evets Igaly - R.I.P.

We received some sad news via Earth Primbee, co-owner and creator of Inspire Park. He just learned that his virtual friend, Second Life® resident evets Igaly (rez: 4/12/2007) died of a heart attack a few days ago.

evets loved to create particle shows. "His performance to the music was right on. Dancing to the music with ethereal lights he drew us deeper into the sounds. He didn't make all his particles, but he used all of them so well," said Earth.



In tribute, Earth created this video and wrote:

This beloved man, friend and artist was one of the stars of an online music and visual event. His work was as dear to us as he was and I dedicate this video to his time on the surface of Planet Earth.

The beautiful song in this video is "Butterflies and Fairytales" by Galaxy Girl. She graciously granted permission for me to include it with this work.

To me, the combination captures the spirit of evets's love for his art, his friends, and our love for him. Many of us only knew him through Second Life, but that was enough to know his soul.

Earth created a dedicated Flickr group for friends to add all photos related to evets.

Don't let your virtual creations die with you - Will your Work Day

December 29, 2009 Update:

I've decided to expand this concept to ALL digital creations. I'm going to need your help to get the word out. Bloggers, website creators, media, tech geeks and geekas... Will you help me? Please contact me at bettinatizzy (at) gmail dot com and we'll mobilize together!

~*~

German, Dutch, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian translations of this information are available here


Dear fellow Residents of Second Life®:

About three weeks ago, virtual artist Vanfarel Kupfer died. Had he not left copies of most of his work (no trans, no mod) with his virtual girl friend, Native Aeon, his only legacy would be what is currently rezzed today.

Avatars in Second Life devote thousands of hours to creating content, and all that work is LOST when they die. Yes, even if they backed up that work by giving it to an alt. Even if they gave their account password to someone. When you die and unless you have taken appropriate measures, no one, not even Linden Lab, can legally access your work. It is simply lost forever.

According to Linden Lab, the correct and only procedure for "willing" one's creations - or for that matter, any Second Life assets - is indicated here.

I propose that we mark this day, May 18th, as Will your Work Day, to encourage content creators to consider their situation and act on it annually.



The goal would be to celebrate Van's art and remind people to either give copies of their work to one or more avatars (not their alts) whom they trust, or add them to their Real Life will.

Also beginning today and for one week - and working with his beloved Native Aeon - Vanfarel Kupfer's work will be exhibited at four locations: his former home sim, EnLuminaria, the Crescent Moon Museum, the Blackwater Gallery, and Chakryn Forest. Understandably, Native is still very much in mourning over her loss, and when I asked her how I could help, she stated that her greatest wish is that Vanfarel's work become known throughout the grid. So be it. Native: Sachez que nous sommes de tout coeur à vos côtés.

Please share this message with your fellow residents and help to get the word out. You will find numerous translations of this letter here, prepared by the following individuals who generously volunteered their time: Lano Ling, Osiris LeShelle, elros Tuominen, Tonjampae Amat and Gore Suntzu. Tell your community in your own way, in your own words.

I leave you with the colorful, dreamy work of Vanfarel Kupfer in a video by Jurin Juran. May he rest in peace.

Here's to enduring great virtual content!
Bettina


The art of Vanfarel Kupfer, as part of Will your Work Day
Machinima by Jurin Juran

"For Soj" - Rob Danton's remembrance

Today is the second consecutive "Dia de los Muertos" (Day of the Dead), a 48 hour period when many cultures believe that it is possible to commune with those we have lost. A few days ago, I wondered on the blog if anyone had erected a themed altar in Second Life® to celebrate and remember their dead, and I've since learned of several.

This video was created by Rob Danton in May after he lost someone he deeply cared for, The Sojourner. It seems that avatars have their own way of mourning their dead, and Rob feels that the "physical" manifestation resembles an altar. This is very moving. Thank you for sharing, Rob.



See also:

- Real Life inspires: Commune with the people you miss
- Juana Manuel observes the Day of the Dead by celebrating the living