Second Lifers are living in an exciting age, where the real world regularly makes a frantic bee-line to enter the virtual world. But what's rare is when facets of our virtual world break their unseen chains and burst out into the real world. Kermitt Quirk's Tringo is one fine example, but there aren't many.

Well this Saturday we can add another example to the list. Eva and Franco Mattes will be opening the 13 Most Beautiful Avatars exhibition at The Postmasters Gallery in Manhattan. I had the pleasure of viewing part of this exhibit at my alma mater, Columbia University, a few months back and it's quite a sight to behold! Very high resolution screen captures are printed on canvas, most averaging 87 x 114 cm in size. The breathtaking detail of these avatars is plain to see, right down to the blood vessels and tiny capillaries in their eyes.

But the thing most striking to me was a feeling that's difficult to describe ... Presence perhaps?

If Second Life is another dimension, another world, then our low resolution computer monitor is our only window into that world. Like watching a baseball game through a knot-hole in the fence, we've all grown accustomed to an emotional distance that puts the virtual action far away in our minds. But seeing these avatars bigger than life on canvas felt as though the baseball team stepped off the field and came around to say hello to the fence peepers. Avatars that we have known from virtually afar command a whole different kind of emotional presence at this exhibit. It's worth checking out.

Here is the info if you would like to attend this real world event:

EVA and FRANCO MATTES (a.k.a. 0100101110101101.ORG)
February 17 - March 17, 2007
Opening: Saturday February 17, 6-8 p-m
Postmasters Gallery, 459 west 19th street between 9 and 10 Avenues