The Coburn Art Gallery at Ashland University opened an exhibition of AI-generated images on Thursday, Aug. 28, titled “Transcending Barriers Beyond Time: Visual Reminiscence of Older Adults with Chronic Illnesses Facilitated by Generative AI” which showcases 42 images generated via Midjourney based on interviews with chronically ill senior patients about their memories, experiences and the things that make them happiest.
The images were created as part of a research project called HARMONEE, which stands for “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence Resources for Mental Well-being for Older Adults and Nurturing Empathy in Education,” authored by Dr. Janet Reed, assistant professor of nursing at Kent State University, Dr. Rebecca Miller, program director and associate professor of counseling and art therapy at Ursuline College and their colleagues.
This particular exhibition was chosen and put together to tie into the AU Symposium Against Indifference, and their yearly theme, “Thinking About Intelligence: Human and Artificial”
“I was contacted by one of the graduate students that helped on the research project… and it was fortuitous because we had just came up with the Symposium theme… this fit perfectly with our intentions,” said Cynthia Petry, director of the Coburn Art Gallery and assistant professor of art and design.
It may seem an odd choice for an art gallery to host an exhibition with no human-created works. However, according to Dr. Reed, the use of generative AI was not meant to replace human artistry, but instead specifically to research integrating that technology into empathetic and human-first treatment plans.
“My research is in technology, educational technology specifically… as AI is coming out, I’m like, we’ve got to find a way to use this in a positive way to help people… how could we help patients in nursing homes who are socially isolated and alone and demoralized and have no one to talk to?” said Reed.
The reception at the exhibition’s opening was favorable, with students, faculty and Ashland citizens alike all in attendance to view the works in the gallery.
Each image was accompanied by a description of the memory that inspired it, along with pseudonyms for each patient that was surveyed.
The images ranged in styles, from photorealism to painting to the type of strange, dreamlike abstraction that only generative AI is capable of.
However, there was no short supply of the confusion and distortion that is a trademark of AI, with mangled hands, missing fingers, confused anatomy and general uncanniness.
Dr. Reed lamented this, stating that if she had gotten more time with each patient, some of those finer details may have been smoothed over more thoroughly. Still, she was satisfied with the overall results, stating, “…we would show them the pictures that Midjourney created and then their faces would just light up. I mean, it brought them so much joy to do this. And so it was really cool to see that.”
The exhibition is open until Saturday, Sept. 27 at the Coburn Art Gallery. The Coburn Gallery is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and noon-4 p.m. on weekends, and there is no admission fee.
For more information, visit ashland.edu/coburn-gallery or contact Cynthia Petry at [email protected] or 419-289-5652.
