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by Bianca Rodriguez-Mora, Arlington Report
February 11, 2026<\/p>\n
When Bob Pruitt saw Boynton\u2019s \u201cHeartfullness\u201d at Burning Man in 2013, the local entrepreneur knew he had to bring it back to Arlington somehow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Boynton’s original piece was a giant heart made of steel with glowing red embers peering out from the inside. Pruitt recalled showing the artwork \u2014 along with other sculptures by artists at Burning Man \u2014 to the Downtown Arlington board of directors at that time.<\/p>\n
Eventually, Boynton was asked by Downtown Arlington\u2019s board of directors to create a version of \u201cHeartfullness\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 12-by-16 steel heart, with nods to the city etched into it, was unveiled on Feb. 5 and will permanently reside in the entertainment district.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cArlington does have a big heart,\u201d Pruitt said as the sculpture was revealed. \u201cWhen Arlington came up with the logo of the American dream city, I kind of thought, \u2018Really?\u2019 You know, but it is really that because my dream has absolutely come true.\u201d<\/p>\n
Boynton pointed out \u201ceaster eggs\u201d in the piece at the unveiling ceremony: an abstract version of the Arlington logo at the upper quadrant of the heart; roses and blue bonnets commemorating her first visit to Texas; small birds nodding to Laura Kimpton and Jeff Schomberg, artists from that Burning Man event who would go on to create Arlington\u2019s\u00a0 \u201cDream\u201d sculpture<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Inside Boynton’s heart sculpture, visitors can find small steel fish. The heart also glows red in the evening, similar to her original piece.\u00a0<\/p>\n Boynton said she was grateful for the creative control she was given when creating the piece. The project couldn\u2019t have been presented to her at a better time, she added.\u00a0<\/p>\n The artist\u2019s mother had just died after suffering from heart disease when Boynton received the call that she had been selected to create the piece. The sculpture was unveiled in partnership with the American Heart Association and during American Heart Month, which is meant to spread awareness about cardiovascular health and heart disease prevention.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like she’s part of it,\u201d Boynton said. \u201cIf it weren’t for the education that (the American Heart Association) put together for people out there, I wouldn’t have had her for as long as I did. So I’m really grateful. I’m really, really grateful that this was all wrapped up into \u2018Heartfullness.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The sculpture is free to view at the Dr. Robert Cluck Linear Park, by Cowboys Lot 4.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of people think the entertainment district is for the rich people who come in and visit us. But it doesn’t cost anything to bring your family, to show up here, have a picnic, just come and talk,\u201d Pruitt said. \u201cI want the residents to have an opportunity to come here and experience this as part of their city too.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n