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Timing is everything…

When we started this interview (see above post) several days ago, we never could have predicted that we were walking into such a minefield – the Venkman/SL5B controversy seemed to be dying (or at least, calming) down – and our conversation was meant to be centered more on censorship in SL in general, rather than on any specific images or counterprotests. In fact, when I last spoke to Jay about Venkman, I told him that I had extended to him the same invitation that we had extended to every other artist in SL – the opportunity to place his work on BiW for critique – but that I strongly felt that nothing more should be done; that the ball was in Venkman’s court if he wanted to participate.

So it should be noted that I had absolutely no idea that Jay was going to go ahead and rez Venkman’s images on the island last night and certainly no warning that anyone was going to stage a counterprotest to their being placed there. And I find myself in a really difficult position: Either I have just wasted my time and my interviewee’s time over the last few days, or I inject the following conversation into an environment that was not the one we expected to have it be a part of.

I’m going ahead and posting the interview, mostly because I think it’s a good one and what my subject has to say is very relevant and timely, perhaps more than we knew when we started talking.

Not at all as a result of any of this (like, I said: Timing is everything), this interview will be my last post at Brooklyn is Watching for the forseeable future. I’ve decided to take what we can describe as an “extended leave of absence” from the project; I’m not totally sure if I’ll be back or not. It should be noted that I have neither been fired nor have I stormed off in a fit. Jay and I had a very civil, face to face discussion about all this earlier today and I’ve come to the conclusion that, at least for the time being, I should leave BiW.

I thank you all so much for reading my posts and for sharing your work with me and our audience. I am not leaving SL and hope to remain in touch with all of you and hope you will all keep me abreast of your latest artworks. Getting to know you all and writing about your work has been an absolute pleasure.

Be well,

Amy Freelunch/Wilson

Posted by Amy Freelunch on Thursday, June 26th, 2008 at 11:38 pm.

7 Responses to “Timing is everything…”

cries

Left by Ichibot Nishi on June 27th, 2008

amy, that’s making me really sad. and it’s such a loss for BiW. how could this happen?

Left by selavy on June 27th, 2008

[0:38] Amy Freelunch: Call an ambulance! Man down.
[0:38] Monet Destiny: What?

Left by selavy on June 27th, 2008

I’m very upset and about this. Amy is such a huge part of what makes BiW special and I always looked forward to her consistently insightful, intelligent and entertaining observations here and in the podcast.

I doubt very much if Stephen Venkman will be aware of the interview that Amy has published because he has never had even the slightest interest in BiW or the wider issues of censorship. At the slightest whiff of criticism he walked away from an opportunity to contribute towards a serious debate. But enough about him.

Amy, I hope that you will be able to return to BiW in some capacity one day, you are much appreciated and respected by many people.

“So long and thanks for all the fish.”

Left by Arahan Claveau on June 27th, 2008

what?? wait… I just got here… noooo…. dammit… sighs… grumbles… shuffles off kicking at the ground.

Left by Hollow Prim on June 27th, 2008

i’m very sad to see Amy go, as she knows, and I am hopeful she will return at a later time - the most important thing for me is that we’re still friends.

This blog is now getting 1,000 page views a day (i just looked at the stats after not looking for a few weeks and was floored — that is double what it was a few weeks ago) and I know that a huge part of it is because of the very thoughtful critique that Amy has been giving to the work on BiW. I’m going to do everything i can fill Amy’s shoes and keep the level of the critique up at the high benchmark she created.

As i write this, i’m partway done preparing podcast episode 16, which is one of the best ones we’ve ever had (IMHO)… I’m really curious to see what everyone thinks of it, i hope that you’ll see it as evidence that BiW is still alive and kicking and will continue to kick. Ok- back to work- i’ll get this thing posted later this morning.

— OH and one other thing- arahan- your comments about Stephen Venkman there– he really did just kinda leave, didn’t he? rather than engage… and its a little disappointing — but i guess this kind of environment is not for everyone - i hope he’ll listen to the podcast because Tyler Coburn just nailed what is a really important conflict in his work having to do with the aestheticization of some of the images.

And just to explain one thing- I invited Venkman to put his stuff up and he sent me a texture and I rezzed a prim to put it on - which nobody saw becuase very soon after- he came and prettied up what i’d done- added a border, etc. i really didn’t think about the difference that it made that i actually helped him put those images up in that way- which i’ve not done for anyone else - and which kinda of (as don says in this podcast i’m about to release) goes against the whole spirit of BIW- so I’m not ever going to do that again- the rule of this sim should be anyone can put up whatever they want, but they have to do it themselves and that way the have to know what they are getting themselves into:

they’re getting themselves into a space where we’re going to critique the work as art and not pull any punches and other artist can respond to their work however they want and that is just how it is.

ok now i’m really getting back to that podacst- it’ll be up soon!

Left by jvanb on June 27th, 2008

I will miss you, Amy. I enjoyed your thoughtful comments on the art, and the insights into art history and theory that you brought to them. I cannot possibly fill your shoes, though I will continue to do what I can to keep people informed about the works at BiW.

Be well, and be happy in whatever you choose to do.

Left by Shirley Marquez on June 27th, 2008

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