Hi hi trainwreckers,
I've been relatively quiet on here the past few months as I finish school. My thesis (cue record skipping sound) project revolves around thinking through DIY art spaces and what that looks like in online space. I have been involved in a number of DIY artspaces, warehouse projects and alternative venues in the US in a few cities.
Online, I have been thinking about DumpFM (RIP) as a kind of online DIY artspace. I'm also thinking about the ways some people use(d) Minecraft or Second Life, though in certain ways I think of those as more 'refined' or virtuosic places for craftsmanship. I'd say the online creative community I feel the most connected to would be the community of this site.
I'm wondering if people have thoughts about Glorious Trainwrecks as a type of online DIY art community. One of the things I appreciate about it is that anyone can become a member (you just have to post a game). Feedback and conversations are almost always supportive and constructive. Virtual friendships are spawned. And the community revolves artistic creation, sharing knowledge and skills, and co-production, but also reuse (of ideas, titles, memes, images, game assets, etc).

To wrap up this (increasingly long) text-dump: I'm interested in hearing what makes a successful online DIY artspace? And if you also think of Glorious Trainwrecks as such a space, what do you think contributes to making it feel that way and working successfully?