Summary of Live Event @ the Mayors Gallery: Thursday 17th JULY, 2025

 

Summary of Live Event on Thursday 17th July, 2025 Zoë Camper welcomed attendees to the Mayor's Gallery in Las Vegas, introducing Julie Samuels as the co-curator of the exhibition. Julie Samuels joined remotely from the UK via Zoom. The discussion then focused on several art projects, including Zoë's exploration of AI in art, Julie Samuels poetry and soundscape collaboration with Dr. Stace Constantinou, as well as Sawyer Rose's memorial project honoring free women of color from the pre-Civil War South. The curators also touched on the exhibition's curation process - thanking Holly Lay (Visual Arts Specialist II -Public Art, Mayor's Gallery) and staff including, marketing. Zoë' highlighted the impact of the soundscape on visitors. The conversations included presentations from various contributing contributors, that attended both in-person and remotely via Zoom.  Zoe noted that all pieces had QR codes linking to artist statements and additional work.  AI-Enhanced Artistic Expression Nancy Good, a Las Vegas-based artist discussed her work that combines analog and digital techniques, starting with AI-generated self-portraits that she then manually edits and prints using linoleum and handmade paper. She explained her intention to explore the responsible use of AI in art, using it as a tool to enhance creativity while maintaining human control over the creative process.  Art, Poetry, and Soundscape Discussion Zoë and Julie discussed Julie's artwork and poetry, highlighting the themes of performance, imagination, and racial identity. Dr. Stace Constantinou explained the creation of a soundscape inspired by Julie's poetry, using voice recordings and sound effects to evoke an unsettling atmosphere.  Empowering Women Through Burlesque Buttercup, a Las Vegas-based burlesque performer and program coordinator at the Burlesque Hall of Fame, shared her journey into burlesque, inspired by seeing an older woman perform on stage for the first time in 18 years. She discussed how burlesque has become more political for her, focusing on self-expression and challenging societal beauty standards, particularly during the pandemic when she created a piece addressing her childhood experiences with abuse. Buttercup emphasized the importance of supporting women of all ages in expressing themselves through art and highlighted her ongoing efforts to break free from societal conditioning. Photography Inspired By Imperfection Zoë' introduced the work of Fiona Middleton, a British photographer who creates images that are perfectly beautiful while retaining their imperfections, such as the natural decay of roses. Zoe noted that Fiona has a strong history of documenting microaggressions against women and uses stunning color and print quality in her work. Unfortunately, Fiona couldn't attend the meeting due to travel from Germany, but Zoe expressed hope that she might join next month.  Memorializing Free Women of Color Sawyer Rose presented a collaborative art project with Angela Williams Bickham that memorializes free women of color in the pre-Civil War South. The project combines Angela's historical research and poetry with Sawyer Rose's visual art, featuring large-scale tapestries and naming plaques that represent both named and unnamed women from 1830. The artwork incorporates West African and American textile patterns to symbolize the women's dual cultural identities, with the first three installations focusing on North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Black Identity and Cultural Performance Montaysia Yuneek Sims discussed themes of black identity and cultural performance. She reflected on what it means when Black people no longer have to prove their humanity. Drawing from an interest in cultural performance and identity, they use imagination and academic study to explore themes of perception and presence. In their painting, a non-threatening figure is still seen as dangerous, highlighting how Black bodies are often misread as threats simply by existing. Student Art and Leadership Showcase Carlos presented the work of his students, selected by Zoe and Julie, showcasing their creative approach to management and leadership. Carlos discussed his work, which was part of a project on future education and creativity within the augmented society network. He explained their methodology of having participants think about the future in 50-year increments to unlock creative potential. The Move Away From a Reliance On Digital  Petra Štefanková introduced her artwork, which blends traditional pencil drawing with digital coloring, reflecting her experiences and emotions. She explained the style goes back to my early works on paper. Petra explained that she started combining hand-drawn elements with three-dimensional forms. She emphasised that in today’s art world, where digital and AI-generated images are everywhere, there’s something powerful about the authenticity of the human hand.  Artistic Growth Through Practice and Imagination Dr. Rachida Merbouh shared her experience exploring drawing and painting as a new creative endeavor, describing her development of a technique using felt pens and acrylic brushes to control movements and capture ideas clearly on paper. She emphasized the importance of practice, imagination, and reading art books to enhance her understanding and vocabulary of art. While acknowledging that natural talent exists, Rachida expressed her belief that with dedication and time, anyone can improve their artistic skills. Art Exhibition Success and Future Plans The group discussed the success of an art exhibition, with Julie highlighting Rachida's journey from finance to art and her passion for creativity. Zoe mentioned their upcoming project focusing on the importance of creativity in a complex world, referencing their work with the Augmented Society Network since 2018 and a recently published academic book featuring various artists' work. The conversation ended with plans for another tour next month and thanks to everyone who attended in person and remotely.