A full moon shines above local photographer and instructor Danny Pietrodangelo’s animated rendering of the LeMoyne Arts building. As the viewer virtually glides along the brick path, through the open door, and into a 3D model of the gallery’s interior, it becomes clear that even in the midst of a world pandemic, new public art spaces can be manifested with just the click of a mouse.  

“I wanted a sense of authenticity,” says Pietrodangelo. “I learned so much spending four months working on this. It’s all about creating an environment that isn’t really there but appears to be.” 

The Double Exposure exhibition featuring photography by Pietrodangelo and Riko Carrion first debuted in person at LeMoyne Arts in September 2019. Pietrodangelo has exhibited in Tallahassee for four decades and wanted to collaborate with Carrion given their divergent photography styles.

When shelter-in-place was established mid-March, Pietrodangelo was faced with new questions about the viability of physical exhibitions given the virus’ impact on the arts and galleries. 

In the mid-90s he started commercially creating 3D spaces and animations for court trials. Mostly self-taught, he spent hundreds of hours this spring rendering the graphic elements to create a template of the LeMoyne gallery in order to “re-hang” the Double Exposure exhibition. Carrion was completely on board when Pietrodangelo approached him with the idea for a virtual exhibit and was excited for an opportunity to reach an even larger audience. 

“This show was a brainchild of his,” says Carrion. “He put it together like he put together a home.” 

The virtual reality art experience features a computer constructed model of LeMoyne’s four galleries, capturing everything from the carpeted wall panels to the antique doorways and windows. Pietrodangelo took many tools from his skill set as a traditional and digital photographer into this project. 

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