It’s par for the course to say we have interesting folks working here at Keller, those with diverse backgrounds and experience that have led them to our vibrant work community, but Brian Kellogg brings an array of past lives that speak to that interesting quality in a way we may not have yet seen in our membership. Trained as a software engineer, formerly a scout for Major League Soccer, and the current owner of a Washington DC comedy club, his eclectic collection of expertise led him to move from New York to California in 2019, and begin making art, his primary pursuit here at KSCW. Because of COVID shutdowns, he was able to (and in some sense forced to) find new ways to practice his pursuit of learning to create in different artistic styles, many through the use of the AI tools that at that time were just coming online. Finding community in online spaces and galleries, he nevertheless was seeking real human interaction in a time of separation, and in working with a career coach, found that community here, in coworking.
In speaking with Brian, the meta level questions of using AI tools became apparent: what constitutes original art? Are there ways in which AI can be regarded as not the author, but as another tool, used by the artist in a way that replicates more traditional modes of art production? We didn’t come up with the answer (not even close) during our conversation, but the questions it inspired were very interesting. Brian noted with passion, “Using AI for good is a necessity. The US is currently falling behind in the use of AI in general, and it’s something we need to consider seriously.” He also stated that his goals in using AI tools to make art come from “a traditional art perspective,” and are “for the enjoyment of the process and result.” One thing is clear: if art has always been a playground for the imagination, AI offers another level of access to visualizing projects that many people have not yet engaged with, some out of a resistance to what could be seen as a shortcut to producing inauthenticity.
Brian takes a different tack, emphasizing exactly that playground of imagination to which AI tools offer access. Curating groups of artists who are using AI creates real communities in the world through which the classical questions and pursuits of making art are manifest, and in his words, “New technology is always disruptive.” Through that vein of thought we eventually made our conversational way into the world of DJing and sampling, where an existing piece of music can be used to create new works that emulate or pay homage to the source material, or in some cases stand alone as creations wholly separate from their origins. When sampling began in New York in the late 1970’s, the music world was abuzz with condemnations of the practice, very similar to ideas that can be found in the conversations about AI today. To that end, Brian offers a refreshing perspective on the issue from someone who actively engages in discussion through his work and art practices.
To learn more about AI art, visit www.kelloggstudio.com to see his work. Brian will also be hosting his art show “Alternative Abstract” at Keller this month on 10/23. Come by and see what the fuss is about and share your thoughts with the community!