Translating the human experience…

Zelda: the prettiest flower in the garden.

What started as a curious exploration into the realm of AI-generated art swiftly evolved into an interesting creative adventure. Operating under the pseudonym Zelda Cavanaugh as a tribute to my beloved Doberman, I established a digital storefront featuring and selling artwork. Initially, my approach was an informal experiment aimed at gauging AI’s grasp of empathy and human emotion, and ended in yielding profound results. Recognizing its potential, I decided to elevate the pieces by incorporating hand-generated embellishments, showcasing the beauty of human-computer collaboration in a unique and explicitly human-centric manner.

Drawing on the DSM-5 and study involving neuroscience, my artwork reinterprets the portrayal and understanding of mental health conditions. This approach seeks to revolutionize perceptions of mental health and challenges conventional views across psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, and how we engage with our own and others' psychological experiences through abstraction and sound.

About the Artist

BIOGRAPHY

I was born in Pennsylvania, where my life's journey began in the unconventional setting of a family-owned funeral home. This early exposure to the funeral service industry allowed me to master various skills including embalming, restorative arts, floral arrangements, sewing, lighting, and grief counseling. This exposure also sparked a deep interest in the human psyche, initially leading me towards psychiatric nursing.

However, a shift in perspective redirected me toward the tech industry. I earned a degree in English focused on Technical Communications, was awarded the Stuart Oman’s Award for Excellence, and embarked on a career that started at IBM and has expanded through roles at Verizon, Walmart, and Disney. With a distinct passion for Artificial Intelligence, I balance my professional endeavors with my participation in the arts and exploring the intersection of technology, humanity, and creativity in my ongoing projects.

CV

ARTIST STATEMENT

Zelda delves into the intricate interplay of beauty and disfigurement by merging digital imagery, musical theory, psychiatric diagnoses, neuroscience, and literary references. This challenges traditional aesthetic norms and artistic methods. Using the Circle of Fifths in musical theory, each visual element overlays an open-ended song related to the subject. Hand-generated embroidery adds a tactile dimension, fusing the digital with the tangible. The meticulously woven elements create a captivating puzzle, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in their own emotional journey through thoughtful contemplation.

Process

The images I create begin with an ecosystem of AI tools combined with DSM-5 criteria for various mental health disorders. These images are then refined in Adobe Illustrator, where extensive stylistic edits are made. Once complete, the images are printed on canvases and mounted. Hand-sewn elements, primarily using embroidery threads, are then incorporated with various types of needles. My sewing skills were originally developed in the funeral service industry, where the process is known as suturing—a nod to the medical field's preference for Latin terminology.

The key difference I’ve noticed between sewing materials like canvas or paper versus skin lies in the level of resistance encountered. I chose printed canvases as a medium not only for their tactile similarity to skin but also because they artfully symbolize the act of offering external reinforcement to promote healing. My artwork mirrors the nature of certain mental health struggles, with the texture of the thread inviting viewers to physically engage with the piece.

Just as a wound requires support to heal, it’s vital that we support one another through life's challenges. Seek out your support network for the resilience needed to overcome difficulties, and similarly, offer support to those in your circle who may be struggling—much like the tactile connection my art invites.