Tag: Labyrinthine

Second Life Endowment for the Arts Grant Documentation

Second Life Endowment for the Life Grant Labyrinth
Second Life Endowment for the Arts Grant Documentation—October to December 2023

“A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”
                      ~ Yoko Ono, Japanese multimedia artist

The Second Life grant was the first grant I applied for since my retirement from Minneapolis College. It was awarded to me in September 2023; I expected it to begin in January 2024, and the parcel was offered starting in October. So, I am happy that the grant was an extension of another Second Life installation I did previously titled Being Male.

I chose to do a labyrinth as a challenge for my 3D modeling skills and my fascination with building an enclosed environment. A maze is a place to lose yourself; A labyrinth is where you go to find yourself. The lighting, too, fascinated me because an artist can create a mystical environment within the Second Life environment to play with light. Quakers, as well as many spiritual-based communities, believe the Light exists within us. My installations created in or with Blender and in Second Life influence my drawings, and my drawings influence the 3D installations as well. Ideas and theories of the existence of the multiverse influence both.

During the last few years, my husband and family have supported me in transitioning to my retirement career. My meeting and the Friends in my faith community have been vital to me, too. And I must add my friends in Second Life.

Second Life Endowment for the Arts

Proposal for the SLEA Grant

 

Starts with a Walk, then a photograph.

Starts with a Photograph, a set of images I created over the past few years. There are a few that I took on my walk to Minneapolis Community Technical College. 

Some of you know that I am recreating this blog, so people have seen some of the images, but there are new ones, too. I hope you enjoy it. 

I call this image the Tunnel of Light: a sun, a tree, and a lake. Sun is brilliant coming through the branches of the tree.
Tunnel of Light — Hendricks©2023

While working this month on my Labyrinthine/Labyrinth in Second Life, I discovered Jorge Luis Borges, an author, poet, and philosopher (1899 – 1986) born in Argentina. I used a quote from him in my last post. He wrote a short story that I am still digesting, a short story he wrote. The Library of Babel was published in the book The Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges.

I read the first few words and was hooked to read more of this man’s works.

The universe (which others call the Library) is composed of an indefinite and perhaps infinite number of hexagonal galleries, with vast air shafts between, surrounded by very low railings. From any of the hexagons one can see, interminably, the upper and lower floors. The distribution of the galleries is invariable. 
~ Jorge Luis Borges, The Library of Babel, 1941

Post Openings on SLEA (4SW)

The Labyrinthine/Labyrinth opened
on November 15, 2023

The worst Labyrinth is not that intricate form that can entrap us forever, but a single and precise straight line.
~ Jorge Luis Borges (Author, The Library of Babel)

I termed the first party or opening a quiet opening the first hour of silence… Voice and music were turned off for the parcel; the only sounds were the chimes of Tibet chimes being rung as avatars walked through the hallways. During the second hour, DJ Sheperd played music that was both peaceful and still provided the installation’s visitors with a musical journey in the center dome. It attracted a small crowd. Quiet is not one of Second Life’s suits. I did enjoy sharing it with my visitors and friends.

A poetic drawing was used for my invitation to the quiet opening on Nov 15, 2023. It is of a tree, and the drawing is inverted. The white is now black.
The Invitation to the Labyrinthine, November 15, 2023

The Labyrinthine/Labyrinth second opening party was held on November 22, 2023

Poster for the second party at the Labyrinthine/Labyrinth. Friends from Brotherly Love, Exile, and a dance club moved their weekly party to the labyrinth's center.
Exile on Exile—> to SLEA (4SW), the Labyrinth

This was a well-attended party and celebration  DJ Tomtom, from Köln, Germany. Second Life is a global community. The music was great and everyone had fun. 

I am planning a Zoom tour soon. I will be announcing soon. 

SLEA Labyrinth –> Procrastination

Why am I procrastinating?

“We don’t abandon our pursuits because we despair of ever perfecting them.” — Epictetus (the Daily Stoic)

SLEA Labyrinth as of 11-13-23, created by Bill Hendricks / Tap Quentin for Second Life Endowment for the Arts Grant.
Choices, Investigation, and Perfectionism

I am currently working on completing this project for my grant, but confronting self-doubt. The self-doubt I find is almost as hard to overcome as the desire for perfection and overthinking. 

A Paradox – Labyrinth

Labyrinth, an SLEA Grant Project

A paradox is a statement, proposition, or situation that seems illogical, absurd, or self-contradictory. However, upon further scrutiny, it may be logical or true, or at least contain an element of truth.
The purpose of a paradox is to arrest attention and provoke fresh thought.
Here is an examples of paradox: Less is More.
                                        ~ Generated by Google’s AI

Love that quote, especially when Milton Glaser, a graphic designer, said, “Less is not necessarily more”. He also said, “Just enough is more”. 

Labyrinth-SLEA announcement for artist, Bill Hendricks's instillation.
Living is a Fool’s Paradise Hendricks/Quentin©2023

Not open, but soon, and happy for visitors to come and preview what I am doing … Party soon. I found this to be a more significant project than I figured. I am learning a lot thanks to the Second Life Endowment for the Arts grant. Second Life remains one of the most open creative spaces on the web. Do art with people from all over the world. Explore art created by people down under or on the other side of the world.
Bill Hendricks / Tap Quentin

Second Life Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLEA4/85/16/32

Wanna check out Second Life?
https://secondlife.com/

YouTube  Second Life 20-year Anniversary Video