Paul Freeman started his residency as the Calgary Public Library's first creative in residence focused on AI collaboration Tuesday afternoon. Through Labour Day, Freeman will hold public office hours every Tuesday and Wednesday, offering artists and the curious a direct look at how he uses artificial intelligence as a collaborative tool, not a shortcut. His tenure arrives as many working creatives question whether AI-generated imagery can carry meaningful human intention.
Human intention separates art from 'slop'
Freeman does not position himself as an AI apologist. "I'm here not as an AI defender, not as an AI advocate, but more as somebody who's interested in asking these questions and open to other ideas about AI, art and what it could be," he said. "I'm definitely here to be a resource to the library and to the city."
He describes his practice as provocative, built on image generation that requires sustained decision-making. Freeman generates many images via prompts, layers them together, combines them, then feeds them back through the AI to morph into something new. The resulting composites can exceed 5 billion pixels. "There is a ton of work involved," he said. "There are thousands and thousands of decisions that have been made by the time this thing has grown to a billion pixels, and that's the same as what a painter is doing, pushing mud around on a canvas."
The method counters a common trap Freeman sees in AI art workshops. "If we want to use AI as a shortcut, as an easy way out, as a way of avoiding doing things ourselves, it invariably turns around and bites us pretty hard," he said.
Addressing the controversy directly
Freeman acknowledged the backlash around the residency and the broader debate over AI art. He distinguishes his work from what gets dismissed as "slop" by insisting that removing critical thought, desire, and intention leaves anyone able to "create a lot of junk real fast."
The Calgary-born, AUArts-trained artist also wants to confront the question of how artists prevent AI from appropriating their work. He said that issue must be handled at a policy level. During his term, he plans to share writing aimed at helping people who have decided they hate AI to broaden their view, using ancient myths like Narcissus and Icarus to reframe today's power dynamics.
Library builds space for difficult conversations
Mary Kapusta, executive director of communications engagement at the library, said the residency program brings in new perspectives and creates room for challenging ideas. "We don't have to have all the answers, but we can create space for conversation and for learning," she said.
A showcase of the work Freeman produces during his residency will be presented at the end of his term. Details on workshops and upcoming sessions are available on the library's website.
Why this matters for creatives
Freeman's residency highlights a shift that working artists and designers are facing: AI tools reward the same deliberate, layered decision-making that defines any strong body of work. For those building skills at the intersection of code and canvas, structured resources like Generative Art Courses and AI for Creatives Courses offer pathways to integrate these methods without abandoning craft. The underlying message from the library residency is clear - the output is only as thoughtful as the human process behind it.
Your membership also unlocks:
