/hug

/hug has been graciously given a phenomenal outreach opportunity by the Laguna Art Museum in Laguna Beach California. The lovely Grace Kook-Anderson has kindly invited us to be part of WoW: Emergent Media Phenomenon. The show chronicles artists working in WoW, fan art and original blizzard Concept art all under one roof. The 3rd Faction would like  to invite you to come and participate In Real Life. We have volunteers standing by most days of the week. They will be happy to walk you through some introductory aid missions. If you cant make it down in person we now have brochures and mission cards available. Come for the art but stay to help the refugees of Azeroth.

“The piece that made the biggest impression on me was an installation that comes from a collective called /hug (slashhug), whose volunteers seek out and assist “noobs” (new players) who may otherwise get “ganked” (gang killed) by more experienced players. Hippy-dippy though it may be, the group’s preference for an anarchist spirit of cooperation and service over rape, pillage and competition seems such the antithesis of the stereotyped fanboy, I couldn’t help but have admiration for their insurgency. They offer a much-needed critique—and the lone voice of dissent—to the game, as well as much of the exhibition.”
  – Dave Barton, The Orange County Weekly

This image is from the opening presentation /hug made last month at the Laguna Art Museum. The picture was taken remotely by Sliz, participating in the live event from St. John’s, Newfoundland via World of Warcraft and ustream, along with Bowwtoxx, coming from Australia, and other /huggers present both inside of World of Warcraft and live at the Laguna Art Museum. The presentation, which features demonstrations of missions and video and printed information on the work of /hug, was part of the WoW Emergent Media Phenomenon show, currently installed at Laguna Art Museum, curated by Grace Kook-Anderson. See more images from the project on the /Hug Flickr Page

Find out more about the WoW Emergent Media Phenomenon Exhibit at the Laguna Art Museum here: WoW Emergent Media Phenomenon

As part of our ongoing activities Druid /huggers (operating within both factions) have been participating in a series of ancient and very sacred rituals, deep in the forests of Azeroth. Stay tuned for more documentation from these rituals.
More photos on the /hug Flickr Page

/hug have been busy making machinima videos to instruct newbies in the field. Here are few stills from our various machinima shoots.
To see more (and larger) images, please visit /Hug on Flickr

Three Huggers

Majoon on Set

Group Dance with Joe the Healer

Welcome message for /hug from kid Neutrino on Vimeo.

Never a dull moment for /huggers in the field. Troll Mage Sliz has been busy learning the ropes – here Inemes teaches Sliz techniques for intervention, raising this Newbie from the dead after a zombie attack.

Later Sliz discusses philosophy with fellow /hugger MyriamMoore as they fish for food to donate to the upcoming /hug Food Drive.

Here /huggers from both factions gather to forage, cook, fish and otherwise generate goods for a /Hug Food Drive event.

Sliz creates bandages for the next day’s work in the field.

It was a very productive day Sliz, MyriamMoore, OwenMoore, and I spent the day mostly in the Arathi Highlands shooting machinima and stills outside Tarren Mill and South Shore. Sliz and I spent quite a bit of time trying to capture a real life ganking on video. When we finally decided to do an artist’s recreation to illustrate ‘ganking’, Sliz got taken out twice by Allies. (See her bones in the background of the photo.)

I was able to plead her case twice before, but the other two Allies were way too fast. We had spent an hour or two hanging outside South Shore and Tarren Mill trying to inspire some organic and reality TV style film. We finally decided that Sliz should go AFK and I would sneak up behind and shiv her (I assure you only for the cause). I didn’t thnk about it until later, but I could have asked the the two polite PC’s to wait until film was rolling and then kill poor, poor Sliz.

Sigh work on location is so tedious!
XD

/hugs to all y’all,
MataHari

MataHari and Sliz chat after the shoot.

Members of Ars Virtua and Års Virtua met tonight to record a /hug PSA. Joe has an important message for all of us about diversity and origin:

“You see, friends come in all shapes and sizes, and various degrees of decay. You have friends on the other side, friends who want to help.”

This was the concluding shot of an on-going mission for Joe to level with a mixed team (Alliance and Horde).

We were visited by many other avatars from both sides. We broke into dance as we ‘wrapped’ this final shot of Joe’s story. While our party continued we had a chat with a very nice Pallie who had never seen such a sight! It was a delight to introduce him to the idea of independence from the old ways. He asked ‘why are you doing this on a PvP realm?’ all I could tell him is, ‘where else would we do it? these realms need it the most.’ He just shook his head but, as he left he agreed this was a fun idea.

Once again it was a great opportunity to evangelize for /hug. And in the midst of all of it a new recruit has joined Års Virtua! We welcome you, Xeena. A very lovely night indeed.

Be sure to check back for Joe’s very important /hug service message.

/hug,
Mata Hari

Last night Mohana invited me to model for a series of recruitment posters for the /hug movement. We met at a very lovely lake on the outskirts of Silvermoon City near Tor’watha, a squalid little village of rude little Trolls. The scene was idyllic to say the least, the light of Eversong Woods makes everything so shiny.

Mohana asked me to demonstrate fishing; an important skill to support the needy of Azeroth. Fish feed our brethren and heal those in need. In fact food drives are an important part of the plan to provide aid to those in need. It so important to help worthwhile projects like /hug and so simple an act like fishing can bring so much help to so many. Look for the upcoming Food Drive and training machinma on food gathering.

<3 & big /hugs,
MyriamMoore