Thursday, February 6, 2025

Connecting the dots

If you find yourself lost on foot in Toledo this summer, don't panic, just keep your eyes peeled. The Toledo Arts Commission in collaboration with the Professional Association for Design (AIG) — a group connecting local designers —  is turning the city into one huge directory map by placing 100 outdoor “dots” —called the You Are Here Toledo project: an interactive citywide art exhibit to showcase local artists while enhancing our public space.

“I've always been fascinated by those red 'you are here' dots in malls,” said Jen Stucker, the president of AIG Toledo, who spearheaded the concept. “They're very comforting to me—they give you a sense of place. I thought it would be a good project to put a positive spin on the community.”  

The project's dots are each three feet wide and inspired by and teach about the significant area where they are placed. 99 local artists, including professionals, students, and the general public, each designed a dot. An Arts Commission's panel selected the artists from a pool of around 200, based on submissions, and then assigned a location to each artist. The artistic creation that transforms each  dot represents that artist's reaction to the location—some are literal interpretations, and some are loose associations.

The locations were selected due to some artistic or historical significance. Some will lie in high-traffic areas, while others will be further off the beaten path.   
“We tried to look for a range of locations with the idea that some would be destinations and some would be more happenstance — some will be places that are not high foot traffic areas,” said Dan Hernandez, the Art and Public Places coordinator for the Arts Commission.

There is incentive to visit each locale. Every dot will have a QR (quick response) code which, when scanned with a smart phone, will display information about the art, artist, and location. The Arts Commission will release a smartphone app that ‘collects’ dots, adding an interactive scavenger hunt aspect to the project.  

“The QR codes really tie the project together,” Hernandez said. The Codes are modern, but offer windows into Toledo’s past because “as you access each (location) online, you will be provided with insight into their historical context.” He hopes the codes and app will encourage people to venture out and explore bits of Toledo they may have missed.
Check out www.youareheretoledo.com
for more info.

The You Are Here Toledo project kicks off with a launch party on Tuesday, May 22 from 5:30-
7:30pm at The
Valentine Theatre,
410 Adams St.

If you find yourself lost on foot in Toledo this summer, don't panic, just keep your eyes peeled. The Toledo Arts Commission in collaboration with the Professional Association for Design (AIG) — a group connecting local designers —  is turning the city into one huge directory map by placing 100 outdoor “dots” —called the You Are Here Toledo project: an interactive citywide art exhibit to showcase local artists while enhancing our public space.

“I've always been fascinated by those red 'you are here' dots in malls,” said Jen Stucker, the president of AIG Toledo, who spearheaded the concept. “They're very comforting to me—they give you a sense of place. I thought it would be a good project to put a positive spin on the community.”  

The project's dots are each three feet wide and inspired by and teach about the significant area where they are placed. 99 local artists, including professionals, students, and the general public, each designed a dot. An Arts Commission's panel selected the artists from a pool of around 200, based on submissions, and then assigned a location to each artist. The artistic creation that transforms each  dot represents that artist's reaction to the location—some are literal interpretations, and some are loose associations.

The locations were selected due to some artistic or historical significance. Some will lie in high-traffic areas, while others will be further off the beaten path.   
“We tried to look for a range of locations with the idea that some would be destinations and some would be more happenstance — some will be places that are not high foot traffic areas,” said Dan Hernandez, the Art and Public Places coordinator for the Arts Commission.

- Advertisement -

There is incentive to visit each locale. Every dot will have a QR (quick response) code which, when scanned with a smart phone, will display information about the art, artist, and location. The Arts Commission will release a smartphone app that ‘collects’ dots, adding an interactive scavenger hunt aspect to the project.  

“The QR codes really tie the project together,” Hernandez said. The Codes are modern, but offer windows into Toledo’s past because “as you access each (location) online, you will be provided with insight into their historical context.” He hopes the codes and app will encourage people to venture out and explore bits of Toledo they may have missed.
Check out www.youareheretoledo.com
for more info.

The You Are Here Toledo project kicks off with a launch party on Tuesday, May 22 from 5:30-
7:30pm at The
Valentine Theatre,
410 Adams St.

Recent Articles