3 of 4 remaining art pieces at Convention Center to be relocated

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin’s Office of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (ACME) said it worked with artists to relocate and preserve art installations at the Austin Convention Center and was able to reach mutually beneficial agreements with three of the four artists.

After the announcement the Convention Center would close for its expansion and reconstruction process, some were concerned about the art in the building.

The city said its goal was to ensure each piece would continue to enrich the lives of Austinites and visitors.

The four artworks include:

• Waller Creek Shelves by Damian Priour
  • Relocated to the Austin Public Library as part of the City of Austin’s Art in Public Places (AIPP) collection
• Macro/Micro, by Rolando Briseño
  • Remains in the AIPP collection
  • Digital re-creation being developed
  • Plans for relocation being considered
• Riffs & Rhythms, by John Yancey
  • Carefully removed through a collaborative partnership
  • Ownership of the piece transferred to Yancey
  • Discussions underway regarding potential reinstallation in East Austin’s historic African American Heritage Cultural District
• Index for Contemplation, by Margo Sawyer
  • removed by the artist
  • City exploring options to retain the work as a legacy installation in the new Convention Center

"ACME is a strong advocate for the preservation of artwork," said AMCE Director Angela Means. "We recognize that meaningful partnerships are essential to meeting the ever-evolving needs of our creative community and the public. As we look to Austin’s cultural landscape, we will continue to explore innovative solutions and strategic collaborations that reflect our city’s values."