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Cultivating Creativity

By in Native

Cultivating Creativity

Ohio Wesleyan Alumna Sarah Hahn Returns as University’s 2023-2024 Artist-in-Residence

By Cole Hatcher

When spring blooms at Ohio Wesleyan University next year, Sarah Hahn plans to scatter three 10-foot-tall dandelion seeds throughout the campus landscape.

As OWU’s 2023-2024 artist-in-residence, Hahn will add a pair of 4-foot-tall fingertips holding the empty head of a dandelion flower and then complete her public art installation, tentatively titled “Where the Wind Carries You,” by adding a rippling metal wall with a sustainability message and a native plant pollinator garden.

With a paper template behind her, Sarah Hahn explains how she will create three bronze-and-stainless-steel dandelion seeds for her outdoor public art piece. She is OWU’s second artist-in-residence.

Planting Positivity

“There are a lot of different meanings behind the piece,” said Hahn, a 2008 Ohio Wesleyan graduate. “I like the imagery of the dandelion as it has many beneficial properties and yet is considered a weed. It is not native to Ohio but has been part of, and beneficial to, our ecosystem, unlike many other non-native species.

“The seeds propel themselves far and wide, and are prolific, helping other plants and the soil where they grow,” said Hahn, who majored in Fine Arts at OWU. “I like this as a representation for the graduating students – to disperse after their time at Ohio Wesleyan and benefit the communities in which they live.

“The fingertips holding the head of the dandelion represent the human interaction and involvement with shaping the environment around us,” Hahn continued. “The wall is an extension of my series ‘Ripples Into the Universe.’ This series represents all the small actions, events, and ideas that take place, that coalesce, to create a larger whole that propels society and the universe.”

Recycled Media

Hahn, who is teaching sculpture classes during her Ohio Wesleyan residency, is creating the fluffy-looking dandelion seeds using bronze and stainless steel, and the fingertips by creating a metal frame and using insulating foam, epoxy clay, and bronze paint to complete them. She is using as many recycled and sustainable materials as possible, including reclaimed clay, recycled wax, and insulating foam recovered by “dumpster diving” at a construction site.

In addition to the text, perhaps part of a poem, incorporated into the rippling wall, Hahn will inscribe messages on the three scattered seeds as well.

“One seed pod will have the ideas of sustainability from Girl Scouts (including Delaware Troup 5080) carved into it, another the ideas from my college students, and the third from some OWU faculty,” Hahn said.

Sarah Hahn’s public art will include 4-foot fingertips holding a dandelion head, a rippled wall, and a live pollinator garden in addition to the scattered seeds.

A Growing Reminder

In addition, she hopes the native garden helps propagate the green message while simultaneously educating the community about the beauty and importance of pollinator plants.

“One of the benefits of dandelions is that they are an early source of pollen, but there are many plants that provide pollen and other benefits throughout the growing season,” Hahn said. “These plants also require less water and care once they are established as they have evolved to grow in Ohio weather.”

‘Dare to be Great’

As an OWU student, Hahn concentrated her Bachelor of Fine Arts studies in ceramics and figure drawing. She also served on the department’s student-faculty board and helped run the Werner Gallery and the Annual Spring Juried Exhibit.

She still is motivated by her first ceramics professor, Phyllis Kloda, who “had a saying ‘dare to be great’ that I still hear in my mind sometimes,” Hahn said. “Marty Kalb pushed me a lot, too. I only had Kristina Bogdanov my last year, but she has been an encouraging force throughout my career. There were so many wonderful and influential faculty members even outside of my area of study, which I was really fortunate to have.”

An Alumna’s Advice

For current students, the alumna-turned-instructor offers this advice: “Don’t be afraid to travel and do residencies. That is something I wish I had done but was worried about the financial aspect.”

And for Fine Arts students, Hahn adds: “Find artists who want help on projects, and work with or under as many artists as you can. You will learn more about their working practice by working on one of their projects with them. Keep making. It is easy to stop. Life will pull you in different directions and whether you are applying for exhibits or commissions, you will need work to show. I have heard often that a one-to-10 success rate of what you apply for is really good. Hearing no doesn’t get easier, at least for me, but it keeps me moving on to the next opportunity.”

Bloom and Benefit

Hahn, who earned her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Kentucky in 2012, hopes to finish and install her Ohio Wesleyan sculpture in time for the May commencement ceremony. She expects to collaborate with OWU and Delaware Hayes High School students, local Girl Scouts, sustainability groups, and others to plant the garden as well as create plant markers and seed bombs to inspire others – especially OWU’s Class of 2024 – to bloom and benefit their communities.

In addition to serving as Ohio Wesleyan’s second artist-in-residence, Hahn teaches at the Cultural Art Center in downtown Columbus.

Her Ohio Wesleyan residency is being funded by The Ebb and Teena Haycock Public Art Endowment. Ebb Haycock created OWU’s first foundry and was a member of the Fine Arts faculty until his retirement in 1985. Haycock Hall, where Hahn is creating her sculpture, was named for him. The public art endowment was created in 2020 by Haycock’s daughter, Lorry Luikart ’73, in memory of both her father and mother.

Andrew Wilson ’13 was OWU’s inaugural artist-in-residence and served during the 2020-2021 academic year. His outdoor sculpture, titled “Back Porch,” is a 14-foot high, 8-foot wide, and 8-foot deep metal artwork that honors generations of OWU Black lives and legacies.

Learn more about Ohio Wesleyan’s Fine Arts courses, faculty, and opportunities at owu.edu/FineArts.

A Review of the Fujifilm GFX100 II Mirrorless Medium Format Camera

By in Photography

A Review of the Fujifilm GFX100 II Mirrorless Medium Format Camera

The Fujifilm GFX100 II medium format mirrorless camera is the latest refinement in the company’s respected line of GF series cameras, and with capabilities like faster burst speeds and improved autofocus, it has become an even more tempting alternative to traditional full frame setups. Can it keep up with a demanding genre like wedding photography? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect in usage. 

Coming to you from John Branch IV Photography, this great video review takes a look at the Fujifilm GFX100 II mirrorless medium format camera for wedding photography work. The GFX 100 II adds a variety of new features and upgrades, including: 

  • Newly developed 102-megapixel high-speed medium format sensor
  • X-Processor 5 image processing engine with twice as fast readout speed
  • AI subject-detection autofocus leveraging Deep Learning technology
  • Faster continuous burst speed of 8 fps
  • Apple ProRes 4:2:2, 10-bit video at 4K/60p and 8K/30p
  • Apple ProRes 422 HQ, Apple ProRes 422 and Apple ProRes 422 LT support
  • Ethernet, HDMI Type A, and USB-C ports
  • CFExpressTM Type B and SD card slots
  • Native integration for Frame.io Camera to Cloud
  • 20 film simulation modes, including the new REALA ACE mode
  • Extended ISO 80 capabilities
  • Increased light use efficiency at the sensor’s edges for improved image quality and autofocus accuracy
  • Five-axis in-body image stabilization with up to eight stops of compensation
  • 9.44-million-dot EVF with 1.0x magnification

Check out the video above for the full rundown.

Over 25 Years of a Pioneering Collective’s History Comes Together in ‘Trailblazing Women Printmakers’

By in Art World News

Over 25 Years of a Pioneering Collective’s History Comes Together in ‘Trailblazing Women Printmakers’

Aino Clarke, “Jazz Age.” Photo by Peter Morse, courtesy of Peter and Bobbi Kovner. All images © the artists, courtesy of Princeton Architectural Press, shared with permission

Working together from about 1941 to 1969 in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and almost entirely comprised of women block printers, the artists of the Folly Cove Designers comprised one of America’s longest-running artist collectives. The pioneering group produced hundreds of unique designs, and a new book by Elena M. Sarni from Princeton Architectural Press titled Trailblazing Women Printmakers: Virginia Lee Burton Demetrios and the The Folly Cove Designers details the group’s prolific history and extensive works.

Led by acclaimed children’s book author Virginia Lee Burton Demetrios, the collective functioned similarly to a medieval craft guild. Artists would convene regularly for classes on design and technique and also hone their skills individually, either at home or in the studio. Afterwards, jurors assessed their designs, and upon approval, the works proceeded to the printing stage.

Cut from linoleum and block-printed onto mainly fabric, each design tells a story. Members were constantly urged to draw inspiration from their surroundings, whether depicting a musical performance, the local college campus, or kitchen utensils and ingredients. Each artist shared personal narratives and familiar scenes. According to the Cape Ann Museum, which houses the largest collection of work by the Folly Cove Designers, Demetrios encouraged artists to “draw ‘what they knew’ and to sketch their subjects over and over again until they made them their own.” Each intricate print documented daily life, giving voice to women’s stories.

Find your copy of Trailblazing Women Printmakers on Bookshop.

 

symmetrically designed patterns depicting railroads and trains

Eino Natti, “Polyphemus.” Photo by Gary Lowell, courtesy of Sandy Bay Historical Society

against a navy blue background, houses with trees and lakes and gardens emerge in a cream hue

Louise Kenyon, “Head of the Cove.” Photo by Peter Morse, courtesy of Peter and Bobbi Kovner

a repeating pattern depicting an archer and a forest with birds

Virginia Lee Burton Demetrios, “Robin Hood.” Hood. Photo by Gary Lowell, courtesy of Sandy Bay Historical Society

symmetrically designed radial pattern depicting lines that look like stairs

Aino Clarke, “Atomic Age.” Courtesy of Cape Ann Museum

a town with figures and foliage lining the streets

Louise Kenyon, “Smith College.” Photo by Peter Morse, courtesy of Peter and Bobbi Kovner

a repeating pattern of a man and woman dancing

Virginia Lee Burton Demetrios, “Finnish Hop.” Photo by Gary Lowell, courtesy of Sandy Bay Historical Society

symmetrically designed radial pattern depicting ingredients and cooking utensils

Lee Natti, “Old Sturbridge Country Store.” Photo by Gary Lowell, courtesy of Kathryn Soucy

Group portrait of the Folly Cove Designers in front of barn.

Group portrait of the Folly Cove Designers, courtesy of Cape Ann Museum

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Over 25 Years of a Pioneering Collective’s History Comes Together in ‘Trailblazing Women Printmakers’ appeared first on Colossal.

7 Products From Autentico Showcase Pugliese Design Prowess

By in Design

7 Products From Autentico Showcase Pugliese Design Prowess

Autentico. Design made in Puglia marks the first significant introduction of Pugliese design and production to the American market with an immersive exhibition showcasing handcrafted furnishings, materials, and objects from 11 exemplary regional brands. Exhibitors include Affreschi & Affreschi, AMURA LAB, BIANCO CAVE by FATO STONE, Centrino Style, Dimarmo, Marra Pavimenti, MITOHOME, Officine Tamborrino, Pimar Italian Limestone Specialist, R.D.D. Italia, and Trame di Pietra, with artwork by rising Pugliese photographer Piero Percoco in correspondence with each booth.

Archiproducts – an online portal and community for inspiration or sourcing of all things architecture, product, and design – is one of many key players facilitating this endeavor. “The Puglia region has always been a place of natural excellence, which has grown thanks to its unique geographical position between Europe and the Mediterranean,” say Enzo Maiorano and Rossella Arena – Co-founder of Archiproducts and Art director of Autentico, and account manager of Archiproducts and event manager for Autentico, respectively. “Over time, new know-how, skills, and technologies have mixed with Puglia’s traditions, leading to advanced research and experimentation. This Apulian craftsmanship is enriched with new values, bringing materials such as stone, fabrics, metal, and ceramics to increasingly appreciated levels of quality and excellence worldwide.” The Manhattan show – on view to the public until November 17 – proves that the most forward thinking design solutions are those steeped in heritage, history, and tradition. Below are seven selections from Autentico that champion contemporary Pugliese design.

Dimarmo Exhibit

Detail of marble bench and shelf

Dimarmo’s Onda sculptural chaise longue

It’s never “just marble” to an Italian, and for Dimarmo it’s the Onda sculptural chaise pool lounge. The luxurious furnishing is fashioned with a thin marble veneer offering lightness without compromising on aesthetic – subverting all expectations of the stone’s performance and sparking great joy as it floats by. The elegant shape complements a variety of placements in indoor and outdoor spaces alike.

Exhibit with three limestone planters

Bianco Cave by Fato Stone Exhibit

Large vases with basic geometric shapes in Lecce stone.

With decades of expertise in extraction and manufacturing, Bianco Cave knows how to take advantage of the wide range of chromatic tones and material quality offered by Lecce limestone. The large vases delight with geometric shapes and tell the story of compositional simplicity and the connection with its physical place of origin.

Exhibit with sofa

MITOHOME Exhibit

Detail of contrasting modular sofa

MITOHOME’s Stone modular sofa

The Stone Modular Sofa in contrasting textiles illustrates one of the many customizations for this contemporary sofa. MITOHOME executes its designs with solid wood construction and seams stitched with the care of hand-tailoring. Each product combines traditional craft with production efficiency.

Exhibit with three tile samples

Marra Pavimenti Exhibit

Detail of three tile samples

Three Cementine tile patters.

Marra Pavimenti retells traditional visual narratives with contemporary language in their variety of cement paste multilayered tiles. The work of the Marra Brothers includes artisans that formulate an amalgam of water with elements such as white cement, fine marble chips, and color pigments to execute their flat patterns.

Exhibit with limestone tables

Pimar Italian Limestone Specialist Exhibit

Detial of limestone table

A sculpturally shaped coffee table by Pimar

Pimar’s historical tradition and experience with Lecce limestone dates back roughly 150 years with longstanding commitments to sustainability and investments in renewable energy. The geometric coffee table designs oft borrow elements from architecture and introduce them at a human scale with a dialogue between materials like brass and stone.

Exhibit with console and side tables

Officine Tamborrino Exhibit

Detail of tables and console

The Grace console by Sara Mondaini for Officine Tamborrino

Officine Tamborrino designs and manufactures metal furniture for residential, office, and community spaces alike. The modern Grace Console comes in a wide variety of finishes to accommodate aesthetic tastes as well as modifications like doors that cater to those clients who may require an additional level of utility.

Exhibit with spherical seating

R.D.D. Italia Exhibit

Spherical detail of pouf

The Ariu pouf by R.D.D. Italia

Spherical, whimsical, and highly technical, the Ariu Pouf is the result of craftsmanship and advanced technological solutions as the designers use a multidisciplinary approach to realize their furniture. This particular piece, which can be reconfigured at the user’s behest, is as reminiscent of atomic structure as it is the decorative stone elements that adorn traditional Italian architecture.

Autentico is open to the public until November 17th from 11am – 7pm at 82 Gansevoort (Meatpacking District) in New York City.

With professional degrees in architecture and journalism, Joseph has a desire to make living beautifully accessible. His work seeks to enrich the lives of others with visual communication and storytelling through design. A regular contributor to titles under the SANDOW Design Group, including Luxe and Metropolis, Joseph serves the Design Milk team as their Managing Editor. When not practicing, he teaches visual communication, theory, and design. The New York-based writer has also contributed to exhibitions hosted by the AIA New York’s Center for Architecture and Architectural Digest, and recently published essays and collage illustrations with Proseterity, a literary publication.

Things to do: Stephanie Land reading, Native play debut and live music

By in Native

Things to do: Stephanie Land reading, Native play debut and live music


Cory Walsh

Here’s a quick guide to some upcoming events happening around Missoula in the coming week.



111323-mis-nws-musical-01.JPG

From left, University of Montana students Connor Romandine, Lucy Schindler, Andy Lottis, McKay Cheney, Rikky Johnson, Nick Monsos, Monroe Ayers and Mikayla Kay in the Zootown Cabaret, a student performing ensemble for musical theater, rehearse “35mm: A Musical Exhibition” at McGill Hall on Thursday, Nov. 9. The student group is staging a musical based on photographs by a Broadway photographer who grew up in Missoula.



ANTONIO IBARRA OLIVARES, Missoulian


‘35mm: A Musical Exhibition’

(Friday-Saturday, Nov. 17-18)

The Zootown Cabaret, an auditioned UM musical theater group, is staging an unconventional new show with Missoula ties.

In “35mm: A Musical Exhibition,” still photographs (seen on a projection screen) formed the inspiration for the music. New York composer-lyricist Ryan Scott Oliver, a rising star in the theater world, wrote songs in a variety of genres based on photographs by his husband, Matthew Murphy, a theater and dance photographer who grew up in Missoula.

Details: 7 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show. $17 general, $10 students. Contains mature themes and language.

People are also reading…

Bass loops take the lead

(Saturday, Nov. 18)

During the low points of 2020, Cole Grant, a bassist who plays with the local jazz-jam-improv group Transcendental Express, spent a lot of time jamming not with his friends, but a looping pedal.

That time turned into an album’s worth of short loops that he released as a beat tape.

He’s expanded that effort with a new project under the name C Dylla G. (The name’s an homage to the late producer James Yancey, who went by J Dilla.)

Quarantine long over, he brought in collaborations for a triple-album’s worth of new beats, each around a minute and 20 per record. You can hear work by saxophonist Lhanna Writesel, multi-instrumentalist Sean Burress, singer-songwriter Gabrielle Tusberg and former “Pea Green Boat” host Annie Garde.

To bring the loops to life for a release show, Grant booked Suite Two, a community performance space, and booked three artists that will interpret one album each: DJ Slacks, S_nya and Doctor Fly, plus visuals by Rainbow Gorilla.

Details: 8 p.m., $10 suggested donation. Suite Two is located at 1001 S. Fourth St. W.

Funksgiving at the Wilma

(Saturday, Nov. 18)

The Bozeman tradition of Funksgiving, now in its ninth year, is expanding to Missoula.

A ’70s costume party, in which the bands and the audience can dress up, has sold out the past three years in its home city.

The music is provided by the Sweet Groovalicious Funk Machine with some special guests: L.A. singer Adryon de Leon, Bozeman country singer Paige Rasmussen, and local vocalist Kelley Sinclair. Montana “power disco” duo Desperate Electric will open.

Some proceeds will go to the nonprofit Montana Land Reliance, which works with “private landowners to permanently protect agricultural lands, fish and wildlife habitat and open space,” according to its website.

Details: Tickets are $20 advance, $23 day of, logjampresents.com. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8.



020919 stephanie land1 kw.jpg (copy)

Stephanie Land seen at her home in Missoula in 2019 not long after “Maid” was published.



Kurt Wilson



Stephanie Land reading at MPL

(Sunday, Nov. 19)

The Missoula author of the best-selling memoir “Maid,” which was turned into a Netflix series, has written a follow-up book, “Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education.”

Released early this month, the book covers Land’s experience raising a young daughter on her own while finishing an English and creative writing degree at the University of Montana.

At this hometown celebration, she’ll discuss the book with local novelist and vlogger Hank Green.

Details: Free, 7 p.m. MPL Cooper Room on the fourth floor.

Original play addressing MMIP

(Sunday, Nov. 19)

A new play by a local Indigenous writer that addresses the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People will get a stage reading this weekend.

“Can’t Drink Salt Water” is an original work by Missoula playwright Kendra Mylnechuk Potter (Lummi). She wrote and starred in an original full-length show, “The Buffalo Play,” which premiered in Missoula and New York. She was also the subject of a documentary, “Daughter of a Lost Bird,” about her adoption by a white family in Missoula and her search for her adult mother.

According to the Rep, the play follows two stories: “a mother’s relentless search to find her missing daughter with the journey of a young woman newly arrived at Bethel House, an evangelical shelter for victims of sex trafficking.”

The director of this reading is Pirrone Yousefzadeh and the cast includes Indigenous actors from around the U.S. and Canada, including Elva Guerra of the FX series “Reservation Dogs.” 

This is a staged reading, meaning there’s no set and costumes, and the Rep has committed to a full production in the future.

Details: 4 p.m., Montana Theatre, PAR/TV Building. Tickets are $5-$50 at montanarep.com. Recommended for adult audiences.

String Orchestra of the Rockies concert

(Sunday, Nov. 19)

The SOR’s final concert of the calendar year, “Musical Stars and Serenades,” features two soloists and a youth guest orchestra.

The soloists are the group’s music director, Maria Larionoff, a violinist and former concertmaster for the Seattle Symphony, and Adam Collins, cellist and professor at UM. They’ll take the spotlight on Vivaldi’s Concerto for Violin, Cello and Strings.

The orchestra’s “Risings Stars” group, which includes UM undergraduates and area high school students, will join them for Dvorak’s Serenade for Strings.

Details: 4 p.m., UM Music Building Recital Hall.



110323-mis-nws-stolen-waters-01.jpg (copy)

Heather Cahoon shares poems while speaking at the first night of the Stolen Waters Summit at the University of Montana’s Payne Family Native American Center in early November.



ANTONIO IBARRA OLIVARES, Missoulian


Glacier Symphony with Native poetry

(Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 18-19)

For “Vision Spirit Land,” the symphony has some special collaborations from an Indigenous poet and artist.

The centerpiece of the concert is the world premiere of “The Hunting Moon,” a symphonic piece by the group’s conductor John Zoltek. It includes nearly 15 poems by Heather Cahoon, a UM professor and member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The narration will be accompanied by guest soloist Suzanne Teng on flute. The pre-concert and intermission will feature work by Monica Gilles-BringsYellow, a Missoula-based Salish visual artist, and the concert will have two ceremonial songs by Kevin Kickingwoman, a Blackfeet artist, Browning High School instructor and the 2023 Montana Teacher of the Year. Besides Zoltek’s original composition, the concert features Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Visions” and pieces by Samuel Barber and Dvorak, along with visuals.

Details: Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. in McClaren Hall at Wachholsz College Center at Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell.

Quick hits

Local show at Free Cycles: The Benevolents (7 p.m.) and the Two Tracks (8:30-10 p.m.). The Benevolents are a local folk-rock-jam group; while the Two Tracks are a Sheridan, Wyoming, Americana outfit that recently released a new album, “It’s a Complicated Life” that was deemed to be “pure excellence” by American Songwriter magazine. Admission is $5 at the door, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. All ages. Friday, Nov. 17.

Locals at the Badlander: Catch a three-pack of old-school musicians with The Skurfs, Modular Haze and Bacon and Egg. 7 p.m., $10, on Friday, Nov. 17.

‘Napoleon Dynamite’ reunion: The cast of the cult film is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a screening and an on-stage discussion: Jon Heder as the title character, Efren Ramirez as Pedro and Jon Gries as Uncle Rico. Friday, Nov. 17, 8 p.m. Dennison Theatre, griztix.com.

Noise-heavy groups at VFW: Attendees of the late noise/heavy/anything event Total Fest may recall Gaythiest of Portland. They’ll play with local metal-doom outfit Swamp Ritual and a local noise-improv group whose name includes the word “Panic,” led by Tricia Opstad and Dusty Shriver. Friday, Nov. 17, $10, all ages, Doors at 8 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m.



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These Indigenous Artists Are Using Public Art to Make Their Voices Heard

By in Native

These Indigenous Artists Are Using Public Art to Make Their Voices Heard

From the ancient petroglyphs at Nevada’s Grimes Point Archaeological Site to the vibrant murals adorning Indian Alley in Los Angeles, Native American communities have been harnessing the power of visual art to tell their stories for thousands of years. And we’re not just talking about paintings hung behind gallery doors. Instead, many Indigenous artists are sidestepping institutional barriers and bringing their works into the public eye via moving outdoor installations intended to amplify the diverse history, traditions, and stories of their peoples. (Not that their body of work isn’t gaining more and more recognition in the exhibition space as well—Jeffrey Gibson is set to be the first solo indigenous artist to represent the US at the Venice Biennale in 2024.)

Why public art? Part of the reason lies in the numbers. While the US Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey noted a significant growth in those identifying as American Indian and Alaska Native—from 5.2 million in 2010 to 8.7 million—Indigenous peoples still only account for about 2.6% of the country’s total population. As such, going public is a way for Native artists to make their voices heard, to shout from the rooftops, “We exist.”

Heather Ahtone, the director of curatorial affairs at the First Americans Museum, says that while it’s important to remember that there’s no singular Native viewpoint, there is some commonality between works created by Indigenous Americans, including a continuous reverence for and connection to the land and their communities.

For Ahtone, the significance of Indigenous narratives goes beyond just dates and events; it’s about a spiritual connection to a specific place, or what she calls a Genesis story. She says that for many Native American cultures, “Knowledge doesn’t rest in books but in music and oral history.” What’s more, she sees Indigenous architecture like Navajo hogans, Plains tipis, and Pawnee lodges as not just functional buildings but artistic expressions of cultural identity.

Today, Native artists across the country and beyond are projecting their creative visions larger and louder than ever before, pushing the boundaries of contemporary art and paving the way for a more inclusive and dynamic cultural landscape. Here are just a few of the places where Indigenous artists have transformed buildings, town squares, city streets, and more into captivating super-sized canvases.

Michelle Beth Photography celebrates new location

By in Photography

Michelle Beth Photography celebrates new location

Michelle Woods, owner of Michelle Beth Photography, surrounded by friends and family with Tipp City Mayor Mike McFarland, far right, and the Tipp City Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Meredith McKee, center in pink, cuts the ribbon Wednesday, Nov. 15, celebrating her new business location in the Tipp Center on North Third Street in Tipp City. Woods’ business was previously conducted by working out of her home. Her business, which shoots weddings, and family, business and senior portraits, may be reached by calling 937-476-9356.

Sheryl Roadcap | Miami Valley Today

Michelle Woods, owner of Michelle Beth Photography, surrounded by friends and family with Tipp City Mayor Mike McFarland, far right, and the Tipp City Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Meredith McKee, center in pink, cuts the ribbon Wednesday, Nov. 15, celebrating her new business location in the Tipp Center on North Third Street in Tipp City. Woods’ business was previously conducted by working out of her home. Her business, which shoots weddings, and family, business and senior portraits, may be reached by calling 937-476-9356.

‘Do It Right’ with AI: Ally creators experiment with generative AI in marketing test case

By in Art World News

‘Do It Right’ with AI: Ally creators experiment with generative AI in marketing test case

Early results show Ally.ai capabilities could boost speed, drive team creativity and productivity

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) announced today the early results of an experimental generative AI use case with its marketing team designed to help understand the real-world impact the technology could have on campaign development and employee productivity. Using the Ally.ai platform’s large language model (LLM) chat and prompt functionality, a select group of marketers were able to reduce the time needed to produce creative campaigns and content by up to 2-3 weeks and reported an average time savings of 34%, compared to typical processes without AI. 


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Ally Financial has released the early results of an experimental generative AI use case with marketing, showing the potential benefits the technology could have on campaign development, content creation and overall employee productivity. This infographic provides an overview of the Ally marketing test case, including potential time savings and measurable accuracy and usefulness rates reported by the team using the Ally.ai platform. For more about Ally’s work with generative AI, visit https://ally.tech.
Ally Financial has released the early results of an experimental generative AI use case with marketing, showing the potential benefits the technology could have on campaign development, content creation and overall employee productivity. This infographic provides an overview of the Ally marketing test case, including potential time savings and measurable accuracy and usefulness rates reported by the team using the Ally.ai platform. For more about Ally’s work with generative AI, visit https://ally.tech.

Additional results reported from the month-long experimental program include:

  • The reduction in time needed for content creation and other marketing outputs of up to 2-3 weeks was primarily found in the early stages of the creative process in tasks such as research, first drafts and naming exercises
  • The 34% time savings on tasks when using the Ally.ai interface could equate to an annual savings of almost 3,000 hours across the participant team
  • More than 80 prompts developed by participants during the test had an 87% usefulness rate, showing the value of prompt engineering training for teammates and the effectiveness of outputs that could be used in assigned work
  • Users also noted a prompt accuracy rate of 81%, signifying that they received the right type of content or response outputs from the Ally.ai platform to complete their assignments
  • Participants also saw usefulness and accuracy in outputs when using Ally.ai for data analysis, quality controls and search engine optimization (SEO)

“The best marketing teams know the art of evolution, which includes evaluating and testing of transformative technologies,” said Andrea Brimmer, Chief Marketing and Public Relations Officer at Ally. “The early results demonstrate how AI could enable our talent to focus on creative tasks that needed the most human involvement, while speeding up the routine efforts of our day-to-day work. We look forward to the continued exploration of generative AI and learning more about how the technology can assist our team.”  

Ally.ai, the company’s proprietary, cloud-based AI platform that serves as a secure, private bridge between enterprise-grade LLMs and Ally’s data and AI applications, launched in June 2023. The test with marketing comes on the heels of Ally’s pilot with its Customer Care and Experience group where Ally.ai was used to quickly and accurately summarize customer service calls, helping associates focus their energy on more meaningful customer interactions and reduce the time needed to service and close a customer inquiry.

Read more about Ally.ai and the Customer Care use case here.

Both use cases reflect a commitment to Ally’s core principles for the enterprise use of AI: initially focusing on use cases that support employee productivity and optimizing internal business processes; providing human intervention and controls for oversight and training; protecting against the disclosure of personal identifying information and prohibiting third party model providers from using Ally data to train their foundational models.

“The purpose of building Ally.ai in-house, and with foundational data, cloud and network infrastructure already in place, is to scale its use throughout the organization while also keeping a close eye on potential risks and opportunities for new use cases,” said Sathish Muthukrishnan, Chief Information, Data and Digital Officer at Ally. “The value that our marketing colleagues could get from Ally.ai demonstrates how important cross-functional collaboration is to the development of enterprise AI capabilities.”

Generative AI in Marketing: Supporting Productivity

In addition to the preset system prompts and security features already embedded in Ally.ai, the platform needed a place where teammates could engage with the LLM directly. Understanding that most LLMs and generative AI applications are good for summarization, content creation, ideation/brainstorming, and information analysis, Ally’s developers built an open prompt user interface (UI) for Ally.ai that would allow teammates to do two types of work: chat directly with the secured LLM and also develop specialized prompts that could be saved, used again, and shared with colleagues based on their accuracy and usefulness rates.

Teammates could change features of the platform depending on the work they did, including toggling between chat and prompt mode, adjusting prompt length as well as the model’s creative parameters and vocabulary. The participant team frequently used Ally.ai as a starting point for creative development, specifically for first drafts of advertising copy, video scripts or social media posts, or enhancing human-driven ideas that originated from brainstorms or naming exercises.

An example: the content team performed a test of Ally.ai by providing the platform with a transcript of a podcast that featured an Ally executive. The team asked the platform to create the first draft of a 750-word article for Ally’s Conversationally blog with the information provided, plus direction to incorporate the most insightful, informative and entertaining parts that would be relevant to consumers. While the Ally.ai output required editing and the finesse of Ally’s content writers and it still went through Ally’s well-established regulatory review processes, having a quick first draft done in 15 minutes helped reduce the total time needed to create and edit the blog article from four hours to just one.

“We look at Ally.ai as an assistant that will be able to help our teammates with faster and smarter project delivery, which leads to a better experience for our customers,” Brimmer said. “In several different instances, our content writers were able to use thoughtfully crafted prompts to either start up the creative process or help extend the distribution of content to new channels. Anytime we can reduce the time to publish while also letting our creatives do what they do best, that means a lot in our fast-moving, competitive environment.”

Dig deeper on how the Ally Marketing team tested AI on the Ally Tech blog.

With the Ally.ai UI in place, Ally teammates can be trained to use it for the exploration and development of approved business use cases. The opportunity to learn more about AI and train using the platform has created a positive energy inside the company. Earlier this month, Ally hosted its second AI Day – a half-day dedicated to education and knowledge sharing around AI – with almost 1,000 teammates from multiple business units in attendance.

“You can’t escape the conversation around AI, so we are taking hold of that momentum and using it as a springboard to continue to explore new use cases that will drive AI adoption internally while supporting business goals,” Muthukrishnan said. “Right now, there are more than 100 use cases being carefully evaluated throughout the enterprise. While not all of them will pass our rigorous testing, we remain optimistic about what AI can bring to our teammates at Ally and to the financial services industry.”

For more insights from the technology team at Ally, including how the team is exploring new innovations like quantum computing and digital accessibility, visit https://ally.tech.

About Ally Financial

Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a financial services company with the nation’s largest all-digital bank and an industry-leading auto financing business, driven by a mission to “Do It Right” and be a relentless ally for customers and communities. The company serves more than 11 million customers through a full range of online banking services (including deposits, mortgage, point-of-sale personal lending, and credit card products) and securities brokerage and investment advisory services. The company also includes a robust corporate finance business that offers capital for equity sponsors and middle-market companies, as well as auto financing and insurance offerings. For more information, please visit www.ally.com and follow @allyfinancial.

For more information and disclosures about Ally, visit https://www.ally.com/#disclosures.

For further images and news on Ally, please visit http://media.ally.com.

Contacts:
Laurie Hurst
Ally Communications (Media)
[email protected]

SOURCE Ally Financial

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