Let’s Chat
I don’t know when I noticed that my partner Ben had developed a ChatGPT habit. But once I did notice I began to offer snide comments like ‘your mind will turn to mush’ or ‘this is the end of society as we know it’ or the simple ‘we’re doomed’.
And then, because I could no longer contain my curiosity, I took a photograph of one of the pieces I plan on showing during my March solo exhibit, opened the app, and asked it to suggest a title. It offered a dozen or so and asked me - no, coached me - into diving deeper. What was the purpose of the piece? What was I trying to express? And then it offered another half dozen more titles.
Over the next hour ChatGPT and I chose titles for the completed pieces, composed a draft artist statement, created a name for the show and began pulling together brief gallery notes for the work.
Am I cheating or embracing technology?
I don’t know. What I do know is that I find it difficult, as many artists do, to find the words to describe my work. I can talk a blue streak about other artists and their work but when it comes to my own creative process I develop a serious case of selective mutism.
But with ChatGPT’s help I found words that speak not only to my process but to the meaning behind the work I’m doing and to who I am as an artist. It was revelatory.
Am I cheating or embracing technology?
I don’t know. What I do know is that I sometimes wonder how giving titles to our work and the attempts we make to offer ponderous statements serves the art. Perhaps it’s better to leave all interpretation to the viewer. Or maybe it’s the viewer’s responsibility to immerse themselves in the work before reading any title, notes or statements from the artist.
For ‘Holding What Time Leaves’, my exhibit at McGuffey Art Center in Charlottesville, Virginia this March, I’ll do what I’ve never done before. It’s important to me that the viewer understands the story behind this new body of work. And so I’m going to ask my new buddy ChatGPT for help.
Am I cheating or embracing technology?
I don’t know.