Dear Community,
I hope you are doing well!
The Human Nature exhibition continues to grow and flourish in the wild. There are very exciting plans in the works for the feminist history tree ring sculpture, "Dendrofemonology." In the meantime, a new photograph print version of the feminist tree ring was created (edition of 4) and the first edition is set to be auctioned off with proceeds going to the National Women’s History Museum in Washington DC.
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"The Big Picture," another one of my large-scale tree rings that explores the evolution of human perspective, will be featured in the San Francisco Design Showcase. "The Big Picture" is on a 65-inch reclaimed redwood tree ring (above, next to "Dendrofemonology").
If you want to see the whole body of work from the Human Nature exhibtion, the next Zoom virtual art tour is May 11, noon PT / 3pm ET.
I’ve absolutely loved seeing the art installed around the country. All art inquiries on editions still available can go to the head of my studio Sawyer Steele at art@tiffanyshlain.com.
We are also working on exciting plans for the next physical location and iteration of the Human Nature exhibition.
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WEBBY VOTING
After founding the Webby Awards in 1996 and running it for nearly a decade, I still feel like a proud mama when I see Webby Award nominees announced. Especially when they feature friends or organizations and issues I care deeply about. A few I think are worthy of your votes: Gutsy Media's wonderful short film Always and Forever about the absurdity and unfairness of abortion bans; Debbie Millman's Design Matters; Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; and NASA.
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CHATGPT
I continue to experiment, brainstorm and think with and about Chat GPT. My biggest take-away so far is that ChatGPT means we have to double down on what makes us uniquely human.
ChatGPT is drawing from all of humanity’s knowledge since 2019; that’s its perspective. But no one and nothing has your perspective. You draw from all of your specific experiences, all that you have survived, read, enjoyed and lost, loved and learned since the day you were born. Your perspective and contributions are completely unique.
This advancement in artificial intelligence systems has seismic implications, both good and bad, that we all need to all be talking about.
In 2014, we did an episode on "The Future of Our Species" for our original series The Future Starts Here which speaks so much to all of this. You can watch the 5-min episode here.
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Another episode, "Robots, Botox and Google Glass" explored what makes technology sometimes feel creepy. When we made that film in 2014, we were concerned about Google Glass, and the uncanny valley of that. Today we are officially in the uncanny valley with ChatGPT and all the new AI chatbots. But, while our minds naturally will go to the negative and fear of how it can be used, we are the ones shaping it. Where it goes is largely up to us. And it can be used in incredible ways, like advancing medical research, helping people communicate in non-native languages and possibly between species, and mental health support. So I continue to grapple with the pros and cons.
We’re all on a learning curve. One thing I’ve learned working with ChatGPT is that part of the art is determining the best way to ask it questions and then keep refining them. There are now courses in prompt engineering that focus on that. Ken suggests we call them "promptologists."
Ken has curated a series of talks on the future of ChatGPT and similar technologies with Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research Lab and Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society and the Banatao Institute (CITRIS). You can read about and watch talks here.
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As AI embeds into more and more parts of our lives, I’m even more grateful for my family’s practice of unplugging regularly. It is, no doubt, how I stay balanced and keep perspective on all of this. I recently talked with Tessa Taylor for a CNN article on the subject.
Now onto the April newsletter. Lots of great art shows from Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Kehinde Wiley, Jen Bervin, Ana Teresa Fernández, Jock McDonald, and Naomie Kremer; books, films, the Mill Valley Music Festival May 13-14 (discount code below), and more below.
xo,
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The Berkeley Lectures on the Status and Future of AI, March 20 - April 28
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Ken is helping organize this series presented by the CITRIS Research Exchange, Berkeley AI Research Lab, EECS, Meyerson Lectures, UC Berkeley. ChatGPT is catalyzing a paradigm shift in artificial and natural intelligence. How does it work and why is it surprising experts? The primary architect of ChatGPT (John Schulman, UC Berkeley PhD 2017), leading expert on Robotics (Rod Brooks) and five leading Berkeley AI faculty will present insights and viewpoints in a series of seven public lectures that are free and open to the public and available on Youtube live and archived. Learn more here and see the full schedule here.
April 19 4pm: EECS and BAIR presents John Schulman, OpenAI
April 26 12pm: CITRIS Research Exchange and BAIR present Pam Samuelson, UC Berkeley
April 28 12pm: BAIR Robotics Symposium presents Rod Brooks, MIT Emeritus and Robust.AI
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| Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's Techs-Mechs at Gray Area in SF, March 16 - May 31
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Techs-Mechs is a new survey of ten works by renowned media artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, spanning immersive installations, kinetic sculptures, generative animations, and large-scale shadow theaters, and rooted in a rich chronology of technological cultural history in the artist’s native Mexico. This show is fantastic! Learn more here and read about the show in SFist here.
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| Kehinde Wiley: An Archaeology of Silence at the de Young, March 18 - Oct 15
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Kehinde Wiley's show at the de Young is so incredibly intense and powerful. Learn more here.
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Jen Bervin at the expanded Catherine Clark Gallery in SF, April 1 - June 1
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Just saw this wonderful show at the newly expanded Catherine Clark Gallery. Loved it. Learn more here.
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My good friend Ana Teresa Fernández's work is so provocative and exciting. Congratulations to her on this well-deserved recent award. Learn more here.
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Jock McDonald at Found by Maja in SF, May 5 5-7 pm
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So looking forward to this upcoming show by another friend of mine Jock McDonald. The piece above is hand-woven from photographs -- amazing. Learn more about the opening May 5th, here.
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| Rituals of Devotion at McEvoy Foundation for the Arts, March 10 - May 27
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This fascinating multimedia show explores love and spirituality in all different forms. Learn more here.
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| Naomie Kremer at Modernism Gallery in SF, March 16 - May 13
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Naomie Kremer's abstract works always inspire. Learn more here.
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| Slaughterhouse 5 x 5 at Arion Press Gallery in SF, April 15 - July 15
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To celebrate the upcoming publication of it's letterpress edition of Kurt Vonnegut’s classic anti-war novel Slaughterhouse-Five, Arion Press is hosting his show of works inspired by the book by five Bay Area artists: Taraneh Hemami, Oliver Hawk Holden, Kevin Keaney, Josué Rojas, and Cate White. Learn more here.
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| Pamela Hornik's Some Dogs at H6 in SF, April 23 - May 7
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As a dog lover, I'm thrilled that collector Pamela Hornik is doing an exhibition of all of her works on dogs. Can't wait to check it out. Learn more here.
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Judy Blume Forever! Screening and Panel, April 28 in NYC
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Cannot wait for the back-to-back releases about my favorite author (when I was twelve;) : the new documentary Judy Blume Forever (Amazon) and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (Lionsgate), Watch trailer Judy Blume Forever on Amazon here.
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| Mill Valley Music Festival, May 13-14
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Mill Valley Music Festival is back this May 13 + 14! See music from Michael Franti & Spearhead, CAKE, Tank & The Bangas, Original Talking Heads member Jerry Harrison, and Adrian Belew, performing Remain in Light + many more! This festival features a diverse mix of local and national acts, coupled with world-class cuisine, local artists, and craft drinks. Tickets are available now at millvalleymusicfest.com. Use code TIFFANYSHLAINMVMF at checkout to get 10% off all GA, GA+ and VIP ticket types.
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| AAPI Love a la Carte, May 20 4-7pm in SF
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Presented by Adam Swig's Value Culture, 501c3 in collaboration with celebrated Bay Area Artist Reniel Del Rosario will showcase exclusive new works and immersive experiences to promote AAPI love and celebrate AAPI Heritage Month in a unique immersive experience at Yank Sing, in the Rincon Center (101 Spear, SF) May 20, 4-7pm. It is a free and all ages event, inclusive to all backgrounds. New works by Reniel will be showcased and offered through a dim sum experience. Learn more and register here.
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Headlands Center for the Arts Benefit Auction, June 6
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I loved being an artist in residence at Headlands; it's such a great community. I'm excited to have them include my lightbox "The Default Mode Network" in their upcoming auction. Support their work and learn more about the benefit auction on June 6th here.
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| Our Brave Foremothers by Rozella Kennedy and Joelle Avelino
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Over 200+ beautifully illustrated pages, meet 100 amazing foremothers—women of color who left a lasting mark on US history, some famous, some little-known, all passionate, impactful, and incredible! A great mother's day gift. Learn more here.
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| Wisdom Grows in My Garden by Rabbi Paul Plotkin
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This memoir by a gardening rabbi with a growing family is so wise and lovely. Learn more here.
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| LifeSmith by Chris Ategeka
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LifeSmith is a book about power, who has it, how they got it, and how they maintain it. Explore where you fall on the power spectrum. Chris is a good friend and I'm looking forward to reading it. Learn more here.
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| It's a Good Day to Change the World by Lauren Schiller and Hadley Dynak
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Another perfect gift for Mother's Day for all the feminists in your life! Learn more here.
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Your Brain on Art by Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen
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It was wonderful to be in conversation with authors Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross about their new book Your Brain on Art at Book Passage. There is a lot of great neuroscience to back up what we instinctually know about how the arts are vital for society and our own well being. Your Brain on Art takes us on a scientific journey through the science of neuroaesthetics, which offers proof for how our brains and bodies transform when we participate in the arts—and how this knowledge can improve our health, enable us to flourish, and build stronger communities. I highly recommend this fantastic new book. Learn more here.
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| Reconceptions by Rachel Lehmann-Haupt
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I loved talking to one of my best friend's Rachel about her important new book about modern relationships, reproductive science and the unfolding future of family. Learn more and order here.
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The Critic's Daughter by Priscilla Gilman
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Looking forward to reading Priscilla Gilman's new memoir about life with her father, theater critic Richard Gilman. (Loved her last book.) It just arrived at my house. Learn more here.
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| Clarence + Clara: The Untold Story of Public Defense
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This short explainer about the history of public defense is definitely worth a watch. Watch here.
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This documentary short is wonderful and truly deserves the Oscar it just won. Learn more here.
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| History of the World Part II
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I loved Mel Brooks's History of the World Part I (also when I was twelve;), and can't wait to check out the long-awaited sequel. Watch on Hulu here.
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It's always a good time to listen to Dolly Parton's 9 to 5. Here it is in Yiddish. Watch here.
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| Reboot's Kitchen Radio Podcast
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Regine Basha (Founder of Tuning Baghdad) and Nathalie Basha (The Travel Muse) with Reboot, launched the Kitchen Radio podcast April 3, bringing listeners to the table of communities of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. The podcast delves into intergenerational stories of community life and ritual practices from guests who are part of a rising renaissance of creative food projects exploring their oft-overlooked Jewish history and heritage from this region. Learn more and listen here.
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"This Changes Everything"
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Ezra Klein's take on the implications of ChatGPT is a thoughtful must-read. Read here.
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| "The Joy of Letting Loose"
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I loved this recent NYT piece. Perfect for spring. Read here.
See you next month!
xo
T
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