Pictures of the last day of the march…

MGandhi with some of the group of marchers with him as they arrived at the Dandi memorial on Eyebeam island just after 5pm (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Eyebeam%20Island/128/213/45) - the scheduled end of the march - due to SL being down most of the day, we were actually only 2 miles into the final ten so the walking continued from here. A bit of a chaotic day!

Here we are at quite literally the last step of the march - at that very point on this sim we reached the “end of the world” as these edges to nothingness in Second Life are commonly referred. Cinco and Qyzzql were with me for the last three miles of the walk. It was truly a moment of great excitement and relief - particularly after a very troubling day of system wide outages for SL which lasted for several hours and delayed the start of the final day of the march by four hours.

He we are, looking out into the sea just after reaching the 240 mile mark (I’ve kept track of my mileage, btw, with a bicycle odometer converted for use on the treadmill).

Cinco, MGandhi and Qyxxql.

Just before reaching the end of the march, Cinco took us to a most extraordinary location called “Network Culture”, where there is an interactive recreation of the “Gitmo” interment camp at Guantanomo Bay, Cuba. One is able to take part in a simulated experience of arriving at the camp in a military transport plane, all the while straining to view what is going on through the sim provided black hood. You emerge in a supplicant position inside one of the kennel-like holding areas duplicated from the original layout of this notorious camp. Quite a chilling and sobering experience in an otherwise uplifting day: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Network%20Culture/232/85/25

Gandhi reenacting the famous photograph from Tianamen Square, 1989, this taken outside the “Palestinian Holocaust Museum” which appears to be under construction.

Just prior to this, we visited a fascinating location “Islam dot net”:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/IslamOnline%20dot%20Net/36/63/22

Very well done sim that uses directional arrows to walk one through the steps of a pilgrimage to Mecca.

Gyovanna and her friend joined me for walking some of the last miles - in RL she is in Brazil - she walked with me three or four times during the last two weeks of the reenactment - a great walker - always keeping up with me and referring to my avatar as “Mr. Gandhi” - very pleasant and polite company!

Another dragon! Here I am with LnyLnyLyn aka Lenny Correa, my very capable intern here at Eyebeam - he has been indispensible in helping to facilitate this project! Great to see him pop up in world routinely over the course of the journey.

After our stop at Eyebeam island, we made our way to Paris, arriving, of course, in the subway station.

I believe this is MGandhi jumping off the Eiffel Tower - yes, he is falling, not flying!

One more image of the group posing at the Dandi monument.

The last miles as noted by Qyxxql Merlin and HomerTheBrave

http://qyxxql-merlin.livejournal.com/5627.html

http://weblog.xanga.com/HomerTheBrave/650757583/second-life-satyagraha.html

A recounting of the last day of the march by Qyxxql Merlin and Cinco Pizzicato on their blogs, many good pictures! These are the two hardy avatars pictured with me at the water’s edge in my previous post. Thanks guys!

I will have more for you later - slept in today first time in months! Now off to walk NYC in today’s Gandhi march noted in the previous post.

Thanks Qyxxql Merlin and Cinco Pizzicato - see you again in SL.

April 5th, the end of the March.

After delaying the start of the march until 4:00pm Eastern time, 1:00pm SL time, I was finally able to begin walking the last miles of the reenactment. Second Life was experiencing a major outage over most of the early morning hours well into the afternoon. After an incredibly interesting day of walking, with several very large groups of marchers, three of us completed the 240th mile at 9:26 Eastern time. Above is a picture above looking out on the sea from the exact point where the last mile was ticked off the odometer. More details on an amazing and crazy day will be posted here tomorrow. For now, peace! ps - I will be walking on a Gandhi inspired walk in real life tomorrow here in NYC. Check it out - pure coincidence…http://www.satyagrahanyc.org/home.php I am really looking forward to walking in the real word after walking for nearly a month in a virtual world. More soon…

April 5th, 2008, the final steps…

UPDATE 1:30pm Eastern - Second Life is still down for repairs, hopefully working soon!

Today marks the end of the march. I will be starting soon to walk the remaining 10 miles to complete the 240 mile reenactment here at Eyebeam in New York City and in Second Life. (all of course pending the return of Second Life, which, as of 11:30am Eastern time is down for maintenance). Today I will continue to explore new islands and invite as many of the friends I have made on the way to walk with me one last time. The day’s marching will come to a conclusion at Eyebeam Island at 5pm Eastern, 2pm SL time:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Eyebeam%20Island/102/160/27

April 4th, start location…tomorrow is the last day of walking…

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ben%20and%20Jerrys/134/190/27

and please don’t forget…

tomorrow - April 5th, 12-6pm - Last Day of the March!

Final steps, Eyebeam Island Saturday, April 5th, after 5pm:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Eyebeam%20Island/102/160/27

Saturday, April 5th marks the culmination of Joseph DeLappe’s 22 days and 240 miles of walking on a treadmill to control his Gandhi avatar walking across Second Life to re-enact the Mahatma’s “Salt March to Dandi”, the seminal 1930’s protest against the British Salt Act of 1882. On this, the final day of walking both on the treadmill at Eyebeam, New York City, and in Second Life, the public is invited to either visit Eyebeam to witness the final steps of the march or join MGandhi Chakrabarti in Second Life to virtually walk the final miles.

The final steps of the march will occur on the Eyebeam Island in Second Life, MGandhi Chakrabarti will arrive some time after 5:00pm Eastern time:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Eyebeam%20Island/102/160/27

April 3rd, trailer parks, performance art, cow…

A very fascinating day of wandering about Second Life. I’ve posted large group of pictures here to better describe the day. I’ve now covered 218 miles of the 240, two days to go!

I found myself, through the process of island hopping, arriving at Odyssey Island Contemporary Art and Performance (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Odyssey/17/60/24) which features documentation and hosts the events of fellow online/gaming performers! (some friends, some email acquaintances and such). Quite pleased to stumble upon this island that highlights and supports the work of experimental online performance artists. Above see a picture of Gandhi with two rotating spheres, originally, I assume, “rotoreliefs” by Marcel Duchamp which were rotating electromechanical sculptures he first displayed at an industrial fair in Paris to the bemusement of the attendees. (btw, one of my favorite artists of all time).

Below, posing for a snapshot in front of documentation of fellow re-enactors, Eva and Franco Mattes and their recreation of Chris Burden’s performance work.

Here is Gandhi in front of a large sculpture outside the main gallery area on Odyssey.

Posing in front of an image of Second Front (the only Second Life based performance collective), this being an image of their performance to reenact the Last Supper.

Standing on some curious beach towels looking out at a sailing ship.

Climbing a series of beautiful volcanoes complete with bubbling lava, be careful Gandhi!

Gandhi at a Texas line dance (he does not care for country music).

With a pink flamingo.

While passing through the corner of a region, came upon this fully shrine to Jesus.

And this I think is Mount Wolfmore - great sim area that I believe is based on Japanese anime charactors.

Gandhi visiting a trailer park, quite nice to see something seriously realistic for a change.

Not to mention the Airstream trailers on the backside of a wonderful sim of New Orleans - assuming these reflect the state of things post Hurricane Katrina - these were just off of a lovingly reproduction of Bourbon Street and such.

Gandhi on the very different and bright Ben and Jerry’s island. Curious as Gandhi actually scolded some of his followers on the Salt March for accepting ice cream from well wishers met on the way!

Gandhi with a Ben and Jerry’s cow. (the first cow I’ve noticed in SL, many horses and unicorns, but don’t recall any cows save for this one).

Video Clip of Reenactment on Friction TV!

http://friction.tv/ftv_debate.php?debate_id=2095

This just in!  Check it out…video shot on the third day of the march.

April 2nd, dragons, wolves, Nixon…

12 more miles today - making a total so far of 206 miles on the reenactment of Gandhi’s Salt March to Dandi!

So I came upon a group of wolf people, not sure what to call them, you can see a screenshot of part of the group below. Upon seeing me as Gandhi, one of them quickly changed appearance to a wonderful rendition of President Richard Nixon, (above) complete with the presidential podium attached to his chest (moved with him, literally) - along with the audio presentation of Nixon’s “I’m not a crook” speech. Quite fun - I posed for a picture with him.

I also came upon three avatars from Sweden (they were talking in Swedish), all three modeled as three tiny leopards with sneakers. Similar to the Nixon appearance, one of them morphed into a full sized avatar curiously similar in appearance to Gandhi! Quite interesting to be looking at somewhat similar mirror image of my assumed self. Difficult to communicate but I did give them each a walking stick - the full size one is holding such.

The march today had many such curious experiences. At one point I wandered into a land of dragons, three baby dragons in an enormous church-like structure were sitting in a circle, apparently studying for a test to be apprentice dragons. I invited them to walk with me, one accepted my invitation and soon transformed herself from a cuddly, miniature dragon into an enormous adult monster! (see picture below) Incredible avatar - so we walked together for quite some time - very strange to be followed by this gigantic and beautiful creature. I also walked with some others along the way, including Rad and Gudda.

Having very interesting dialog with people visiting Eyebeam and online. Gudda asked many probing questions - wish I had more time or the ability to walk and type at the same time - did my best all the same.

Final steps - Saturday, April 5th! Come see in RL or SL!

I’ve released this important announcement - hope to see you there!

Reenactment: The Salt Satyagraha Online – Gandhi’s March to Dandi in Second Life – Last Day of the March!

April 5th, 12-6pm
Eyebeam, New York City and in Second Life.

Final steps, Eyebeam Island Saturday, April 5th, after 5pm:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Eyebeam%20Island/102/160/27

Saturday, April 5th marks the culmination of Joseph DeLappe’s 22 days and 240 miles of walking on a treadmill to control his Gandhi avatar walking across Second Life to re-enact the Mahatma’s “Salt March to Dandi”, the seminal 1930’s protest against the British Salt Act of 1882. On this, the final day of walking both on the treadmill at Eyebeam, New York City, and in Second Life, the public is invited to either visit Eyebeam to witness the final steps of the march or join MGandhi Chakrabarti in Second Life to virtually walk the final miles.

The final steps of the march will occur on the Eyebeam Island in Second Life, MGandhi Chakrabarti will arrive some time after 5:00pm Eastern time:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Eyebeam%20Island/102/160/27

Otherwise please join MGandhi Chakrabarti in Second Life this week where he will be marching between the hours of 12noon and 6pm daily until April 5th, 2008.

Coinciding with the original dates of the 1930’s March, DeLappe began the reenactment to coincide with the actual dates of the original march from March 12th to April 6, 1930. The performance will be completed on Sunday, April 6th with a ritual making of the Salt at the virtual reproduction of the monument to the Salt March at Dandi on Eyebeam Island.

Wednesday, April 2nd start point…

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Shea%20Desiderii/48/91/1

I walked 12 miles yesterday, for a total of 194 miles, 46 to go!

Spent quite a bit of time in the regions of ElvenValley, ElvenStone and Elf Haven - amazing sims of Lord of the Rings role play - met my first Hobbit, a few dwarves, etc. - really quite well made environments complete with secret passages (invited to go into a cellar where I was led through a secret door into an underground area).

Second Life crashed again yesterday, down for about 1/2 hour. Otherwise continuing to explore - two images here of hearty souls who decided to join me. I found Bambi (above left) with a group of dwarves, she was great, really kept up with me and seemed to genuinely find the walking quite engaging - the sense of discovery and truly working to find what is around the next hill is truly invigorating, perhaps to me, even more so as I must physically walk to get there.