never-ending gallery

[Geoffrey]

LisaLCFan wrote:
>I do hope that my comments on the matter do not dissuade you in any way from exploring and enjoying the possibilities of using AI in your picture-making, and from posting those pictures here for our enjoyment. . . .

no problem. as i've said before, the greatest distance in the world is between two adults who cannot communicate, and i enjoy our conversations very much.

>. . . I also hope that what I wrote may provide some food for thought . . .

absolutely. without wishing to embarrass you, your way of thinking and writing is nothing short of brilliant - your pictures too.
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just some old-fashioned book

[LisaLCFan]

...without wishing to embarrass you, your way of thinking and writing is nothing short of brilliant - your pictures too...

Thanks, man!

[Geoffrey]

visited someone today. looking closely at a picture couldn't help but notice the guy in the bottom right-hand corner.

[LisaLCFan]

visited someone today. looking closely at a picture couldn't help but notice the guy in the bottom right-hand corner.

I couldn't help but notice the signature in the bottom right-hand corner. I knew that guy: he painted wonderfully colourful and vibrant pictures in acrylics!

[Geoffrey]

LisaLCFan wrote:
>I couldn't help but notice the signature in the bottom right-hand corner. I knew that guy: he painted wonderfully colourful and vibrant pictures in acrylics!

i saw him today. he liked it when he learnt what you wrote.
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here is a 'scribble' portrait. am invited now to a picnic in the sunshine at borgundgavle. upon returning will continue studying A.I., because i love data and software so much. any A.I. images that are posted will likely be accompanied with bullsh*t captions, and not to be taken seriously. meanwhile . . .

[Geoffrey]

[remember, nothing here is to be believed. it's just imagination, A.I. and other software]
----------
1st edition of little known book published 1954 by mcgill university press.

flyer advertising 45rpm single featuring the author reading two poems.

Strike Me Down, God, If You Dare

I walk this road with weary grace,
A sinner's hymn upon my face.
The thunder calls, the heavens stare,
Strike me down, God, if you dare.

The wine was sweet, the bed was warm,
I kissed the lips that broke the storm.
The choir fades, the chapel bare,
Strike me down, God, if you dare.

No prayers remain upon my tongue,
No mercy left for old or young.
The candle flickers, smoke in air,
Strike me down, God, if you dare.
----------
On Top of Ben Nevis

Upon the crown where the winds are wild,
I stand alone, the mountain's child.
The earth below, a patchwork spread,
The sky above, a sea of red.

The clouds, like whispers, drift and wane,
A world of quiet, free from pain.
The peaks around me, proud and tall,
Are silent sentinels who call.

The air is thin, the cold, it bites,
Yet in my soul, there are no fights.
For in this place, so raw and wide,
I find my peace, no need to hide.

The world seems far, a distant song,
The winds hum tunes where I belong.
On Ben Nevis, in the quiet snow,
I am the mountain - strong, aglow.
----------
book reprint 2021 to commemorate university's 200-year anniversary.

[LisaLCFan]

[remember, nothing here is to be believed. it's just imagination, A.I. and other software]

Are those poems written by AI, too? They seem rather formulaic and trite, and I could not find any references to them (and, you did preface your post with the above disclaimer). If you or some famous poet wrote them, well, no offence, but not all poetry is inspired, is it?

[Geoffrey]

LisaLCFan asked:
>Are those poems written by AI? They seem rather formulaic and trite.
-----
yes, and i agree. considering they were written quickly, about five seconds each, it could possibly be argued that they surpass some of the 'poetry' that is written by humans. perhaps AI poetry could be useful simply as an adjustable baseline, allowing formulaicity and triteness to be replaced with a little personality or 'soul'? anyway, thanks for taking the time to respond.

book title (in case anyone is interested) inspired from 'the favourite game' (part 1, section 7) and 'bad boy bubby'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-nvweAVpqk
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two private messages have been received. thank you so much, especially for the one with the link

[LisaLCFan]

...two private messages have been received. thank you so much...

Isn't the whole point of a "private message" the fact that it's private, and not public? Announcing it publicly seems to disregard its main purpose.

[Geoffrey]

LisaLCFan wrote:
>Isn't the whole point of a "private message" the fact that it's private, and not public? Announcing it publicly seems to disregard its main purpose.
-----
this is a good point, and not one many others would have made, especially as no names were mentioned - unlike when leonard indiscreetly named janis. there are no written rules concerning this, although ignoring anyone who makes contact is impolite, and does not give a good feeling.

[LisaLCFan]

LisaLCFan wrote:
>Isn't the whole point of a "private message" the fact that it's private, and not public? Announcing it publicly seems to disregard its main purpose.
-----
this is a good point, and not one many others would have made, especially as no names were mentioned... there are no written rules concerning this, although ignoring anyone who makes contact is impolite, and does not give a good feeling.

I was merely thinking that it takes all of about 5 seconds to reply, privately, to a private message (PM) with a quick, "Thanks for the message", instead of publicly announcing that such messages were received. Whoever wrote to you took the time and trouble to send you a PM, thus, five seconds of your time to reply privately doesn't seem like too much of an imposition. It is true that you did not reveal the name of the senders (this time), but to publicly announce that a private conversation has occurred just seems a bit strange to me, as if, for some reason, you want everyone else to know that you are engaging privately with people, but that the rest of us are not privy to what is being said -- perhaps it makes you feel special and singled out.

I think that it is a human nuance to recognise that privacy is intended and expected -- both ways -- when one chooses to communicate through private channels instead of doing so openly and publicly in forum posts or other public arenas. I suppose it comes down to etiquette -- unwritten rules of conduct (which is something that your AI programmes wouldn't understand).

[LisaLCFan]

Returning to the previous subject...

...considering [the AI poems] were written quickly, about five seconds each, it could possibly be argued that they surpass some of the 'poetry' that is written by humans. perhaps AI poetry could be useful simply as an adjustable baseline, allowing formulaicity and triteness to be replaced with a little personality or 'soul'?...

I'd rather read mediocre poetry written by a human than anything written by an AI. Perhaps a person could simply write a whole poem by themselves, and skip the AI altogether, and then their poem would have plenty of personality and soul, having come from within a human psyche, and not based on a sterile set of data.

I do not share your enthusiasm for AI in the arts. I can understand the intrigue of using AI programmes for one's own personal amusement -- playing around with software and data undoubdtedly has its challenges and pleasures. But, as a lover of the arts, I find myself failing to be intrigued by -- or interested in -- the products produced by AI, for I cannot ignore their inherent lack of humanity: there is such a coldness and lifelessness to AI produced works, for they did not arise from human thoughts or emotions or feelings which are full of significance, but from meaningless data.

For me, one of the greatest appeals of "art" is that it is a genuine expression of the human experience, something which can move us and resonate with us because of a shared history and background with those who created it -- humans who have loved and lost, dreamed and wondered, thought deeply and contemplated, laughed and cried. Those things matter to me, when it comes to art -- they make art valuable and worthwhile.

Here's a nice video of Stephen Fry reading a passionately written letter by Nick Cave about AI produced works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGJcF4bLKd4

[Gullivor]

I enjoy AI for my poems I wrote. I use AI to put them to music because I have not talent for playing instruments. Iv tried and know my weaknesses. I don’t have friends that would play them for me either. I enjoy hearing them in music and I’m sure, if only one other person enjoys just one, it’s worth the form of a song.

I prefer everything by hand or mind as far as the arts go. As an artist i know the struggle or pain that is used to create art.

I do admire others art and some of AI. But I enjoy and admire my own the most because I know what it took. Come to think about it I may not be an artist I could very well be participating in art therapy.

I like your stuff Geoffrey. Hand mostly but do enjoy your visual AI creativity in Leonard’s book covers. They have brought me many smiles at cold winter days this year.

Peace
Gully

[Geoffrey]

Gullivor wrote:
>I like your stuff Geoffrey. Hand mostly but do enjoy your visual AI creativity in Leonard’s book covers. They have brought me many smiles at cold winter days this year.
----
this was a lovely message to receive, gulliver. at the moment i am in the middle of exchanging cars, my old one for a new one, negotiating, test driving etc. - so a lot going on. will answer lisa later.
as you like the book covers, here's a couple more. would be nice to see what you can do as well

in pristine condition, this valuable unofficial edition of dylan's prose was bought in london's kensington market in the late 1960s.

[Geoffrey]

LisaLCFan wrote:
>It is true that you did not reveal the name of the senders (this time), but to publicly announce that a private conversation has occurred just seems a bit strange to me, as if, for some reason, you want everyone else to know that you are engaging privately with people, but that the rest of us are not privy to what is being said -- perhaps it makes you feel special and singled out.
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yes, you could be onto something. after all, despite what anyone might think, i am an ordinary person with failures and shortcomings - just like most others. however, it's good that you keep me on my toes