venture created through interactions with others I meet and interact with. We all work together to create an ongoing saga of supernatural adventure, but I am the main character! Only in the realm of Second Life can I do this! Being a vampire is one of the most exciting things I can say I have done in the Second Life realm. I am sharpening my fangs as I write this to you all, plotting my next venture and perhaps lurking in the shadows of a dark alley near you right now! Perhaps some things that go bump in the night you will find to be me!

In closing, nowhere else can I find this most exciting interactive experience, only in Second Life! I hope to for many more moons continue to enjoy being a creature of the night, being immortal, ageless! Vampires are a classy, timeless variation on reality and I encourage any of you reading this, if you have interest in role play, to seek it out in our realm. Come find me if you dare!

In the words of Dracula, “Enter freely and of your own free will!” Invite me in! Dark blessings to you all!

Check out her Flickr, Twitter and Facebook.

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Photograph provided by Emery.

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emery

mery [ExodusGirl] has been in SL on this and her original account since 2012.

She currently is a blogger on Flickr and has been actively involved in Relay for Life of SL, being given the “Keeper of the Torch” award in 2015. Her name Emery, is a tribute to her SL sister, who has cancer and is treated at Emory Hospital in Georgia. She enjoys blogging because it gives her the ability to combine her real life work as a graphic artist with her play time in Second Life.

“Only in Second Life” There have been many times when I have just shook my head and thought, “Only in Second Life” lol. It’s a world of naughty, nice, creativity, imagination, compassion & conflict. It’s everything real and not. I would have to say that one of those ‘only’ times would have to be creating a tiny avatar, heading off to a tiny only dance club where all of the other little animals were dressed in clubbing clothes, sunglasses, with glow sticks and weed lol. It was adorable and hilarious at the same time. Another time was accompanying a friend to find the perfect mesh private parts to suit her needs lol. As we went from store to store, she tried on ‘v’ demos to see which one she felt was the most appealing and suited her body the best lol. It was so random and not realistic, but in Second Life, for certain ‘activities’ it’s a pretty serious purchase. It’s things like that you can never really explain to someone not actively involved in SL, they have to be there to experience it themselves.

Check out her Flickr.

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Photograph by Wicca Merlin.

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lena kiopak

ena Kiopak has enjoyed being fully immersed in Second Life for over 9 years, and has participated in as many adventures as possible, both in business and in social life. Second Life has provided her with several creative outlets over the years, with photography being her favorite passion. Since the very nature of SL is transient, she races to capture as many places as she can through her lens before they get lost to time and pixel-nothingness. She owns Smiling Hearts Photography, a studio and gallery on Eaglesong.

Only in Second Life can you truly invent and reinvent yourself, and follow along with your new creation. When I first started SL, I focused mainly on the social aspect, meeting new people from all around the world, and making new friends and partners. These new social circles, that couldn’t have possibly been made in RL, allowed me to branch out and meet these amazing friends in RL, which we continue to be today. SL has completely expanded my RL viewpoints and contacts, of which I’m so grateful.

Only in Second Life could I have met my bestie, Evie Moyet. I first met her when I logged in to see my SL partner at the time, eight years ago; they were riding around our shared sim on motorcycles, kicking up prim sand everywhere, and making quite a mess. She said hello, I dumped the guy, and years later, we still talk daily outside SL. That was the best mistake my ex-partner ever made! *laughs* Only in Second Life can you learn new skills and master new techniques that otherwise may not appear on our radar. Just two years ago, I knew nothing about Flickr or SL photography until I met Razor Cure who introduced me to the basics of PhotoShop and Flickr techniques, which continue to challenge me daily in SL. He also encouraged my initial attempts at artistic photography for which I am grateful. Flickr has constantly evolved; new digital photography trends continue to pop up, inspiring new artists with novel methods of digital photography of virtual worlds.

Only in Second Life can you be inspired on a daily basis; be surprised by random encounters, and laugh at intentional absurdity.

Check out her Flickr and in-world location for Smiling Hearts Photography.

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Photograph provided by Rose.

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rose

R

ose [RoseHanry] is a romantic and shy person that was born by the end of 2015 in SL. She has a Flickr stream where she tries to reflect, in a colorful and poetical simple way, the moods and the troubles of her mind and heart.

“Only in Second Life� I can live in such beautiful and peaceful places, releasing the daily stress by listening to different types of music and forgetting about the problems by meeting and having fun with people all around the grid from different backgrounds, cultures and tastes that make me grow as a person and as an artist or simply contemplate and explore stunning landscapes or art galleries.

Only in SL I can explore my creativity making poses and apply my knowledge and be amazed by working on the concepts of light/color theory as I express myself in my art.

Check out her Flickr.

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Photograph provided by Michelle.

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michelle

ichelle [xxmichelle20xx Resident] was born as “Alt” from an old-school SL Avatar who was in SL since 2007. From the beginning she spent her time, not on the social activities like dancing or something like that, but she began to build houses, home decor, and later, mesh jewelry, accessories. She also designs sim’s for rentals or roleplay. She is not looking to make big money, she has a lot of fun helping out others and seeing their happiness when they like and use her stuff and builds. She loves to make pictures in all sort of situations or just of beautiful landscapes.

The “only in SL thing” is not just a thing, it is for me a really critical part of SL.

In RL I would have never ever meet such a lot of friendly nice people from around the world, mainly one person with whom I spend most of my time for the last two years. We own a beautiful sim, open for all to explore, without having to pay a lot of Lindens to be able to be there as long they want.I love to explore my creativity there.

Bad things never happen to me here in SL, or better said nothing that would not happen in RL too. But there were maybe a few funny things that wouldn’t happen in RL: I lose parts of my body often while rezzing, one time I lost an ear and one of my feet cause I drop them by mistake and all my friends were searching for them with me in the grassfields and shrubs.

Otherwise is SL a whole big place where many things only happen there: traveling from New York to Paris in one second, running around with monster Heels while dancing, being whatever I like, today a human, tomorrow any kind of animal, wear a lot of different styles just by one click...and so on, simply endless opportunities.

Check out her Flickr, Flickr Group and Marketplace.

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A

ni [Anibrm Jung] is a RL award-winning photographe viewfinder of her Nikon D60 digital camera - no cropp nature that is her joy.​Ernie Farstrider of The Galleries wr slightly fantastic SL photography. This exhibit is clearly person

ani

When I came to SL almost 13 years ago. SL was nothing lik together here in SL. ​It was more a community. Nowadays place for people to hide, to run away to and be themselves spirit lately, SL became a business instead of a community. photo`s for my gallery here in SL. Ani`s Gallery is my dream as there are so many great artist, with awesome work! For m

Ch Photograph provided by Ani.

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er known for her sensitive and vibrant portraits of nature’s works of art.​Framing in natural light at the ping or image manipulation is used.​She allows us to see exactly as she sees - and to feel the closeness to rote of her, “Ani joins The Galleries, at last, displaying her beautifully composed, moody, and occasionally nal and provides subjects for many tastes and expectations. Muted colors and very thoughtful lighting enhance her exceptional vision.​”

ke the way it is now. After some time, I met a group of great friends. We have spent many years it is like real life. Everybody for their own interests. I think that is a sad thing. Second Life needs a and meet people and become friends without any obstacles. I feel there has been less community y. I am going my own way now. Looking for great places people created here in sl. Trying to make m here in SL. Sadly art is not something people are looking for here in SL. I wish that would change me? Well I am trying to catch a feeling inside my photo`s. Happiness, sadness, loneliness, etc. I hope I succeed in that ;)​

heck out her Flickr, Galleries and Profile.

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places to go...

written by novaleigh freng. photography by novale

Places to Go... is a semi-regular ECLIPSE Magazine column that explores different areas of Second Life to visit.

For this month’s feature, Novaleigh explores some of the most exciting sims to visit for activities for you and your friends.

eigh freng.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: In Second Life, you can literally do anything that you put your mind to. There’s just one problem with that. Sometimes, on a game platform where your imagination is the only limit you have, you still find yourself standing around on your platform or sitting in your Linden home thinking to yourself, “What am I going to do today?”

Some of us, especially those who have been around for a while, tend to become creatures of habit in Second Life. We go to all the same places, talk to all the same people, and continue a cycle in our Second lives that much resembles that of our first.

Stop me if I’m wrong.

If you’re still reading, I’ve got some good news for you! ECLIPSE Magazine is constantly highlighting new and exciting places that residents can explore across the grid, and this month, we’re going to highlight some seriously snazzy recreational sims where you can go to play and unwind. This is definitely not your Second Life uncle’s Greedy table, but every sim on this list promises a good time to be had by all.

Reveries Quests: The Bug Boy Who among us doesn’t enjoy a good immersive storyline? Check out Reveries Quests: The Bug Boy! This quest is a bit different than others you may have tried in Second Life before. Grab the HUD, read the back-story, and explore the sim to help rescue the Bug Boy. The quest uses the experience system for a more immersive game, and the story is something unlike you’ll find anywhere else. Information on what you need and how to play the game is available at the landing point, and it’s free! Want to learn more?

Experience Reverie Quests: The Bug Boy in-world.

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Rolling Hills Golf Club If you’ve never played miniature golf, you’re missing out. If you’ve never played in Second Life, Rolling Hills is the place to go! When you arrive at the sim, go through the green portal to be spirited away to the Rolling Hills golf course. There, you can grab your clubs and have some good, old-fashioned, familyfriendly fun on the Rolling Hills green. The sim is absolutely beautiful to look at, and you’re bound to have a good time with family and friends. Think you might be able to make that illusive hole-in-one? Give it a shot!

Experience Rolling Hills Golf Club in-world.

Battle Karts If you’re looking for a unique experience peppered with the nostalgia of your youth, Battle Karts is for you.The sim mimics the Mario Kart game that taught many of us growing up how to drive with reckless abandon and sabotage our fellow racers with banana peels and turtle shells. Stepping onto the course is like literally stepping inside a video game, and you are absolutely going to love it. If you haven’t already discovered the wonder that is Battle Karts, grab some family and adventurous friends and check it out as soon as you can.

Experience Battle Karts in-world.

Linden Realms - Tyrah’s Workshop Tyrah’s Workshop is another in-depth interactive quest game in Second Life that is sure to be a load of fun for you and your friends. Visit the workshop, interact with characters, explore the countryside, and collect gems.The game is built to provide everything that you need for a free night of fun and games. Linden Realms has several fun areas to explore. Just make sure when you stop by that you go through the portal labeled ’Tyrah’s Workshop’ to get to the right place.

Experience Rolling Hills Golf Club in-world.

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MadPea: Spellbound MadPea has been a creator of fabulous and indepth in-world gaming experiences for a while now, but Spellbound is one that made my little nerd-girl heart flutter a bit. This interactive game takes some cues from everyone’s favorite magical world. You pick a house before you begin your quest, and then set out to learn and explore in the kind of magical setting that many of us have come to know and love from the creators at MadPea. Fans of the game can even purchase fun extras from local merchants to really help enhance their game play. If you haven’t tried it yet, you have got to check it out! Just make sure you’re careful when choosing your house - once you make a choice, you’re stuck with it unless you want to reset your HUD and start over…

Experience MadPea: Spellbound in-world.

Mirage: Paintball If you’ve been around the grid for any length of time, it’s highly likely that you’ve picked up a virtual paintball gun at least once.A couple months ago, my sorority booked a night of paintball as a bonding experience. It’s a classic, and let’s be honest: Sometimes, after a stressful day in the real world, a harmless game of paintball is just what the soul needs to rejuvenate. The paintball arena at Mirage is a unique and wondrous place that differs from the often-militaristic paintball experience in Second Life. The sim provides everything you need to have a good time, and all against a beautiful backdrop lit with twinkling lights and plenty of cover to hide from your paint gun-wielding foes.

Grab a few friends and check it out!

Experience Mirage: Paintball in-world.

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THE wayfarer...

photography by trouble dethly. written by troub

“The Wayfarer” is a monthly feature showcasing some of the most aesthetic places in Second Life®.

Each journey the Wayfarer takes, his footsteps tread across paths taken by others, only for his to be swept away by those who soon follow. The gentle breeze of Salt Water breathes promises of a tropical paradise with high plateaus and one in particular leads to ancient ruins. Perhaps, the words of this land are true, “The cure for anything is Salt Water — in one form or another, sweat, tears or the Salt Sea,” or at the very least will be forever remembered by the single tear the Wayfarer allows to fall and burn upon his cheek.

ble dethly.

Immerse yourself in Salt Water.

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