AdventHealth Winter Park partners with world-renowned artist for signature gateway

September 16, 2019 — Two larger-than-life sculptures will welcome and guide patients and visitors to the AdventHealth Winter Park campus, after an installation by renowned artist JEFRË.

The hospital partnered with JEFRË to enhance the emergency room entrance near the intersection of Lakemont and Aloma Avenues. The beautification project is part of the extensive expansion and campus-enhancement efforts to create a community-friendly space.

“At AdventHealth we believe in treating the whole person — body, mind and spirit. We believe art plays a key role in that holistic philosophy as it helps calm emotions and inspires the spirit,” said Jennifer Wandersleben, CEO of AdventHealth Winter Park. “This art project will beautify our campus and will give the community a gathering area for residents to nurture their souls and recharge their spirits.”

JEFRË broke into the national art scene by winning eight iconic public art competitions in 2008 worldwide. He is known for his major public installations located in the Lake Nona Town Center in southeast Orlando called “The Beacon” and “Code Wall.” JEFRË’s site specific work has been featured in numerous publications and continues to use his work to inspire people, community and place.

“It’s the hope of every artist that their work can help heal people’s mind, body and souls,” JEFRË said. “Having this installation in a place that is already set aside for healing is a great honor. I hope that generations of people can look at the piece and draw inspiration to feel whole again.”

The main sculpture at AdventHealth Winter Park is a 20-foot diameter “halo” made of mirror stainless steel. The thought-provoking gateway sculpture has the Bible verse from Jeremiah 29:11 — “For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD. They are plans for good…to give you a future and a hope.” — engraved on it.

A screen wall with a temporary picture of Florida’s natural beauty by local artistic photographer Paul Marcellini will serve as background and frame the halo sculpture in the new space. The wall is composed of a mesh metal that over time will be filled with beautiful creeping fig. Three sculptural benches, inspired by coconuts, complete the new landscape.

A second sculpture — which features two red sculpted forms in a shape of stacked “ER” letters — will be at a different location on Lakemont Avenue — will serve as a statement of hope and healing and serve as a will serve as a visual cue to the hospital’s Emergency Department.

Landscaping and design work is complete in the space where the art pieces will be installed. The sculptures are tentatively scheduled to be installed this week.

The installation is part of a project to improve the aesthetics of the AdventHealth Winter Park campus, which first opened in 1955. The campus’ Nicholson Pavilion opened in July.

About the artist:

JEFRË studied at the Art Institute of Chicago prior to receiving a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Ohio State University. He has constructed numerous site-specific artworks in cities around the world including London, Manila, Miami, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Abu Dhabi and San Antonio. JEFRË was named one of seven “Faces of Design” by Florida Inside Out Architecture Magazine for his environmental art and couture landscapes. His work has been featured in numerous publications such as NY Times, CNN, Elle and L Official. As an artist and city building initiator, his design solutions originate from a deep understanding of the historical, environmental, social and contextual relationships influencing the site, people and the architecture.