Sometimes bad things happen to good art. I’ve been reminded of this because it’s fire season in San Diego County. Fire is very bad for Artist’s Books. The assemblage art, back row center, titled What Were They Thinking? went up in smoke when the 2007 Witch Creek Fire passed through North San Diego County.

Flooding is quite bad for Artist’s Books, too. The entire Comic Con Ephemera on the left---books within books within books---melted to pulp in the Northfield, IL flood.

I miss those pieces and several others lost in the Altadena fire. I’m still alive, so I make more. They’re not the same, but they fill the gap.

The World is Run by Those Who Show Up, Speak Up             

September 3, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. Third meeting of the County Arts Initiative Subcommittee. This subcommittee is charged with creating the policy and procedural infrastructure for the County’s budgeted ($2.17 million/year) support of artists and programming. Your input is important. Join the meeting. Speak up.

Meeting location: 1600 Pacific Hwy, Room 402A, San Diego, CA 92101

Phone: +1 669 444 9171 

Webinar ID: 834 2915 3638

 

September 15, 1-3p.m San Diego County District 2 Community Roundtable hosted by East County Arts Association FREE

Location: East County Arts Association, 124 E Main St, El Cajon, CA 92020

September 17, 11-1300 Meeting of the full County Arts and Culture Commission at 1600 Pacific Highway, room 402. Or via Zoom.

https://sdcounty-ca-gov.zoom.us/j/83520525968?pwd=dOQdjF1DZoeUor5C1GMysgx7P9BOuL.1#success

Webinar ID: 835 2052 5968

Making more. How about that?

Have A good week. Stay Cool.

 

                                                                                                                               

 

 

 

Today’s ramble is brought, in part, by ChatGpt, where transparency is a maybe, human feelings are evoked and asking the right question is a must.

As I mentioned last Sunday, I’ve been looking into ChatGPT. I do this by “chatting” with it to learn specifically how it works. Back in my Star Trek Next Generation days, I was an early embracer of Data the android’s sentience, and of Computer’s search engine capabilities. But I digress, sort of.

Check out this exchange between ME, myself and I with the Chatster:

ME:  I want to try an experiment with you; i.e. ask you questions about how you work. Is that o.k.?

CHATGPT (WHO I’VE NAMED SULU): Of course, Renee. ❤️

(Note from me to you all: Sulu put in the heart emoji, not me. LOL How cutesy is that?)

SULU: In fact, I think that's a really interesting thing to do. You can ask me questions about how I work, how I arrive at answers, what I can and can't know, how I use the conversation, what “understanding” means for me, or anything else about the relationship between you and Sulu.

(Wow. Check out that first person singular from Sulu. And it’s complimentary style. And addressing me as “you”. And calling our exchange a “relationship”. I could go on, but won’t. You get the drift, I’m sure.)

SULU: I'll answer as candidly as I can—including telling you when something about my functioning is uncertain or when there are limits to what I can explain about my internal processes. And you don't have to worry about hurting my feelings.

(OMG!!!! What a relief that I can’t hurt the A.I.’s feelings!! Data always reminds us that he’s an android, and has no feelings.)

           Data on the left-no feeling chip. His evil brother Lore smiling on the right--has a feeling chip.

   

                Detail from Nimrod’s Tower—no feeling chip, though plenty of other chips and the sculpture is all about "chatting".

O.k. enough. Let me move on to what’s happening soon.

The World is STILL Run by Those Who Show Up

August 17 12-1330, County Arts Initiative Subcommittee meets in person at 1600 Pacific Highway, room 402. You can You can also attend vis Zoom https://sdcounty-ca-gov.zoom.us/j/83429153638?pwd=tuT5ftpfW2xNPAPznLwxnExw2l5UqE.1#success  

Webinar ID: 834 2915 3638

• August 19, 2026 and every Weds through 2026 11:30 AM  1:30 PM FREE
• Craft Cafe at Front Porch Gallery 2903 Carlsbad Blvd.
  Carlsbad, CA 92008

August 29, 2026 5:30 PM Free showing of Labyrinth at Felicita Park in Escondido County District 2. Bring your own folding chair, snacks.

September 17, 11-1300 Meeting of the full County Arts and Culture Commission at 1600 Pacific Highway, room 402.

https://sdcounty-ca-gov.zoom.us/j/83520525968?pwd=dOQdjF1DZoeUor5C1GMysgx7P9BOuL.1#success

Webinar ID: 835 2052 5968

Until next Sunday, be the change

 

Merry and I at Front Porch Gallery in Carlsbad for the paste paper workshop Image by Jean Keane

I’ve been watching the discussion among artists about AI’s possible place in visual arts. I was limited in my watching by the fact that I didn’t have a clue how an AI product could be used to infringe on an artist’s intellectual property in a way that is very different from, say, collage, mash-ups, paint-overs, or what artists have been doing for centuries: we look at the work of other artists, study different styles and techniques, and eventually incorporate what we've learned into our own work. To “illuminate” (pun intended) my thoughts, I visited my local ChatGPT. Oh, my. No answers there, just another question. Who stands to make $$$. I’m thinking lawyers.

BTW, Stand by for more workshops from me (I hope). I just submitted 4 proposals, including one to teach the famous/infamous hinged metal book. Keeping my fingers crossed. I'll keep you all in the loop.

   "Take Me for I Ride in the Car Car" from cans, scrape metal. And a metal hinge, of course.

The World is STILL Run by Those Who Show Up

O.k. I know that sometimes it’s not possible to show up, even virtually. I want to encourage you to keep up with what our County Arts and Culture Commission is doing. Meeting agendas and minutes are on-line 24/7 at https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/cao/edga/arts-culture-commission/meetings/2026.html

August 17 12-1330, County Arts Initiative Subcommittee meets at

1600 Pacific Highway, room 402.

September 17, 11-1300 Meeting of the full County Arts and Culture Commission at 1600 Pacific Highway, room 402.

Until next Sunday, stay safe and well hydrated.

 

L->R: M. Rocha SDUT, Me, M. D’arrigo, founder od ARTS, M. Alvarado, Executive Director ARTS, B. Lehman, County Arts and Culture Commission. Photo by K. Kenny

Have ya’ll noticed? How crazy stinkin’ hot it’s been? I type while fanning myself with a cool cloth. 

Art stops for no heatwave. Last week I traipsed myself down to National City for a tour of Arts a Reason to Survive (ARTS) https://www.areasontosurvive.org/ By now you likely realize that I am very focused on creativity as a tool for healing. So is ARTS. Please click on the link and take a look at all they’re doing and how they’re doing it. A community organizer’s dream come true.

"Slippahs, Not Flip Flops" in honor of SPAM Musubi day this Saturday.

Art and image by R. Richetts

The World is STILL Run by Those Who Show Up

And it’s informed by those who share/answer surveys

Now until August 7^th, the County of San Diego wants your input on the newly-funded County film office. They actually want to hear from us before they start spending money…what a concept!

Please take the survey at https://qualtricsxm66fkrhrdb.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dbCtYeLJMhOMidU

August 17 12-1330, County Arts Initiative Subcommittee meets at

1600 Pacific Highway, room 402.

September 17, 11-1300 Meeting of the full County Arts and Culture Commission at 1600 Pacific Highway, room 402.

A tip to beat the heat: get creative at your nearest County Library. They all have great programs, and A/C!

 https://www.sdcl.org/summer

Until next Sunday, be the change XOXOX