Virtual Museum of Architecture Closing It's Sim

 By Grey Lupindo

On October 31, 2012 the Virtual Museum of Architecture plans to close its sim, located at Purdue University (69, 55, 35).   The VMA will still remain in Second Life, however.  Djinn Dasmijn, Co-Director  of the Museum, said the group plans to focus on the educational aspects of architecture through lectures and Build-offs.   
 

     The VMA celebrated its achievements and allowed its friends and supporters a final party on Saturday, October 27.   Bluemonk Rau served as DJ.   The plaza area was decorated for Halloween, with ghosts, spider webs and a revolving pumpkin dance floor.   Most partiers came in costume, and many participated in the best costume contest.   A lot of residents attended, including my former neighbors and friends, Erin Fensen and Asana Trudeau.   Asana had initially worked with the Frank Lloyd Wright Virtual Museum.     

      Like many organizations in Second Life, the VMA has been struggling with the high cost of maintaining a sim.   The reorganization will allow it to continue with its prime objective of education.   Rosalie Oldrich, who is the other Co-Director, stated that Builder’s Brewery is providing space for the lecture series that will accompany future Build-Offs.   

      During the party, Djinn Dasmijn and Katsii Tennan invited supporters to take a final tour of the sim. The next day I decided to do that.  I went back to the Museum to take a closer look at the offices and snap a few photos.   The offices are in a three floor structure that is a model for what real-life offices should be.  There are skylights and large windows to let in light, fountains to provide soothing water sounds, and even a small urban garden.    The interiors were modern, yet warm and inviting.    

      While I was there I ran into Sandi Glas, who has been a long-time supporter and builder.   She had also been associated with the Frank Lloyd Wright Virtual Museum.   Sandi has participated with the VMA since its beginning.  She told me she competed in their first Build-off and has continued to compete in all of them except the “green” build-off.   But she jokingly said that everything she builds has a 0 carbon footprint.

        The next Build-off is scheduled for March 1, 2013.   Djinn Dasmijn will be announcing the theme soon.

Grey Lupindo

The Frank Lloyd Wright Virtual Museum

Frank Lloyd Wright was an architect and designer of not only exquisite buildings, but also furniture, silverware, glass and pieces of art and also items for daily use. His work includes original and innovative examples of many different building types, including offices, churches, schools, skyscrapers, hotels, museums and homes. It is wonderful to find a virtual museum that educates the world about his life and displays his work.

The sim in which the museum is located is called Usonia. This is a word he used to describe his vision of shaping the landscape of America by the use of forms of architecture and planning of cities . The Frank Lloyd Wright museum of Virtual Art, FLWVM, in Second Life is a pleasure to visit. The first and second floors have exhibits depicting his life with photographs of his houses and other structures with note cards telling the history of each. You will find many of his most important works on display.

Outside the building you can walk along and read more. You should not miss the wonderful examples of his buildings to explore outside and in. Some of his works have been painstakingly replicated in SL. One fascinating home you must visit is Falling Water. There is a TP right outside the museum door. There is a Museum Store where you can purchase furniture and glass of his design as well as many other textures and items. Great freebie building assist items are also available.

When I went there it was on the advice of a friend who was viewing a display of prairie homes that were created by both professional and novice builders in SL for a contest. The structures must be completed with specific rules regarding timeframe, and prims on a plot assigned to them. One of these rules is that they could be easily lived in by a SL resident. It is a semi-annual event. One of the designers of an entry , Poetry Sorbet, told me the winners of the contest will have their homes on display for a period of time and received a trophy and a gift card to the Builders Brewery.

Those interested in building will enjoy visiting the museum, but is also an enjoyable trip for those who do not build, to see the creativity and designs of others. There are events that take place there . Educators from RL are invited to bring their classes for tours, lectures , and there are lectures open to the public. The FLWVM is recognized as a licensed representative of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation in Arizona. It is a wonderful example of collaboration for education.

I was pleased to read that the Pathfinder Lester (formerly Pathfinder Linden) has joined the Board of Directors. There are memberships available at several levels. You can learn more about it by visiting the website www.vminc.org . To visit the museum you can enter at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cancun%20Isle/128/128/2 .

Gemma Cleanslate