ACE FEATURED

Joyce Brewer : Building New Collaborations on a Rich Foundation of Past Heritage

April 27, 2023 By Corey Aldrich

I met Joyce Brower at this months 2023 NY Museum Association Conference in Syracuse. (Thanks for the invite Erika Sanger!) I was quickly enthralled by the interesting tapestry of organizational collaborations she was weaving into the fabric of an upcoming event she introduced me to. The ‘2023 Hoosick History and Heritage Fair’ is a regional narrative. Joyce has a way of convincing you of the importance the past plays in the creation of provenance or the identity of a place. As we went deeper, she shared tried and true methods that are creating community cohesion while documenting new things for feature generations to benefit from. There are some real gems in this one folks.

**Joyce Brewer** – *Director* at **Hoosick Township Historical Society** and the **Louis Miller Museum**
Image Provided

Please tell us your name and what you do. How did you get to be in this position?

My name is Joyce Brewer. I am the Director of the Hoosick Township Historical Society and the Louis Miller Museum. I have worked for HTHS for 10 years and have been the Director for 8 years. I am a trustee of the Friends of the Bennington Battlefield and I have held the position of treasurer since its rebirth in 2018. I am a lifelong resident of the Town of Hoosick.

Can you talk a little about why you feel it’s important to tell the stories of places / small towns like Hoosick Falls?

Small communities like Hoosick Falls struggle to make their history and heritage known outside of the local community. They don’t have the funds or dedicated staff at the governmental agencies or departments that work to highlight the community and all it has to offer. Places like Hoosick Falls have amazing history, events and businesses, but getting the word out is hard. The larger media groups don’t tend to cover us, unless something bad happens. Hoosick Falls played an integral part in the founding of our country. The area was a leader at the beginning of the industrial age. We may be a small community now, but at the turn of the 19th century, Hoosick Falls was the place to be!

Hoosick Falls Main Street Trolley | Image Provided

**Walter A. Wood Mowing and Reaping Machine Manufactory** – Main Blacksmith Shop

How does the Hoosick Township Historical Society fit into the towns tapestry? What impact do you feel you have on attracting folks to visit or even live in Hoosick Falls?

The Historical Society plays a very important part in our town. We are a “hands on” museum which delights kids and adults. It is a common occurrence to get calls, emails and visitors from all over the USA and the world inquiring about family genealogy, or asking a question about a piece of Walter A. Wood farm machinery they have. We get many inquiries on military history or tracking someone who fought in the American Revolution. We do all we can do to answer their questions, usually doing the research ourselves and sharing all we can find to help them in their search. It is rewarding to find a long lost family member or have a child excited to try on their great grandfather’s military uniform. If the Town or Village clerk receives a request for genealogy information, we are their first stop.

Hoosick Falls Historical Celebrities the **Eberle Brothers** | Image: Corey Aldrich

A Sample of the **Louis Miller Museum**‘s Vintage Clothing Collection | Photo: Corey Aldrich

When folks are looking to purchase a home or start a business, coming to the museum to find out the history of their building is very common. For new homeowners they want to know the history of who lived in their house before them. They come to the museum and many spend hours and weeks doing more research. It is fun and rewarding to help them discover! As an ambassador for Hoosick Falls, I encourage guests to continue their visit by checking out a food establishment, visiting the Battlefield or a stopping at one of the many art or antique stores.

Display Quilt with Resident Name Panels | Photo: Corey Aldrich

What advice would you give to other Historical Society organizations that are operating in smaller, more rural towns?

It is imperative to have an open door attitude. To have your artifacts accessible to young and old, and to offer events that highlight not just the famous of your community but the everyday person who happens to be an amazing photographer or artist, a cherished dance teacher or even someone who just celebrated their 100th birthday. These are the people who are the fabric of the town, the hardworking everyday people, and when you celebrate them, the entire community can see how the local historical society cares for the community as a whole, not just those who are famous. It is also important to share the stories and photos of not just the famous or infamous, but of everyday life…kids playing ball, a sports team from “back in the day”, a group of folks in a factory. Not only do these photos and stories get people talking, they share them because they have family or friends in them and this promotes pride and respect in them and in your small town. We feel it is extremely important to offer programs for kids and let them experience the museum in a fun and ingenious way. This is why we started Junior Historians in 2022.

Hoosick Falls Junior Historians Group Photo with History Teacher **Katie Brownell** | Photo Provided

I am fascinated by the upcoming event you have at the Hoosick Falls Armory – the ‘Hoosick History and Heritage Fair.’ Can you tell us more about your collaborative project partners and how you plan to make that a town wide event?

Besides being Director of the historical society, I am also a member of the Friends of the Bennington Battlefield. We have been working since 2018 to enhance the Battlefield and the public experience there. We added interpretive panels in 2020 and in 2022 we added an audio tour to accompany the panels. To address attendance challenges, our two groups created a joint committee to focus on fostering community engagement and education in Hoosick History and Heritage. Our goal is to propel our community to the next phases of upcoming celebrations, such as the end of the Seven Years War in 1774 (2024), the beginning of the American Revolution in 1775 (2025), the declaration of our independence 1776 (2026), and the turning point of the Revolution which began right here in Walloomsac, NY on August 16 1777 (2027).

**The Bennington Museum** | **Barnett House** with **Friend of the Bennington Battlefield**
*President* **Peter Shaafphok** | Images Provided

Besides celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bennington – which we prefer to call the Battle of Walloomsac- it will also be the 200th anniversary for the Village of Hoosick Falls and the 100th anniversary of NYS officially recognizing the battlefield as a Historic site. With these three important events all in the same year we knew we needed to focus our efforts to bring awareness to these important dates and bring a renewed interest in our amazing history.

**Friends of the Bennington Battlefield** Reenactment with Canon Fire | Image Provided

As a small historical society we could never host an event like this on our own, but bringing all these people together in one space, gives those small, mostly volunteer run places a place to highlight what they are and have to offer. We will have representatives from a wide variety of historic sites and organizations who will share interesting history from Rensselaer County and beyond, as well as reenacting groups, our own Junior Historians and fun kids activities. Visitors can visit over a dozen exhibitors in the armory, participate in a scavenger hunt throughout our historic district, take a narrated trolley ride to the battlefield and back, and grab some food from the local Lions Club and ice cream truck. There will be re-enactors setting up camp in Wood Park. At noon, you can join the Red Knights Motorcycle Club as they co-host the annual Armed Forces Day Ceremony. This ceremony honors the 103 men from the Town of Hoosick who died in service to their country and is held at Liberty Memorial Park in Maple Grove Cemetery.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church thrift store, which is located adjacent to Wood Park, will be open as well and many of the downtown brick and morter businesses throughout the town will have specials for the day. The best part – the event is FREE!!

The **Louis Miller Museum** Team | Image: Corey Aldrich
*Left to Right*: **Joyce Brewer**, **Paige Kwasniak**, **Katie Brownell** and **Carol Gaillard**

What do folks need to know to get involved with the May 20th event? Is there an event page with a full listing of whats happening?

You can visit Hoosick Township Historical Society

You can also find the information at the Friends of the Bennington Battlefield

On the NYS Parks site for the Bennington Battlefield

If you wish to volunteer an hour or two of your time on the 20th you can reach out to me at staff@hoosickhistory.com or call 518-686-4682.

If you want to experience the fair and all that is happening, the fair will run from 10 am to 4 pm at the Hoosick Falls Armory, 80 Church St, Hoosick Falls. Come early to grab breakfast, a coffee or a nutritious shake, take a walk along the Hoosic River Greenway, or visit Natty Bumppo’s burial site. There is so much to do in Historic Hoosick Falls!

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.

518 Film Network : Connecting the Dots for Regional Film Producers

February 20, 2023 By Corey Aldrich

I originally met some of the members who later would form 518 Film through ACE! events and socially in downtown Troy New York. They registered strongly on my radar as an organizational force to be reckoned with last year when ACE! partnered up to amplify ‘The Monkey Short Film Fundraising Gala‘ in Albany New York. A collection of dedicated career film folks at a variety of levels in the film making ecosystem, 518 Film continues to be a part of a vibrant production feed that is increasingly making waves in the region and far beyond (in addition to throwing some great parties!). I caught up with Co-Founder and Community Engagement Director Michelle Polacinski to hear more about their vision and the big structural and programmatic expansion plans they have for the near future.

Michelle Polacinski, Community Manager and Cofounder at 518 Film Network | Photo: Richard Lovrich

Please state your name, title, company name and what you do.

My name is Michelle Polacinski (she/her). I am the Community Manager and Co-Founder at 518 Film Network. I’m also a freelance director, producer, and production manager. I’m currently co-producing the visual effects for an upcoming Superbowl commercial. I have worked on titles including John Wick 4, A Man Called Otto, Resurrection, The Witcher, Modern Marvels, Shark Tank, and Food Network Star. I graduated from both Binghamton University and FAMU International (Prague, Czechia) with degrees in Cinematography and Producing.

Micah Khan and Michelle Polacinski, Founders at 518 Film Network | Photo: Patrick J. Harris

How long has 518 FILM been in existence? Can you explain the structure of your business and what the organization’s aims and goals are?

518 Film Network was co-founded by local writer/film director Micah Khan and myself in 2019 after a handful of frustrating conversations about not being able to find local crew for our own productions. We wanted to meet more people in the area and we knew that they existed, so we started a database of 10 people we both knew, asking each of them to share anyone they knew and, like filmmaking itself, we grew by word of mouth and referrals. Since, we have hosted numerous creative networking events and as a collective were the catalyst for multiple local filmmakers to come together and make films. We have an active private online community with a job board and various subgroups such as ‘mastermind’ and ‘actors anonymous.’ We grew from 10 people to nearly 200 in the past 2-3 years. Our most active members, including but not limited to, Patrick Regan, Lakota Ruby-Eck, Spencer Sherry, and Victoria Diana have helped take 518 Film Network to the next level by spreading the word, co-hosting events, and bringing folks together.

Micah Khan, Co-Founder at 518 Film Network | Photo: Provided

Currently, we operate as a corporation under my film production company, Strangest Sea Films, but we plan to become a non-profit corporation within the year. We are in the process of asking for help in learning how to form a 501(c)3 that matches our goals.

As a group, we aim to connect local filmmakers to help them grow and create projects together, while bringing jobs from incoming film productions into the hands of local people. When productions hire locally, it benefits the local economy and also helps productions save money by not needing to pay for hotel rooms. We are currently in the process of expanding to provide education in the form of online courses and in-person workshops as well as partnering with local colleges to teach filmmaking courses. We plan to someday both receive and give grants to our local filmmakers so we can make more local films!

On Set for Filming The Rickety Man (Directed by Cameron Gallagher) | Photo: Ann Kielbasa

How are you different from other film organizations regionally?

We focus on building intimate connection between our members through collaboration and wildly creative networking events. It’s difficult to invite someone on something so intimate as a set, where anything can and will go wrong at any given moment, after talking with another filmmaker for 15 minutes and handed a business card. Our industry just doesn’t work that way. This is why we do things a bit differently.

We not only want local filmmakers to know each other, but also to help each other grow in a genuine way. We celebrate our local filmmakers by amplifying their projects, hosting regular screenings, and never shying away from sharing fundraising efforts. This is full-blown support with no strings attached. We benefit as a community by lifting each other up, period.

On Set of the Monkey Short Film (Directed by Spencer Sherry) | Photo: Provided

Can you talk about some specific projects that you are especially proud of being involved with?

It’s really hard to come up with an answer to this question. Every film our members make feels like a community film. My personal favorites are collaborations between members that wouldn’t have happened without them meeting through us or films that give others opportunity to grow and learn in a new role. It’s always exciting to see friendships blossom and turn into working relationships.

In regards to how I am directly involved, I’m vfx producing two corporate (non-local) commercials right now, one of which is a Superbowl commercial which is definitely a milestone for me. I am also producing Writer/Director/Comedian Victoria Diana‘s upcoming short film, ‘Second Coming.’ Second Coming is a raunchy twist on a Christmas film that is also one of the best scripts I have ever read. I cried laughing reading it and I can’t wait to bring it to life. We are hoping for a release close to the 2023 holiday season.

Michelle Directing a Scene | Photo: Provided

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

There are truly too many amazing upcoming films right now. I hate not mentioning every incredible local film we have coming up, but there is no way I’d be able to fit all of them! Here are a few:

Writer/Director Joe Gietl recently worked with Producer Cameron S Mitchell to create the pilot for ‘The Fledgling Series‘, which is especially cool because not only was it shot in our region, but it stars ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s‘ Juliet Landau as well as an incredible local actress, Anastasia Veronica Lee. Lee was such a joy to have on set and it’s really exciting that she is so close that we can bring her on other independent projects in the future.

Micah Khan recently directed his first big budget feature film, ‘Zombie Wedding‘, with Weekly World News and a handful of big names.

I’m also excited about Ember Autumn Skye‘s recent short, ‘You’re So Shy,’ a human rights-centered film, which stars her own sister, Sage, and was an incredible collaboration with local Director of Photography Lakota Ruby-Eck.

‘Insurance’, by Writer / Director Steve Rock, is currently in production, a collaboration between his production company Abomination Films and Lakota Ruby-Eck’s production company, Tomb Pictures.

‘The Monkey‘ a Stephen King short written / directed by Spencer Sherry and shot by local Emmy award winning Director of Photography Jim Powers, should be out soon. That is still in post-production. Spencer is also producing ‘Anomaly‘, a magic film written/directed by Ryan Jenkins.

Also Dirty Sweater Productions (owned by amazing married filmmaker couple Charity Buckbee and Kyle Kleege) is working on editing their first feature film, ‘Earworm.’