number of sculptures that Earnes and his team switch out depending on the season. One of the most popular – a bouquet of balloons that appear as if they’re being lifted into the air – have attracted plenty of attention from Lee’s Summit residents and downtown visitors alike. “I’ve seen hundreds of pictures of people holding onto those balloons and posing,” Earnes chuckles. “It’s doing what we hoped it would. It’s engaging people.” Earnes is excited to take that unremarkable alley space and transform it into something extraordinary – something that is uniquely Fossil Forge and Lee’s Summit. “We’re friends with the neighbors around here, so we plan to make this alley a true public space,” Earnes says. “It still has the dumpsters, it still has all of the things that alleys have, but we’re connecting all of our neighbors.” Whether they are near or far – Fossil Forge has customers as far as away as Washington State and Massachusetts – Earnes’ goal is to make the world a little smaller through art, and to encourage individuality through art. “Don’t just run with the crowd. Be yourself,” he says. It’s a philosophy Earnes says he has tried to live by, and one by which he continues to manage his business. He’s proud to do it, too; after all, Fossil Forge isn’t just a business. It’s his passion, and after all these years, it’s still just plain fun. “I’m grateful to be able to do this,” Earnes says. “This isn’t just a job for me. I’d do it no matter what. And the fact that we can give back to our city, our community — that’s the icing.” For more information or to place an order, visit Fossil Forge at 317 B SE Main St. in Lee’s Summit, call 816-785- 3280, or visit www.fossilforge.com. ^ Top : With Fossil Forge located in Lees Summit, Missouri, little signs with the word “home” and a heart can be found across the building. Middle: Earnes uses safety gloves and face protection while using grinder to smooth the metal. Bottom: Pieces of metal can be found in every corner of Fossil Forge — there’s even an entire shelf near their work bench dedicated to little pieces of scrap metal.
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