Heritage Park Public Art Project / Potawatomi Trail of Death

Johnson County Park & Recreation District (JCPRD) is commissioning an artist or artist team to create a site-specific, permanent sculpture at Heritage Park to commemorate the 1838 Potawatomi Trail of Death and celebrate the resiliency of the Potawatomi tribe. The Trail of Death was a forced removal journey of the Potawatomi tribe that occurred in 1838, a 660-mile trek that passed through the land now known as Heritage Park in Olathe, Kansas. The sculpture will be placed adjacent to the current historical marker in the Heritage Park Marina Parking lot at 16050 Pflumm Road, Olathe, Kansas 66062. The Potawatomi tribe conducts a pilgrimage of the Trail of Death every five years, journeying from Indiana to Kansas to honor their ancestors.

The public art should commemorate the Trail of Death while celebrating the resiliency of the Potawatomi tribe and reflecting their culture through culturally significant colors, symbols, or imagery. The artwork should also highlight and celebrate the natural environment within Heritage Park, including native flora, fauna, and unique features of the park. The sculpture must be fabricated of highly durable, low-maintenance materials that can withstand Kansas weather with a life expectancy of 20-30 years. There are no height or weight limitations, but artists should consider the scale of their pieces in accordance with the $100,000 project budget. The artwork must have no points or sharp edges that can pose a hazard to pedestrians. Lighting should be considered as part of the design, with JCPRD assuming the cost of external lighting elements within reason.

The public art opportunity is open to professional artists residing within the United States with a tribal affiliation that is recognized. Interested artists should submit qualifications by Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 11:59 PM MT through the CaFÉ website. Submissions must include a tribal membership card or letter from the respective tribal enrollment office, a letter of interest (no more than 2 pages), a CV/resume with current contact information (no more than 3 pages), names and contact information for 3 professional references, up to 10 sample images of previous artwork relevant to the project, and a corresponding image list with artwork title, medium, dimensions, brief description, location, date of work, commissioning entity, and budget/price. The Art Selection Committee will review qualifications and select up to 3 finalists, who will be paid a stipend to develop a site-specific concept proposal. Finalist proposals will be shared publicly for community feedback. The final artist selection and concept will be approved by the JCPRD Board. An optional virtual open house/informational session will be held via Zoom on Thursday, February 22nd from 11:00–11:30 AM.