“MindBlown Toledo”
Art Director, Lead Content Designer, Animator, Cinematography, 3D Projection Mapping Template Creator
About the Installation
Located on the facade, the Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel hosts a long-term projection mapped installation which launched in 2018 as the nation’s first permanent projection mapping public art installation. Since Toledo is known as the “Glass City”, the artworks feature explorations of the glass industry processes and the creation of glass artwork, interwoven with related animations that combine vivid imagery, stunning effects, and spellbinding illusions. MindBlown Toledo debuted with “Directions” and “Refractions”, a collaboration between Integrated Visions and studio glass artist Leo Tecosky. The most recent work, completed in 2021, “Amorphous” features an original soundtrack by Randy Klein.
My Role
For this project, I created the video mapping template used across all pieces. I also art directed the content and produced all of the 3D animations, including the glass animations. Along with Bryan Dodson, I shot footage of the glass being blown by Leo Tecosky and edited the footage into the final piece.
“Amorphous” 2021
“Amorphous”
This animation is a playful exploration of glass as a living surface, shifting and transforming across the surface of the building. The glass bends, fractures, and reassembles, allowing the architecture to momentarily feel fluid and alive. The work is accompanied by an original soundtrack by Randy Klein, whose music adds a rhythmic, immersive layer that deepens the sense of movement and transformation.
Directed by Michelle and Bryan Dodson
Original Soundtrack by Randy Klein
Animation by Michelle Penland Dodson
Produced by Choreografx, inc.
“Refractions” 2017
“Refractions”
In this animation, I digitally modeled the glass sculpture created by Leo Tecosky during the filming of Directions, transforming the building’s surface into a field of shifting glass panels with the colorful arrow sculpture floating in the background. Aligned to the architectural lines of the real structure, the panels refract and fragment the arrow sculpture, causing it to sparkle as the panels rotate and light moves across the façade.
Directors: Michelle Dodson (IVP) and Bryan Dodson (IVP)
Glass Sculpture by: Leo Tecosky
Animation: Michelle Dodson (IVP)
“Directions” 2017
“Directions” by Integrated Visions and Leo Tecosky
This piece is a playful remix of the glassmaking process, centered around an original arrow sculpture blown by artist Leo Tecosky. Footage of the real glassmaking process is layered and reimagined, blending into a vibrant exploration of heat, color, and the slow, viscous movement of molten glass.
Directors: Michelle Dodson (IVP) and Bryan Dodson (IVP)
Glass Artist: Leo Tecosky
Camera Operators: Michelle Dodson (IVP) and Bryan Dodson (IVP)
Film Shoot Producer: Rich Chychota
Editing and Post Production by Michelle Dodson (IVP) and Bryan Dodson (IVP)
Soundtrack: Rich Chychota
Installation Credits
MindBlown Toledo :: Installation Team
Executive Produced by First Hospitality Group Inc. (www.fhginc.com)
Designed and Produced by Integrated Visions Productions
Projection Mapping by Integrated Visions Productions (IVP)
Technical Direction by Robert Payne (IVP), Bryan Dodson (IVP) and Atlanta Soundworks Inc. (www.aswav.com) (ASW inc.)
Automated Show Control by IVP and ASW Inc.
Media Servers by Christie Pandora’s Box (www.coolux.de)
Projector Calibration and Auto-alignment by Christie Mystique
Pandora’s Box and Mystique Programming by Kevin Morris (Christie Digital)
Projectors manufactured by Christie Digital
All Weather Projector Enclosure designed by VM Systems, IVP and ASW inc.
Atlanta Soundworks Inc.’ s team for Mindblown Toledo included Galen Boyce, Shane Boyce, Sam King, Randy Long, Elvis Pressley, and Javier Guzman