Virtual Artist Alliance's First Show A Success In More Ways Than One

At World Domination Headquarters (Blekinge (203, 112, 102); SecondLife) last week, something interesting happened. Some art was auctioned over the period of a week - but that wasn't what was so interesting. Fun and interesting people such as Cyanide Seelowe, Dale Innis and Rezago Kokorin were around, dancing and chatting with people - and that wasn't the most interesting part either.

The most interesting part is where the proceeds went: FirstBook.org, an organization which gives children of lower income families books to read. Over a period of one week, about $50 US was collected for FirstBook.org. So - people logged into a virtual world, bid and bought sculptures and paintings within SecondLife and helped buy a few books for some kids - while apparently having fun.

The organizers were the Virtual Artist Alliance Group, an informal organization formed within SecondLife. This group helped a real world organization in a modest way toward a good cause, and did so happily.

You don't have to be a non-profit to make a difference; you don't have to have an organization to do something like this. What you need are common interests - in this case art and giving children books to read.

In a virtual world where you hear a lot related to self-interest, it is refreshing to see groups doing things such as this and promoting solutions to real world problems in compelling ways. Some people got art, others enjoyed the show and everyone had a good time. And hey - a few kids will get books out of that. It is always great to see people making small differences in the hope that they become larger differences through sheer volume.

Would that more NGOs/non-profits took such events as examples of how to engage people.

Apologies, this was supposed to be posted yesterday, but it was a more hectic Monday than usual.