In November 2008, California amended the state constitution to ban same-sex marriages.  Shortly thereafter, a silent, but viral, grassroots movement took hold and the NOH8 Campaign was born. It wasn’t long before this powerful, yet peaceful, protest made its way to Second Life.

From the NOH8 SL website:

What Is NOH8 SL?
NOH8 SL™ is a photography project started by Trace Osterham in Second Life™, in support of Adam Bouska’s real life anti-Proposition 8 campaign. Photos of nearly 350 avatars have been taken for the cause, and will be shown at an in-world gallery.

The NOH8 Gallery is now open on the Cupcakes Sim.  There you will find a display of the photographs Trace has taken.  There is also a photo studio where you can take your own NOH8 photo and upload it to the NOH8 on SL Flickr Group, founded by Francois Ghost.

Visit the gallery and lend your voice, your face, to the campaign for equal rights for every couple, regardless of gender.  Because, in the end, it’s all about love.

I am proud to take part in this campaign and I want to publicly thank Trace for the stunning photograph.  I hope you will all join the hundreds of us who have taken up the cause.  Please read more about the RL NO H8 Campaign here.

                        

© Gabby for Couture Conundrum, 2009. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Fashion Feed of SL, MV-SL-Fashion, NOH8 SL, Trace Osterham

From Nightflower’s Blog:
The last textures were placed last night as I slept, as Adam Soler crept in from another timezone to splash the finishing touches across the arching megaprims that Belmakor Pintens put in place. A four-month build spanning personal traumas, the openspace uproar, and and multiple sidetracking creative projects has finally been completed. Fabulous artists have been contacted, wooed, and in some cases bribed, and their compelling work now adorns the gallery walls. What’s more, gifted photographers Seikatsu Koba and Bunny Brickworks have bought into the larger vision, and have agreed to become Artists-In-Residence, creating the dynamic creative atmosphere I believe is essential for a venture like this. And now its finished. The Nightflower Artist’s Cooperative is set for its opening celebration TOMORROW!!! The only missing piece is YOU.

I’ve watched this build from it’s beginning to it’s completion and all I can say is, you have to see it to truly appreciate it.  Come out tomorrow and celebrate with Night and all of the artists.  You won’t be disappointed!  Here’s your Limo to the Party!

                        

© Gabby for Couture Conundrum, 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags:

Harper Beresford and CodeBastard Redgrave hold court at the Twitter Meetup.

While at the party, my new, fabulous friend, CodeBastard Redgrave, invited me to attend the opening of the Arthole gallery with her. I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering the exhibits in abject amazement and then dancing and laughing and taking part in general mischief making.

When you arrive at Arthole, you are given a notecard that reads, in part:

“Arthole is a new collaborative project between Arahan Claveau and Nebulosus Severine. Having successfully worked together for the first time in 2007 on the exhibition Salon Du Disruptif for the Heldscalla Foundation, they were eager to establish a permanent space for their work.

Split into three separate levels, the gallery has been very consciously conceived to be a continually evolving space, that will strive to challenge and surprise the visitor. The environment has been designed to encourage exploration at a more considered pace, and those that choose to do so will likely be rewarded with a much more immersive and satisfying experience.”

In fact, you will find several notecards as you study the individual works. Read them. They are full of information that will enhance your enjoyment of the exhibit.

Instead of regurgitating that information to you here, I’m going to leave you with some photos and captions and brief little snippets…and a direct command to visit the space for yourself. I promise that you will not be disappointed. Click on each photo for a larger view.

Located on the third level, which will be used for exhibits by visiting artists, this photo was taken in the space created by Arthole’s first guest, Ichibot Nishi. The installation is titled “λ.mnemonic” and there really are no words to describe it, you must see and experience for yourself. Codie took the above photo of the two of us inside the giant vagina. Please click this link to Codie’s Flickr page to view more of her photos from the opening…and then browse around to see ALL of her amazing work…DO NOT skip the Boudoir Rouge series.

Like so many of the exhibits, both Simulacrum v2 and Untitled v2 are scripted to provide a multi-dimensional display. Simulacrum v2 shows subtle changes in movement and texture that will mesmerize the viewer and Untitled v2 is comprised of a series of overlapping images creating an ever-evolving work of art.

Null will really draw you in. When you first teleport to the level, it appears to be simply a bright white room with pyramidical walls. Walk into the space, though, and you will notice that the walls follow you. Go ahead, fly around, they’ll keep up. Did I mention that you need to turn your sound up when visiting the gallery? No? How remiss of me! Please, do make sure your sounds are turned up, it will really enhance your experience here. Especially when you turn away from the Null space and enter the Fontana exhibit.

My favorite exihibit, though, is titled Fuck me/Shoot me. Each of the eight colored panels is comprised of tiny, repeating images of an anonymous, shirtless British soldier holding a gun. (The inset picture here, showing the detail, was taking from the notecard provided by the artist) As you walk or fly into the panels, the color will change on contact. The interactivity, and gravity, of the piece is awe-inspiring.

Oh, and I did mention the party, yes? Of course, I remembered the party! What a fabulous time! I must thank Codie again (and again and again and again) for inviting me…we danced up a storm, laughed hysterically and held a very *cough* serious *ahem* discussion as to the pros and cons of jiggly prim breasts.

Oh, but the busy day did not end there. Later that evening, Guy and I attended the eLDee Fashion Show featuring the designs of the uber talented Lilyana Dryke. Tune in Monday for pictures from the show.

Now get thee to Arthole tout de suite! Right after you open that twitter account, of course. *wink*

                        

© Gabby for Couture Conundrum, 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: