Jay Blanda and BYTE

Arts
Written By QC

Gigantic, pink & fuzzy...these sentient microchips are set to invade The Everywhen in October!

We got lucky enough to catch up with BYTE's fast-moving lead artist, Jay Blanda.

EWP: What was your inspiration for byte?

Jay: We really wanted to put a lot of thought behind the idea and the concept. They are supposed to represent the idea of freed robots from robot slavery.

So the whole concept was, at some point, if we ever do hit sentient AI. we will run into this type of ethical dilemma. While we're still here using them to make our cars or to, you know, mop our floors, does it become slavery if they're truly sentient? There are some wonderful movies about it.

In Bicentennial Man, with Robin Williams, he says to his inventor, "No, I want freedom". And the inventor says, "Well, why do you want your freedom? You have everything here. You have a loving family." He says, "millions of people died for this idea. It seems like it's probably something worth having." We're just trying to dive into this possible ethical dilemma that we might one day come into.

Chip and Tara were the first robots to be freed from robot slavery. And then, in the subsequent years, they've embraced their freedom. Now it's just about love and symbiosis and sharing and just having fun.


Check out the full interview, here:

QC

People often call me QC (quite contrary, not quality control).

My work background is diverse - I’ve been (among other things) a Beverly Hills attorney, full time mom, yoga teacher and so much more. The unifying factor is that in everything I do, I bring communication skills, consensus seeking and positive motivation to the table.

As a lifelong enthusiast, I’ve dedicated years of sweat equity to the arts - dancing at award shows in LA, being first a board member and eventually running a local indie film festival, as a henna artist at festivals and community events through the pacific northwest, and more.

I’ve been to the playa every year since 2011 -  always volunteering  in many and varied capacities. I’ve spent the last years both off and on playa studying art pieces large and small in size (but always huge in impact), and leading art tours to impart this knowledge to the abundant and dusty art enthusiasts seeking insight. Art is life. It is vibrant, passionate, emotional, thought provoking, a gateway to social and political change. Art is magic, and deserves to be celebrated and showcased.

I am excited to bring my passion, energy and enthusiasm to the EveryWhen Project!!

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