This sculpture in commercial area of Lee’s Summit sheds light on historical ‘growth’

It’s a busy commercial development right now, but a vibrant public art piece offers a glimpse of the treasures this parcel in Lee’s Summit held years ago.

Dave Eames, owner of Fossil Forge Design in Lee’s Summit — along with his multimedia art team Ben Wine, Colin Aubuchon and Remy Norton-Hood — created “Infinite Harvest,” an 11-foot metal sculptural tribute to the fruit orchards that filled the land for many years. The piece provides historical context to the $125 million development Summit Orchards, which spans 19.9 acres along Chipman Road in Lee’s Summit.

The team worked closely with Lee’s Summit historian Kathy Smith to dig into the history of the valley, said Eames, who emphasized the importance of historical context when it comes to creating public art.

“Working with Kathy gave us a vision for the piece,” Eames said. “The structure is a neat symbol of the types of trees and fruits that grew in the orchards. We wanted to create something that truly represents the nature that was here.”

The bushel basket sculpture signifies the fruit orchards that bloomed in the area. The orchards and farm covered about 340 acres on and around the site, Eames said. The four sides of the sculpture represent the seasons, and interior LED lights glow through the cutout fruit tree leaves.

Kathy Smith said having context to an area provides people with a clearer sense of place.

“You want people to understand the history of the area, so they can appreciate what was here before the new development,” said Smith, a volunteer at the Lee’s Summit History Museum.

Smith said it was nice working with developers who showed interest in commemorating the narrative of the valley through a beacon art piece. A plaque soon will accompany the sculpture to provide specific background, although the piece already evokes elements from the orchard’s history, Smith said.

“It’s going to be a really iconic piece for this whole area,” Smith said. “It has character. It makes Summit Orchards stand apart from other developments.”

The team has been leading the way in public art in Lee’s Summit, and values the opportunity to create significant, dynamic art in local communities, Eames said.

“Being a part of this project was very gratifying,” he said, adding that he and his team are proponents of public art, and aim to “make our city visually appealing, while raising awareness of our city’s past.”

Summit Orchards features grocery, clothing and sporting goods stores, restaurants and luxury apartments.

This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 7:00 AM.