Category: Program Notes

    Program Note: Turn of the Season and Subject

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    Phase 3: Essays about Art and Technology

    My creative direction shifts with the year and season. After a hard fall and winter for everyone, the spring of 2025 brings optimism and a new focus for my writing.

    Iā€™ve gone through two phases since quitting comic art to return to essays. Waitā€”did I quit comic art? Itā€™s true. For the past eight years, I worked passionately as an illustrator, exploring the comic form. It was a delight, and I grew as an artist, but in my estimation, I failed to bring a full project together. Eventually, my heart pointed back to writing, where Iā€™ve always felt at home. In phase 1, I dusted off my best thirty book reviews and launched my Substack. In phase 2, I turned to politics, writing intently on the U.S. and Canadian elections. Phase 2 is complete.

    Now, in phase 3, Iā€™m writing about art and technology. The central theme is the intersection of art with generative artificial intelligence. Some artists and appreciants scorn me for using AI. Hereā€™s my view:

    • First, I agreeā€”itā€™s a crime when corporations steal art without permission or compensation.
    • Second, I disagree that AI-generated art lacks creativity. Itā€™s a whole new art form, and Iā€™ll explain why.
    • Thirdā€”and hereā€™s where the light breaks in, and perhaps weā€™ll find common groundā€”I believe AI will be the undoing of corporations and capitalism. That part will take some unpacking.

    I hope youā€™ll join me for this next series of essays on art and technology. The series will wrap up by fall, followed by phase 4ā€”still a secret, for now.

    Program Note: Swimming in Mexico

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    What happened to the mindfulness mediation posts? I have taken a side step to write essays on the recent significant events in Canadian politics, but it will all wrap back to my main theme, I promise.

    And what about cognitive technology? Have you noticed the charcoal drawings that head my essays? I am teaching generative AI to draw like me, and in turn I am learning from it. More to come.

    I am taking a holiday in Mexico for a few weeks, and a break from writing and tinkering. I will be reading, drawing, and swimming. See you in late March.

    Program Note: Happy New Year

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    Reflection on 2024 and plans to write about meditation and the Canadian election

    Happy New Year to you. It’s a fresh start.

    This past year presented a personal challenge with my Parkinson’s diagnosis. I prioritized my health and feel strong and happy. I continue to read and learn about Parkinson’s, and I plan to explore clinical trials. My goal is to become involved in advocacy and contribute toward finding a cure.

    Professionally, my career seems to have plateaued. While I enjoy stable employment and good work relationships, I havenā€™t encountered any new, stimulating challenges. If I were a decade younger, I might take a leap into a new opportunityā€”I have no shortage of startup ideas. For now, Iā€™ll remain open to possibilities within my current role. You never know what might come along.

    I remain an active hobbyist. This year, I decided to conclude my comic art journey. Despite exploring many drawing projects, nothing seemed to click. The Parkinson’s diagnosis reinforced my decision to move on, and the cognitive boost from dopamine medication inspired me to return to writing. I’ve been writing book reviews and essays, and in this new year, I plan to focus more on essays as drafts for a book on meditation. Itā€™s a professional endeavor, and Iā€™ve integrated this purpose into my LinkedIn profile.

    Globally, this past year was difficult. The ongoing genocide in Gaza and Trumpā€™s re-election weigh heavily on me. I feel helpless in the face of these tragedies. In Canada, an election is approaching and voting feels disheartening when considering the current party leaders. I plan to write a series of essays proposing an alternative approach: focusing on scrutinizing local candidates rather than party leaders. This shift in perspective could lead to surprising outcomes in the election.

    If youā€™re interested, I invite you to subscribe to my essays on Substack. Theyā€™re free and delivered straight to your email. Seeing new subscribers is always encouraging. You can also follow me on Bluesky.