ACE PEOPLE

Albany Artisans : A Philosophical Approach to Restoration

May 31, 2023 By Corey Aldrich

It all began when I started seeing an unrecognized acorn logo and cool images of remodels and restoration work in amazing historic buildings. I think the Instagram algorithm recommended Albany Artisans to me due to my connection with Kelsea Adams (Currently a Project Manager for the firm), a previous Electric City Couture alum. So…I had my eye out with some future thought of finding out who these folks were, what their story was. Then as luck would have it, I got an introduction to firm founder Christopher Hacker by Michelle Toch Dinsmore of Overit Media with a strong recommendation that we should connect…and so we did.

Christopher Hacker – *Owner / Founder* at Albany Artisans | Photo Credit : Corey Aldrich

Can you please state your name, title and what you do. How long has Albany Artisans been in existence? What is the mission and motivation?

I am Christopher Hacker, I am a carpenter, and I am the owner of Albany Artisans. Together with Project Manager Kelsea Adams we manage a team that practices the art of historic restoration and the revival of historic homes. As a restorer and preservationist I believe “You should participate in the lineage of your home.”

It’s kinda funny to say this now, but I was a preservationist before I knew what a preservationist was, though I certainly do know now. In 1997 I took an apprenticeship with a carpenter who was restoring 604 Madison Ave. I had no experience in the trade. Honestly, I needed a job, and with that turn of events it grew into a livelihood that then flourished into passion.

Recent Preservation Merit Awards (2019 / 2021) | Christopher Hacker and Kelsea Adams
Photo : Provided

26 years ago with the encouragement of my mentor, I acquired my family’s generational home. We envisioned making the space into an artisans guild right here in Albany. At that time I was making and repairing stained glass windows, though my bread and butter came from restoration carpentry.

It was a big deal when we found the 1920 ‘s architectural drawings for this home, which are hanging on my wall today. These drawings gave us the ability to rebuild the front porch as originally intended. This was the first time I presented a proposed project to the Historic Resource Commission. They loved the intent to re-build it just the way it once was, (Actually I remember them being more interested in who the architect was). We were given the green light….and Albany Artisans was born.

Currently we’re a team of 8, I believe that our shared attitude, approach and passion attracts others to join up with the Artisans. I am proud to share that I was nominated and joined the commission in 2020.

Minton Tile Restoration Process at the New York State Capitol | Photo : Provided

Any projects that you are especially proud of?

I would say having the opportunity to work in and walk the halls of the New York State Capitol. (Restoring original Minton tiles that had been covered in carpet/glue) Also, the Marcus T Reynolds Superintendent House in Albany Rural Cemetery.

For me the largest accomplishment is being chosen as the Construction Manager of the Saratoga Sword Surrender Site where I was working directly with the National Park System at the Saratoga Battlefield.

Facade Restoration and Replacement Doors | Photo : Provided

Any interesting projects you are working on currently that you would like to share?

The restoration of the Turner Farmhouse, which has been added to the National Historic Registry of Historic Places. Outside of the norm we’ve recently been asked to revive a 1930’s train caboose which was left on an historic property south of Albany overlooking the Hudson…Wild, we’re in! Additionally, we are running a concurrent team that is in the middle of a bathroom remodel at a silo house in Chatham.

Christopher Hacker Gets Philosophical | Photo Credit : Corey Aldrich

I see you have degrees in Philosophy and Anthropology. So many things are laser focused these days, I feel that can be limiting. Can you talk a little bit about the benefits of having a bigger vision in what you do?

True, I do have a Philosophy and Anthropology degree. Aristotle’s empiricism, and thoughts on potentiality and actualization grabbed hold of me, I believe we are products of our environment. We’re always processing sensory information from our shared environment. We all uniquely make our own connections to the past, be it a city park, a particular building, a corner store or curved glass window.

We feel a big sense of loss when these cherished spaces are destroyed by fire or demolition, and carted off to the landfill.

Since our inception I would say everything that we have accomplished and learned contributes to the next restoration project. The beauty of an old house is its unpredictability and we are always ready to learn more.

Albany Artisans Team Members on the Job | Photo Credit : Corey Aldrich

Bonus question…anything we should know about that you have coming up in the near future? Goals?

I would like to restore the James Hall Office. which is a National Historic Landmark in Albany’s Lincoln Park. He is considered the father of modern paleontology. He dug the mastodon from the Cohoes Falls and was also the first Director of the New York State Museum, I would like to have a part in creating a Discovery center as a historic adaptive re-use, highlighting his lineage of mentorship.

Second, be to find a personal assistant and continue to build the Albany Artisans Army! Any takers? Drop me a note… albanyartisans(@)gmail.com.

Albany Artisans | Photo Credit : Corey Aldrich

Albany’s 1st Friday : A Reminiscence and New Beginnings

April 27, 2023 By Corey Aldrich

I found myself on the streets of Albany, literally. After going through some intense personal life changing events, I was struggling to craft a new identity. One that was less corporate, less structured. More creative, rebellious. I was attracted to Arts and Culture and had begun volunteering my time consulting for the Albany Center Gallery and soon joined the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company board. At around this time (circa 2010), I discovered 1st Night in Albany or ART NIGHT as I used to think of it. My life would never be the same. The scene…it was decadent, divine. So creative, smart and unexpected. The who’s who of the regional arts and culture scene where there, on the streets. Hundreds even thousands converging on Albany – for Arts Sake. You could find excellent family friendly events early at places like the Albany Institute of History and Art, Grand Street Community Arts or ACG. Then as the night got later, renegade pop up events got hotter in vacant buildings like St. Joseph’s Church, 259 Lark Street, 4 Central Ave or at the Upstate Artist Guild. Finally, the grand finale for me was always at Samson Contompasis’ Marketplace Gallery in the East Greenbush Tape and Label Factory (40B!) where you could dance till dawn with the DJ’s, street artists, fashion junkies, art freaks and hangers on that I aspired to become more like.

**Marketplace Gallery** | Left with Camera – **Frank Whitney** next to **Peter Contompasis**.
Forefront – **Corey Aldrich** next to **Robbie** | Photo: **Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski**

**Tommy Watkins** | **Corey Aldrich** | **Jo Agropovich** on Central Avenue
Photo: **Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski**

“First Friday was such a wonderful community event. Going out, connecting with friends, meeting new people. Wandering from place to place, never quite knowing what you might encounter. I hope to see it come back!” Jo Agropovich (Artist and Bass Player with Va Va Voodoos / Retrobilleze)

A few years in, the scene cooled down. It felt diluted. My friends and I slowly stopped considering it a must go on the calendar, scattering to the wind or for me…the Troy scene. Now, post COVID a group wants to bring that creative energy back to Albany, to reclaim the crown…the question is, can it be done?

Unknown Little Dude & Momma | Performance at **259 Lark Street** | **Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski**
Photos: **Ken Jacobie**

To understand the genesis of the movement, I went back and talked to some of the folks who were there at the beginning. As frequently is the case, there are slight variations on the ‘AHA!’ moment and not to mention some key voices missing. That said, I decided to reprint the words of some those who were there verbatim. This is by no means a complete history. Also, there are lots of overlaps and differences that seem to me to be the telling from different perspectives. Remember, the best scenes are not planned, they may have a little structure in the beginning but usually they are based on creative alliances that overlap and importantly in the words of Tommy Watkins “…collaborations of friends, forming new relationships, coming together from the heart with love. People who are obsessed with doing the thing.” From what I can tell, the spark of the idea was born from a show called the MANSION SHOW and its timing in conjunction with a variety of other events hitting critical mass over the following year. This group show was organized by Tommy Watkins circa 2005. It’s also clear to me that Chip Faschiana (Artist) was at all the action points mentioned by founding participants.

“The love of art was the common ground in which we all started. But as time went by we saw an even greater value that came out of creating these events. We saw how bringing every one together on the first Friday became uniquely special. It got people talking, got people sharing. It created a family, a community, a place where everyone was accepted and appreciated no matter who they were or where they came from.” Tommy Watkins (Artist / Founding Member of Upstate Artist Guild)

**Rebecca Schoonmaker** | **Upstate Artist Guild** | **Christa Dijstelbergen-Ricci**
*Photo Left / Right:* **Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski** | *Center:* **Ken Jacobie**

“Born out of the successful one-night shows of Chip Faschiana and Tommy Watkins, I, as a board member of Upstate Artist Guild and the new Director of the Romaine Brooks Gallery at the Pride Center, decided to align RBG’s shows to UAG’s. I then approached Elizabeth Dubben who had just opened Ambrose + Sable Gallery to see if she wanted to also align her schedule to the first Friday and she agreed. So on Friday September 1, 2006, with 3 galleries in Center Square, 1st Friday Albany was born. A few months later, Sarah Martinez at Albany Center Gallery got on board and we started to grow. I engaged the businesses on Lark and Downtown to show art, to get on the map. We got funding to rent the trolley to do loops between Lark and Downtown. Eventually we added the Opalka Gallery, St Rose, and the University at Albany, which facilitated getting a 2nd trolley, one for uptown and one for downtown. At its peak, 1st Friday had over 50 participating venues, every major art gallery/museum in Albany, and thousands of people a month. For anniversary months, we’d do a 2 page spread in the centerfold of Metroland.” Michael Weidrich (UAG Board Member | Director at Romaine Brooks Gallery at the Pride Center)

(EDITORS NOTE: Think of those peak metrics. This does NOT even include all the overlapping economy that happened due to the influx of traffic to participating neighborhoods that benefited restaurants, bars, coffee shops etc)

**Chip Fasciana** | **DWELL** (DJ) and **Mia Otian** | **Katie Pray**
Photo: **Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski**

**Marketplace Gallery** | **Abe Ferraro’s Art Course**
*Left*: Artist Provided | *Right*: **Kristin Diotte**

“I remember around 2006-13 there was a really vibrant, thriving Art scene that was taking over abandoned spaces and churches with Pop Up shows…independent galleries that were giving a voice to all kinds of artists…IT was exciting and was really moving the conversation forward for what was possible in this region and beyond…an Art Hub! I was happy to be contributing performance / Installation based works that were pretty outlandish…Art that could have easily been dismissed as too dangerous for insurance purposes or eccentric for public scrutiny…yet I was given the opportunity to inspire and be inspired…and live in this area!” Abe Ferraro (Artist | Sculptor and Performance Artist)

Unknown, **DJ RaNa Ransom**, **DJ OFI** & **Martin Dodge** | *Photo:* **Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski**

**Rachelle Smith-Stallman** Performance Still | Photo: **Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski**

“I have fond memories when 1st Friday was just an idea sparked by a conversation between Jeff Mirel, Founder of Albany Barn, Chip Fasciana, co-producer of Albany Underground Artists, and me. We all had shows and events opening the same night, and we wanted to come together to build a crowd rather than promote our events in silos. We wanted to bring the art scene to bring us together rather than pull us apart. Albany Center Gallery was relocating to downtown Albany from the second floor of the Albany Public Library, and had a vision to bring new life to the legacy institution so I was personally invested in making 1st Friday successful…“

“Thankfully, Michael Weidrich, a board member at Upstate Artists Guild at the time took initiative and joined our conversation. Through Weidrich’s dedication and commitment towards the initiative, and teamwork from a host of organizations such as Grand Street Community Arts, Albany Institute of History & Art, Albany Center Gallery, Upstate Artists Guild and a slew of other groups, the monthly event definitely elevated the art scene in Albany and other galleries gained notoriety like the Marketplace Gallery. One-night shows at St. Joseph’s Church and Grand Street Community Arts drew hundreds of people. I am grateful to have been part of this team effort to build up the arts community and it is remarkable to see Albany thrive and grow and reinvent this event.” Sarah Martinez (Director at Albany Center Gallery)

**Jessyka Neitzel** & **Alana Sparrow** | Photo: **Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski**

**Tall Ass Matt** – *The Early Years* | Photo: **Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski**

COVID really put a crimp in the final strands of what was First Night. But, there is now a new initiative to bring it all back. This is being spearheaded by Michelle Toch Dinsmore Partner at Overit Media and Jim Gilbert Owner and Publisher of Nippertown. Overit through participation in the event in the past had seen major traffic generated to support artists they had lined up pre-covid. Michelle indicated that for some shows they would track hundreds of attendees going through the door of their office / venue. Michelle and her team want to build “…upon the foundation of the great First Friday Albany organizers who came before us.” And of course, we all know Jim and his commitment to supporting all things music, art and culture through Nippertown’s online portal. This will be critical for success as in the past the METROLAND played a major part in creating a there there for the event with promotional information, ads and a detailed monthly event map.

Unknown | **R.M. Englehardt** | **St. Joe’s Church** Installation
Photos: **Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski**

**Corina Jae** (**oneUNIT**) & **Samson Contompasis** | Unknown at **UAG** | **St. Joe’s Church**
Photo: **Ken Jacobie**

“This is the start of something big,” said Jim Gilbert of Nippertown, “and we hope it will develop into something huge. We really hope that the city’s talented creatives will see this as an opportunity to highlight what makes artists so imperative to the overall success of a creative economy, and we encourage everyone to get involved.”

To this I would personally add, it’s NOT a Creative Economy without the artists and hope that we can remember to center them firmly in the process. After all…the Creative comes first followed by the Economy. Let’s find ways to sustain and provide resources for our value creators and enable them to help in the development of a truly sustaining and sustainable event to the benefit of the overall community.

**Samson Contompasis** (**Marketplace Gallery**), **Greg Dunn** & **Micheal Scott Ackermann** | **RADICAL**
Photo: **Ken Jacobie**

**Michael Conlin** | Unknown | **Jesse** | **Alyssa Hardy** | **Mark Gregory** (?)
Conlin’s Sign Studio at the **East Greenbush Tape and Label Factory**
Photo: **Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski**

The initial relaunch event will be held with a kickoff show at Overit Media at 435 New Scotland Avenue, Albany including 5 artists called The Power of Paper. (Mimi Castiglione-Santiago, Ruby Silvious, Abe Ferraro, Ashton Guy and Lindsay McKeough partner up with collaborative partners The Circus Family and Mohawk Paper) on May 5th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This will also serve as the official kick off to the city’s Tulip Week leading up to the 75th Anniversary of the Tulip Festival. Additional events are listed on the Nippertown Event Page and include the arts locations, shows, and food / beverage promotions.

Want to get involved? To connect with participating locations as an artist you can head over to Nippertown’s First Friday Application Page.

**Abe Farraro** at **257 Lark** | Unknown Performance Art | **St. Joe’s Church** – **RADICAL** Stage Design
Photos: **Ken Jacobie**

**Marketplace Gallery** – Abe Ferraro’s Art Course | **Michael Farrell** and **Lisa Reddy**
Photo: **Ken Jacobie**

Photos for this article were significantly mined from the collections of my favorite go to photographer at the time Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski who created a catalog of many who were on the streets in the deep scene and who without I would have been lost. Special mention to Ken Jacobie as well, who had an sharp eye on the art…and seemed to be everywhere all the time.

There is so much to plumb in this rich history. I may end up doing another article. So many voices to reach out to, images to search and best practice tips to secure!

The Museum Association of New York : The Tie That Binds – A Conversation with Erika Sanger

March 23, 2023 By Corey Aldrich

Please state your name, title and what it is you do for the organization.

My name is Erika Sanger and I am the Executive Director of the Museum Association of New York. In this role, I am the leading ambassador and advocate for museums and cultural institutions in New York State. I work with the board and staff to deepen connections with members and constituents; seek new opportunities for programs and funding; maintain, support, and develop relationships with members and stakeholders including museum professionals, industry partners, state and federal funding agencies, private foundations, local, regional, and federal government officials, and leaders of peer institutions and arts organizations. I was honored last year by the American Alliance of Museums with the 2022 Advocacy Leadership Award for my work on behalf of museums in New York and across the nation.

**The Museum Institute** at **Great Camp Sagamore** | Leadership Learning Retreat 2021 | Photo: Provided

Can you share a bit about your background?

I joined the Museum Association of New York in August of 2016 after serving twelve years as the Director of Education at the Albany Institute of History and Art. There, I provided vision for the development of programs for adults, children, schools, and families, focusing on object-based learning and digital initiatives. I led the institute’s “digital renaissance,” most notably with the launch of a new website and creation of interpretative strategies around hand-held digital devices and interactive media.

I gained my work experience and leadership skills through positions held at renowned arts and cultural institutions including the International Center of Photography, the Jewish Museum, the New-York Historical Society, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Asheville Art Museum in Asheville, NC. I also served as Director of Development at Penland School of Crafts in NC, where I was actively engaged in the region’s artist community and participated in the design and implementation of heritage tourism initiatives and campaigns for capital and endowment funds.

I’ve developed program assessments with Harvard University’s Project Zero, the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, and with the education department at the University at Albany. Programs produced under my direction have received funding from state and federal agencies, including the Humanities and Arts Councils of the states of New York and North Carolina, the Institute for Museum and Library Services and the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities.

I received a BFA from Clark University and an MA from NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.

MANY Annual Conference | Photo: Provided

Can you tell us what a typical ‘day in the life‘ for you is?

I frequently say that this job is like riding a roller coaster! We host an April annual conference, professional development programs are produced across the state all year, the legislative calendar of the state and federal governments dictates our advocacy work, and our virtual programs reached over 1,600 people in 48 US States and 8 other nations in 2022. On any given day I may work on a grant application, have a board committee meeting, advise a member on a project or program, and work with our accountant on the organization’s finances. In 2022, we adopted a new strategic plan, revised our by-laws and personnel policy, and changed the board of directors’ terms to align with the organization’s fiscal year.

**Jamie Jacobs** : **The Rock Foundation** | **Georgette Grier-Key** – *Executive Director and Curator* : **Eastville Community Historical Society** | **Didi Barrett** – *NYS Assembly Member* (D-106) | **Erika Sanger** – *Executive Director* : **Museum Association of NY** | **Chloe Hayward** – *Director of Education* : **Studio Museum in Harlem** Photo: Provided

Museum Association of New York Membership Map

Can you tell us a bit about the mission and focus of MANY? How many members do you have and what types of institutions / organizations are in the group?

The mission of the Museum Association of New York is to help shape a better future for museums and museum professionals by uplifting best practices and building organizational capacity through advocacy, training, and networking opportunities. We closed 2022 with 730 members, a 6% increase over 2021 and in the first quarter of 2023, have gained 25 more. The largest number of our members are in the Capital Region and New York City, but we have members located in every region of the state, from every discipline and every budget size from all volunteer organizations to museums with budgets that exceed $10 million. Our website has a great map with each organizational member identified and most people would recognize many of our members.

March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom | August 28, 1963 by **Rowland Scherman**
Courtesy of **National Archives and Records Administration**

What is something you are currently working on that your excited about or that you feel we should know about?

As our nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we know that museums are searching for ways to engage their communities with connections to the history of our nation. They are seeking ways to tell multi-vocal stories of our past, to embrace all the people who live in their communities regardless of race, religion, or nation of origin.

The Museum Association of New York is New York’s representative to the Museums on Main Street program of the Smithsonian Institution’s Traveling Exhibition Service. In that capacity we are traveling their exhibition Voices and Votes: Democracy in America to twelve New York museums to help them prepare for the semi-quincentennial, aka America 250. This traveling exhibition includes historical and contemporary photographs; educational and archival video; engaging multimedia interactives, and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia, and protest material.

Each museum will display the Smithsonian exhibition and produce a small exhibition drawn from their own collection that relates to their community’s role in the development and advancement of Democracy in America, explores a Voices and Votes theme, or tells the story of how people in their community created positive change for our nation. The local exhibitions may be installed in the museum, or in a community partner space like a library or school, or the Voices and Votes exhibition could be installed in a community partner space and the local exhibition in the museum. The application deadline is approaching and we know selecting the exhibition host sites will be a real challenge!

Additionally, The Museum Study Act passed the New York State legislature unanimously (minus one!) in 2022 with overwhelming support from several state agencies. The Governor’s veto noted that the legislature would need to appropriate funds for it to be signed. Actions to that end are already in motion.

EDITORS NOTE: Erika’s comments on The Museum Study Act

A.I. : What It Is and Why You Should Care | PART I OF III

March 21, 2023 By Taliesin Thomas

Powerful Artificial Intelligence engines like Chat GPT4 and Midjourney v5 are quickly moving into the mainstream. This 3-part series on the expanding prevalence of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) will consider the topic with respect to art and the creative economies in our region and beyond. In this opening segment, Taliesin Thomas PhD explores the basic definitions of A.I. and where the current conversation is moving.

Installation View of a **Daniel Arsham** Exhibition at the **Long Museum** in Shanghai, China | 2019
Photo Credit: **Taliesin Thomas**

The noticeable buzz surrounding Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) appears to be infiltrating nearly every category of contemporary culture, especially creative fields. What exactly is A.I. and how does it work? What are the implications of A.I. for art? Although art made with semi-autonomous machines has been around since the 1960s, we are in an entirely new era of technological realities. First let us consider the pairing of these two words: ‘artificial’ and ‘intelligence.’ These concepts inspire distinct questions surrounding A.I. and its rising significance in our increasingly interconnected society. The term ‘artificial’ presents a wary definition to start—synonyms include ‘bogus’, ‘counterfeit,’ ‘factitious,’ and ‘faked.’ This provokes a circumspect context from the outset of the conversation: can we trust this fabricated form of perceiving, synthesizing, and inferring information? Second, the notion of ‘intelligence’ is arguably the basis of our entire civilization. We endure and increase our collective agency as a species thanks to our combined intelligence. Intelligence can be defined in various ways, including the capacity for understanding, self-awareness, reasoning, planning, critical thinking, and creativity. The power of our singular human experience is precisely our ability to cultivate intellect throughout our life journey.

Installation View of **Yayoi Kusama** “*Infinity Mirrors*” Installation at the **Hirshhorn Museum**, DC | 2022
Image credit: Taliesin Thomas

Thus, we proceed with a sense of discernment regarding A.I. as a ‘phony mind’ yet we must marvel at its swift development and implementation in various realms of society, notably commercial applications. A.I. systems function through a foundation of specific hardware and software tools that consume large quantities of organized data that—through processing techniques—produce specific algorithms or patterns. Those algorithms in turn provide computing devices with step-by-step instructions for how to complete a specific task and can be manipulated to ‘create’ or output in distinct ways. A.I. is now employed for a variety of purposes including expert systems, natural language processing, speech recognition, and machine vision. The ride service Uber, for example, utilizes sophisticated A.I. machine learning algorithms to predict when people are likely to need rides in certain areas, which helps proactively get drivers on the road and to where they are needed most.

Screengrab of **The Andy Warhol Diaries** on **Netflix**

As a novel technology, A.I. is being progressively employed within the creative sector as well, often in fascinating ways. I anticipated the A.I. generated voice for Andy Warhol as encountered in the Andy Warhol Dairies would sound gimmicky and bizarre, however, I was delighted by the opposite effect. Not only does the Warhol’s voice sound incredibly accurate, but it also brings to life his articulate mind (and heart) in a beautiful and believable manner. We already know Warhol as an icon extraordinaire and enduring face of Pop Art, but this intimate series reveals Warhol the lover, and his words are pulled straight from his personal dairies and personified through A.I. technology. The result is a dreamy and eloquent Warhol voice, and it reduced me to bouts of sobbing throughout the series (the emotional quality is undeniable). The company Resemble AI crafted Warhol’s A.I. voice with just 3 minutes and 12 seconds of usable data in the form of existing audio recordings. The Andy Warhol Dairies is a marvelous example that demonstrates the success of A.I. as a tool that brings ever greater insight to the art of our times—and in the case of Warhol, a deceased artist who remains timeless.

The Author with a Painting of **Andy Warhol** at the **Warhol Museum** | 2016
Image credit: **Taliesin Thomas**

The pressing question in all of this seems to be: how does A.I. impact our concept of intelligence and creativity and our ‘ownership’ of that very intelligence and creativity? In other words, to restate a familiar concern about the expanding role of technology and the human mind in all its formats since the first publication of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein (1818) and the dawn of the computing age: can machines ‘think’ for us? In the meantime, critics such as New York based arts, culture and technology writer Mike Pepi propose: “These so-called ‘creative’ machines are limited in that they can only ever remix existing media and data, they cannot truly create anything new. This is the province of human ingenuity alone.” Artists, fear not! These fictitious A.I. minds are mere derivative producing hacks! In any case, the fundamental thing to understand about A.I. is that it is as a unique form of simulated intelligence by way of computer systems that aim to assist humans achieve in increased capacities. Here one must acknowledge that notions of ‘human’ increasingly point toward the ‘posthuman’ in our hyper-stimulated digital era. A recent article at The Verge highlights the issues around copyright laws and exposes the ruffle between Getty Images and A.I. generated visions of humans that are downright freakish. Indeed, these are dense conceptual paradigms transforming our planet in real-time.

Screengrab of a Recent article concerning A.I. and **Getty Images** Published on The Verge | 2022

Nevertheless, A.I. is here to stay, so we must embrace it as part of the evolving global reality of today. We also recognize, however, an underlying apprehension for creatives, since corporate driven A.I image generators pose a threat to their livelihood. According to a recent article published by Artnews, the latest advancements in machine-learning programs have transformed A.I. into an impressive creative tool that seems capable of outpacing—and underpricing—human artists, sparking a real concern in diverse creative circles. Anxieties surrounding A.I. and art are highest among graphic artists and commercial illustrators, whose very livelihood is based on their ability to design artistic content specific to a clients’ vision. Another Artnews piece also warns that A.I. systems ‘learn’ by sifting through numerous man-made images that are often scraped from online sources by tech companies and often without the consent of their authors. As stated by writer Taylor Dafoe: “A.I. advocates argue that this practice is protected by fair use laws; artists have said it violates their copyrights.” How will A.I.’s artistic capabilities intimidate even more areas within the wider creative field?

Street Art in the **Chelsea** Neighborhood in New York City | 2022
Image Credit: **Taliesin Thomas**

I agree with sceptics who suggest that the vast realm of art practices and material embodiments of aesthetic culture will not be undermined by the new A.I. landscape. And I agree with critical thinkers such as Mathew Dryhurst who states: “I do not believe that artists are in too much danger of being replaced by A.I. Artistic practices are so much more complex than a style that can be mimicked. What we value of art is more social than we often acknowledge.” Other cultural commentators such as Martin Herbert get to the heart of the matter from a meta perspective. In his recent article “I’m an Art Critic. Will AI Steal My Job?” he states the obvious regarding the entire A.I. project: “At the base of this inhuman ‘creativity’, of course, is human labour.” He also makes an important point about the ‘real’ value of art as a matter of ‘real’ lives lived: “The contemporary art scene seems, almost nostalgically, tied to people: artists, as fronting personalities and aspiration models, seem as important as the art.” Undoubtedly it is the corporeal, messy, compelling narratives of artists and their art—the true blood and guts of a creative life—that give art its enduring allure. Thus, we can welcome A.I. onto the scene as fellow ‘counterfeit’ creative as we remain rooted in a pulsating world of manifestation that comes into being precisely through authentic being.

In the next installment (II of III), we will hear from regional professionals who amplify our perspective on A.I. and its significance in arts fields especially.

Taliesin Thomas, Ph.D. is an artist-philosopher, writer, lecturer, and collector based in Troy, NY. Since 2007, she is the founding director of AW Asia and the collection manager of Art Issue Editions—two private art collections based in New York that are the foundation for collaborations and projects with artists and museums
worldwide. Thomas has lectured and published widely on contemporary art. She is the director of the Critical Forum program at the Arts Center for the Capital Region, NY and she is a faculty member at School of Visual Arts, NY. Thomas studied studio art, aesthetics, theory, and philosophy at Bennington College, Columbia University, and The Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts.

AND Casting : Lining Up Extras for Commercial and Film Based Projects

February 20, 2023 By Corey Aldrich

A hard working and industrious professional who seemingly makes extras appear out of thin air, Annie’s company AND Casting is the go to for background casting for feature films and commercials in the Upstate New York region. I first met her when I was producing regional fashion shows in Saratoga with one of my side projects Electric City Couture. Her ability to materialize the correct number of models on site was borderline magical…all while keeping a smile on her face and a laser focus on maintaining order. (120 runway slots for our last large show) Recently, Annie got me up to speed on her latest projects and the continued growth and opportunity she is seeing for a broad variety of folks in the regional television and film industry.

Annie Delano Behind the Scenes at Electric City Couture | Photo: Richard Lovrich

Please state your name, title, company name and what you do. What’s a typical day look like for you.

My name is Annie Delano, Owner of AND Casting. I am a Casting Director for background extras and smaller (single line) parts for feature films and lots of commercials! There is no typical day, but most days consist of answering hundreds of emails, talking to and connecting with people from all walks of life, and managing many moving parts, often times on multiple projects. There are some days on sets, but usually I’m at my desk answering emails.

On Set with AND Casting | Photo: Provided

How long have you been doing this and how did you get into this profession?

AND Casting has been existence since 2018, but I have been a freelancer in the production world for over 10 years, casting and producing commercials. I have always been a freelancer and did not set out to work on films. My motto, “Never say no to an opportunity (with-in reason!)”, combine with the all important need for work, lead to background casting for a film. As it turns out, I was pretty good at the tremendously tedious job of background casting. The first film lead to 20 more films and the creation of AND Casting.

Annie Delano Suited Up on a Commercial Shoot | Photo: Provided

Can you talk a little bit about the business? What types of projects are you casting? Is there a lot of work? What type of companies or productions do you work with?

There are really two worlds when you work as a Casting Director. The feature film world and commercial world, while both types of production, are entirely different animals. I learned this very quickly on my first film. I don’t know many people working in both areas and it’s challenging at times. You really have to be a super connector who stays engaged with people both on the production side and talent side. I’m constantly thinking about who I know for specific roles as they come up. This job requires extreme organization and attention to every small detail.

As a freelancer, the workload ebbs and flows. Sometimes a week or two goes by and the phone doesn’t ring, but then in one week you get 4 major jobs. I am grateful to cast talent for both the commercial and the film world, because together they create plenty of work to keep the company going. Projects come from production companies, ad agencies and film producers/film production companies. They are very diverse, which is great – I could be casting high school students for classroom scenes one day, and casino commercials the next. Anything that needs casting, I’ve got it covered. I’d get bored if I always cast the same type of jobs!

On Set for a Shoot with AND Casting | Photo: Provided

Tell us about the folks your casting. I have seen some of your ‘CALL’ posts…they can be all over the board and very specific.

This is my favorite part of the job, the people! I think a lot of people have “be in a movie” on their bucket list or vision board and with background casting, I’m able to make a lot of dreams come true. When I get an email from someone about their positive experience being on set as an extra, it makes the long hours and hard work worth it. Every single person qualifies to be a background extra. The whole point is to make things as realistic as possible and that takes all kinds of real, regular people. No special training is required, you just need to be able to follow directions and have a solid 12 hours free to be on set. You may not get a role right away, there are different looks/parameters for specific scenes, but in general, no one should be discouraged from wanting to be an extra. On the flip side, commercials are more competitive and depending on the role, require acting ability, which comes through practice, training and experience. Reading directions is key. When you see a post, read the description carefully and follow all the directions if you want to submit for a role!

Behind the Scenes : On Set with AND Casting | Photo: Provided

Anything coming up we should know about or that your especially excited about?

Life in general is exciting, there’s never a dull moment. I’m working on some very fun projects that can’t be discussed. This is hard for me because I like to talk, so I have to stop talking (or writing) while I’m ahead 🙂