Earlier this week I filed a lengthy report here about a freaky little videogame called Second Life, and this center's plans to open a virtual photography gallery there this fall; I in fact have a rather long and complicated history with Second Life, which you will need to read that original essay in order to understand. Anyway, the gallery's really starting to take shape at this point, so I thought I'd post a few screenshots here for those who are interested; I realize, though, that most of you out there aren't that interested, which is why I shuttled off the majority of the 15 images to my Flickr account, so that those who are interested can simply click over there and look at their leisure (and see much larger versions, too). The work you're seeing, by the way, is simply some of my old college fine-art work being used as a test (photography of course being what I majored in at school, for those who don't know), because I don't want to announce who CCLaP's first batch of actual featured photographers are until their shows are literally ready and online.

And speaking of which -- yes, I am actively seeking submissions right now for photographers of any level or career point, who can put together a portfolio of 20-25 themed pieces and would like to have an exhibition at the CCLaP network of virtual galleries (including the Second Life one you're seeing here, a Flash-based one here at the website that will be opening this fall, audio interviews between me and the photographer embedded in both versions, which will also re-air through the CCLaP Podcast and as a series of downloadable MP3s, plus a series of physical "print on demand" merchandise that fans of your work can buy and have shipped to their home). Submissions that are approved would exhibit in the spring of 2008, for a month apiece; those who are serious and would like to apply or learn more can simply write to me (Jason Pettus) directly at cclapcenter [at] gmail.com. Yes, feel free to attach some photos to your email, or links to where your work can be found online.

So what's next for the CCLaP Second Life headquarters? Well, what you're seeing above, actually -- the underwater space beneath the headquarters, that is, which like my old building in this space will eventually contain a groovy '60s glass-walled underwater lounge. Dig it, daddio! And yes, rest assured that I'll be posting a few photos of it here at the site when it's finished; and did I mention yet today that I am a dork?

And finally, can I just make this confession as well? That even if I have not a single other success with this virtual gallery for CCLaP, it is worth building it alone just to get promotional images like the one above? Because after all, what other physical arts center on the planet can produce promotional images like this? (And in fact I already know the answer -- about a handful, with almost all of the rest of them located in northern Europe among all them sneaky cool Dutch and Swedes.) And did I mention yet today, by the way, that I am a dork?