New Art Installation Showcases Winter Park's
Colors
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Deep purple, rustic red, and lush green are among
the iconic hues of the City of Winter Park, which
features peacock feathers, brick streets, and other
colorful sights. Those colors are now permanently on
display at Fairbanks Avenue near I-4.
The art installation, known as Rhythmic Colors, was
designed, developed, and installed as part of the
I-4 Ultimate Art Endowment program — an initiative
that set aside $1.5 million to fund permanent public
art in various cities and counties along the I-4
Ultimate corridor.
Rhythmic Colors was designed by RLF Architects and
installed in October. It is the second of five art
projects now in place as finishing touches are
underway on I-4 Ultimate.
The team at RLF Architects, which typically designs
buildings, was eager to jump on this project when
the call for artists came from Winter Park. General
contractors LokiVon & Associates were thrilled to
work on the new project for the city.
“I think the best part of the process was working
with my teammates and believing that we could do
it,” RLF graphic designer Jocelynn White said.
LokiVon & Associates President and CEO Joshua
Marinov added, “My favorite part of the project is
the aesthetic and bringing another modern design
element to the City of Winter Park.”
Steven Purcell, project designer, grew up in Winter
Park, and knew that the colors of the city would
provide inspiration. Part of the process involved
viewing a cross section of Winter Park and looking
for colors that stood out.
“I want [people] to see Winter Park in an abstract
feature,” he said. “I want them to go beyond some of
the clichés and be able to see Winter Park as raw
color—as vivid, visible light reaching your
eyes and evoking some type of thought and feeling of
Winter Park.”
The geometric shape of the 18-foot-tall poles mimics
movement, and part of the rhythm comes from how
light hits the installation, even at night.
A company called 15 Lightyears donated an off-grid
solar system that illuminates the art installation.
The goal was to create movement with the lighting
and to also illuminate the installation so it can be
admired no matter the time of day.
Lisa Pearcy, CEO and founder of 15 Lightyears, said
she connected with the design and construction teams
because of their unique approach to solar light.
Donating the lighting was also personal for Pearcy,
who often travels with her family during spring
break and likes to remember a piece of artwork from
each trip. Unable to travel in 2020, Pearcy saw the
opportunity to contribute to art in her hometown as
a bright light.
“I think [art] can really bring value to creating a
memory and a place,” she said. “I hope that this art
installation does that to every car that passes by.”
Danny Humphress, chair of the Winter Park Public Art
Advisory Board, and City of Winter Park Mayor Phil
Anderson share the same sentiment.
“I hope that a little bit of that feeling of delight
that I have when I go by it, the citizens of Winter
Park and visitors to our city will get as well,”
Humphress said.
“This is something that welcomes us into Winter
Park, and it says a friendly goodbye as we leave,”
Anderson said.
More installations will break ground in the coming
weeks. Interested in learning more? Continue to
check the
I-4 Ultimate Art Endowment page
for updates and more information.
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