The world feels pretty impossible right now, and maybe that’s why I needed to write this particular newsletter. Because one of the things really bothering me has a few pretty simple solutions.
I got blocked by a local artist/arts organizer last week for raising concerns about their use of AI. It had been going on for a while (these AI posts) and I spoke with a few other artists who had concerns. Being the enneagram 8 I am, I thought I would just shoot a note over. No biggy. It’s important to speak up, I tell myself. Maybe we could have a conversation. Or worst case, maybe they will just see me as a huge bitch and ignore it? They can’t be unaware of the discourse around this topic? Can they?
Moments later, message goes on read…blocked from all their accounts.
Maybe they are reading this now, I have no idea. It’s not that I have anything against them, I actually really like what they do. If I didn’t believe their work was super important, I wouldn’t have said anything at all.
It got me thinking about AI. I was probably only 15 minutes from having just been thinking about it. I think about it a lot. I get into arguments about AI as much as I get into arguments with people about spraying their lawns with chemicals. I know I’m annoying, just ask my parents. But I like to think everyone deserves to have something to believe in. And at least a few things to be against (other than war, abuse, guns, etc). I generally try to focus more on the things I am for, but sometimes…
AI doesn’t scare me, not in the way that it should. I’m not worried about my job disappearing. I’m more worried about the cultural ramifications of computer generated art continuing to take up more and more space in our lives.
Imagine a world where models in magazines aren’t real? Videos of politicians giving speeches are computer generated against their wishes, saying things they would never say? That song that just came up in your playlist… what if it isn’t a real band??? Imagine half of what you scroll through on your phone is generated by a computer.
You don’t have to imagine. What I just described is getting close to the reality right now. Vogue published their first print ad featuring an AI generated model. News just circulated of a band that went viral on spotify…thousands of streams. Band photo, song titles, lyrics and all…completely AI.
Is it harmless to use AI to edit an email, make a quick graphic for an event promo, do some internet research?
Maybe.
But is it truly beneficial to use it? Is it considering the whole? Is saving time truly always the best way?
Do we really need to save so much time? If it has to be done so free and so quick, should it be done at all?
What if we need to save less time? What if we need to move more slowly. What if we were to ask people for help to accomplish the tasks on our lists. What if we were to “trouble” artists in our community when we have an idea that benefits the common good? Could that slowness lead to more connection, more conversation and a better way altogether? And that’s not even beginning to touch on the fact that it could also lead to more successful events, more loyalty and more sustainability in general.
When it comes to not using AI for promotional graphics here’s some tips from me. I can’t judge how you use AI in your job, but I can absolutely judge how you use AI to do mine. Since you didn’t ask. 🙂
How to not use AI for graphics for your next event:
DIY - in a world fully digitized, isn’t it fun to see stuff that’s kinda crappy and doodley and wonky? Draw something simple out with pen and paper, make it silly. Don’t sweat it. Imperfect is the absolute evil twin of AI. And I mean that in the way that AI is parading around as the angel on your shoulder because she looks so sparkly and hot, but she is actually super corrupt and trying to talk you into your own demise. For further reading, google: chatbot induced psychosis.
You could just ask - My friend Hannah (an incredibly well-credentialed professional artist/designer) just posted that she’s making event posters for people who ask. All you have to do is make a donation to an organization she approves of. I have a feeling this is something other artists and designers would be super excited about too. Just be aware of how to approach this with etiquette. Don’t know the etiquette? Keep reading. When you aren’t paying full price, or any price… (favors are ok to ask of designers/artists [even me!]) just be kind, clear with your communication and easy going. Typically when an artist does something for no pay, they want creative freedom and very little to no edits. Just let them have fun and if the outcome isn’t aesthetically what you were expecting, trust that they know better than you. Are you a professional looker at and maker of art and design that looks cool? No? Ok. If you’d like to play art director with a designer or artist, you have to pay full price. That’s the rule.
Caveat - don’t ask a designer or artist to do something for free when you are taking home a profit or not also giving of some resource you have (time, money, skills). If you are working in a creative sector I would argue that if the event or cause benefits a group or the creative community at large, that’s different. If it’s just you trying to make some $$ or promote your own business, that’s something that warrants a more standard approach of paying for services.
CAVEAT 2 - don’t be hurt or offended when someone says no. They might not have time right now or maybe they don’t feel aligned with your cause. And if they give you a diatribe about how they don’t do work for free and act super offended, you have a personal apology from me. It doesn’t have to hurt your feelings. One no doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Ask the next person on your list. Tell them I sent you (as long as you read and understand my first caveat that this is a group effort and not a thing that’s giving a bunch of profit to one person). The internet has confused many a young creative professional into thinking they can NEVER do work for free. Saying yes to doing favors for the community as an artist is actually a privilege and a joy. Artists who don’t understand that probably are operating within some form of scarcity mentality. Or maybe they just haven’t experienced the sparkle of giving back. Or maybe they just read a meme about never doing work for free and are following that without any thought.
Be perceptive - something is not officially better than nothing. In an age of complete digital overwhelm, just attempting to push some sort of content in the face of viewers is no longer workin babe. This is age old marketing advice, from an elder millennial, but for some crazy reason I’m still finding myself saying it… consider your audience. This entire newsletter was inspired by the fact that someone was using AI to promote the original art of local artists TO fans of original art. When you stop and think about that, does it fit? Does it make any sense? Most AI I see does not make sense in it’s use. It’s easy, cheap and patronizing of its audience. And sometimes even deceitful.
Don’t show your desperation - I know the feeling when you realize…no one is coming. The event didn’t work how you had hoped. Ouch. It sucks. It hurts and it feels like you would do or post or say anything to change that. But don’t. Quietly take the loss and regroup. Using AI to promote an event wreaks of desperation and says that you either didn’t plan ahead, you were too lazy to plan ahead or you believe in AI as a better option in which case I don’t know how you even got this far into my newsletter bashing AI.
Are there also environmental concerns about AI? There is growing concern over the environmental impact of AI data centers. I haven’t done enough research on it to use this in my anti-AI argument. But I do know that there’s no carbon footprint to draw on a piece of paper…as long as you recycle that paper. 😉
Have a counter argument to my argument? Hit me. While we can’t control whether or not Vogue publishes images with AI models or the government begins to regulate AI more ethically, we can control whether or not we avoid these conversations in our communities. Or you can just block me and pretend this never happened.
Now…here’s some summer events:
Yard sale! August 16th!
Crazy as this is to say but I’m downsizing and moving towards selling my house I’ve lived in for 14 years in Spokane. I have a lot of ideas for what’s next and none of them include the amount of stuff I own. Come by on August 16 from 9-2 and take some things off my hands. Please? Head to the basketball court at Corbin Park and you’ll find me across the street. There will be furniture, clothes, kitchen stuff, art supplies, tools, music gear and so much more! Bring cash and be prepared for me to give you whatever you want for $5 (minus a few exceptions).
I want to talk more about the spirit of this change in my life, and I will. Soon.
Music stuff
August 14th - benefit event at Zola
My friend AJ Ramirez is battling cancer. On August 14th there’s a special little event at Zola to raise support for him and his family during this awful time. I will have some art/merch available for auction along with a bunch of amazing artists!
August 25th - Alcohol & Feelings back at Maxwell House
Oh my gosh it’s been too long! Because of my album release in July we took a little break from our regularly scheduled night of country tunes. We will be back at Maxwell House on August 25th with special guests, a new ORIGINAL song and all the standard fun you can always expect.
Here’s a little preview of something exciting I’ve been working on this summer. The first of three playing card decks, each card featuring a different plant. This first deck features wild herbs with medicinal properties. Sending this project off to press is so exciting and gratifying! I cannot wait to share more of it with you. It’s been a ton of work and basically filled up my whole summer!
If you aren’t on social media you maybe haven’t seen my new mural at Grant Elementary! This was a super fun project working with Grant’s PTG and a group of local artists. We are about to start painting on a second mural inside the school. Have I mentioned it’s been a very busy summer???
Thanks so much for reading. I appreciate you joining me in this space. I started this newsletter to have more thoughtful engagement with my own writing and hopefully foster more conversations in my community. The door is always open for reply.
Karli
