Mindbender Studio
Gaiascope
Telluride, Colorado
On view Nov. 8–17
In Greek mythology, Gaia is the mother of all creation and the spirit of our planet. She is regarded as a sacred, living entity embodying the interconnectedness of all life, fostering reverence and stewardship for the natural world.
Gaiascope is a new type of kaleidoscope whose fractal reflections illuminate the signs of our world’s hidden unity—a poignant reminder of humanity’s universal bond to our planet and each other. When people gaze into the three suspended Gaiascopes, they are peering into 6-foot-long mirrored chambers that display video art of Arizona’s natural wonders, from the micro to the macro. The video art reflected inside each sculpture produces captivating optical illusions. They are designed to spark curiosity and inspire active participation. Each Gaiascope has an interactive pedestal, where viewers push buttons and swivel joysticks to alter each artwork’s lighting sequence, colors, video content, and playback speed. At night, their exterior shells, layered with color-changing LEDs and laser-cut panels, transform into glowing lanterns.
Biography
Mindbender Studio, based in Telluride, Colorado, creates immersive installations that inspire a deeper connection with the natural world. Established by visual artist Brooke Einbender, known as “Mindbender,” the studio explores the intersection of art, technology, and nature. Their projects are rooted in multidisciplinary collaboration, bringing together artists, architects, designers, and technicians to create art that pushes the boundaries of creativity and brings new forms of awe and magic into the world.
Brooke Einbender is a multidimensional artist exploring portals. She graduated from Wake Forest University as a Presidential Scholar for Visual Arts. She is a TEDx speaker, received public art commissions from Auberge Resorts Collection and the Town of Mountain Village, built a permanent installation at CampV, and collaborated with scientists to render their research in virtual reality. Einbender also creates immersive elevator art installations, where she prints her art on vinyl and wraps the elevator walls and doors with her designs. Her art can be found at Arlo Hotels in Chicago, Miami, New York, and, soon to be, Washington, DC.
Justin Glidewell is a master craftsman with thirty years of experience in design and fabrication. He specializes in creating abstract steel sculptures.
Alec Rosen is the digital visualizer for the Giascopes project. He is committed to evoking emotion and dynamism through his renders. These images are closely tied to his architectural thesis exploring ephemeral architecture, focusing on the intricate relationship between materiality and light.
Brian Pinkham, or PhotonicBliss, has created reality-redefining sculptural light art for over 15 years. Beginning his career as a robotics engineer at Lockheed Martin, Brian began to see the writing on the wall: The tech he was developing would ultimately be used for violence and destruction. Upon this realization, he shifted paths and created luminous experiences of awe and beauty. Brian’s work has been shown worldwide, and he has produced work for Meow Wolf, Apple, Disney, Cirque du Soleil, and more, plus countless Music Festivals from Burning Man to Coachella.
Calvin Nemec got footage in Arizona for this project. He is an award-winning photographer and filmmaker with over a decade of experience specializing in travel, adventure, and documentary projects. As the founder of Odyssey Visual Media, he brings his expertise in visual storytelling to create compelling content for various clients. His work spans photography books, documentaries, and corporate projects, reflecting his passion for exploration and cultural preservation.
