Art Nine Disc Golf Course

Selected Artworks:

• "Sweet Spot" (placement: near hole 2 tee)
• "Their Journey" (placement: near hole 4 tee)
• "Let Her Fly" (placement: near hole 9 tee)

Artist Statement/Concept:
When I was awarded the opportunity to design these sculptures I found inspiration from the area’s past and present. Roughly 70-80 million years ago Pteranodons would have soared over the skies and large sea creatures would have swam in the ocean that is present day Kansas. For thousands of years, until the late 1800’s bison would have roamed the area’s land.

• “Let Her Fly” was not only inspired by the Pteranodons of the past but also the flight of the future disc of the Art 9 course.
• “Sweet Spot” has a number of elements to its inspiration. This piece has reference to the Mosasaurs that swam the prehistoric ocean and the fish of present-day Shawnee Mission lake. I also wanted to use circles the same size as the discs for golf. These will be put together to resemble butterflies. They will be attached to lite rod so the butterflies will move and appear to fly over the open mouth of the fish. Finally, sweet spot, is a disc golf term about the area of the target. 
• “Their Journey” was inspired by the iconic Bison of the Kansas plains. The wild Bison’s journey to near extinction is a sad one. However, with national parks, ranchers, and others, the Bison can roam into the future. The 3 birds the Bison carries with it, represents its past, present, and future. 

Artist Bio:
Scott Diven is a contemporary mixed media sculptor from Kansas City, Missouri. Art is something that has always been something within him, anxious to be revealed. As early as preschool, he has been submersed in creating. He credits his two wonderful, hardworking, parents who allowed him to develop a perfect blend of his mother’s work with ceramics and his father’s work with steel. His art would not be where it is today without the positive support and motivation his wife and three children. Inspiration for his art is often from nature and the way it coexists with industrial items often abandoned in landscape.  While trying to translate his inspiration, he doesn’t focus on replicating the specific image, however, the personal feeling from the inspiration. That feeling shows through his choices of materials, colors and movement in his pieces. He enjoys creating everything by hand.

Selected Artworks:

• "Paper Wasp Putting Game" (placement: near Shawnee Mission Park inclusive playground, adjacent to disc golf course parking lot)
• "Forest Guardian" (placement: near hole 7 tee)
• "Twilight Refuge" (placement: near hole 8 tee)

Artist Statement/Concept:
My entries were informed by my love for the sport of disc golf and a serendipitous encounter while revisiting the course. I stumbled upon a delicate paper wasp’s nest lying perfectly preserved between holes six and seven. This chance finding ignited a spark of inspiration and soon became the foundation for two of my three entries. My second entry entitled; “Forest Guardian” was inspired by my many experiences with white tailed deer in the park.

Witnessing the intricate structure of the paper wasp’s nest reminded me of the intersection of form and function in nature. This principal also illustrated the problem we were tasked with solving. That is, to create work that is whimsical and inviting that might also function as an interactive experience for all.

Our artist cohort was informed that the rate of play would most likely be slower because of beginners experiencing the sport for the first time. “Let’s give folks something to do while waiting,” I thought. That’s when I had my aha moment! Create an interactive sculpture inspired by nature that encourages the most important skill inherent to the sport of disc golf…putting!

To encourage effective practice, the openings of the individual cells would be 22 inches, the diameter of the sweet spot of the chains on a basket. Notably, my sculpture idea entitled, “Twilight Refuge” was also inspired by the paper wasp’s marvel of natural architecture and resilience. The color scheme on the inside of the sculpture was informed by our vibrant Kansas sunsets.

Artist Bio:
As a multimedia artist, my inspiration stems from nature’s breathtaking beauty and symmetry. With a background in illustration, I sculpt captivating narratives using welded steel, ceramics, glass, bronze, aluminum, wood, and earthwork to name a few. These diverse media allow me to craft immersive and thought-provoking pieces, bridging imagination and reality. My art invites audiences to embrace the profound connection between humanity and the natural world, fostering environmental consciousness and wonder. Through each mediums unique voice, I celebrate the intricate beauty that surrounds us, igniting a shared responsibility to protect and cherish our planet for generations to come.

Selected Artwork:

• "Iron Leaf" (placement: near hole 6 tee)

Artist Statement/Concept:
As a Public Art Artist, I always strive to represent the symbiotic relationship between art and the community. To achieve this, I rely heavily on my passion for organic forms found in nature and distinct geometries to create visually stimulating pieces that result in a balanced, complementary contrast between the natural and industrial worlds. One key element is that I always try to tie plants, flowers, and trees native to the region into the sculpture. It is the blending of the straight hard geometric lines with these organic features that produce the unique final result. As these natural elements are incorporated, the sculptures evolve from rigid, angular shapes into soft, elegant, and flowing forms.

I love Shawnee Mission Park and was very excited to participate in the Disc Nine Sculpture call. As I was developing concepts, I wanted to respect the pristine nature of the park while at the same time creating beautiful, fun experiences that would draw people into the Disc Nine course. The sculpture concepts are based on simple but relatable subject matters. The end results are bright and stimulating sculptures that engage the viewer from a distance while at the same time sitting in harmony with the environment around them.  They will create a modern, dynamic, and intriguing visual experience for the park and community that residents, visitors, adults, and children will enjoy for years to come.

“Iron Leaf” is supposedly a term used by disc golfers “when your disc grazes a seemingly innocent leaf, but instead knocks your disc out of the sky with a mystic power comparable to Thor’s Hammer.” These two large abstract leaf sculptures that can be used as seating.

Artist Bio:
With an education background in architecture and biology, Jake Balcom is a self taught artist that has been creating art for over 20 years. He has extensive fabrication skills and is known for complicated, yet clean designs. He has public art installations all over the country as well as over 200 private commissions. His primary focus these days is site specific metal sculptures, primarily in the public realm. He used old world techniques, new age technology, and a metal’s natural malleability to create these site specific pieces. He was part of the team the repaired and restored Ken Snelson’s giant sculpture “Triple Crown”, and recently attended the Buffalo Creek Art Center residency outside of Lake Tahoe.  He currently creates his art in a small studio in the Crossroads Arts District in Kansas City.