Nestled just off the marina lot at Heritage Park in Olathe, Kansas, the Fire Keepers Circle now stands as a glowing tribute to resilience, remembrance, and the enduring spirit of the Potawatomi people. This striking public art piece—brought to life by artists Leah Yellowbird and Aaron Squadroni, and illuminated by Blingle—is far more than just sculpture. It is a story told in steel, light, and sacred shape.
Here’s a look at the layers of meaning built into every curve, cut, and glow of this remarkable installation.
The Circle: A Symbol of Unity, Community, and Sacred Fire
The circular design of the structure is intentional and powerful.
In many Indigenous cultures, including the Potawatomi, the circle is sacred—representing unity, the cycle of life, the interconnectedness of all living things, and the sacred fire at the center of community life. As Keepers of the Fire within the Three Fires Confederacy, the Potawatomi carried the role of spiritual stewards. This circle reflects their role—drawing visitors in to witness, to listen, and to reflect together.
The Blanket Form: Embracing Grief and Hope
The undulating steel form of the structure resembles a blanket gently wrapping around the interior bench. It speaks softly to protection, comfort, and maternal care—a communal embrace in times of mourning and memory.
The installation becomes a literal and metaphorical space for shelter—offering both physical seating and emotional invitation. It asks: How do we hold space for the lives that came before us? And how do we carry their stories forward?
859 Holes: One for Every Person Removed
Perhaps the most haunting and poignant feature is the presence of 859 perforated holes carved into the structure. Each hole represents one of the 859 Potawatomi forcibly removed from Indiana in 1838 during the Trail of Death—a deadly journey of displacement in which over 40 lives, most of them children, were lost.
These holes are not random. They shimmer at night with internal lighting that Blingle helped integrate—making them points of light and loss, visible to all who gather in the circle.
Donated Feathers: Resilience Engraved in Metal
In a collaborative gesture with the community, the sculpture features flattened metal mesh panels filled with donated feather shapes, each etched with messages of hope, survival, and resilience.
These feathers—hand-drawn, cut, and placed—stand for the stories passed down, the strength carried forward, and the voice of every family touched by removal, recovery, and resurgence.
Surface Imagery: Life, Land, and Spirit
The vinyl image applied to the top band of the structure bursts with symbols:
- Dragonflies — transformation, adaptability, and rebirth
- Sunbursts — strength and guiding light
- Floral patterns — connection to the land and ancestral roots
These layers are applied with precision: powder-coated aluminum, cut vinyl imagery, and layered sheathing that moves fluidly from soft surface to sacred symbol.
Lighting With Purpose
By day, the Fire Keepers Circle is a powerful visual landmark. By night, it glows quietly and reverently—its holes backlit, its colors softened, its space transformed into something almost spiritual.
Blingle is honored to collaborate on the lighting design, helping ensure the piece could be both seen and felt, especially after the sun sets. For us, this is not just a lighting project—it is an act of respect and remembrance.
Visit the Fire Keepers Circle
Location: Heritage Park, 16050 Pflumm Rd, Olathe, KS
Ribbon Cutting: Saturday, July 19 at 11:30 AM
Remarks and performance at 11:45 AM