Two-story Sculpture at Orange County Convention Center Chosen for Public Art Network Year in Review

Americans for the Arts Gives National Recognition to the Best in Public Arts Projects

Orange County, Fla. – At its June conference in San Francisco, the Americans for the Arts announced the 49 outstanding public art projects in the nation, chosen by its panel of public art experts. The large-scale sculpture by French artist Marc Fornes installed last November at the Orange County Convention Center is among the projects chosen for publishing in the prestigious 2017 Public Art Network (PAN) Year in Review. The PAN Year in Review is a juried selection of public art that has been installed in the previous year; it is presented as a highlight at the annual Americans for the Arts convention and published online as a national resource.

The largest public art work to be installed at the Convention Center to date, Fornes’ Under Magnitude is a two-story aluminum sculpture that hangs over the atrium at the north end of the West Building. Measuring 23 feet high by 31 feet wide by 44 feet deep, Under Magnitude is described as a “distributed network” that hangs over the atrium, altering the experience of the massive space by creating a lower sub-ceiling. Fornes intended for the permanent structure to act as both a “curious signal and a place for visual wandering.”

“We were delighted to learn that Marc Fornes’ awe-inspiring sculpture, Under Magnitude, was selected as one of the top public art projects in the nation,” said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs. “The presence of a thriving arts environment enriches our public spaces, including our award-winning Orange County Convention Center. Through the visual arts, our convention center visitors and local citizens have the chance to experience creativity, beauty, inspiration and more.”

Americans for the Arts is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. With more than 50 years of service, it is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts.

Fornes is the founder of THEVERYMANY™, a New York-based studio engaging art and architecture through the filter of systematic research and development into applied computer science and digital fabrication. Fornes has his work on display across the globe including in the world’s largest cruise ship as well as in parks, buildings and plazas.

“This piece brings the art at the Orange County Convention Center to a new level, befitting our location as a crossroads to the world,” said Terry Olson, director, Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs.

The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) is the second largest convention facility in America. Each year, the OCCC attracts more than 200 events to the Central Florida area. As a result, roughly 1.4 million attendees contribute approximately $2.1 billion to the area’s economy each year. For more information about the Orange County Convention Center, visit www.occc.net.

The Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs office commissions public art and invests financially in dozens of area arts organizations with Tourist Development Tax funds. For more information, visit www.ocfl.net/arts.

Under Magnitude Sculpture at OCCC 3 Photos