Reflection Point at Rockefeller Center: Google Labs x Wade and Leta

As an artist deeply passionate about creating accessible, engaging, and interactive experiences, I’m excited to share the story behind our latest project, Reflection Point. This vibrant mirrored maze installation, showcased at Rockefeller Center from June 5 to July 20, 2025, represents a year-long collaboration between my partner Leta and me, and Google Labs’ innovative generative imagery experiment, Whisk. Through this partnership, we explored how cutting-edge AI technology can influence and expand artistic creativity, helping us reimagine the way we approach sculpture and public art.

In this article, I want to take you behind the scenes of our creative journey—from initial skepticism about AI tools to embracing the unexpected inspiration Whisk provided, to the final realization of Reflection Point as a public, interactive artwork. Along the way, I’ll share insights into our creative process, how we integrate technology with hands-on craftsmanship, and why participation and interaction are key to completing the artwork’s story.

🤖 Embracing New Technology in Art

When Google first approached us to create a sculpture using generative AI, our initial reaction was one of skepticism. Like many artists, we are creatures of comfort with familiar processes, and the idea of integrating AI into our workflow felt both exciting and a little intimidating. However, we quickly realized that resisting new technologies would only limit our creative growth.

In fact, embracing these tools can serve as a catalyst for innovation. Rather than pushing AI away, we chose to see it as an opportunity to break free from stagnation and explore new artistic directions. This mindset allowed us to view Whisk—not as a replacement for our artistic vision—but as a powerful collaborator that could spark unexpected ideas and push us to think beyond our usual boundaries.

Whisk is a generative image tool that feels like a mixing bowl of endless possibilities. It lets us create images from textual prompts as well as from visual references like subjects and scenes that inspire us. This flexibility made it an exciting playground for experimentation, opening doors to fantastical and diverse ideas that we might not have conceived on our own.

For example, some of the AI-generated concepts included a maze constructed from beams and graphic shapes, a playable sculpture that felt larger than life, and even a gigantic cloud suspended above a group of people. These imaginative visions challenged us to think about scale, form, and interactivity in new ways.

What I appreciate most about working with tools like Whisk is the invitation to play—to approach the creative process with openness and curiosity rather than rigid expectations. If you’re an artist curious about AI, my best advice is to begin without preconceived notions. Let the technology surprise you and see how it can enhance your practice rather than dictate it.

🎨 Our Creative Process: From AI Inspiration to Physical Sculpture

After generating ideas with Whisk, Leta and I didn’t just stop at digital images. We treat AI-generated concepts as a springboard—an initial sketch—that we then translate into physical forms. This hybrid approach blends digital innovation with traditional artistic skills.

Our process typically involves several stages:

1. Conceptualization: Using Whisk, we experiment with various prompts and references to produce a range of visual ideas.
2. Sketching: We select the most compelling AI-generated images and create hand-drawn sketches to further develop the concepts.
3. Model Making: We build small-scale models to explore the three-dimensionality of the design and work out structural details.
4. Fabrication: Finally, we translate the model into a full-scale sculpture, utilizing materials and construction techniques suited for public interaction.

This blend of digital and physical creation allows us to maintain control over the artistic vision while benefiting from the AI’s capacity to generate unexpected forms and combinations. It’s a dynamic dialogue between human intuition and machine creativity.

For Reflection Point, the final sculpture is a mirrored maze that invites visitors to explore and find themselves within the artwork. The use of mirrors was inspired not only by the AI-generated concepts but also by how people naturally interact with space. We wanted the piece to be a participatory experience—something that becomes complete only when people engage with it.

Mirrors create a unique environment where reflections multiply and perspectives shift, transforming the maze into a playful and immersive world. This idea resonates deeply with our goal of making art accessible and interactive for people of all ages and backgrounds.

🌟 Reflection Point: An Interactive Experience

Reflection Point is more than just a sculpture. It’s a social space, a playground, and a mirror both literally and metaphorically. The mirrored surfaces invite visitors to see themselves reflected in the work, encouraging self-discovery and connection.

Our vision was that the artwork would only be truly finished once people stepped inside, moved through the maze, and interacted with the reflections and the space around them. This participatory element aligns with our broader philosophy of art as a communal experience rather than a static object.

By situating Reflection Point at Rockefeller Center—a bustling, iconic public space—we aimed to attract a diverse audience, from locals to tourists, from children to adults. The installation fosters moments of wonder, surprise, and playfulness amid the urban environment.

Visitors often share stories of how the maze challenged their perceptions, sparked conversations, or simply offered a joyful break from their day. Seeing people connect with the work in unexpected ways is the most rewarding part of this project.

🧩 The Power of Play in Artistic Practice

One key lesson from this project is the importance of play in the creative process, especially when working with new tools like AI. Whisk, as an image generation tool, thrives on experimentation and open-ended exploration.

When you approach generative AI with a playful mindset, you allow room for surprises and happy accidents—those moments when the AI suggests something you hadn’t considered but that resonates deeply. This can lead to breakthroughs and fresh directions that enrich your work.

For artists interested in incorporating AI into their practice, I recommend the following:

• Start with curiosity: Approach the tool as a collaborator rather than a competitor.
• Allow for mistakes: Not every AI-generated idea will be a winner, but each attempt offers learning.
• Integrate your voice: Use AI to complement your artistic vision, not replace it.
• Experiment freely: Try different prompts, images, and combinations to see what emerges.

Remember, the goal isn’t to let technology dictate your work but to harness its potential to expand your creative horizons.

🔍 Exploring the Intersection of Art, Technology, and Community

Reflection Point exemplifies how art and technology can intersect to create meaningful, engaging public experiences. This project highlights several important themes:

• Accessibility: By designing an interactive sculpture that welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds, we strive to make art approachable and inclusive.
• Innovation: Utilizing generative AI tools like Whisk enables artists to break new ground and experiment with forms and ideas that might be difficult to conceive otherwise.
• Participation: The artwork’s completion depends on public interaction, emphasizing the role of the community in shaping the meaning of art.
• Reflection: Both literal and figurative reflection encourage visitors to see themselves within the artwork, fostering personal connection and contemplation.

Our collaboration with Google Labs has been a remarkable journey of discovery. It challenged us to rethink our creative methods and inspired us to create something that resonates beyond the traditional boundaries of sculpture.

💡 Looking Ahead: The Future of AI in Art

As artists, we are constantly seeking new tools and methods to express our ideas and connect with audiences. Generative AI represents a powerful frontier in this quest, offering unprecedented possibilities for creativity.

While AI can sometimes feel impersonal or mechanical, our experience with Whisk has shown how these tools can be deeply personal and artistic when used thoughtfully. The key is to maintain a human-centered approach—letting technology serve as an extension of our imagination rather than a substitute.

Looking ahead, I believe AI will continue to become an integral part of many artists’ workflows, helping to democratize creativity and open new avenues for collaboration. The potential to remix, reimagine, and reinvent artistic forms is limitless.

For those curious about exploring AI in their own practice, I encourage you to try out Whisk and similar tools. Embrace the uncertainty, experiment boldly, and most importantly, keep your artistic voice at the heart of every creation.

🎉 Final Thoughts

Reflection Point is a testament to the exciting possibilities that emerge when artists embrace new technologies with openness and playfulness. Our journey from initial skepticism to a fully realized public artwork has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding.

It’s a reminder that art is not just about the finished piece but about the process—about exploration, collaboration, and interaction. By inviting people to step inside the mirrored maze, we invite them to become part of the artwork’s ongoing story.

If you’d like to experience Reflection Point in person, it will be on display at Rockefeller Center from June 5 to July 20, 2025. And if you’re interested in experimenting with generative AI yourself, you can try Whisk at labs.google/fx/tools/whisk.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I hope our story inspires you to embrace new tools, experiment fearlessly, and find your own unique voice in the evolving landscape of art and technology.