| ARTIST McVAUGH CHALLENGES COMPUTERS A Duel to Fuel a Debate about Our Power to Create |
ARTIST'S PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT: "Hello and welcome! THANK YOU for taking a few moments of your time for this
brief announcement. Please allow me to first introduce myself. My name is Edwin S. McVaugh, Jr., and I was born and raised in
a small New Jersey town, a Quaker descendant of Betsy Ross. Named after my father, a successful second generation builder, my
mother nicknamed me 'Mike' at an early age and that is what most of my friends call me today. Today as a Central Florida
resident and artist, I simply go by E. Mike McVaugh. Looking back I have had an active interest in the art of the portrait since
youth and was formerly educated at George School and Rollins College. I experienced life changing spiritual renewal during the
1980s and since then my life journey has been a creative/spiritual one. I am currently a portrait specialist by trade and am a
longstanding student of the American presidency.
I am here today, to endeavor in a plain spoken way, to answer what I humbly believe to be a part of God's call on my life. That
being to publicly issue an artist versus computer challenge that I am calling An American Presidential Portrait Challenge, Here it
is: I, publicly challenge any existing computer on earth to create and paint a better portrait of a President of the United States
than I can, letting the public decide the winner. This artist vs computer American Presidential Portrait Challenge is being made
public as of September 17, 2012, and I believe (like Billie Jean vs Bobby Riggs, Big Blue vs the Chess Champ, Watson vs the
Jeopardy Game Show Champ, and David vs Goliath) it is a challenge whose time has come. I also believe it is a challenge that will:
(1) Serve to energize a debate among people of all races, creeds, and colors about our, humankind's, power to create; (2) Will
bring positive tribute to the Office of the President of the United States; while (3) benefiting agencies and organizations that offer
Hope to the Addicted and their Families. It is also (4) about honoring a promise long ago made. It is a privately funded (no
government grants or corporate sponsors) independent challenge of which I am a reluctant but still willing imperfect vessel who
has lived a rather spartan lifestyle to get to the point of this announcement today.
The president I've chosen to create and paint a portrait of for my Challenge entry is America's beloved 40th President, Ronald
Reagan. President Reagan once said, 'God had a divine purpose in placing this land between two great oceans to be found by those
who had a special love of freedom and courage.' America was founded upon great principles and in America portrait painting is a
great long-standing tradition celebrating the many diverse marvels of the American spirit. President Reagan believed and
championed that America was great because of the greatness of her 'ordinary, hardworking, God-blessed individuals'. That
everyone of us is here for a reason and has something to offer. May this Challenge be an encouragement for those ordinary, hard
working, God-blessed folks (of which I gratefully count myself as one) and may it serve a higher good in the process as well.
Plainly speaking, this Portrait Challenge is this artist's giant leap of faith. I am not on an ego trip or glory seeking ride by issuing
this Challenge. I simply believe I have been given this to do and am committing very best efforts to see it done. Although I will
add that I heard someone once say that acts of God are tough acts to follow. And I say Amen to that!
Thank you again for your time. Please consider forwarding this to family, friends and co-workers. For additional artist
background information please visit: www.oilportraitsforyou.org. For additional information about the Challenge please send an
email to artistvscomputer@yahoo.com. Thanks and God bless."
brief announcement. Please allow me to first introduce myself. My name is Edwin S. McVaugh, Jr., and I was born and raised in
a small New Jersey town, a Quaker descendant of Betsy Ross. Named after my father, a successful second generation builder, my
mother nicknamed me 'Mike' at an early age and that is what most of my friends call me today. Today as a Central Florida
resident and artist, I simply go by E. Mike McVaugh. Looking back I have had an active interest in the art of the portrait since
youth and was formerly educated at George School and Rollins College. I experienced life changing spiritual renewal during the
1980s and since then my life journey has been a creative/spiritual one. I am currently a portrait specialist by trade and am a
longstanding student of the American presidency.
I am here today, to endeavor in a plain spoken way, to answer what I humbly believe to be a part of God's call on my life. That
being to publicly issue an artist versus computer challenge that I am calling An American Presidential Portrait Challenge, Here it
is: I, publicly challenge any existing computer on earth to create and paint a better portrait of a President of the United States
than I can, letting the public decide the winner. This artist vs computer American Presidential Portrait Challenge is being made
public as of September 17, 2012, and I believe (like Billie Jean vs Bobby Riggs, Big Blue vs the Chess Champ, Watson vs the
Jeopardy Game Show Champ, and David vs Goliath) it is a challenge whose time has come. I also believe it is a challenge that will:
(1) Serve to energize a debate among people of all races, creeds, and colors about our, humankind's, power to create; (2) Will
bring positive tribute to the Office of the President of the United States; while (3) benefiting agencies and organizations that offer
Hope to the Addicted and their Families. It is also (4) about honoring a promise long ago made. It is a privately funded (no
government grants or corporate sponsors) independent challenge of which I am a reluctant but still willing imperfect vessel who
has lived a rather spartan lifestyle to get to the point of this announcement today.
The president I've chosen to create and paint a portrait of for my Challenge entry is America's beloved 40th President, Ronald
Reagan. President Reagan once said, 'God had a divine purpose in placing this land between two great oceans to be found by those
who had a special love of freedom and courage.' America was founded upon great principles and in America portrait painting is a
great long-standing tradition celebrating the many diverse marvels of the American spirit. President Reagan believed and
championed that America was great because of the greatness of her 'ordinary, hardworking, God-blessed individuals'. That
everyone of us is here for a reason and has something to offer. May this Challenge be an encouragement for those ordinary, hard
working, God-blessed folks (of which I gratefully count myself as one) and may it serve a higher good in the process as well.
Plainly speaking, this Portrait Challenge is this artist's giant leap of faith. I am not on an ego trip or glory seeking ride by issuing
this Challenge. I simply believe I have been given this to do and am committing very best efforts to see it done. Although I will
add that I heard someone once say that acts of God are tough acts to follow. And I say Amen to that!
Thank you again for your time. Please consider forwarding this to family, friends and co-workers. For additional artist
background information please visit: www.oilportraitsforyou.org. For additional information about the Challenge please send an
email to artistvscomputer@yahoo.com. Thanks and God bless."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ARTIST VS COMPUTER
FROM: Orlando, Florida
ARTIST McVAUGH ANSWERS GOD'S CALL TO
CHALLENGE COMPUTERS TO
AN AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAIT CHALLENGE
WHO: Artist E. Mike McVaugh (it rhymes with draw)
WHAT: Issues public challenge to any computer on earth.
WHEN: This Challenge is made public as of 9/17/12
WHY: This Artist vs Computer Challenge is: (1)To energize
a debate among people of all races, creeds and colors about
humankind's power to create; (2) To bring positive tribute to
the Office of the President of the United States; (3)To benefit
agencies and organizations that offer Hope to the Addicted and
their Families; and (4) To honor a promise long ago made.
CONTACT MAILING ADDRESS:
E. Mike McVaugh
4252 N. Orange Blossom Trail, MB #37,
Orlando, Florida 32804
ARTIST'S WEBSITE: www.oilportraitsforyou.org
CHALLENGE EMAIL: artistvscomputer@yahoo.com
FROM: Orlando, Florida
ARTIST McVAUGH ANSWERS GOD'S CALL TO
CHALLENGE COMPUTERS TO
AN AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAIT CHALLENGE
WHO: Artist E. Mike McVaugh (it rhymes with draw)
WHAT: Issues public challenge to any computer on earth.
WHEN: This Challenge is made public as of 9/17/12
WHY: This Artist vs Computer Challenge is: (1)To energize
a debate among people of all races, creeds and colors about
humankind's power to create; (2) To bring positive tribute to
the Office of the President of the United States; (3)To benefit
agencies and organizations that offer Hope to the Addicted and
their Families; and (4) To honor a promise long ago made.
CONTACT MAILING ADDRESS:
E. Mike McVaugh
4252 N. Orange Blossom Trail, MB #37,
Orlando, Florida 32804
ARTIST'S WEBSITE: www.oilportraitsforyou.org
CHALLENGE EMAIL: artistvscomputer@yahoo.com
Above is an INTERACTIVE DISPLAY for your viewing pleasure.
Please CLICK on any image of this display to enlarge it and view a
corresponding description together with some artist commentary. Each
work pictured is by the artist. All images © McVaugh.
Please CLICK on any image of this display to enlarge it and view a
corresponding description together with some artist commentary. Each
work pictured is by the artist. All images © McVaugh.