Overview:
Reading time: 3 minutes
Content warnings: None
Content Summary: “This post reflects on the naming and setup of the Axis Project subdomain, exploring its connection to grunt gallery, the challenges of aging web technologies, and the intersection of art, access, and automation.” Summary generated by chatGPT 4o.
I wanted to produce a subdomain for this project for two reasons. The first was to keep it within the grunt.ca site and not mess around with another domain. If someone could only remember grunt.ca, they would at least get halfway there. The other reason was that I wanted to see how many existing styles I could pull over.
This project is happening during grunt’s 40th anniversary year – a lot has happened, both in contemporary arts and in the digital landscape, The grunt.ca website has to do a lot of heavy lifting as it continues to hold more than a few decades of content, as well as act as a bridge to our social presence, our archives, and a handful of other microsites. Websites age, and even with regular care, it’s a challenge to hold on to aging content and architecture. Let alone integrate it into newer web formats. Much respect to those who continue to maintain our website. Here’s to the work that has been done, and the work that is yet to come. 🥂
However, this project is will explore digital frontiers and possibilities. Aging technology is a barrier that I will need to explore in this project. Having access to the newest thing is hardly a privilege available to everyone, and certainly not those on disability assistance or living in poverty, and who rely on assistive technology. This project will explore the stress points between access and technology, examining the speed at which new technologies are developing and the possibility to overcome barriers that would otherwise exclude certain communities and ways of doing from the conversation. It will also examine how rapid development and technology outpaces and out-prices those we might assume are being brought into the fold.
This project exists at the intersection of art, access, and automation, so I decided to call it the Axis Project. I wanted a single word to use in the subdomain. ai access dot grunt dot ca was my first instinct, but it left out art. “But grunt gallery is an artist-run centre and gallery,” my second instinct cried. Still, I wanted to avoid confusion by fusing multiple words into the address. And so, since I am examining the connections between these three ideas, axis has stuck. I do like a good alliteration.
Technology and transparency
When I finished writing this post, I used Grammarly to check my grammar and spelling (using their English Canada library). I then used readable.com to check whether or not I had adhered to my goals of simple language with this article matching a grade 9 reading level per the Flesch-Kincaid test.
WordPress estimated that these 574 words would take someone 3 minutes to read. From now on, I’ll use this estimation tool for all posts.
I used chatGPT 4o (PLUS) to review this post, create a single-sentence summary, and suggest content warnings.
To mix things up, I generated an image based on what I submitted to chatGTP by asking it to “make an image that summarizes this post.” Interestingly, the image has the English words Art, Access (twice), and Automation in the image. Still, chatGPT insists “the image generated by the AI does not include text, as per the instructions given. If there is any visual element resembling text or symbols that appear like text, it must be inherent to the abstract design and not intentionally added.” This is the feature image for the post. I asked it to give me a visual description which reads:
“An abstract design featuring three intersecting rings representing art, access, and automation. The rings are connected by glowing nodes, symbolizing collaboration and intersectionality. The color palette is a blend of deep blues, soft greens, and vibrant orange, representing growth, inclusivity, and innovation. The background is a subtle gradient, with faint geometric shapes to convey digital and technological themes.”
My description additions and comments are that it looks like a rip-off of the Olympic rings if there were only 3 of them placed on a rainbow-toned circuit board. It clearly shows the words Art, Access, Access (again), and Automation in all caps.