Posts tagged with "nft community"

360 MAGAZINE's Gamey the Cat from their OpenSea Animal Series

Miami NFT Week

Miami NFT Week 2022 was a three-day event held in the center of Miami, Florida, full of NFT/metaverse events. From the countless panels with crypto experts, to the thrilling after parties, Miami NFT Week drew in large crowds of people interested in the world of NFTs.

The 2022 conference attracted around 4,000 attendees, with about 3,000 joining in via the metaverse. Miami NFT Week was held through the beginning of April, also known as Miami Tech Month. Talks were held to discuss the future in terms of the metaverse blended with differing niches, like gaming, art, travel, real estate and more.

From politicians to NFT experts, several guests took part in the immersive weekend, ranging from the Mayor of Miami Francis X. Suarez to VaynerNFT’s President Avery Akkineni.

Founders Gianni D’Alerta, Ted Lucas and Erik LaPaglia cultivated the experience to act as an open space for individuals to learn about NFTs and exchange intelligence. The three-day event swiftly has become a hub for creators and experts to learn from each other, while evaluating what is next to come in the community.

360 Magazine had the opportunity to chat with the Head of Developer Relations at MobileCoinCollin Lowenberg about the conference, and his own experience within the crypto community. Read about 360’s chat with Collin HERE.

The three-day experience stood as such a great opportunity for networking and workshopping in crypto/blockchain. Popular, niche-based conferences allowed guests to seemingly “learn from the best” in their respective fields.

The opening panel was entitled A Voyage Through Vayner NFT, and was held by Avery Akkineni and Erik LaPaglia. Throughout the presentation, Akkineni and LaPaglia considered their thoughts on the trajectory of NFTs. Other panels like The Secret to NFT Utility with Dr. Amanda Kavner, Dogewood Captain, Peg Samuel, and Gareb Shamus educated attendees on the importance of NFTs IRL.

Picture of Mikee Trompeta via Mikee for use by 360 Magazine

MIKEE TROMPETA

Listen to Mikee chat w/ Vaughn on 360 MAG Spotify/Apple podcast HERE.

After 20 years as a software architect and developer, Mikee Trompeta began his Web3 journey by building a cryptocurrency exchange.

Although the entire crypto market crashed, leaving most investors and blockchain enthusiasts uncertain of Web3’s future, the price of Bitcoin and Ethereum exploaded. Large corporate entities together with the general public began to take notice. 

Months later, NFT pioneer Gary Vaynerchuk set the standard for NFT projects when he launched VeeFriends. Soon after, Mikee liquidated all of his cryptocurrencies and wagered everything on VeeFriends. It was one of his best decisions to date.

Today, JDM Labs is dedicated to launching revolutionary NFTs and Web3 DAPPs.

360 MAGAZINE Swarovski encrusted bottle designed by Vaughn Lowery for NFT-VIP and minted on Solana

NFT-VIP

NFT-VIP is hosting its inaugural conference in the tech space to network their businesses, advance knowledge and engage intimately. In the recent past, similar NFT meetups have been held in multiple cities across America: Miami, New York City and Los Angeles. This year, NFT-VIP will be holding its series at Margaritaville Resort Time Square, June 19 – 22. 360 MAGAZINE serves as the official media sponsor of the episode.

As a rapidly growing digital industry, NFT-VIP has become a popular way for people to trade outside the conventional financial system. It continues to stimulate the development of a virtual economy based on digital strengths in various forms: music, art and fashion.

“The idea of using cryptocurrencies is not only a form of currency. Along with a deliverable channel, knowing that entities could be built on them and using them is mind-blowing,” states Julie Lamb, CEO of NFT-VIP. This is the first major 360 MAG Podcast promotion that will serve as the official launch. Interviewee Jefferson Noel is scheduled to speak on the NFT-VIP agenda. Other notable guests: Andrew Yang, Young Paris, Alex Alpert, Vaughn Lowery, Chris Carter, Genesis Johnson, postVerrone, Fanzo, Sal DiGuardia and FoodMasku.

Helen Indelicato, Julie Lamb, Sal Di Guardia, Vaughn Lowery are speakers at the NFT-VIP conference in nyc via 360 Magazine
Helen Indelicato, Julie Lamb, Sal Di Guardia, Vaughn Lowery will be on the NFT-VIP stage via ‘press panel’ Sun., June 19 at 2:30pm EST (click image for full agenda).

The NFT-VIP festival was fabricated with the unique digital identifier enthusiast in mind, providing a golden opportunity to intensify transmissions and interrelations. The number of leading brands and celebrities involved in this field is increasing exponentially with the world’s first and largest crypto collectibles market—OpenSea. With that, 360 MAGAZINE has minted and released a loveable Animal set.

360 MAGAZINE Animal Series NFT character, Lucky Lenox, coming soon under the direction of Vaughn Lowery
(Minting Lucky Lenox on OpenSea)

As a media partner, 360 MAGAZINE aims to liaise between NFT-VIP participants and disadvantaged business enterprises. 360 is determined to spread the word on NFT-VIP to countless cohorts: the elderly, women, racialized groups and the queer community. “We now coexist in a multi-generational society with multi-racial people who have multi-educational backgrounds and who possess multi-hyphen lifestyles. Our purpose here is to create an environment of inclusiveness and to further facilitate sustainable relationships beyond the metaverse,” Lowery shares.

During the engagement, 360’s Swarovski encrusted bottle, made in collaboration with Integrity Bottles and Good Vibe Gliders, will be forged on Solana with partial proceeds donated to a charity. 360, freshly announced pet NFT, apace with Reebok’s Looney Tunes footwear, will go to a handful of lucky guests with Best Tech Style. Additionally, in real time, the publication will interview the speakers in their ecletic enclosure with bean bags and a bejeweled e-bike.

NFT-VIP RECAP HERE.

About 360 MAGAZINE

360, an internationally acclaimed LA-based magazine, represents the celebration of societal change through racial and sexual ambiguity as a youthful popular culture and design journal. As a certified National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) business, it progressively supports various under-represented communities: women, POC and queer. Just last month, 360 was crowned Business of the Month.

Previous celebs on the cover: Saweetie, Demi Lovato, David Guetta, Sebastián Yatra, Will.i.am, Steve Aoki and Tyga. Infographics on the journal can be downloaded HERE.

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About Vaughn Lowery

Vaughn Lowery, the founder and president of the NGLCC certified, 360 MAGAZINE, has always strived for positive social change. Lowery is the executive producer of 360 MAG Podcast on AudibleApple and Spotify as well as a new NFT Animal Series on OpenSea. His self-help marketing memoir, Move Like Water × Be Fluid is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Walmart. He’s a graduate of Cornell University’s ILR School and grandson of the late Dr. Joseph Lowery–a leader of the civil rights movement with Martin Luther King as well as the minister at Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration.

Twitter|LinkedIn|TikTok

About NFT

According to Wikipedia, non-fungible token is a financial security consisting of digital data stored in a blockchain, a form of distributed ledger. The ownership of an NFT is recorded in the blockchain, and can be transferred by the owner, allowing NFTs to be sold and traded.

NFT-VIP Agenda HERE.

Listen to NFT-VIP Speakers on 360 MAG Podcast HERE.

Reebok Best Style Tech Winners BELOW.

NFT VIP tech series in nyc media sponsored by 360 MAGAZINE
Sal DiGuardia, CEO of Crypto Radio Network at NFT-VIP in NYC via 360 MAGAZINE
Professor Jefferson Noel is the son of Haitian immigrants whom spoke with Vaughn Lowery of 360 MAGAZINE

Meet Jefferson Noel

Author, Orator and Professor

Listen to his chat with Vaughn on 360 MAG Podcast HERE.

Jefferson Noel, the founder of Barbershop Speaks, is dedicated to providing a comfortable daily space for people to be engaged in intelligent conversation. Starting from a simple question in the summer of 2016, “What would happen if we engage in intentional dialogues about issues that affect us directly in spaces that are common and comfortable for the community,”  Barbershop Speaks has been set up as a platform to educate and empower the underserved communities around the country on web3.

He is now also a professor at Florida Memorial University, teaching public speaking, business, and professional speaking. Coming from an immigrant Haitian family, Jefferson deeply understood the importance of education by seeing her parents seeking out a better life in the U.S. as immigrants. During college, after attending student government and being an involved student, he realized that studying for comprehension and real-life application would greatly benefit people’s future life after graduating. The thirst for learning comes from the general public’s respect for knowledgeable people. Therefore, after meeting and being involved with a professor during his trip to Canada to finish his book, Jefferson landed a job as a professor at Florida Memorial University and was determined to bring more value to students.

By keeping the idea that human is a unique live beings and there are different values inside every single human being, Jefferson holds strong beliefs in the power of conversation. During his childhood, Jefferson usually went to barber shops when his father was a barber, where he always listened to those conversations happening around. This is where the idea of the Barbershop Speaks from “The barbershop, in my opinion, is the communities’ classroom where everyone is both the teacher and the student,” says Jefferson.

However, the journey of being in a conversational world has been good and bad at the same time. People see his values while not wanting to pay for the values he brings to the table. Nevertheless, growing up in a family with many role models to look up to, such as his father who is a pastor, and his older brother who always has a clear mind and knows what he is doing, Jefferson has always been humble. He has decided to move forward not focusing on people who are not helping but trying his best to catch good opportunities. According to Jefferson, “As long as I continue to be on my grind, as long as I continue to do life in the proper way, then I know I’ll reach the promise men,” the unavoidable dehumanization coming from his race has never discouraged him but positively motivated him.

Jefferson started connecting to the crypto space about one year ago and was attracted to the technology behind NFT. The ability of NFT to verify ownership of a digital asset on the blockchain made him believe that it is something worth sharing with the whole world. He will attend the NFT-VIP Event, which will happen in NYC through June 19th-22nd, as a speaker on Sunday at 1 pm, sharing how to balance life learning and leadership. 

Jefferson is proud to sponsored by Lab22c.

Article by: Iris Li x Vaughn Lowery

Mel Quagrainie for use by 360 Magazine

Is Miami the Center of Crypto?

Much thanks to Mayor Francis Suarez, Miami has become a hub for the crypto community according to Brock Pierce who credits it to Florida’s good weather and low taxes.

It’s no surprise that the city hosted the world’s largest bitcoin conference that attracted 30,000 to 50,000 visitors at the Miami Beach Convention Center this past week.

With almost 50k visitors, there was a lot of engagement at the convention on South Beach, so 360 spoke with the Head of Developer Relations at MobileCoin, Collin Lowenberg to get the inside scoop on what we missed.

Q: Collin, what was the most exciting thing to happen at the conference?

A: Peter Thiel said Bitcoin will go up 100x, the government will never be in control and banks are swiftly going bankrupt. Thiel even tossed a bunch of $100 bills into the crowd. Don’t forget he was a White House advisor and is the largest shareholder in Palantir.

Q: Do you agree with him? 

A: No, I think his anti-bank anti-traditional banking anarchist thing is off balance. Chill out bro.

Q: What else happened at the conference?

A: Everything that happened around the conference was more interesting than inside the conference. I didn’t really need a badge or ticket to attend the event, it just wasn’t worth it. All the major players had their own events. Ledger, SFOX, Monero, Crypto week was bigger than just Bitcoin Miami. There were several side conferences including Shitcoin conference, kadena conference.

Speaking of the other conferences, we spoke with Mack Rivkin, Co-Founder and CBDO of Flake DAO about Miami NFT and how he got into the space.

Q: How did you get into NFTs?

A: I got into NFTs for the first time this year when I was asked to collaborate with my comrade Mike Brooks with his business, Flake DAO, we have been working on that since the beginning of the year. Since then, I have been collecting a lot. And I’ve been running a company that is helping artists. Prior to that I’ve been in the web3 space as an investor since 2016.

Q: Prior to Web3, what is your background?

A: My day job is in the marketing field, more specifically growth and performance marketing working for pikeman and Cheesecake Factory, tech startups, freelance and consultation. My background, though, is in theater. I have been running a lot of underground events, like warehouse parties, popups, fundraisers and festivals. A lot the work transpired through my burning man crew, especially with the web3 space. I got into web3 events through [my friend] Shannon O’Donnell who needed help with her event at ETH Denver and we’ve pulled off some pretty cool activations since.

Q: You said you spoke on a panel at NFT Miami?

A: The panel was called Just DAO it. It was a panel of people of varying levels of perspectives and experience regarding DAOs. My partner Mike Brooks and I were on this panel with 3 others, not including the moderator. We were interviewed by a woman from Tron Network. We talked about who we are and our relationship to DAOs.

Q: Where are DAO’s heading?

A: I don’t know. DAO’s heading, in my opinion, are highly idealistic. It’s a system of governance, idealistic like true decentralization. It’s arguable as to whether or not if we’ll ever have a process that is truly decentralized, as long as humans are involved, because humans by nature are imperfect. We are not robots. But what we can do is leverage a lot of new technologies like Discord for bringing people together from all around the world. Organizing the space into rooms where people can have varied discussions by people or bots.

Speaking of bots, there are so many ways that bots can be used to automate these communities. Bots can be used to automate the DAOs and voting. When DAOs are first being formed it recovers a lot of oversight. Its highly centralized. The goal down the road is to build something highly decentralized. Movement DAO is one of the strongest corporations that I’ve seen in terms of how they run. They’ve got a lot of amazing systems in place, and they figured out a way to prioritize decentralization. But honestly, 99% of DAOs is so far off from the ideal and that includes ours. One think that is important to keep in mind is nothing is going to be perfect right away.

Q: Were you able to attend any exhibits?

A: I hit up every vendor booth I could. The conference hall wasn’t that large. In terms of panelists I saw Eric Lapoglia, he’s the one who put everything together, and Mark Cuban.

Q: Did Mark Cuban speak on anything specific?

A: I left midway through his talk because I was not impressed. He was one of the headliners. Web3 is a revolution. That’s my belief and why I’m so excited to be in the space. I believe so strongly in decentralization because our systems, our financial system specifically, is not working for us, I mean the majority of us. The wealth gap is widening every year and it’s sickening we are losing power everyday.

Regarding Mark Cuban, I didn’t know a ton about him outside of shark tank. I have a lot of respect for the guy, and I appreciate when public figures vouch so heavily for web3, it brings a lot of necessary momentum for web3. But, I think the reason he is involved is to make himself wealtheir. I got that impression because the topic he was giving wasn’t about providing value to the people, it was about promoting his new app. So, putting more money in his pocket. And there’s a reason he got to where he is. He’s a salesman. No judgment, but not my vibe. It’s not why I’m in the space.

It’s not just a criticism with him, but a lot of folks in the space. A lot of people are in crypto and in NFTs because they want to get rich. There’s nothing wrong with that, but a lot of times people don’t understand the importance of what’s happening here. We have the tools to revolutionize how we operate in terms of how we operate, like global trade, and politics and put more power in the hands of people like you and me. It’s not a get rich scheme. Outsiders feel like it’s a pyramid scheme. It’s because of the people who shout the loudest are doing that. But for me it is about community and redefining our place in the world.

Q: Are you hopeful that these tools will be used to revolutionize the system?

A: I have a very strong point of view. I have two options, I have a strong point of view and either A) I can try as hard as I can to be a part of the movement and educate people on my point of view and why I think this is so important to get involved in and find the people I am aligned with and gather that momentum and I could be part of that or B) I could sit idly by and let things ride its course. Right now, I am taking path A. I do have hope and see that things are moving in a positive direction.

Just in the past 5 years headlines regarding crypto and NFTs are gaining a lot of attention. The government is now talking about things like this, talking about bitcoins and Ethereum. We have a country, El Salvador, is building a city built entirely on bitcoin. We are heading in a direction. The world is not black or white. It’s not a bad direction, but it’s a direction. I have my beliefs, but they are my beliefs. I am a cis white American man and that impacts my experience in the space. Bridging gaps is always something I have been very passionate about. I’m trying to create systems that are accessible and equitable for everyone. My focus right now is artists. I’ve been focused on creating opportunities for artists for a long time.

After talking with both Collin and Mack, it seems as though there is a stark difference between the conference and those throwing their own surrounding events. Those who want to uphold the status quo and those who want to dismantle it with a crypto revolution. Which side are you on?

Article by: Bee Davies

Lauren Hurley/ Lauren Hurley Creative x Sator/ Project Chimps for use by 360 Magazine

Sator × Project Chimps

Sator has just announced its partnership with one of the most recent chimpanzee sanctuaries, Project Chimps. The collaboration includes the launch of a sequence of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) on the Sator app. Each chimp at Project Chimps will receive their own specially minted NFTs, and all proceeds will be returned back to the sanctuary.

The Project Chimps sanctuary is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of north Georgia, where former research chimps are given lifelong refuge and rehabilitation. Home to 82 chimps today, Project Chimps aims to grow these numbers and provide more chimps with accessible care. To learn more about the chimps, visit ProjectChimps.org.

With the announcement of the collaboration, this supports the sanctuaries’ goal to assist more chimps in the future. The proceeds accumulated through the purchase of the NFTs go directly back to the sanctuary, providing more resources for better care of the chimps and to house more chimps in the future.

The NFTs will be released in a sequence of groups. The first collection drop is “The 5 Alphas.” “The 5 Alphas” include the heads of the 5 separate family units at the Project Chimps sanctuary: Binah, Bo, Kareem, Kirk and Patrick. “The 5 Alphas” NFTs can be accessible now through the Sator app. There are around 5,000 NFTs for each individual Alpha offered.  NFTs can be bought through Sator’s native token (SAO) for roughly $5 each.

Sator’s President Chris Martin speaks on the significance of the collaboration between the two teams. Martin states, “We are honored that Project Chimps chose Sator to launch their first-ever NFT campaign in support of the sanctuary’s efforts to provide care to the retired research chimpanzees. We see it as a creative way to bring awareness to their mission and we’re very excited to be a part of it.”

A feature apart of the Sator app allows users to diverge into various realms to earn crypto tokens through playing games and connecting with content. These crypto tokens can be substituted for NFTs in the app. The app also allows users the opportunity to conversate with other users around the world.

To download the Sator dApp:

iPhone: visit HERE

Android: visit HERE

Nightclub Gif by Reb Czukoski for use by 360 Magazine

MERGING VERSES NFT

The future of fashion is the merging of two verses, the virtual world (metaverse) and the physical world. We explore this through the unity of traditional photography and animation—where humans and AI co-exist.

The NFT world is something that is growing and still confusing for many people not directly involved in the producing and purchasing of these new age art pieces. 360 MAGAZINE was able to interview several people directly involved in the production side of NFTs, including producer and model Bee Davies and photographer Jacques Burga.

Interview with Bee Davies

  • What made you become interested in NFTs?

I became interested in NFTs when I started doing virtual production and realized that there was no marketplace for digital art. More than that, there was no fan base. We know famous photographers and people who collect their photographsbut there’s not the same kind of hype surrounding animators. An NFT marketplace not only legitimizes their work, but provides a platform that opens up the door for a whole new kind of collector.

  • How do you respond to people suggesting NFTs are overly expensive and pointless?

Couldn’t you say that about all collectibles? Digital art, like any art, is meant to be enjoyed; the NFT marketplaces and wallets allow you to do that much more easily.

  • What is your favorite NFT?

The one I produced with Jacques for 360, because it exemplifies the merging of the real world and the metaverse.

  • Was it odd to see yourself become an NFT?

Not at all. Since the dawn of social media we have all had virtual versions of ourselves, this is just an overt way of expressing it.

  • What are your biggest artistic inspirations?

I would like to create and produce a completely virtual fashion show for the industry’s top fashion houses (this means AI talent, virtual runways, and digital clothing/accessories…as well as an audience attending in VR). And of course, mint every bit of the digital experience so it can be enjoyed in the metaverse for eternity.

  • What are some upcoming projects you’re looking forward to?

I have a bunch of NFTs that will be dropping soon that I’ve collaborated on with different animatorssome of which feature the actors from the SciFi TV Pilot I created.

Interview w/ Jacques Burga

  • What made you become interested in NFTs?

It’s a whole new way of making business. I enjoy pushing boundaries when it comes to projects related to my field. It also makes me feel there’s always a next step to follow and to explore disciplines that I wasn’t precisely an expert in.

  • How do you respond to people suggesting NFTs are overly expensive and pointless?

To keep the mind open to new ways of mixing technology and creativity may be good advice.

  • What are your inspirations as a photographer?

I am inspired by People and Beauty

  • Why did you decide to blend photographic elements with virtual ones?

Our world has become very virtual. Photography gets elevated when it’s blend with other disciplines such as Art or Technology (virtuality.)

  • What is your relationship with digital artwork?

I’m working on digital projects related to Fashion and NFT. My relationship is continuously growing.

  • When did you become interested in photography?

When I left an internship at a high profile magazine in Paris and decided to become independent and nurture my desire to create fashion.

  • What, in your opinion, is your best piece of artwork/photography?

I cherish every project since it is composed of pieces that create a nice puzzle for me.

  • What projects can we expect to see from you in the future?

I will always want to explore and collaborate with new technologies and artists that share my vision of fashion and people.

NFTs available on OpenSea.

MEET THE TEAM

Media Partner: 360 MAGAZINE

Studio: Daylight Studio

Producer: Bee Davies / Hive Global Media

Photographer: Jacques Burga

Make-up Artist: Sarah Tweedy

Hair Stylist: Christine McManemi

Wardrobe Stylist: Yash Joshi

NFT Marketplace: Opensea

Digital Designer: Edward Harber

Model: Bee Davies 

Animator: Vizzee

Virtual Model Creator: Vizzee

Metaverse Creators: Vizzee / Mercedes Luna Larrahona / Zoë Jane Bernet

PA: Stefanie Murza / Aleko Syntelis

nft image for use by 360 magazine
nft image for use by 360 magazine
nft image for use by 360 magazine
nft image for use by 360 magazine
nft image for use by 360 magazine
nft image for use by 360 magazine