Open Thread - 07-17-26 - Every Picture Tells a Story
I'll forgo the political in lieu of something a bit personal this week. Consider it a small peek at the man behind the curtain.
If every picture tells a story then what does an art collection have to say?
I've purchased several fine art prints over the years, from the late nineties to somewhere around 2015. These limited edition prints are numbered and signed by the artists and are high quality reproductions of original paintings. They are printed on quality non-acidic archival heavy paper.
Many times I've wondered if an individual's tastes in art reflects upon their self-identity and if so, what does my art print collection says about me. So I asked the Google search engine. Yeah, I know, Google. Since it was a non-controversial query I figured Google was as good as any other search engine and possibly may provide a wider range of results.
As usual for Google there was an AI result at the top which I ignored. I went through three pages of results and wasn't getting any specific answers to my query, so for kicks I took a look at the AI result before moving on and I was surprised.
Here are the results:
My search parameters:
My fine art is civil war battles, cowboy prints, and space art, what does that say about me?
AI Overview
Your taste highlights a deep fascination with pioneering human frontiers, mythic landscapes, and historical conflict. You likely possess high "integrative complexity"—a psychological trait meaning you appreciate layered stories, value resilience, and find beauty in environments where human boundaries are pushed to the limit.
These genres reveal several specific traits about your personality and values:
- Cognitive Complexity & Heritage: Civil War prints show you are grounded in history. You value tradition, honor sacrifice, and are fascinated by how ideological struggles shape the world.
- The "Frontier" Mindset: Cowboy prints and space art are connected by the "Space Western" aesthetic. Both reflect a love for exploration, rugged individualism, freedom, and venturing into the unknown.
- High "Openness to Experience": People who collect these specific, highly detailed genres often score very high on the Openness trait in psychology. You enjoy imagination, vast concepts, and storytelling through art.
- Nostalgia & Aspiration: While Civil War art looks backward to process the nation's past, space art looks forward to our limitless future. This indicates you are reflective about where we came from but highly optimistic about where we are going.
My first impression was, "What an ass kisser", schmoozing me up rather than categorizing me as a war loving space cowboy. After a couple more readings I changed my mind. The evaluations weren't too far off. Maybe I was being biased, so I got a affirmative confirmation from my spouse when I asked her what she thought.
It's an eclectic collection, I'll leave it up to you if the Google AI psychoanalysis is right or not.
Civil War Art
I've always been fond of history, especially The Civil War. I remember as a wee lad looking at the old Civil War picture books at my grandparents antique store. As I grew older I read many books on the subject and developed a fascination for The Battle of Little Round Top. The Battle of Gettysburg along with The Battle of Vicksburg were pivotal in changing the course of the war in favor of the North and in my humble opinion, Little Round Top was arguably the pivotal battle at Gettysburg. If the South had taken that hill it very well could have changed the trajectory of Gettysburg and the war itself in their favor. It was that important.
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain has always been a hero of mine.
These two prints hang above my desk in the living room. Every time I look up, they remind me.
I picked these two prints to commemorate that brave struggle at The Little Round Top. Together they highlight the juxtaposition of the two armies, one on the high ground and the other on low ground. Both sides fighting bravely and desperately.
The first print, The Hero of Little Round Top, is of Chamberlain with his sword raised right before he ordered his 20th Maine to charge down the hill in the face of the enemy as a last ditch effort to stop the assault by the Southern troops.
The second print, The 20th Maine and the 15th Alabama, also at Little Round Top, depicts the perspective of the 15th Alabama and the difficulty of fighting from a low ground position. Even at that, they almost succeeded.
The Hero of Little Round Top Artist: Mort Kuntsler
The 20th Maine and the 15th Alabama Artist: Dale Gallon
Dixieland By: Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band
2:57
Cowboy Art
The first print, Turning the Leaders, hangs above the sofa as the centerpiece in our living room. It's the first thing you see when you walk through the front door. It's one of my favorites. This is Texas after all, even though I purchased it back in Illinois well before I moved here.
The second print, War Cry, depicts a group of Plains Indians, Sioux if I remember correctly, charging into battle.
Turning the Leaders Artist: Frank McCarthy
War Cry Artist: Mort Kuntsler
Cosmic Cowboy By: Michael Martin Murphey
3:56
Space Art
I bought these pieces back in the late 90s. The first, Starcatcher, depicts the Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as Messier 51a (M51a). It's quite large and stunning in person.
The second print, The Snows of Jasper, depicts a fantasy world in some far away galaxy.
The third print, Supernova, is also a depiction of a fantasy world near a star that had erupted into a supernova.
Starcatcher Artist: Kim Poor
The Snows of Jasper Artist: Bob Eggleton
Supernova Artist: Kim Poor
Across the Universe By: The Beatles
3:46
Comments
Good morning Free Rangers...
the images don't do the prints justice, but rather than take photos of the framed art hanging on the wall I opted to post examples from the internet. The glass on the pictures would have reflections so I figured this would be the best for viewing.
They've all been framed professionally with archival backing and matting that are acid free. the glass is museum quality that helps preserve the prints from harsh lights and sunlight.
The frames vary from wood to anodized aluminum.
Do you have any special preferences for your artwork hanging on your walls?
hey good morning
.
Thanks for sharing your artworks. Especially like the Snows of Jasper.
Everything I hang on the walls are an assortment of various artists. I generally make the
frames, cut backings and use plexiglass as cover. Ain't professional quality but kinda
goes with the house decor.
'Across the Universe' works well this AM. Thanks for the OT (and the site).
Q
Zionism is a social disease
I have the skills...
and the equipment to frame them myself. I actually can mount and frame artwork, I've done it before. The Supernova piece fell from its hook years ago and broke the frame, so I had to take it all apart and re-frame it. Luckily the glass didn't break. That museum quality glass is expensive.
I didn't have the time to order the backing, matting, glass and frame, so I had it done professionally. It's really pretty easy though. Accurate measurements are the key.
For sure 'museum quality' anything is beyond means
.
using scraps of wood milled down for frames, spare pieces 1/8" of plexiglass
left over from other jobs and whatever 1/4" plywood lying about doesn't cost
much overall. The beauteous thing, once properly positioned, is a glimpse into
a refined perspective of our world. A few of my favorites include Edward Hopper
The Bootleggers, a small painting of a Navajo boy from
an artist in Arizona, and many renderings of our home from various artists. Plus my
mothers' still life. Haven't run out of wall space yet. Finding lath to stick in a screw
behind the horse hair plaster is a bit of a challenge. Hit or miss.
Zionism is a social disease
You ought to see otc's artwork...
she has dozens of beautiful framed art from all over the world that she picked up on her various and numerous travels.
They're all at her office now, but when she retires, which will be soon, we're going to have to really do some planning to find the wall space to hang them all here at the house.
About 7 years ago,
I was approached by a couple of school administrators of the local school district. They knew that at the time, I was unmarried, and I am also childless. They said if I could consider giving them my art collection in my will, they would dedicate a wing of the school to display both the art and artifacts. I need to take the time to compose the story and circumstances connected to each item. For example, the painting of The Big Five was created by a Masai Mara tribesman who watched his cattle, protected them from lions with a knife. Or, the pen and ink picture of elephants logging was done by a paraplegic Laotian who's income was derived solely from his art. (I refused to dicker over price.) The lovely yellow tower from Columbia is the location where African slaves landed in the Americas to be appraised and sold.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
There is a story behind every piece of art
.
You would need a school wing just to display the descrptions
Zionism is a social disease
It is sad to me
that the kids who might learn something from the exhibit, given the economic situation we are in and the upcoming depression, will ever travel. They will rely on videos.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
The comfort zone for some
.
is a straight jacket for others.
I've always been a direct experience type.
Has caused a lot of bruises, cuts and callouses
but the enrichment is worthwhile as long as the
memories survive.
Zionism is a social disease
I have two small abstract studies by an artist named Ed Askew,
acrylic on canvas, that I bought from him in person back in the 1980s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Askew
Ed was also a musician:
https://edaskew.bandcamp.com/
I also have a framed picture of the 8th avatar of Lord Vishnu as cowherd boy — a standard mass-print-run illustration widely distributed by ISKCON / Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (the “Hare Krishna” people) since the 1970s.
That’s about it for work by professionals.
Original artwork...
is the way to go. The original art for my pieces were way too far out of my monetary range so I settled for fine prints.
I looked for some examples of Ed Askew's work and couldn't find any. He does have a lot of music for sale though.
Thanks for your input.
From Goldman Sachs to “organ sacks”
Oh, Lordy.
Everywhere nowadays, so much stuff going on that makes me think of the National Institute for Co-ordinated Experiments (the N.I.C.E.) in the third novel of C. S. Lewis’s “Space Trilogy,” That Hideous Strength.
https://futurism.com/future-society/secretive-silicon-valley-startup-int...
Wow...
how very Frankensteinian of them. Hopefully no one fits an Abbie-normal brain into them.
I'm pretty sure I've already met a few brainless "organ sacks" in my day. Matter of fact, I think we have several of them in government, especially the White House.
Good morning...
We've collected folk art for years...sometimes called outsider art. Most pieces we bought over the years was in the $50-100 range. Some of those pieces now sell for thousands. Most are originals, but we do have some numbered and signed prints.
We have several pieces from local artist Howard Finster, a couple of pieces by Mose T., A mud painting by Jimmy Lee Sudduth, and a couple of pieces by R. A. Miller. We knew all these artists which adds value to us.
I bought a print of The Story of Country music at trade day a few years back. It is one of my favorite prints. The original is a mural in the Country music hall of fame.
Art is in the eye of the beholder. Surround yourself with what you enjoy and value. If you can't buy an original, buy a print.
Thanks for the Artistic OT! Take care.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Without a doubt...
your choice of artwork reflects who you and the Mrs. are, my friend.
Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't I see some of your artwork on the walls when we visited?
The Story of Country Music print is awesome. It brought this song to mind:
Actually, one of the greatest English Language songs
wver written.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
It's perfect...
Steve Goodman was a genius song writer and a great musician.
You did indeed...
My buddy used to sing that one...thanks for the memory!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
One thing they seldom mention about Thomas Hart Benton
is that he did a lot to popularize casein painting. (This medium fits in between egg tempera and acrylics, and has largely been forgotten/overlooked, though casein tubes are still made and sold for an increasingly niche market.)
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
isn't it made from milk?
I didn't know that about his murals. Thanks for the tidbit!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Geez, I'm a Heinz 57 mutt when it comes to
visual fine art which I love. Most of my stuff is el cheapo cos that is all I could afford.
I've got framed photos, framed cards (there are plenty of talented artists in commercial graphics), framed posters, an actual print, and some mixed media work. I was a bonafide acid queen during my BA days so I love spaced (out) stuff. Plus, my family was NASA from the agency's start so I love kozmik/space art. I've known a lot of artists and art related folk over the years, so the one thing I know is framing these works is an artistic talent, too. The other thing is album/LP art. Take a good look at the art designs on some of the iconic work. Amazing.
**A bit off-topic, JtC. How has your weather been? I've been hearing a lot of reports about heavy rain/flooding in the TX Hill country. I know you and otc live near that area.
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Good morning obf...
The Civil War and cowboy prints were a bit pricey back when I bought them.
The Hero of Little Round Top at the time was going for about $1,200.00, but I caught on sale and got it for around $600.00 if I remember right.
The 20th Maine and the 15th Alabama was around 4 or 5 hundred.
Turning the Leaders was around 3 or 4 hundred.
War Cry was a couple of hundred.
The space art was not as expensive. It cost more to frame them than the cost of the prints, but I love that genre of art.
Starcatcher was around 80 bucks, but it's a large print.
The Snows of Jasper and Supernova were around 40 bucks each.
So, all in all they were affordable. The framing was expensive though.
Heh, I did my share of acid back in the day as well, can you tell? LOL
I have a large collection of old vinyl from the 60s and 70s and I love the album art. I loved looking at them while listening to the record, not to mention they made great rolling trays.
We live in East Texas, a couple of hundred miles from the Hill Country, we were just there a couple of weeks ago for the 4th. A lot of that area is flooding now. Especially Kerrville which is just a few miles south of where we stay. As far as rain goes, it's feast or famine for the folks that live in the area.
Heh, Good morning Johnny and thanks for the OT and art exhibit.
Our house was built in 1952 and has a 50s era prtition wall in the entryway which is a 4 foot wall topped by shelves with vertical partitions creating a staggered array of rectangles. Those rectangles, the mantel piece, the top of one bookcase and some other flat surfaces throughout the house contain "Arts and Crafts" movement pottery, largely vases, from noted producers of the era. Above the mantel there is a good sized framed piece of Huichol Indian fabric art. That is surrounded by small items of local art and/or handicrafts collected on our travels, including masks (largely modern day Maya), a Panamanian Mola, Huichol beadwork, etc.
Here and there we have a few works by artists we know and a couple of surrealist cat pictures we purchased from the artist at an exhibit at a winery. Beyond that, most walls contain one of more of my wife's better quilts, all of which easily qualify as art. One never changes, while the rest do change now and then, with the seasons, or our moods, or to include her latest completed project. There is also a framed good quality photo of a great grey owl signed by the photographer.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Sounds awesome mi hermano...
and apropos for your travels, life style, and the area that you live in.
Maybe some day, if we're ever in your area, we'll get to see them.
Heh, I forgot that onf of the shelves has a target window from
one of the Berkeley Rad Lab accelerators i it is a thick transparent disk with a bunch of mounting holes and assorted little particle tracks emanating from a central point on one face and branching out at various angles through the disk to the other face. I've got an old bamboo slide rule and as soon as I crash another hard drive I thought I'd put all three in a shadow box.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
single minded obsession for a
single minded obsession for a little while. over it (priced out)
https://cafans.b-cdn.net/images/Category_2387/subcat_10704/living.jpg
https://cafans.b-cdn.net/images/Category_2387/subcat_10704/southside.jpg
https://cafans.b-cdn.net/images/Category_2387/subcat_10704/fleener2.jpg
https://cafans.b-cdn.net/images/Category_2387/subcat_10704/goodbed.jpg
Nice...
I know comic strip art is hugely popular but didn't realize that the prices have risen to where you say you were "priced out".
I used to collect baseball cards, same thing, overpriced and over produced.
Nice stuff and nice exhibition.
@JtC recent record of 3,875
recent record of 3,875,000.00 +tax. billionaires game
that was tremendous leap over previous records, but it is the First page of the first appearance of Iron Man. I hope it was Downey Jr on the winning bid, but no telling from here.
Typically the well heeled investor/collector hews to covers, most of which would bring about ten times the splash page, with a crazy track record of increasing values. Splash pages being a bit more desirable/costly than interior pages, normally. I dont think the cover to Iron Man's first appearance will outstrip that price tag by much. I believe someone sold all the interior pages first at about a half million each.
Someone came out pretty good on that stuff Id say.
These days pages of interest are four figures. Highly desirable pages 15-30k at auction.
Not my playing field. I have more than enough gathered to satisfy my desire (simply to have nice examples by artists of interest. not so much character driven, myself), and quite a few exemplary pieces by upwards of a dozen of the greatest artists ever to work in the form.
https://cafans.b-cdn.net/images/Category_2387/subcat_227065/fvGHKhLs_040...
My wife has a respectable collection of Wonder Woman pieces,
https://cafans.b-cdn.net/images/Category_2387/subcat_87794/dps.jpg
and quite a few Trina Robbins works.
https://cafans.b-cdn.net/images/Category_2387/subcat_6047/ShadyLadyCompl...
Lucky to have met so many figures in the business and hobby. Sad how time takes its toll. Comic art is pretty exciting to someone whose happiest years involved buying those things off spinner racks. Thanks for looking and listening.
You have learned to use AI
a tiny bit.
AI is much better at more factual uses. Google itself is near useless, they are just selling you whatever company paid to get it's listing up top. Google AI is better and I use it all the time, but it's nowhere near perfect.
To test AI, I asked it did Trump win the 2020 election. Google gives you a bunch of links to go read about the election. Grok, which is the free AI from Twitter, owned by Musk, buddie of Trump, begins it's response with the one word "No". with a comma, then explains the various ways the election was definitely lost by Trump.
I do use Google AI 99% of the time. It's on the right hand end of the search bar and I just about never use search anymore. Google AI is horrible for anything political, I was trying to compare total number of D voters in our congressional district that recently elected a DSA candidate, and I also wanted to know how many voted in the primary. Would not answer. We went round and round. I went to Grok, first time result.
I ask AI what Ukraine bombed in Russia last night. By mid day it usually has results of the 2 to 4 most important targets. I go to Twitter and see the videos. If instead I ask twitter for info on the war I get tons of misinformation from people on both sides attempting to flood the thing with misinformation. (I no longer much follow, as it is very predictable to everyone, Ukraine, Russian, not really any surprises)
I use it to follow the manufacturing defect of my new car. AI not only lists what it is, what causes the issue, which part of the software is the culprit, how to diagnose it using a multimeter etc. What sorts of recalls there are, what specifically to say to the Service Manager, what sort of relief there is via the lemon law.
AI can lie. AI from all sources is left coded or so the Wapo told us of a Dartmouth study. No Bezos didn't personally write the article. If you argue with AI it will agree with you as fast as it can. It is built to be your best buddy.
No, I didn't learn...
to use AI a tiny bit. I just ignore it for most cases because I don't trust it.
I used it a lot during my year long battle with cancer. It was great for understanding what the medical jargon meant on my MRIs, CT scans, and blood work results. I just copy/pasted the info from the reports into AI and it gave a detailed analysis of the results. That was very handy. I couldn't find that kind of result from a search engine.
I agree, AI is also useful for technical stuff, but I would never trust it for political or war news.
Why? Well, you said it yourself, it lies.
Why, ban nock, would you trust Google AI, Grok or any of the others for election results or war news when it lies? It lies because that's the way it was programmed. Garbage In Garbage Out (GIGO), look that up.
AI scrapes the internet which includes opinion and propaganda and the results will reflect that. And some AIs are programmed to give left leaning results and some are programmed to the right. Again, GIGO, trust it at your peril, and at the very least, verify.
I've learned to adapt. AI is here to stay, IMHO it's best to get use to it and learn how to use it, if even nominally, because eventually we'll be forced to use it. I think eventually search engines will go the way of the Dodo, they're already useless. The trick is to use it on things that you can trust it for and to verify the results because it is nowhere near perfect. That's because it's programmed by humans and humans are fallible.
@ban nock I’m going to assume you
I’m going to assume you’re human. Why? No AI machine “brain” knows the correct usage of it’s and its. It’s is a contraction that opens a complete thought. It is short for it is. Its is possessive. It means the object of the sentence/thought owns it. Comprende? I am a lifelong book nut with several degrees in Classical English. I also spent several years as a professional proofreader. Hope you get it!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.