My Home Dreams
by Phoenix, HSM team writer
Some time ago, I started to write an article on Home and how it has affected me from day one. There was so much to write about, that as soon as I started the article it grew and grew. I was amazed at the ways in which I have been affected, from family closeness to an interest in the workings of a virtual world. I have also become an extensively published writer, and a link to my HSM work was added by my instructor and writing department head at the school where I am studying for my BFA and BA in Digital Media. I have met and become friends with diverse groups of people, and discovered some special, lifelong friends. I have been inspired in both my passions here in Home — writing and creating works of art — both of which I dreamed would be read and seen by people around the world. And I have discovered another passion through being in Home.
Through my writing about Home, I was introduced to the film-making genre of machinima. I had seen some machinima pieces, but had not thought much of creating one myself. It was when HSM offered a challenge to its writers to create a machinima piece, that I saw this as a way to add depth to my poetry. Until this point I had used photo slide shows to bring life to my verses. My first machinima piece for HSM was done as an homage to Sodium. Lockwood’s Sodium had been one of the first places I visited in Home 2011, and it soon became a favorite. The space took on the life of a short story I had written, titled “Evolution”. The open, flat plains of Sodium became the backdrop, the very desolate space I wrote about. When I discovered the secret bunker there and contemplated the mystery of its presence, my story came to life. It was as if this space had been waiting for me. The questions in my story had answers, and a 3D virtual world became my characters’ home.
Home allowed me unlimited spaces to bring my stories, and then my poetry, to life in machinima. The in-world cameras, both still and motion recording, have deepened my love of these art forms as applied here.
When I first came into Home, I had no idea what lay ahead of me. I felt an excitement that burned that first day forever in my memory. Like everyone else, I created my first avatar with little understanding of whom she would become as I became a Home resident. I had no idea there even was an avatar to be made. She has changed some over the last year. (My hair color in particular has changed — it is now flaming, thanks to the PS Plus extras.)
Back then, I didn’t know if this would be an experience I would want to return to. But the artist in me is a lover of detail, and I soon found Home was not short on detail in environment. I was unprepared for what I found. Every space had so much to discover. I remember thinking, “I could use this space or that object in a story or something.” Ideas flooded my imagination as I traveled from space to space.
At the end of that first day I knew it would not be my last; and I instinctively knew that, for me, Home was going to be more than just a place to play. That first night in Home had already given me so much — dancing and running, not mention walking. Words do not express what I felt that day as I watched my avatar run around my Harbour Studio Apartment. I called my sister and gushed into the phone. The next day she came into Home with me. I remember saying to her, “Watch me strut.” Home was an enchanted place for me. It had been years since I thought of myself in these activities.
Now here we are, regulars in Home. Gibbs Girls is our sub-title, proudly displayed over our avatars. We spent the first week trying to take in everything, and some days I still do. I just wander around Home. If you see us, say hello.
The Weekend Lake House was my first personal space. I remember everything about it. The atmosphere, lighting, sounds — everything about it was perfect. It is the kind of place I had dreamed of as a one-day kind of dream. It had all the features I wanted — large spaces to furnish, and wide walls for photos, which I hung right away. I hung my own art pieces there, and still do. I was fascinated with the idea of seeing my creations as works of art in Home, in more than just my own space. I wondered how it could be done, and fantasized about it. I wanted to create something for Home. I could see my work on the walls of other Home users. But these were just dreams. “One day,” I told myself. “I will have art in Home, one day.”
I had no idea how it was going to happen, but again I got that excited feeling that I had the first time I came into Home. It was going to happen. I had no timetable, but Home was for me a place of wonder and a world without limitations.
Two years have passed since I began hanging my art work on the walls via the photo frames available here. Two weeks ago I saw a piece of my art come into Home that was not hung by me. Thanks to John Ardussi at Game Mechanics, and a contest they held several months ago, my art work can be seen on the wall of a personal space, if the owners choose it. My piece was chosen along with two very talented artists’ works, Home users you may also know — David F. Rin and Michael Goss. Game Mechanics created murals for their space, SeaClyff Retreat, from our art.
Let me try to put into words the feelings I have had since the release of the SeaClyff Retreat. I am very proud to be a part of something as groundbreaking as a customizable mural in home. I have become accustomed to the feeling of living in a state of unexpected possibility. I am a Home user.
I have seen several of my dreams and goals come to fruition through Home. Back at the beginning, because of Home, I entered a writing contest. Because of a writing contest about Home, through HSM, I am now an extensively published writer, with readers in multiple countries. My sister and I share some part of our day in Home, my son has a Home avatar. My niece, and soon a cousin, will join us. I now have another passion: machinima video creation. I now have a mural of my art work as a part of a personal space here in Home. To that I can now add my first virtual art showing. I was part of a virtual art show featuring some of my other pieces, put together by David F. Rin. These pieces were hung gallery style alongside more works by Michael Goss and David F. Rin.
Last but not least, I have met some outstanding people that have helped to shape my life in surprising ways. To put it into words, I am once again experiencing that excitement of the first day when I signed into PSN and logged into Home.
Thank you, Home.
October 27th, 2013 by Phoenix | 4 comments
Phoenix writes poetry and is a photography enthusiast, along with writing for HomeStation Magazine. She is currently studying for a BFA in Creative Writing and BA with concentration in Photography. psn ID phoenixstorm21
youtube.com/user/phoenixstorm21
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Phoenix, you are a truly exceptional artist and I am proud to have my work featured along side yours and Mike’s in the gallery. Never stop creating my friend. Good luck with your future endeavors
-- Dave
Thank You Dave. The feeling is mutual. I know with your drive you will succeed in all you do.
Best of luck my friend.
Home is nothing more than the catalyst but the overall the ability and drive comes from the user, in this case you. Give yourself the recognition you deserve.
Thank you Gary.