| Conference 2009: Paul D'Ambrosio & Great Art, "Really Out There" |
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| News - B2P News | |||
 When Paul D'Ambrosio (Nicolo Anthony) partnered with Second Life's Deaf Republic in hosting a virtual installation of the 19th Century deaf portrait artist John Brewster's work, he had no idea what a wild ride it would turn out to be.Deaf Republic built a beautiful sim based on Brewster's Maine home, complete with a floating gallery space devoted to some of his portraits. But one day, D'Ambrosio checked in on the sim and found he had a new virtual neighbor -- a brothel -- forcing him to build a high wall around the house. Then, radical deaf culturalists began to complain about what they saw as a non-deaf incursion in their community. Eventually, the owner who had donated the gallery space was forced to sell the sim. D'Ambrosio, Vice President and Chief Curator of the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, New York, can almost laugh about it now. But, as he told told a packed audience at Beta Business Park's 2009 "Leadership in Business" Conference, at the time he was depressed by the whole mess. He saw considerable promise in Second Life as a way to bring his museum's collection to a new audience...if he could build the right partnerships. He eventually found a home in the Islands of New England, which continues to host the Folk Art New England collection. Many museum professionals believe that the best way to get in to Second Life is to spend the $30,000 to $40,000 to buy an estate and build a sim, D'Ambrosio says, but he feels this is the wrong approach. Instead, he sees himself as a "content peddler," bringing collections to established communities and negotiating for space and promotion. This approach requires minimal technical skills on the museum's end -- not to mention a minimal outlay of cash. In the last two years, he estimates he has spent around $2,000 on various projects. D'Ambrosio stresses best practices when inworld. Those looking to build a presence have to get to know people and become part of a community, "not just plant exhibits and run." Collections have to look professional. There has to be some way to track visits. Most importantly, there has to be some point to it. "Connect the virtual audience to the real....that's my m.o.," he says. Otherwise, "it's just a game."
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