"Artist Returns to Clean and Refurbish "Love's Legacy"" by Greg Duncan

In 2018 our church decided to commission an original work of art to commemorate our 175th anniversary. Such a monumental milestone certainly deserved a notable, permanent expression of the church's significant past, thriving present, and bright future. It also seemed fitting that the artwork should be public to honor our church's many community connections over those 175 years.

After much research, we worked with the Leopold Gallery to commission a burgeoning artist named Jacob Burmood to conceive an original work to be unveiled on our 175th anniversary. His stunning piece was aptly titled "Love's Legacy" and is installed on Kansas Street near the Welcome Center doors. It beautifully greets everyone entering the church, is enjoyed by passers by, and is a striking addition to the downtown Liberty artscape.

If you haven't paused to admire "Love's Legacy" in a while, now is the time! Since creating this piece for Second Baptist, Jacob's career has skyrocketed (along with his prices!) with notable commissions around the country. We are fortunate to have one of his original works of art on our property.

Jacob was recently back in town to install a new sculpture as part of Liberty's rotating art program. (You can see that new piece just south of the church on Leonard Street.) While here, he volunteered to do maintenance and cleaning work on our sculpture! We are grateful for his generosity.

The words "Love's Legacy" are beautifully represented in the flowing abstract design of the piece. Love and legacy are equal parts soft (like the curves of the piece) and fixed (like the strong aluminum of which it is made). In their purest forms, both love and legacy often stand in contrast with all that is going on around them (like the artwork stands out against its linear architectural backdrop). And perhaps most important, neither love nor legacy ever cease (like the sculpture itself has no endpoint).

To read more about the commissioning of "Love's Legacy," its design and workmanship, and the artist, pick up a brochure in the Welcome Center. And, on your way into the church, pause to view the artwork and reflect on Second Baptist Church's ongoing legacy of love.