Artist Initiative

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$6,955
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Benjamin J. Moren AKA Ben Moren
Recipient Type
Individual
Status
Completed
Start Date
March 2020
End Date
June 2022
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Hennepin
Ramsey
Hennepin
Ramsey
Project Overview

Artist Initiative

Project Details

Moren will create a series of images and video using a custom artificial intelligence GAN trained on images of the Lost 40 old-growth pine forest; a gesture to virtually grow new trees and digitally revive what was lost.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

Ardell Brede: Mayor of Rochester, elected 2002.; Peggy Burnet: Businesswoman, art collector, and community volunteer. Chair of the Nominating Committee, Smithsonian National Board. Trustee, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.; Uri Camarena: Business consultant, Metropolitan Economic Development Association. Board chair, Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Michael Charron: Dean of the School of the Arts, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Sean Dowse: Mayor of Red Wing, elected 2016. Former executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Philip McKenzie, Oboe and English horn player; adjunct oboe faculty, NDSU. Secretary/Treasurer, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Mary McReynolds-Pellinen: Executive director, Lyric Center for the Arts; coordinator, First Stage Gallery. Officer at-large, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies.; Dobson West: Senior advisor, Spell Capital Partners Fund.; Christina Widdess: Arts organization consultant; former managing director, Penumbra Theatre.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

David Ash: Film writer and director; Laska Jimsen: Film and media artist; assistant professor of cinema and media studies, Carleton College; Teresa Konechne: Independent filmmaker, activist, and community engagement artist; Cuong Phan: Associate professor of visual arts, St John's University. Filmmaker and educator.; Maribeth Romslo: Director, cinematographer, producer; Ariel Tilson: Documentary filmmaker

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2019 First Special Session, chapter 2, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$6,955
Other Funds Leveraged
$0
Direct expenses
$6,955
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

To develop and create a new body of images and video which foster experimentation with AI systems. The successful creation, completion, and exhibition of a series of images and videos which allow viewers contemplate their relationship to the Minnesota environment. 2: Develop new platforms to make AI systems accessible for my own practice and other artists. Develop new tools and skills for my own practice and release code under open-source licenses so other artists can utilize them.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Ben Completed a new body of work titled Reference Ecosystem: Lost 40 utilizing Machine Learning to synthesize images of old growth trees. Ben Moren was successful in completing a new body of image based work and was able to deeply learn about and experiment with AI and Machine Learning systems. 2: Ben Moren developed a Machine Learning workflow for his Reference Ecosystem: Lost 40 project and shared it through a hands on workshop. Ben Moren's Machine Learning workflow was successful in yielding a new project and workshop participants were able to utilize the skills and create their own work.

Project Manager
First Name
Benjamin
Last Name
Moren
Organization Name
Benjamin J. Moren AKA Ben Moren
State
MN
Phone
(612) 327-7844
Email
ben@benmoren.com
Administered By
Administered by
Location

Griggs Midway Building, Suite 304,
540 Fairview Avenue North,
St. Paul, MN 55104

Phone
(651) 539-2650 or toll-free (800) 866-2787
Email the Agency