At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic I started feeding the birds on the deck of my condo. In a couple of months there were quite a few coming and going. I found it quite enjoyable to have them around.

Having been doing digital drawings of people the birds became integrated into the works.

I found the symbolism of a bird being comfortable on a person's head intriguing. It could easily fly away but has chosen to stay. It was a delicate and fragile relationship. Somewhat puzzling and humorous at the same time. The relationship seemed to challenge the contemporary view of our society towards nature. There was a partnership between the bird and the person. I liked it.

Moving ahead almost exactly two years, in the autumn of 2022, I am experimenting with Artificial Intelligence (AI) producing images. I found that what DALL-E could do interesting and somewhat amusing. A person gets 15 free credits a month with each credit producing 4 images. I tried several different text prompts and then moved on.

The next month I produced a series of images using the text prompt "a woman with a cat on her head".

Then it came to me.

An image of a woman with a bird on her head done in a photographic style. Yes! This would be very intriguing. So I went for it.

I found that what DALL-E has trouble doing was just as interesting as what it does very well. I quite like the mistakes. It adds to the complexity of meaning in the piece. I kept the text prompt simple and watched how DALL-E would embellish it, adding details that weren't asked for.

So... the text prompt used was.

"Portrait of a woman in her twenties with a small bird on her head in a photographic style."

Which was then refined to...

"Portrait of a woman in her twenties with a small bird on her head in a minimalist photographic style in color."

None of the women in the images actually exist and none of the images will ever be duplicated. That's the nature of AI.

I chose a woman because of the connection to mother earth.

I chose a young woman because the majority of her life is still ahead of her.

I also found that specific races needed to be added to the text prompt to get a broader representation of humanity.

In the spring of 2023 my friend Sergio Soares helped me setup a discord server so that I could use Midjourney.

I was astounded at what Midjourney could do.

I decided to go around the world creating a representation of every type of woman. So... by using Wikipedia and Midjourney, I spent three months downloading images produced by Midjourney, ending up with 3,600 images.

I started a series of recordings/albums using the images for the album covers.

What could the meaning of "a woman with a bird on her head" be?

The meaning of "a woman with a bird on her head" could be interpreted in various ways depending on context, culture, and personal interpretation. Here are a few possible interpretations:

1. Symbolism: It could represent freedom, connection with nature, or a sense of whimsy and creativity.

2. Metaphor: It might symbolize a burden or responsibility that someone is carrying, likening it to the weight of a bird on their head.

3. Artistic Expression: In art or literature, it could be a surreal or imaginative image meant to evoke curiosity or spark the imagination.

4. Cultural Significance: In some cultures, birds hold specific symbolic meanings. For example, in some Native American cultures, birds are seen as messengers or symbols of spirituality.

5. Absurdity or Surrealism: It could simply be an expression of absurdity or surrealism, without a specific symbolic meaning.

Ultimately, the meaning would depend on the context in which the image or phrase is used and the interpretation of the individual encountering it.

Perfect! Thanks!

Can you give me as complete as possible a list of birds and their symbolic meaning?

Certainly! Birds hold symbolic meanings in various cultures and contexts. Here's a list of some birds and their symbolic meanings:

1. Dove: Peace, love, hope, purity.

2. Eagle: Strength, courage, freedom, vision, power.

3. Owl: Wisdom, intuition, mystery, transition, protection.

4. Swan: Grace, beauty, transformation, purity.

5. Peacock: Beauty, integrity, immortality, renewal.

6. Robin: Joy, renewal, new beginnings.

7. Raven/Crow: Intelligence, trickery, transformation, wisdom.

8. Hawk: Focus, vision, leadership, protection.

9. Cardinal: Vitality, renewal, messenger from the spirit world.

10. Hummingbird: Joy, love, healing, agility.

11. Phoenix: Rebirth, renewal, immortality, transformation.

12. Pelican: Self-sacrifice, nurturing, charity.

13. Albatross: Freedom, travel, endurance.

14. Blue Jay: Resourcefulness, clarity, intelligence.

15. Sparrow: Community, protection, simplicity, freedom.

16. Penguin: Adaptability, resilience, community.

17. Flamingo: Balance, grace, sociability.

18. Crane: Longevity, prosperity, good luck, wisdom.

19. Seagull: Freedom, versatility, independence.

20. Blackbird: Mystery, magic, transformation, enchantment.

These interpretations can vary across different cultures and belief systems. The symbolic meanings of birds often derive from their behavior, appearance, and historical or cultural significance.

Thank you very much! :)

You're welcome! If you have any more questions or if there's anything else I can help you with, feel free to ask! :)