KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs fans heading into Arrowhead Stadium this weekend may notice a new piece of artwork outside the stadium.
The newest piece in the Arrowhead Art Collection, an abstract sculpture titled "Third and Long," was created by Jacob Burmood, a Kansas City resident and Springfield native. The Chiefs commissioned a sculpture from Burmood more than a year ago, and he said the piece installed Monday was the result of a series of conversations, drawings and more than 800 hours of work.
“Getting it installed today was the culmination of a lot of work by a lot of people, not just me,” Burmood said.
Sharron Hunt, chairwoman of the Arrowhead Art Collection and program, said the piece is not literal, which may lead people to have different interpretations when they look at the sculpture.
“That’s the nature of an abstract sculpture, though,” she said. “Different people are going to see different play patterns, even.”
Burmood said the base of the sculpture, a circle, represents a play from a coach’s handbook, and an abstract football can be seen through the two points. The four lines rising up from the base symbolize the four quarters of a game, as well as players running after the ball.
“There’s an indication that it’s in motion, and a bit of a spiral to it,” Burmood said.
This is the latest sculpture outside Arrowhead in the #KCChiefs collection. A description is in one of the pics. pic.twitter.com/qkE3fg3WZT
— Chris Morrison (@KCChrisM) October 28, 2019
Hunt said the Chiefs made the decision to create space for artwork when Arrowhead Stadium was renovated in 2010. The goal of the program is to showcase artists from the six-state region.
“It’s been thrilling and wonderful, and we love every piece. We love every artist,” Hunt said. “Each one is unique and individual and represents a story and a person and a life and a piece of our region.”
Hunt said the Chiefs continue to seek new pieces for the collection, though the growth has slowed to about one new major work per year.
Burmood said “it’s a great feeling” to know that next Sunday — and many Sundays after that — thousands of people will take in his artwork.
“(It) definitely makes me totally ecstatic to know that my work is out in front of so many people and hoping that they appreciate it,” he said. “I’m very happy to have it here.”
