Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting
“Open Your Eyes” is an extraordinary picture from Sia Aurora. It was in a gallery curated by Siobhán Muintir, who I am certain is the Queen of SL Flickr Groups. On Flickr, administrators of Flickr groups can change the cover at the top of the page and often use that feature to highlight particularly beautiful or innovative work. The group is SL Meditations and is focused on meditation in Second Life. Like all of Siobhán’s groups, it is meticulously moderated so you aren’t bothered by irrelevant pictures and don’t have to pan down forever to find the gold you are looking for.
I have featured Siobhán Muintir’s fabulous pop art before and I have mined Siobhán’s groups for excellent pictures on particular topics many times over so I thought it was time I asked her about her groups and learned she spends about two to three hours a week checking all submissions. On Sundays, she chooses new banners for the groups. She spends an hour or two inviting new work. She might find someone she likes and will study their stream, inviting several pictures to the appropriate groups.
She doesn’t open the group to self-management as that doesn’t seem to work for anyone. She approves every submission. If someone keeps sending off-topic pictures, they are removed from the group. She also has four invitation-only groups because folks just kept submitting off-topic pictures. Her three busiest groups are Snow White, Instrumental, and Just Cats.
This is an extraordinary gift to all of us. There is no business being boosted, no microtransaction for every click. It is simply a gift.
For more from Siobhán and her groups — and my conversation with the curator herself — click here:
Wagner James Au / New World Notes 