SPOTLIGHT ON THEMMAC- Multi Media Arts Center - Lanai Jarrico Reporting…

The MMAC aka Multi Media Arts Center, was established in 2007 and has continued to entertain the Second Life community with live music, nightclubs, gallery events, Cinema, Comedy, Film, poetry, and much more! The man behind this very successful and staple of SL Entertainment is none other than Dash Renoir. His presence in Second Life over the past 18 years is impressive, to say the least. He is a bona fide virtual world renaissance man. I met up with Dash to get an update on TheMMAC and see what's new.

Interview with Dash Renoir

Lanai: Hi Dash, it is a pleasure to sit with you. For nearly two

decades, you have contributed so much to the entertainment community in

Second Life.  Can you share with our readers how you discovered Second

Life and what inspired The MMAC?

Dash: Summer 2006 I heard stories on NPR's "Marketplace" and on MSNBC

about Second Life. Spent a couple weeks exploring, checking out live

events, clubs and corporate sites with a forgotten avi. Rejoined as Dash

Renoir in January 2007 to showcase my band "Suburban Dog". Spent late

nights in sandboxes learning to build, in particular modeling the RL

theater space I purchased to open the Multi Media Arts Center, New

Jersey USA, in 2008. TheMMAC in SL was build as an extension of TheMMAC

1st Life. ( www.TheMMAC.com )

Lanai: The Multi Media Arts Center can only be described as an

all-in-one place where all sorts of entertainment happen. Just like it

takes a village to raise a child, it has to take an extraordinary team

to keep The MMAC continuous for so many years. Who makes up TheMMAC team?

Dash: LOL just me. All me.  All depending on my RL workload.  To

clarify, 2008-2012 activities were driven by RL MMAC. After its closing

2012-2014 were probably the busiest for in world-originated stuff.  But

busy RL film production work limited my time to just doing late night DJ

sets "Funk Fridays" and "Slow Jams For A Saturday Night" to keep tier

and memberships paid through the decade. Following a major hack in the summer

Of 2024, where my build was wiped/sold, lindens stolen, etc, along with a

slow down in RL work I am spending time to rebuild, revive, restore ...

reboot TheMMAC!

Lanai: That’s Impressive. I can’t even imagine how busy you are doing this alone! I’m sorry to hear that happened but I am glad to see your resilience and rebuilding this iconic SL landmark. Can you share a little bit about each venue that is part of TheMMAC?

Dash:  Briefly...

Performance spaces ..

WORLD STAGE:  a Concert Theater built over the corner of 4 Sims,

Originally, the extension of TheMMAC RL stages

CABARET CARLOTTA:  more intimate Showcase Stage

THE JAZZ LINK:  Lounge

OPEN AIR THEATRE:  Amphitheater

THE COMEDY LINK:  Laugh Club

Moving Images ..

THE FILM LINK CINEMA  & FLY-IN DRIVE-IN MOVIES  :  Short Films, Videos,

Animation, Machinima, etc. On Demand

Visual Arts ..

MMAC GALLERY  &  TERRACE SCULPTURE GARDEN

UNDERGROUND Disco

TOP OF TheMMAC Penthouse Ballroom: for milestone events

Lanai: You have a lot going on!  Between Funk Fridays and Slow Jams at Nightclub events, Gallery showcases, The Comedy Link, Monthly Midweek Movie Mingle, The Film Link, Poetry, radio, and more, what is your favorite form of entertainment that you host in Second Life and why?  

Dash: Live entertainment, probably. I'm an impresario by temperament, I

enjoy putting talent/performers together with an attentive audience.

Lanai:  I can relate. There is something magical about bringing people together with creativity and media. Are you currently hiring for positions within The MMAC? If so, which positions are available, and how can one apply?

Dash:  I have not hired anyone yet... probably should ... in particular

maybe promoters or subcontractors to help maximize the utilization of

the spaces.

Lanai: Make sure you send me a press release when you are ready to hire. I’m sure some people would love to be a part of all the events TheMMAC has to offer. So, what group can residents join to keep up with all the actions at

TheMMAC?

Dash:

"MMAC Guests" is the open group, kiosk in lobby.

"MMAC Patrons" is the invitation only/largest group

"MMAC Members" is the feed premium group with perks

Lanai: Do you have a calendar of events? If so, can you drop the link?

Dash:  https://themmacsl.com/events.html

Lanai: This year you celebrated 18th years in Second Life with the 

 FETE event. Can you tell our readers about that?

Dash:  It was a very successful event, well supported by performers and

patrons, which ran one day, Sunday, April 6th, celebrating the April 7th

2007 opening of TheMMAC inSL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm9knW10N0Y

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18jiKH65p7/

Lanai: What events do you have coming up, and do you have anything new in

the works that you’d like to share exclusively with The SL Enquirer?

Dash: Nothing of note at this time... plans in the works for a 'paid' concert series and more comedy events.

Additional Information

SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Somerset/216/216/66

Website: https://www.TheMMACsl.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@TheMMACsl

https://www.facebook.com/dash.renoir/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMMACsl

MMACradio Network: https://www.MMACradio.net

Other:

Preferred contact: Dash Renoir

info@TheMMACsl.com

Director@TheMMACsl.com

Multi Media Arts Center in Second Life

www.TheMMACsl.com

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XSPACE BY BETTY TUREAUD & AI- An interactive region Space and Art - Tabitha Mercury reporting

 

What started out as a challenge Betty Tureaud set for herself, XSPACE is a treat for the senses. Yes, I say senses because in each display there are sounds and visual stimulants, minimum.

Ok that was new…

Upon arrival I was greeted with some bots and it was explained to me that a special HUD has been attached for navigating the sim with. 

And if you know me, you know that…I started clicking away!

Oh wow, that opened a new menu to a new area? Ok…Oh goodness, where to start? I looked forward to meeting Betty Tureaud and meeting the brilliant mind behind this intense and extensive installation.

We arrived at a landing point, surrounded by blackness, with a very colorful doorway and I introduced myself to Betty. Wasting no time, she led me directly to a space frog in the colorful room and asked me to please sit on it. I was immediately teleported into another colorful room with…Betty Bot!

Upon arrival I was greeted with the following:

[11:29] INFO: whispers: Say hi to Betty Bot Betty Tureaud

[11:30] Tabitha Mercury: hi

[11:31] Tabitha Mercury: hi Betty Bot Betty Tureaud

[11:31] Betty Bot: Hello there, Tabitha Mercury! How can I make your day a little brighter today?

[11:31] Betty Tureaud: ok who is betty tureaud

[11:31] Betty Bot: Well, Betty Tureaud is a renowned Danish artist known for her vibrant and innovative artworks. Her works often incorporate elements of technology, light, and sound to create immersive and interactive experiences. She has exhibited her art globally and is recognized for pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms. Anything specific you'd like to know about Betty Tureaud or any other artists? I'm here to help with a twist of humor!

Tabitha Mercury: So not only are you artistic, you are also very technical it seems, how were you able to make this bot interact like that?

 Betty Tureaud: I built it with a friend, Blaise, we made an API to open AI…we made it to interact with ChatGTP.

I was then directed to the next space frog to teleport into the next realm. There were six space frogs in all to discover new realms with. Many interactive with touch, sounds, and sights that can keep anyone occupied for hours. Each one distinct and intricately made. All of them are strikingly beautiful to experience.

Tabitha Mercury: What inspired the combination of so many different ways to interact with the installation?

Betty Tureaud: it was a competition with myself

Tabitha Mercury: a challenge for yourself, then? ok

Betty Tureaud: yes

Tabitha Mercury: Well, how does it feel to have accomplished such an intricate and tactile exhibit?

Betty Tureaud: smiles

Betty Tureaud: there is always new frontiers

Betty Tureaud: haha

Tabitha Mercury: haha you are quite relentless in your pursuit of art and technology

Betty Tureaud: my next installation will include PBR and mirrors

Tabitha Mercury: ooooo

Next, Betty teleported me to a new location, THE SACRED MONOLITHS, where I clicked a box to get a new HUD that attached itself along the bottom of my viewer. This one listed 9 objects which were the locations for these exhibits. And so the new adventure began, while I was still processing the absolute awe I had for the XSPACE one I had just been shown.

Tabitha Mercury: How long did this take to accomplish?

Betty Tureaud: about 30 days

Tabitha Mercury: what?!

Tabitha Mercury 's eyes grow wide so she doesn't look half Korean anymore

Tabitha Mercury: wow

Tabitha Mercury: just wow

Betty Tureaud: haha

Betty once again led me on a tour that was a feast for my eyes, ears, and wave of the mouse. These nine destinations have so much to explore and see.

As we traveled through them and Betty politely directed me what to do in each realm, I realized all the hard work that went into the idea of this and then the hard work that followed to make it a reality. This quite simply is amazing.

Some tips for first-timers…Use the HUD which attaches itself upon arrival to navigate to the XSPACE installation. It kind of looks like it says HSPACE. This will be where you will meet the space frogs who will direct your journey through XSPACE. Sit on a space frog and experience everything this installation has to offer by sliding your volume on all sounds up. Make sure you have the highest graphics settings possible as the installations also rely on EEP.

To get to the other installation that is featured on this sim by Betty Tureaud you will want to teleport to this destination: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akimitsu/16/122/2374

Upon arrival, click the rotating cube for the TP HUD to explore Betty’s installation!

In closing, these installations are fantastic to explore and experience. I highly suggest it when you have some time to spare. You won’t get it all done in one trip, unless you are being guided on a quick tour by Betty, like I experienced. You are going to want to take your time going through this, and like me, probably come back a few times to explore certain favorites, deeper.

Additional Information

TELEPORT: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akimori/250/127/3557 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/betty-tureaud/

https://www.facebook.com/bettyai.tureaud

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39860773935

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