It is interesting
to occasionally self reflect on the past. Cancel culture on social media
platforms seems to be having consistent criticism amongst free speech advocates
who comment on the long term and lasting effects on career paths. I can attest
to the effects it has in the woodturning world in the UK.
Starting some
twenty years back I posted a number of challenging Blog posts and Forum posts
for which I seem to have been rewarded by being ignored or ‘cancelled’. I have no complaints about the probable
merits of the attacks at that time amongst those who responded and I feel that for
some it enhanced their career prospects to put me down and put me in my place.
However it is interesting to note that most of the most vocal proponents have
stood still in their development whereas I constantly moved on, quietly. I have
come to the conclusion that it has been helpful to have been largely ignored
given that my venture into turning was prompted by my PTSD symptoms and the
need to be in my own world to protect myself while going through lengthy (10
years nearly) of court proceedings and metal health referrals. I am happy to
say I am a survivor of the mental health system, proud of what I have achieved
and most happy to still be in my own cocooned world that has satisfied most of
my mental wellbeing and creative needs. What I am less happy about is not being
able to fully pass on what I have learned along the way in transitioning from art
to craft and then back to art. Cancer and Parkinson’s diagnoses and treatments
have and are taking a toll on my body and mind, as has the aging process but I
modify my work methods and time spent into account as I continue on with my
learning scheme. I spend more time image making and with computer software solutions
as my manual dexterity diminishes.
I have
always given away my knowledge and experience free, self-published stuff fairly
regularly in the past and offered free downloads from my website and blog. I
also offered free demonstrations and talks but I have only had two invites
ever. (just as well none recently as travel is not now possible)
Although my
work is in the Wood Symphony online Gallery in Los Angeles and has featured in
all five volumes of their Masters of Contemporary Wood Art series of publications,
I am pleased to acknowledge that the only work I have sold is via my image
making. I have a small personal collection of swapped work, mostly from US
turners.
Anyway,
enough words on reflecting on the past. Part of my recent image making journey
has, as mentioned in an earlier post, included using AI software. As well as
art projects, I have used AI to design or rather suggest in text to image software,
some potential turning alternatives. I shared some of the outcomes in the form
of illustrated .pdf files on the WoW site/forum, 11 in all, separated into
categories of variations. I share a few results here, so if anyone out there is
interested in seeing more either join WoW or contact me and I will share more
of my images with you. They may appear to be real but they are not and are
meant as design possibilities or starting points for perhaps, new thinking and/or
making.
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