iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michael Dickins @mdickins.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Several months in the making, but ‘Cracked Earth’, by Araan Schmidt is finally on campus! The project of putting the first sculpture in the Arts Quad was a joint effort by @apsuartdesign , @ceca_apsu , @apsucostem , @artsandlettersapsu , APSU Grounds Crew, and @coloradomesau sculpture grad students

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Michael Dickins @mdickins.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Join me tomorrow night at the Frist Art Museum in Nashville as I introduce the 2024-25 CECA TN Artist Fellow, Stacy Kranitz, before her talk about her work and creative practice. 6:30p in the Rechter Room. free and open to the public.

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Michael Dickins @mdickins.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Talking art with 3rd graders from the CMCSS Spanish Immersive Programm in @thenewgalleryapsu.bsky.social

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Allie Phillips @allie-phillips.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Trump is now threatening colleges & universities for allowing freedom of speech. Attacking students saying they’ll be expelled or deported for organizing in a protest.

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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

🔥 WATCH: “This is not some gotcha moment. You posted this on your own page.” The Speech Prof tries to help Tucker understand what it really means that he assumes Black women are bad at their jobs. Full: www.instagram.com/reel/DGwXw4f...

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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

“A day over 150 years in the making.” A Powerful ceremony in the rotunda honoring the enslaved craftspeople who helped build the Tennessee Capitol. (H/T @brotherjones.bsky.social ) Full: www.instagram.com/reel/DGrwi02...

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Jenny Brown @jennybrownart.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Jenny Holzer Abuse of Power Comes As No Surprise Offset Lithograph on Paper, 1983 @jennyholzer.bsky.social #jennybrownart #womenartists #jennyholzer #abuseofpowercomesasnosurprise

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Kaylan_TX @kaylan.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

This absolutely broke me. #SlavaUkraine🇺🇦 🧵(1/3)

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Kristina Newhouse @askingwhynow.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Absolutely shameful. The AMA | Art Museum of the Americas of the Organization of American States (OAS) holds one of the world’s leading collections of modern and contemporary art from the Western Hemisphere. It is OAS’s principal cultural diplomacy tool for promoting “more rights for more people."

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Michael Dickins @mdickins.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Khari Turner: Lost at Sea Feb. 24-March 28, 2025 The New Gallery, APSU Exhibition essay by Lauren Jackson Harris @thenewgalleryapsu.bsky.social

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Michael Dickins @mdickins.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Thriving at the things I can control

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Prof Julia Steinberger 🌹🌱🌍 #ClimateAction #Fightfascism @jksteinberger.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

As promised, here are the slides I shared with students to convince them to NOT use chatGPT and other artificial stupidity. TL;DR? AI is evil, unsustainable and stupid, and I'd much rather they use their own brains, make their own mistakes, and actually learn something. 🪄

NO CHATGPT Or other artificial stupidity: motivation
First, clarity on distinguishing AIs:
Non-generative: grammar aid, translation, dictionary, text-to-audio (e.g. Natural Reader): no problem
As long as you use the appropriate tools (least intensive in data and server energy use).
Why? Because you provide the content. Your brain is doing the most important work
Generative: ChatGPT & Co.
You only supply the prompt, the AI supplies the content.
Why is this delegation of work problematic?
3 domains: ethical, environmental, intellectual engagement.

(Caveat: generative is probably ok for computer programming, where it can be useful and save time. Not relevant to this class.)

1) AI and ethics
Mass theft of all and everything
«learning» on books, articles, blogs, social media, images, music, cultural production, without permission of authors/creators, and leading to their mass joblessness. Profits are not reditributed to originators.
Permanent destruction of the mental health of underpaid precarious tech workers in the Global South (Kenya, Philippines …):
«correction» to avoid production of violent and pedophile contents etc, tech workers are obliged to watch and correct super violent contents for days on end, leading to extreme psychological suffering and trauma, from which recovery is doubtful. No or little compensation (certainly not at the level of the suffering inflicted).
In short, an industry built on theft of real human creation and sacrifice of real human health, profiting a few megafortunes.

2) AI and (un)sustainability

Massive consumption of electricity, water, server capacity for generative AI.
Outcome: keep fossil fuel companies in business, using up new renewable capacity, without any satisfaction of basic human needs.
Massive misappropriation of the finance necessary for climate and ecological action (renewable generation, efficiency and retrofit for buildings, public transit, infrastructures for cycling etc) towards AI industry.
Overall: undermine climate action, reinforce fossil industry, waste resources necessary for human development.

3) AI and intellectual engagement

First, what learning is (or should be) about:
The goal should not (only) be the reproduction of «correct» knowledge,
But mainly personal engagement and experience of thinking about topics of interest. Personal engagement = using one’s own brain.
The most important activity for learning and intellectual engagement is the experience of making one’s own mistakes, by trial and error, corrections based on new ideas, starting over again. Learning to recognise nuances, knowledge gaps, better explanations
This kind of learning is possible only through using your own brain, not AI.
Also, Ais are not «intelligent». At all.
They simply reproduce pre-existing patterns. They «bullshit», invent false references, false facts, false data, simply because those sound plausible. VERY DANGEROUS.
If you learn how to NOT use AI, and how to research facts and data on your own, this will serve you and your communities for the rest of your life.

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Dr. Rebecca Calisi-Rodríguez @rebeccacalisi.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

I emailed university faculty/staff/administrators a roadmap to support DEI through legal challenges, collective resistance, and institutional protections for faculty. The question isn’t whether institutions will comply—it’s who will fight back, and how! greencarelab.ucdavis.edu/how-universi...

greencarelab.ucdavis.edu

This Is Not a Drill: How Universities Can Save DEI

By now, many of us have read the headlines: the U.S. Department of Education has ruled that race-based scholarships, cultural centers, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs violate...

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Flashes App 🌩️ @flashes.blue · 19/02/2025

Good news everyone! The wait is almost over! Flashes for Bluesky is now available for free pre-order on the App Store. 🔥 Pre-"order" now (it's free) & get it the moment it launches! apps.apple.com/de/app/flash...

apps.apple.com

‎Flashes for Bluesky

‎Flashes is a native Bluesky photo/video app. Amongst other features the app offers: • Discover and Share photos & videos on Bluesky – a vibrant community of over 30 million users. • Enhance Your Cr...

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Michael Dickins @mdickins.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Posted @withregram • @thenewgalleryapsu Some installation pics of Khari Turner's show 'Lost at Sea' which will be opening on February 24th!

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Michael Dickins @mdickins.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

2/15/25 8:01p. Clarksville peeps: it gonna be a rough couple of hours. Make preps/stay safe.

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Michael Dickins @mdickins.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Dawny Fresh’s artist talk tonight was fantastic!! I can’t say enough about how impressive she is when interacting with students and talking about her work. Such a huge fan. @dawnmdickins.bsky.social , Exceptional Myths, @slocumbgalleries @etsuartanddesign . ….And that jumpsuit is 💣

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Flashes App 🌩️ @flashes.blue · 11/02/2025

I think you're really going to like this

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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 07/02/2025

Breaking News: President Trump said he planned to take control of the Kennedy Center and intended to fire several board members and install himself as chair.

nytimes.com

Trump Says He Will Install Himself as Kennedy Center Chairman

The move by the president, whose authority to make the changes was not clear, is the latest attempt to bring a Washington institution under his control.

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TheNewGalleryAPSU @thenewgalleryapsu.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

A big thanks to Yun Shin for her artist talk last night! Another thanks to everyone who came to listen!! A night filled with meaningful work and limited edition posters :) @yunkoungshin @apsu.print.club @ceca_apsu @apsuartdesign

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TheNewGalleryAPSU @thenewgalleryapsu.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

A big reminder that Art Walk is tomorrow! Come check out APSU faculty member Yun Shin's work, being shown in the New Gallery. As well as viewing other work displayed around the Art & Design building. While you're at it head upstairs to view the Summer Research Show being shown in the Beach Gallery.

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Aruna D’Souza @arunadsouza.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Seems about right.

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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

Look out everyone, @SenatorCollins is moderately concerned about the actions of a man she has enabled at every turn again

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The Democratic Coalition @thedemcoalition.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

Rep. Jasmine Crockett continues to be on 🔥 #ResistTrump

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Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 28/01/2025

If you’re in the US and you’d like to know what projects and vital services federal grants currently fund in your state, you can search here: www.usaspending.gov And you can find the contact information for your elected representatives here: www.usa.gov/elected-offi... They need to hear from you.

usaspending.gov

USAspending.gov

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Michael Dickins @mdickins.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

The use of AI-generated content is rampant again this semester - but so are my amount of F’s. Calling ‘em out - I got time.

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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

WASH POST: “The Supreme Court to decide whether Oklahoma may fund a proposed Catholic charter school, a blockbuster case that could redraw the line between church & state by allowing government to establish and directly fund religious schools…” www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @aoc.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Had an awesome time chatting with Jon Stewart & @weeklyshowpodcast.bsky.social talking about how to fight the dumpster fire. Gear up. It’s time to brawl.

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Michael Dickins @mdickins.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

A nice little thank you note is in order

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TheNewGalleryAPSU @thenewgalleryapsu.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Come check out the amazing work of APSU faculty Yun Shin! Her exhibit: Record-Keeping, is currently being shown in the New Gallery. #middletnart #tncontemporary #clarksvilleartistscene #installationart #austinpeaystateuniversity #ceca #contemporaryartgallery #apsu

Collage of open sign, close up of pencil drawing, ceramic pieces, and drawings alongside objects in plastic bags

Collage of close up of pencil drawing, drawings alongside objects in plastic bags, ceramic pieces, and a wall hanging similar pencil drawings

Collage of ceramic pieces, pencil drawing of baby pacifiers, and a notebook with written messages inside

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TheNewGalleryAPSU @thenewgalleryapsu.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

"Second-year Austin Peay faculty member Yun Shin’s new body of work draws from her immersion in the unexpected cadences of parenthood." -exhibition essay by Emily Stokes Yun Shin's exhibit Record-Keeping is now open to view. Come check it out!

Picture of a woman with black hair, wearing a black turtleneck. Words Yun Shin underneath

3 photographs of artwork. One showing brown squares, scratchy black box, and geometric black and white shapes.

Circular form, showing bubble form and dripping down. Stain-like. Yellowish colors.

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Michael Dickins @mdickins.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

TN friends: TN Tree Day is March 15. Reserve your native tree(s) now thru March 2. www.tectn.org/tennesseetre...

tectn.org

Tennessee Environmental Council

Helping People and Communities Improve Our Environment

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Michael Dickins @mdickins.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

@dawnmdickins.bsky.social ETSU exhibition talks about the myth of American Exceptionalism in the form of large scale drawings of cowboys. Using the cowboy as iconography of ruggedness, machismo, and bravado, she uses the manufactured Hollywood imagery to discuss the myth was always manufactured.

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Michael Dickins @mdickins.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Video 2/2 of Dawn’s newest exhibition, ‘American Myth’, at ETSU.

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Michael Dickins @mdickins.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

1/2 of Dawn’s newest exhibition at ETSU

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Michael Dickins @mdickins.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

Today’s greenhouse haul. It’s currently 27 deg outside.

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Michael Dickins @mdickins.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Sharing from @thenewgalleryapsu.bsky.social - artists w/in a 300-mile radius of Clarksville, TN....apply!

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