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by: Jessie Cartwright Let's Walk! Everyone is Welcome!  You are invited to combine art and wellness in the beautiful outdoors with Mayor Eric Mikkelson and the Prairie Village Arts Council as we kick-off the first Prairie Village Art Walk, Friday, June 11, at 5:30 pm. Designed to highlight our city’s public art, build community, and promote wellness, the Art Walk includes eight significant works of art by local and internationally known artists along Mission Road from The Shops of Prairie Village to Corinth Quarter. We will begin at The Homesteaders, Shaffer Park, 5:30 pm, at Mission and Tomahawk Road.  As Campbell explained to the Kansas City Star, her piece represented the “homesteading spirit” of the Westward movement. The symbols she chose included “the nourishing soil, the wheel and the basic unit of society -- the family.” We will make a stop at Fluid Form, Mission Lane:  Fluid Form was selected by our residents through a popular vote held in June 2017. Once selected, the 1,000-pound cold cast aluminum sculpture was installed in its current location and dedicated on Friday Dec. 15, 2017. After Fluid Form, we will continue south for a ribbon-cutting event at Fifties Freedom In the Village at approximately 6:00 pm, joined by sculptor E. Spencer Schubert and donor Brad Johnson to officially welcome our city’s newest sculpture, also unofficially known as "the boy on a bike".  E.S. Schubert Sculpture Studios, located at 110 Southwest Boulevard in KCMO, today is recognized as one of the most outstanding makers of bronze monuments in the Midwest. We will continue north along Mission Road to view five more works of art, ending at 83rd Street, Corinth Quarter, for the recent mural Connections at Corinth.  Phil Shafer’s mural is a geometrically-themed, vibrant set of panels wrapping around the building bookended by Tide Cleaners on one side and Panera Bread on the other. Color was one of Shafer’s most important considerations for the piece. Use the mural as a photo background and tag Corinth Quarter on Instagram and Facebook, @corinthquarter, and Prairie Village Arts Council, @artsprairievillage. Use the hashtag: #pvartwalk! The Art Walk is approximately 3.6 scenic miles of amazing public art round trip. If you are not able to attend the Kick-off, the sculpture information placards will remain throughout the summer. A special feature of the Prairie Village Art Walk includes viewing access through Otocast, a free geo-mapping app with artist audio, text, and visuals about their artwork. Download Otocast and select Prairie Village, KS to hear all about them as you tour the public art.  We look forward to seeing you at the Prairie Village Art Walk this summer!
"Prairie Evolution" sculpture by Matthew Dehaemers |
 | “Prairie Boy,” a life-size bronze, was created by Richard Lumpkin in 1975 with inspiration from the period of westward expansion and homesteading that brought migration through Kansas. Richard explained, Mindful of the wagon swales nearby, I wanted to portray this young man contemplating whether to continue westward, or stay to farm in this area of wide open prairie and fertile soil. Through Harmon Park, the Westport Route connected the Santa Fe Trail and eventually the Oregon Trail for continued migration and pursuit of prospects. Richard effectively captured Prairie Boy’s deliberation through body language, conveying posture and expression at the moment of a life-changing decision. |
Prairie Boy’s historical context deepens our understanding and connection, and encourages our empathy for the pioneer migrator’s journey in search of opportunity, or a new beginning. By the 1850s, the swales identified in Harmon Park were deep, defined ruts in the ground, worn by thousands of cattle, oxen, and wagons on the Santa Fe thoroughfare. Return to Prairie Boy’s narrative, and imagine he has confidently arrived at the decision to settle here.
Originally, Prairie Boy was commissioned by the Prairie Village Bicentennial Committee, and the Municipal Arts Commission, led by Mayor William E. Franklin (1973-1979), to commemorate the 200th
Anniversary of the United States, and the 25th Anniversary of Prairie Village. In a conversation with Richard, he explained that as a member of the Arts Commission, he was encouraged by those around him to take on this prodigious project, though as a commercial artist he had no experience with the lost wax method of bronze casting. Humorously, Richard recalled that in the span of a year his kitchen became a studio with 90lbs. of wax, which was often explored by the family siamese cat and ornamented with holiday decorations, before Prairie Boy was finally transported to a local foundry.
By the spring of 1978, Prairie Boy was cast in bronze, and a dedication was planned for April 15. To Richard’s surprise, a large group of community members gathered for the dedication. A spontaneous celebration followed with Richard’s family and community members afterwards.
Originally, Prairie Boy was commissioned by the Prairie Village Bicentennial Committee, and the Municipal Arts Commission, led by Mayor William E. Franklin (1973-1979), to commemorate the 200th
Anniversary of the United States, and the 25th Anniversary of Prairie Village. In a conversation with Richard, he explained that as a member of the Arts Commission, he was encouraged by those around him to take on this prodigious project, though as a commercial artist he had no experience with the lost wax method of bronze casting. Humorously, Richard recalled that in the span of a year his kitchen became a studio with 90lbs. of wax, which was often explored by the family siamese cat and ornamented with holiday decorations, before Prairie Boy was finally transported to a local foundry.
By the spring of 1978, Prairie Boy was cast in bronze, and a dedication was planned for April 15. To Richard’s surprise, a large group of community members gathered for the dedication. A spontaneous celebration followed with Richard’s family and community members afterwards.
Richard enjoyed reminiscing about Prairie Boy, whose legacy includes newspaper photos with a small television on a lawn chair placed in front of him, or a coat draped over his shoulders on a cool fall day. Richard explained that at one time, the Shawnee Mission East Track Team ritually touched the top of Prairie Boy’s head for strength and endurance. Prairie Boy’s legacy continues as one of the sculptures in the Prairie Village Art Walk that begins June 11, 2021.
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