Avatars:Art:Real World

The original Avatars came from Indian mythology; they were the bodies the Gods used when they chose to walk upon the earth. Today the term Avatar is more commonly associated with the graphical action figures we use when we play games in online worlds.

The artists in this exhibition are inspired by Popular Culture rather than High Art, through games such as World of Warcraft or Half Life, virtual environments such as Second Life or the Sims, or content sharing sites such as Flickr, and Youtube. They question conventional attitudes towards gender, spirituality, violence, technology, sexuality and identity,
examining how these issues have been transformed by online technologies.

5 September to 4 October
FREE EVENT
Tue – Fri: 12.00 – 7.00pm, Sat & Sun 10.00am – 6.00pm
Australian Centre for Photography, 257 Oxford Street, Paddington, Sydney NSW
For more information contact 02 9332 1455 or email information@acp.org.au
http://tmp.acp.org.au/current/

Trope-promoting new writing in Second Life

Writers and their works in a virtual space:  trope is a new space in Second Life promoting creative writing in virtual environments. The panel features trope’s creators alongside the Melbourne-based writers selected for the first iteration, discussing the dynamics of this intersection between literature and new media and the poetic possibilities of virtual spaces.

This panel is sponsored by the Literature Board of the Australia Council for the Arts.

Chair: Bel Schenk
Participants: Cristyn Davies, Elena Knox, Sarah Waterson, Matt Hetherington and Alicia Sometimes.

Thursday, August 28, 2008
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: ACMI Cinema 1, Australian Centre for the Moving Image
Street: Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne, Australia

Second life – fashion show

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Time: 11:30am – 1:30pm
Location: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ischia/99/102/705
Ewing Fashion district – Ischia

The Ewing Fashion Agency is proud to present the eclectic late summer Bolero Collection by designer AMANDA BOLERO. You are cordially invited to join us on August 20, 2008, at Ewing’s Fashion District, Ischia, for this exciting presentation.

Amanda on her designs: “My involvement with the fashion field of SL began last year , by chance on one hand, and on the other because I couldn’t find what I wanted. I’m picky and I follow my daily mood on what to wear in RL, and this side of me doesn’t change here in SL . So, when I feel romantic I create a gown , when I feel sexy or aggressive or dream I create the right dress that suits my feeling. I think every woman has to wear what expresses herself and makes her feel comfortable in any situation: from shopping to party, from going to work to staying at home. But they always need a touch of originality and elegance . SL allows me to take out all of my creativity and my passion for fashion and I hope my clients can feel that.”

DJ Sexyjade Echegaray will spoil your ears with her jazzy tunes during the show.

EFA Presents Amanda Bolero

August 20, 2008

11:30 AM SLT Guest Arrival
12:00 PM SLT Start of the show

Dress code: Smooth Criminal

The Future of the Internet – Lawrence Lessig, Joichi Ito and Phil Rose

Chris Williamson Blogging the Singularity reports (in his humble opionion) that the best panel (by far) at Fortune Brainstorm was “2018: Life on the Net.” It was moderated extremely well by Quincy Smith, CEO of CBS Interactive. On the podium was Lawrence Lessig, professor of Law at Stanford Law School, Joichi Ito, CEO of Creative Commons and Chairman of Six Apart Japan, and Philip Rosedale, founder and chairman of Linden Lab, (Second Life.)

Watch the video

Editor;s note: reminds me of a middle-aged boy band, but hey what with all the comebacks maybe it’s not such a bad idea was that Quincy Smith or Jones? hehehe

The future of religion

Extropia

The Future of Religions/Religions of the Future is a two-day conference examining how two of the 21st Century’s driving forces, religion and technology, will continue to re-shape each other and, in the process, re-cast our understanding of “humanity” in the Third Millennium. Centered on, but not limited to, virtual worlds and social networking technologies, speakers and panelists will also examine changes precipitated by the biotechnology revolution, cognitive science, information technologies and robotics.

Time and Place Start Time: Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 8:00am
End Time: Thursday, June 5, 2008 at 5:00pm
Location: Extropia Core and Al Andalus Generalife
Second Life

Conference website: http://zones.extropiacore.net/religion/index.html

New Australian writing within virtual environments

trope:::
http://www.trope.net.au
trope promotes new Australian writing within virtual environments, and will be launched as a space within Second Life to coincide with the Sydney Writer’s Festival on May 22, 2008.

trope is a new space in Second Life promoting creative writing in virtual environments. The roundtable features trope’s creators alongside writers selected for the first iteration, discussing the dynamics of this intersection between literature and new media.

Thursday, May 22, 2008
Time:12:00pm – 2:00pm
Location: Bangarra Theatre
Street: Pier 4/5, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay
City/Town: Sydney, Australia

Second Life research:call for papers

Second Life is a 3D virtual environment created by Linden Lab (R) which has captured the attention of researchers and teachers from a variety of disciplines from around the world.

Please join us in a workshop on learning and research in Second Life(R) on October 16, 2008 in Copenhagen at Internet Research 9.0 .

This workshop aims to improve the understanding of Second Life as a Learning and Research environment. It will bring 35 researchers together to collaborate, discuss and workshop diverse topics related to research and learning in Second Life. How can we better enable learning in this sphere?  How can we better enable research?

Researchers are requested to submit papers and short biography to slworkshop08@gmail.com, which will be selected and distributed amongst participants before the workshop. First invitations will be offered to those who provide full papers for consideration. These papers provide a common platform for understanding our research and teaching and may be considered for publication in an edited volume being produced in relation to the workshop.

If you are interested in participating, please send an email containing your information to the following email;
slworkshop08@gmail.com
Paper Deadline: 15 June
Date of Workshop: 16 October 16
http://wiki.aoir.org/index.php?title=About_IR9.0

The Eifffel Tower will not be wearing a collaret

PARIS – It is a shame for those who would have been interested in seeing a rather iconoclastic gesture in an unexpected change of the Parisian landscape: the Eiffel tower will not be wearing a tie. Nevertheless, the announcement it was going to be equipped for its 120th anniversary in 2009 with an extended platform to welcome a greater number of tourists went around the world. It was even published by such reputable media as the Guardian of London or The New York Times. As for the «winner», the Serero architect firm, remarked for its international consultations(Hellenikon park in Athens, Grimm library in Berlin), it had placed on its website the detail of the operation… We have gotten used over the past years to see reality and virtuality hand in hand. Those who can not bear an Eiffel Tower that does not live with its time should take a look at Second Life. It can be used a a base for parachute jumping or one can touch up its profile without being belied.
Second life

Take a tour of Second Life

Chris Dodds & Adam Nash with avatars

With a population rivalling that of London, Second Life is an extraordinary online world that is imagined and created by its users, or more aptly, residents.

Take a tour of this much-discussed cultural phenomenon with Australia’s first artists in residence in Second Life - new media artist, composer, programmer, performer and writer Adam Nash and graphic designer, web developer and new media artist Chris Dodds.

Thursday 27 March, 6pm
Screen Pit, ACMI

**SEEING THE FUTURE OF SECOND LIFE**

The Evolution of Networked Digital Environments

Julian Stadon (Perth) is currently undertaking a mentorship with Professors Christa Sommerer and Laurent Mignonneau, at the Interface Culture Lab, part of the University of Art and Design, Linz, where he is developing mixed reality systems in Second Life.

Julian is working on developing interactive augmented reality constructs to appear 3D in physical space when viewed through a head mounted display. The project explores the evolution and impact of newly evolved networked digital environments, particularly in Second Life. Julian aims to produce the final outcome in an exhibition at the John
Curtin Gallery in May 2008.

The project has many socially innovative applications that can benefit the community in varied ways. These include the possibility of crossing over into computer game interfaces, raising new awareness of digital technologies and the contextual issues associated with it, through exhibition and also to the academic community, through the uniqueness of the project.

Julian is documenting his experience daily – follow the lessons and developments here www.anat.org.au/mentorship.

The ANAT emerging technology mentorship provides an opportunity for practitioners under 30 to explore new artistic directions, expand technical skills and increase knowledge of networks, debates and business practice spanning a three-month period.

For more information on the mentorship contact manager@anat.org.au