New SL Art movement for Earth Day

The tree is an important symbol of growth in the world and people often plant trees to commemorate events or signify friendship. Trees represent the continuous growth of the world, interconnectedness of the earth and its people, and a hope for fruits of the future.

Not only are trees symbollic of a healthy society, but they have a strong psychological impact on people. The apex of zen art is often regarded to exist at the Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto. Thousands of people flock to this temple every year to gaze at the calming arrangement of stones on gravel. The designer never left any indication as to the meaning of the arrangement, and casting a random assortment of stones on gravel does not produce the same calming effect as the arrangement of stones at Ryoanji Temple. What is the secret? Recently, scientists used computers to analyze vectors within the art piece and discovered something amazing. The vectors BETWEEN the stones produce the negative image of a tree.

So why don't people just go look at a tree? It is my contention that it is the subliminal recognition of the image of a tree that is calming, but the conscious mind must be baffled in order to fully appreciate its beauty. If we were to just go stare at a tree, many of us would start thinking, "Ok... so here's a tree. Why am I looking at this? This is stupid." But if we look at the image of a tree that can only be seen with our subconscious (for example, a negative vector image like in the picture on the URL I included), then our conscious mind becomes confused because it cannot identify the source of its pleasure. Even if we understand that the vectors are there, they are difficult to see and this chasm between the unseen and the subliminal image existing in the same space puts us in a perfect balance between confusion and calmness, chaos and peace.

My suggestion, beginning on this perfect Earth Day: let's start a new movement of art to sweep across Second Life. Make your own zen garden, but don't stick to the basics. This is Second Life! How about anti-vectored trees imaged in the sky by floating crystals, or smoking particles instead of stones! There is a whole world out there to play with!!! I'm sure there are people much more creative than I am. Wow us and help celebrate peace and growth in SL.

Don't just plant a tree in SL- Conjure one up in the soul.

And keep it going after Earth day.

I must be one of the wierdos who likes to just sit and look at trees then

Sounds like a good idea though, but i'm not sure if i'm artistic enough to pull it off

:d

I like to sit and look at (real) trees too, but a lot of people are bored by them. However, a one prim tree in SL is not that exciting.

Eh, I feel it's more "art immitates life." As we live in what's rapidly becoming a suburban/urban society, more and more rural areas are being pushed out of the equation. Not to be outdone, a lot of "nature" builds have sprung up in SL and RL to offset that "missing" sense of natural beauty.

I have my own "zen garden" of sorts in Rose (98,11.

THis sounds cool, but I don't quite understand what it is, and I don't think I could manage making it.

Do you want to make one and put it on my property?

I was just using colorful language to try and describe the vectors that are drawn by not drawing them. The other link is suddenly down for me. Try this one, it has a basic picture at the bottom that illustrates the concept:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2283398.stm

http://www.lichtensteiger.de/ryoanji03.html

Here are some interesting descriptions without pictures.

I have land, though I'd be up for it if you wanted to do a group project.

Wonderful! Please come and enjoy my Zen garden which by coincidence is just about a year old right now (co-ords for Japanese Garden in my sig).

And I look forward to contemplating many more on Earth Day.

How about just a bunch of trees growing in the ground like they were meant to be, by god? I just bought some land where 99% of it will be nothing but trees. I sure would like to see more natural areas in Second Life to offset the overwheming abundance of shabby looking malls and strip joints.

Well i cant speak for anyone else but myself, but the importance of trees to me, didnt really hit home before i moved away from my homeland to a place with practically no trees. Sure there are a few that were planted, and some that people call trees but i call shrubbery lol.

I sorely miss the forests of denmark where i would go on weekends with my parents, and if i visit family or friends in the states, i always ask them to take me to the closests forest hehe.

Anyways, when i decided to expand my store in Grindlewald (its not done yet but getting there slowly bit by bit) i wanted it to be more than just a store, so heureka...i can make trees . I made a somewhat surreal arrangement on the top floor and like to go up there just to pretend im in a forest of sorts. Some day when im all done with it, maybe people will come to look, not just to buy stuff but to hang out in my little forest