Prairie Village Public Art Series Vol. 2

"Fluid Form" Sculpture by Jacob Burmood
​By Nancy Kalikow Maxwell

​The Prairie Village Public Art Series of articles is being developed by the Arts Council to describe and highlight the wonderful public art in Prairie Village.  To see the first installment, click here.  Please watch here for future installments.

A sea animal. A woman dancing. Swirling curlicues.

These are just a few of the descriptions given by shoppers walking past the striking silver sculpture between the Hen House and the Tavern in the Shops of Prairie Village. None of these descriptions mentioned a creek's path in the woods, which sculptor Jacob Burmood says originally inspired his artwork. But that's OK with him.  According to Burmood, his works can be described as abstractions “of the fluid nature of the universe.”

While the sculpture, “Fluid Form,” may be difficult to describe, it can accurately be called the "People's Choice" of Prairie Village.  It was selected by our residents through a popular vote held in June 2017.  Once selected, the 1,000-pound cold cast aluminum sculpture which measures 10’ by 4’ x 5’ was installed in its current location and dedicated on Friday Dec. 15, 2017.  The work was generously funded by the shopping center owner, First Washington Realty.

Sculptor Jacob Burmood has been sculpting professionally since 1999. A native of Springfield, MO, he is currently an art teacher at Johnson County Community College and has previously taught in the Sculpture Department at Missouri State University, Springfield, MO.  Burmood earned a Master’s in Fine Arts from the University of Kansas and Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from Missouri State University.
Leopold Gallery owner Paul Dorrell, calls Burmood “a brilliant sculptor” and “one of the finest artists I’ve ever worked with.”  Burmood has won commissions across the country, with pieces installed from California to Texas to Tennessee. Locally his work can be seen at KU Medical’s Indian Creek Campus in Overland Park and downtown Olathe. 
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One of Burmood’s recent works at Arrowhead Stadium is an abstract interpretation of the human body inspired by the shape of a football. He’s currently working on a massive piece for the City of Lawrence. It remains to be seen if it, too, will evoke feelings of a dancer or sea creature from passersby.