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ONE TREE HILL

A virtual celebration of "The Joshua Tree"

on its 30th Anniversary

"I want to tear down the walls that hold me inside." If those words are familiar to you, then you already know a lot about what this blog is about. Early in the spring, I applied for and was awarded a land grant from the Linden Endowment for the Arts. My project is an attempt to virtually represent, the songs, the lyrics and the meaning of a record that is 30 years old.

What was I thinking?

Well for one, it struck me how this particular album, U2's "The Joshua Tree" is as relevant to these modern times we are in today, as it was when it took the world by storm 30 years ago. Then it was Reagan and Thatcher, today it is Trump and May. Then it was El Salvador and the Falklands, today it is Syria and Northern Africa.Then it was coal miners in England fighting for survival, to day it is American coal worker's trying to survive in a fast changing world. The similarities of then and now are fascinating which might be one the reasons the band is currently performing the album in its entirety on the new Joshua Tree Tour currently underway.

I vowed this would not be a political project though. No. For me, this was about taking a set of amazing lyrics and using them as a blueprint. 30 years ago, an Irish band wrote an album with a set of song's about an American Dream. It is a fictional place, but what if you could step inside the lyrics and walk around? What is you could gather a group of virtual artist and performers and bring this fictional place alive inside the virtual world of Second Life? That is to be the goal of this three month project.

This site will present some images and information from "One Tree Hill". It is here to keep your informed about the events going on at the location, and it is also where we will be sharing some of the creations that will pop up at the project. The project was made possible through a Core Land Grant form the Linden Endowment for the Arts (LEA) and will run through 8/31/17.

If this sounds interesting, you can visit The One Tree Hill Project here in Second Life. It is VR goggle friendly and there are signs to help you out, but feel free to take your own path as you walk the "streets that have no name".

I Still Haven't Found What I am Looking For

I have kissed honey lips Felt the healing in the fingertips It burned like fire This burning desire I have spoke with the tongue of angels I have held the hand of a devil It was one empty night I was cold as a stone But I still haven't found What I'm looking for

"I Still Haven't Found What I am Looking For" - U2

Nope. Not hard to interpret this song. This is gospel music played by an Irish rock band. Bono has called the song, "A kind of Gospel song with a restless spirit." I think it is the restless spirit part that I felt spoke to me as I was making this project. I think the singer is lamenting that no matter what he tries or what he does, ultimate satisfaction isn’t found in this world. His satisfaction must come from somewhere else. He was made for something else, for somewhere else, or perhaps for someone else. He is a pilgrim and a sojourner on this earth, “just a passing through.”

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