Mellanna Raider is one of those artists who manage to transcend reality and leave a long lasting impression on you. Her photograph exhibition, sponsored by the Brokeback LGBT Center is currently on at the GA-Art Gallery on GA-Coronal.
She gave us an exclusive interview.
Hello Mell, your photo exhibition is on this month at the GA Art Gallery and you received the support of the Brokeback LGBT Center. Can you tell us first a bit more about yourself, your character on SL and the person you are in real life.
First of all Thank you so much again for the opportunity. Well my name is Melissa, I am hail from the West Coast of Canada. i started Art after my traumatic brain injury 12 years ago and Photography about 16 years ago when my mom bought me my first film camera.
My RL self and my SL self are pretty much one in the same except when I am role playing in the Star Wars RP.
I am somewhat shy at first after that I will talk your ear off and show off my quirky weirdness that I have learned to embrace,
Making an exhibition is something extremely personal. Artists reveal a lot about themselves in their work. This must be a very strange feeling, no ?
I didn’t find it strange. I like what my art and photographs can reveal to me about myself. Sometimes it’s a good way to help me learn how I really feel that day
If you were to give advice to someone who would be interested in working in photography, what would it be ?
Just go for it. Find what you like in your world and just take pictures.
Do you have an overall philosophy when it comes to Second Life and the time you spend inworld?
My Philosophy when it comes to SL is to respect others, Learn lots from others, have fun and don’t cause drama and don’t let others bring you into drama.
As a photographer, your insight on virtual reality is interesting. How do you perceive Second Life? Is it a game or another form of reality that you would be interested in photographing ?
I find it another form of reality a virtual world that others come and interact. I have never thought of taking photographs here on sl but maybe it will be something I can look into in the future.
Any project in the near future ?
I have an idea that will involve lots of other artist and galleries all across SL
it’s still in the planning stages. I also want to help out new artists to second life in memory of two friends who passed away recently.
Your limo to the exhibition is just here:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/GA%20Coronal/93/222/24
