Space of belonging: Annual Sculpture Walk in Lee’s Summit provides 24/7 entertainment
The Downtown Lee’s Summit Sculpture Walk launched during summer 2020 just as quarantine restrictions were beginning to lift and many were eager to get out and about and connect with others.
Since then, the sculptures — which are replaced with new exhibits each spring — have become a part of the downtown experience.
“The initial plan was to install the first exhibit in March 2020,” said Glenda Masters, Lee’s Summit cultural arts manager. “But when the pandemic progressed and led to quarantine, we delayed the installation until later in the summer when quarantine restrictions were lifted.
“Despite everything we were going through as a community due to the pandemic, it meant a great deal to be able to launch a new outdoor public art program at a time when our community needed new ways to connect.”
The Sculpture Walk provides access to artwork 24/7, she said, and is a beautiful addition to the downtown aesthetic.
The 2024-’25 sculptures being installed this spring are a vital part of the city of Lee’s Summit’s public art collection. The yearly rotation of artwork featured in the Sculpture Walk includes seven original pieces, Masters said, with plans calling for the number of sculptures to increase with the opening of the Downtown Market Plaza in late spring 2025.
Sculpture Walk exhibits are featured annually on the city’s Cultural Arts Division webpage. The Sculpture Walk and other public art displays reflect a space of belonging, Masters said, and expose residents and visitors to artists from around the country.
“These are works you would typically find within galleries and museums but they are out in the open, free and accessible to all,” she added. “Not only do we find public art to be visually appealing, but it also adds a uniqueness to our city, along with increasing cultural and social values.”
Although the Sculpture Walk is designed to exhibit art for just one season, two sculptures have been purchased by the city of Lee’s Summit for permanent display: 2020’s “Raptor” and 2023’s “Wired.” “Raptor,” a popular exhibit featuring a metal dinosaur located in front of City Hall, is taking a brief break from public life.
“Our beloved ‘Raptor’ is currently off-site in storage for safekeeping and maintenance while the Downtown Market Plaza is under construction,” Masters said. “We will be reinstalling (it) in the newly developed Downtown Market Plaza once construction is complete.”
Reaction to Lee’s Summit’s public artwork continues to be positive, with interest increasing during festivals, art walks and other downtown events.
“We are increasing public engagement to include Public Art Scavenger Hunts, and the public is invited to vote on their favorite artwork each year,” Masters said.
The Sculpture Walk is funded by the City of Lee’s Summit Cultural Arts Division and the Downtown Lee’s Summit Community Improvement District. The Improvement District supports annual artists’ stipends, which help supplement the artists’ transportation and installation expenses.
“Each sculpture is available for purchase and 100% of the sale goes directly to the artist,” she said.
The Sculpture Walk pieces are selected by a committee, including members of the Lee’s Summit Cultural Commission along with other Lee’s Summit residents.
In addition to the debut of 2024-25 Sculpture Walk pieces, four Parade of Hearts exhibits were recently installed throughout Lee’s Summit. Locations include near the railroad depot in downtown Lee’s Summit, at the Streets of West Pryor, at the Lee’s Summit Honda dealership on Colbern Road and at the Price Chopper on Woods Chapel Road in northern Lee’s Summit.
The Parade of Hearts pieces are also temporary exhibits, although the city’s Cultural Arts Division has purchased two hearts in years past, including “Downtown Time,” located within City Hall, and “Look, But Only With Love,” which is featured outside the Lee’s Summit Police Headquarters.
