Stable Home for Wyvern Dryke and his Virtual Art

Hello! My name is Coy, a.k.a. Wyvern Dryke. I am a virtual artist and coder who creates three-dimensional art in online meta-grids. In addition to creating my art in these virtual lands, I also spend most of my waking time there so they are--in a very real sense--my home.

WHY I'M ASKING FOR DONATIONS

For most of 2022, I worked on a huge, virtual art build called "Haunted Nawlins." I say "virtual," meaning that it exists only in computers--specifically, the computers running a 3D metagrid called "Second Life" (SL).

Such virtual "real estate" is not free, but I was lucky to have a benefactor, who contributed the land necessary to sustain my art project. Sadly, my benefactor became ill in March 2022, and disappeared in mid-October 2022. Without his support, I have nowhere to place my large art-build.

HOW MUCH I NEED AND WHY

I hope to obtain new land for "Haunted Nawlins." To do so, there are costs. These include a one-time setup fee of $349, and an ongoing rent of $259/month.

UPDATE Nov 10, 2022: The company that runs SL just introduced a lesser type of region (read: area of virtual land). This "Homestead" region offers fewer features, but is only $109/mo. I plan to rent one of these, and place out part of my build. If future donations allow, I will then upgrade to a full region!

UPDATE Dec 22, 2022: I have obtained the lesser "Homestead" region and moved over as much of "Haunted Nawlins" as possible. Unfortunately, the constraints of the lesser region severely limit what I am able to do. The region can hold only the Bayou and part of the French Market. In addition, a maximum of just 20 people can visit at the same time, which eliminates the possibility of large events like Mardi Gras. I hope that continued donations will enable me to upgrade the sim to a "full" one, with more prims (read: building ability) and visitor capacity.

WHY VIRTUAL?

The reason I create such "virtual" art (as opposed to "real" art) is due to my severe fibromyalgia and anxiety. I am not complaining, but they do limit my life. I am unable to work (my only significant income is SSI), plus I find it very difficult to leave the house and interact with people. By contrast, online interaction is slightly easier; I am able to chat within familiar surroundings, and go lie down when I need to. I mention this primarily to explain why I cannot pay for the region myself; the cost figures about 1/3 of my total monthly income.

WHAT EXACTLY IS "HAUNTED NAWLINS?"

First, "Haunted Nawlins" is my home in SL. Second, it is my latest art piece: an enormous, 256x256m build in which you can walk around and explore. It is composed of mesh, textures, particles, sounds, & movement.

The components are a meticulously-assembled blend of found items, purchased objects, and new creations made with various software.

My build is a micro-representation of New Orleans, circa October 1901. It is spooky and dark. It juxtaposes beauty with decay, color with stark shadow. There are lovely, rotting mansions in the Garden District; cobblestone streets of the haunted French Quarter; rustling branches of the Bayou; and the echoing columns of Lafayette Cemetery.

I have also made interactive vehicles, people, and creatures for the build. I am currently working on a simple AI system for them to tell stories of their lives and the history of New Orleans. This is a Work in Progress; it is not finished. I have so much planned, and I do not know if I will get to complete it....

View the Project:

I encourage you to see my creation. The following link contains screenshots straight out of SL: https://bit.ly/3yTtIhg

Visit the Project:

For an even closer look (while the region remains open!) please come into SL and walk around the build itself. Basic accounts are free. Please log into SL, Press Control+M to open the map, and type "Mieville Poe" into the search window. Teleport anywhere into the region that pops up.

CONCLUSION

I hope you'll find my work worth sustaining. Even a few dollars will help me toward my goal. Thank you so much! ♥