2024 ART IN THE LOOP PROJECT:  CONVIVENCIA

CALL FOR PERFORMING ARTISTS

Deadline for submissions: Monday, March 18, 2024, 11:59 p.m.

The Art in the Loop Foundation (AILF) is in search of performing artists to bring their creativity to Downtown Kansas City for the 2024 Art in the Loop Performance Series. 

Through a competitive, open-call process, AILF selects local artists to perform along and near the KC Streetcar route as well as at other sites in Downtown Kansas City. This performance series will feature multi-sensory performances such as spoken word, dance, music, improv, etc., while also highlighting the visual artworks installed along the KC Streetcar route. 

Artists will receive a stipend for their work and selected artists will perform at one of six Art in the Loop events: 

  • June 12th: Kick-off Ceremony at the Central Library
  • July 17th: Art Car Reveal + Art Ride onboard KC Streetcar
  • August 16th: 816 Day at City Market
  • September 18th: Early fall evening concert at Oppenstein Park
  • November 6th: Closing Reception at the Central Library

2024 Theme/Prompt: Convivencia

This year’s theme is convivencia (Spanish: to coexist with others through practicing the way we share space and resources despite our differences. To be “at ease” with difference.)

Convivencia is a space between harmony and conflict. It expresses a shared life with others that is a constant practice, effort, negotiation, and joint achievement while recognizing friction or opposing energy. 

We recognize that artists and creatives are very familiar with navigating space, energy, and time amongst one another and within their communities. 

Throughout Downtown Kansas City and on board the Kansas City Streetcar, we observe moments of Convivencia through the interactions of visitors, residents, workers, and commuters. 

This year we invite artists to share how they practice or observe convivencia. We challenge artists to explore moments that demonstrate the act of joint achievement and negotiation, whether that be in an abstract or a representational sense. 

We ask artists to consider the following prompts: Can we be at ease with difference? How do we share space with our community while balancing both harmony and conflict? How does this tension inform our work and practice? 

We are looking for artists to respond to this word, feeling and experience and to explore their vision of convivencia. 

Eligibility:

Professional artists, musicians, spoken-word artists, dance artists, social practice and other performers, at least 18 years of age residing within 50 miles of Kansas City are eligible. Artists must perform original work. Past performers are encouraged to re-apply. 

Art in the Loop Mission:

The mission of the Art in the Loop Foundation (AILF) is to contribute to the visual identity, enrichment, and revitalization of Downtown Kansas City, create new opportunities for artistic development, and expand public interaction with new art of excellence. AILF values an equitable, diverse, and inclusive art community.

To be considered, you may submit a proposal for either of the four following categories: 

Please review the details below. You may apply for multiple categories and events; however, you will have only one performance if you are selected. The categories are:

  1. Performing Arts: Music
  2. Performing Arts: Dance, Theater, Improv etc.
  3. Social Practice: Community or Public Engagement
  4. Literary Arts: Spoken Word, Poetry, etc.

How to apply:

Follow this link to the online application. In addition to a brief project proposal, you will be asked to provide a written artist statement and video or audio samples of past original work, no more than five minutes total. 

Requirements for selected artists:

  • Descriptive material and photo for the website – Artists will provide a brief written description of their work and provide a photo for the project website. 
  • PR and marketing materials – Artists will provide written content to assist in developing press releases, programs, and other materials. 
  • Attendance at the Kick-Off Event & Reception – Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the Kansas City Public Library Central Library. 
  • Attendance at the Closing Reception – Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at the Kansas City Public Library Central Library. 

Art in the Loop will provide: 

  • Web presence for each project/performance on artintheloop.com 
  • Social media, PR, and other marketing and promotional efforts 
  • Logistical support and coordination with property owners and partners 
  • Documentation of projects (still photography and video as available) 
  • Printed summary catalog of entire project

Equipment Note: 

It is preferred that performance artists bring their own audio equipment. Access to electricity depends on the performance location. Artists should bring extension cords and other necessary equipment. For performances on board the KC Streetcar, artists must be able to perform acoustically or bring a battery-powered amplification system. 

2023 ART IN THE LOOP PROJECT PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

A. Performing Arts: Music

Open-call for musicians (solo artists, duos, bands, groups) to perform original music as part of Art in the Loop: Summer Performance Series. Each performance will last 30 minutes to one hour. A $750 artist’s fee will be provided. 

B. Performing Arts: Dance, Theatre, etc.

Open call for dance, theater, and/or other performers (solo artists and/or groups) to perform original performances as part of Art in the Loop: Summer Performance Series. Each performance should last 30 minutes to one hour. A $750 artist’s fee will be provided.  

C. Social Practice: Community or Public Engagement

Open-call for social practice artists (work that focuses on community engagement through performance or human interaction) to engage in Art in the Loop: Summer Performance Series. Each performance or community engagement should last 30 minutes to one hour. A $750 artist’s fee will be provided.  

D. Literary Arts: Spoken Word, Poetry, etc.

Open-call for Spoken Word and/or Poetry Performers (solo artists and/or groups) to perform original written works as part of Art in the Loop: Summer Performance Series. Each performance should last 30 minutes to one hour. An artist’s fee of $250 will be provided. 

 

Event Location Performance Dates Time Access to Electricity 
Kick-off Event Kansas City Public Library Central Library, 14 W 10th Street (Indoors) Wed., June 12 5:30 p.m. Yes
Art Car Reveal Kansas City Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Rd. Wed., July 17 TBD Yes
Summer Performance Art Ride (onboard KC Streetcar) Wed., July 17 TBD No
816 Day Concert City Market (Outdoors) Fri., Aug. 16 5:30 p.m. Yes
Fall Performance Oppenstein Park, 12th & Walnut (Outdoors) Wed., Sept. 18 5:30 p.m. Yes
Closing Reception Kansas City Public Library Central Library, 14 W 10th Street (Indoors) Wed., Nov. 6 5:30 p.m. Yes

Contact Performing Art Director, Jade Osborne, jadeosborneart@gmail.com or Program Director, Ann Holliday, ann@downtownkc.org with any questions.

Deadline for application is March 18, 2024 Click here to apply

Learn more at artintheloop.com

Deadline for submissions: Monday, March 18, 2024, 11:59 p.m.

The Art in the Loop Foundation (AILF) is in search of artists to bring their creativity to Downtown Kansas City for the 2024 Summer Public Art program (11th Annual).

Through a competitive, open-call process, AILF selects local artists to create temporary, site-specific work along and near the KC Streetcar route in Downtown Kansas City. Your artwork will be viewed by thousands of KC Streetcar riders and Downtowners daily! Selected artists will receive funds and project support to bring their big ideas alive for a 6-month outdoor program. 

2024 Theme/Prompt: Convivencia

This year’s theme is convivencia (Spanish: to coexist with others through practicing the way we share space and resources despite our differences. To be “at ease” with difference.)

Convivencia is a space between harmony and conflict. It expresses a shared life with others that is a constant practice, effort, negotiation, and joint achievement while recognizing friction or opposing energy. We recognize that artists and creatives are very familiar with navigating space, energy, and time amongst one another and within their communities. 

Throughout Downtown Kansas City and on board the KC Streetcar, we observe moments of Convivencia through the interactions of visitors, residents, workers, and commuters. 

This year we invite artists to share how they practice or observe convivencia. We challenge artists to explore moments that demonstrate the act of joint achievement and negotiation, whether that be in an abstract or a representational sense. 

We ask artists to consider the following prompts: Can we be at ease with difference? How do we share space with our community while balancing both harmony and conflict? How does this tension inform our work and practice? 

We are looking for artists to respond to this word, feeling and experience and to explore their vision of convivencia.

Eligibility, Requirements & Schedule:
Professional visual artists, or artist teams, art students, at least 18 years of age residing within 50 miles of Kansas City are eligible. Click here to learn more about the selection process, requirements, and schedule.

Art in the Loop Mission:
The mission of the Art in the Loop Foundation (AILF) is to contribute to the visual identity, enrichment, and revitalization of Downtown Kansas City, create new opportunities for artistic development, and expand public interaction with new art of excellence. AILF values an equitable, diverse, and inclusive art community.

To be considered, artists may submit a proposal for ANY of the FOUR following categories: 

Please review the details below. You may submit artwork for multiple categories; however, if you are selected, it will be for only one location.

  • KC Streetcar Wrap 
  • KC Streetcar Shelter (Within the Frame)
  • KC Streetcar Shelter (Live Painting)
  • KC Streetcar Sculpture + Shelter

To see examples of previous projects, please visit our website.

A. KC STREETCAR WRAP (Art Car)

Artists are invited to wrap one KC Streetcar vehicle with their artwork. If accepted you will be asked to provide a print-ready file at the appropriate dimensions. Click HERE for a downloadable pdf template and helpful tips to wrap the KC Streetcar. Please superimpose your idea on the streetcar digital file. This helps the selection committee see your artwork as you envision it on the streetcar.

One artist/artist team will be selected to wrap one streetcar.

The selected artist will be paid a fee of $2,500 to create the print-ready artwork. Art in the Loop will pay for printing, installing, and removing the artwork.

Click HERE for a downloadable pdf template and helpful tips on how to design a KC Streetcar.

B. KC STREETCAR SHELTER (Within the Frame)

Artists are invited to propose a 2-dimensional work to be displayed on a KC Streetcar Stop. Two artists/artist teams will be selected to install their works at a KC Streetcar Shelter. 

If accepted, you will be asked to provide a print-ready file at the appropriate dimensions. The display area dimensions are 61.25” x 166.75” for the larger streetcar stop shelters and 58.63” x 83.44” for the smaller streetcar stop shelters. The area for artwork on KC Streetcar shelters is on the back panel glass. The printed graphic may take an organic shape, or fit within the standard dimensions. Artwork does not need to take up the entire back-panel glass. The artwork is not to encroach on the blue frame.

We suggest considering the ambient light at the stops. Please note the artwork will be viewed from both sides of the shelter and should be visually interesting from either view. (Hint: check out previous artwork at KC Streetcar stops to get ideas HERE.)

Selected artists will be paid a fee of $1,000. Art in the Loop will pay for printing, installing and removing the artwork. Art in the Loop will also manage the installation process with the printing and installation company.

C. KC STREETCAR SHELTER (Live Painting)

One KC Streetcar stop will include a Live Painting installation. Artwork may be applied directly to the glass of the shelter. Artwork may also be installed in the area around a KC Streetcar stop; however, provisions must be made for accessibility and safety as well as permission granted by the KC Streetcar Authority and/or property owner. Additionally, all artwork must be able to be removed from the streetcar stop or adjacent area.

Proposals based in social practice and/or community engagement are encouraged. Social practice includes any artform that directly engages the community in collaboration and social interaction. Social practice works are often co-created with the public, with that collaborative aspect holding equal importance as the artwork itself. (Hint: check out previous artwork at KC Streetcar stops to get ideas HERE.)

Selected artists will be paid a fee of $1,500 (includes artist’s time, materials, installation, and removal costs).

D. KC STREETCAR SCULPTURE + SHELTER

One KC Streetcar stop will include a 3-dimensional installation/artwork. Artwork will be installed in the area around a KC Streetcar stop; however, provisions must be made for accessibility and safety as well as permission granted by the property owner. Additionally, all artwork must be able to be removed from the installation area and the streetcar stop. In addition to the Sculpture, we are asking artists to include an artwork or written artwork proposal for a KC Streetcar Shelter that amplifies their design and connects the audience with the artist and their artwork. (Hint: check out previous artwork at KC Streetcar stops to get ideas HERE.)

Selected artists will be paid a fee of $2,500 (includes artist’s time, materials, installation, and removal costs).

Deadline for application is March 18, 2024 Click here to apply 

Learn more at artintheloop.com


2024 ART IN THE LOOP APPLICATION GUIDELINES

DEADLINE: March 18 11:59 pm, CST

ARTIST ELIGIBILITY: 

Professional visual artists, or artist teams, art students, at least 18 years of age residing within 50 miles of Kansas City are eligible. Selection panelists and their immediate family members are not eligible for participation. Eligible artists with a strong interest in working in the public realm are invited to submit qualifications to be considered.

SELECTION PROCESS:

A selection panel (arts professionals, community representatives and business leaders) will review materials received from qualified artists in response to this call for concepts. The final selection of proposals will also be dictated by availability of funding and final property owner approval.  

ART IN THE LOOP ENVISIONS THE ART WILL (BE):

  • Temporary (hours or few days) or semi-permanent (3-6 months)
  • Surprising, unconventional, thoughtful and fun
  • Engaging to the public and activating the environment
  • Encourage community engagement and interaction
  • Appropriate for all ages
  • Not polemic or polarizing
  • Does not depict the likeness of specific individuals within the public realm

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

Criteria will vary depending on skills required for project, but could include:

  • Originality of concept and aesthetic strength of proposal
  • Demonstration of experience in technique/materials to complete project
  • Education, training, awards, fellowships, or other evidence of creative practice

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS AND DETAILS:

  • The Artist must be willing to collaborate with property owners.
  • Installation and removal will be scheduled with Art in the Loop.
  • Selected artists will be asked to adhere to the requirements described below

IMPORTANT DATES:

  • March 18, 2024 Application deadline
  • March – Selection Panel Meeting
  • AprilArtists notified of status in early April
  • AprilSign Contracts in mid April
  • MayInstall Artworks in late May
  • June 12, 2024  – Kick Off Event at Kansas City Public Library – Central
  • July 17, 2024Art Car Reveal/Ride
  • September  – Prepare and print catalog
  • October 12, 2024  – Art Walk
  • November 6, 2024Closing Reception at Kansas City Public Library – Central
  • Nov 15-Nov 31  – Remove Artworks*

*Some artwork may remain in place longer at the discretion of the property owner.

ARTIST REQUIREMENTS FOR SELECTED ARTISTS 

  • Descriptive material and photo for website – Artists will provide a brief written description of their work and provide a photo for the project website.
  • PR and marketing materials – Artists will provide written material to assist in developing press releases, programs and other materials.
  • Impact Statement – Artists will write a 500-word max statement about the impact of the project on their practice due no later than September 1.
  • Kick-Off Event – Scheduled for June 12, 2024, from 5-7 pm. at the Kansas City Public Library Central Library. Artists are asked to attend.
  • Artwalk – Scheduled for October 12, 2024, from 2 – 4 pm. Artists are asked to participate in the annual Artwalk and speak about their work. 
  • Closing Reception – Scheduled for November 6, 2024, from 5 – 7 pm. Artists will attend and make a 2-minute presentation about their work for the project.
  • Artwork Removal: Artists working in 3-D will be responsible for removing their artwork in coordination with Art in the Loop and adjacent property owners. Art in the Loop will remove 2-D vinyl artwork.

ART IN THE LOOP WILL PROVIDE:

  • Web presence for each project on artintheloop.com
  • Social media, PR, and other marketing
  • Signage for each project
  • Logistical support and coordination with property owners and partners
  • Curatorial support
  • Documentation of projects (still photography and video as available)
  • Printed summary catalog of entire project

Contact Visual Art Director, Marissa Starke, marissastarke@gmail.com or Program Director, Ann Holliday, ann@downtownkc.org with any questions.

The Art in the Loop Foundation (AILF) is in search of both visual and performing artists to bring their creativity to Downtown Kansas City for the 11th Annual Art in the Loop Project. Through a competitive, open-call process, AILF selects local artists to exhibit their artwork, create site-specific artwork, or perform along and near the KC Streetcar route as well as at other sites in Downtown Kansas City from May – November. 

2024 Theme: Convivencia

This year we are following the lead of the Kansas City Public Library, which brought Bloomberg Public Innovation Fellow Tommi Laitio to kick off their year-long 150th Anniversary celebration. Laitio spoke on the importance of public spaces as places with convivencia – a Spanish word that means to coexist with others by sharing space and resources despite our differences. It can also be described as the space that exists between harmony and conflict. 

For 2024, Art in the Loop asks artists to respond to the word convivencia and what it means to them and their artwork. Convivencia is a shared life with others that is a constant practice, effort, negotiation, and joint achievement while recognizing friction or opposing energy. We recognize that artists and creatives are familiar with navigating space, energy, and time amongst one another and within their communities. 

Throughout Downtown Kansas City and on board the Kansas City Streetcar, we observe moments of convivencia through the interactions of visitors, residents, workers, and commuters. We invite artists to share how they practice or observe convivencia. We challenge artists to explore moments that demonstrate the act of joint achievement and negotiation, whether that be in an abstract or a representational sense. 

This year we ask artists to consider the following prompts: Can we be at ease with difference? How do we share space with our community while balancing both harmony and conflict? How does this tension inform our work and practice? We are looking for artists to respond to this word, feeling, and experience and to explore their vision of convivencia. 

The application requires a written description of your proposal, a concept, and a short narrative about your goals for public engagement. Stipends range from $250-$2,500 depending on the category. The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 18, 11:59 CST. Applications must be made online via the application portal.

Visual Artists

AILF asks local artists to create temporary, site-specific work along and near the KC Streetcar route in Downtown Kansas City. Your artwork will be viewed by thousands of KC Streetcar riders and Downtowners daily! Selected artists will receive funds and project support to bring their artwork alive for a 6-month outdoor program. Click here for the call for visual artists. 

This year visual artists may submit proposals in 4 categories:

  • KC Streetcar Wrap
  • KC Streetcar Shelter (Within the Frame)
  • KC Streetcar Shelter (Live Painting)
  • KC Streetcar Sculpture + Shelter 

For information about eligibility, the selection process, evaluation criteria, and important dates, review the application guidelines. Applicants are also encouraged to learn about artist projects from previous years. Annual catalogs from past years’ programs can be found here. Questions may be directed to Visual Arts Director, Marissa Starke, marissastarke@gmail.com.

Performance Artists

This performance series will feature multi-sensory performances such as spoken word, dance, music, improv, social practice, etc., while also highlighting the visual artworks installed along the KC Streetcar route. Click here for the call for performance artists. 

Artists will receive a stipend for their work and selected artists will perform at one of six Art in the Loop events including 

  • Art Car Reveal at Union StationKick-off Ceremony at the Kansas City Public Library Central Library
  • Art Ride Event onboard KC Streetcar
  • 816 Day at City Market
  • Evening concert at Oppenstein Park 
  • Closing Reception at the Kansas City Public Library Central Library 

For information about eligibility, the selection process, evaluation criteria, and important dates, review the application guidelines. Applicants are also encouraged to learn about artist projects from previous years. Annual catalogs from past years’ programs can be found here. Questions may be directed to Performance Art Director, Jade Osborne, jadeosborneart@gmail.com.

Information Sessions

Learn more about the calls at an information session (all meetings will be hybrid, in-person and Zoom):

  • Wednesday, February 21 from 11 – 12 pm at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art –  Click here to register
  • Thursday, February 22 from 6 – 7:00 pm, at InterUrban ArtHouse, 8001 Newton Street, Overland Park, KS – Click here to register
  • Thursday, February 29, from 6 – 7 pm a the AI Hub 511 Delaware Street Suite 50 KCMO – Click here to register
  • Wednesday, March 6 from 6 – 7 pm, at Charlotte Street Foundation, 3333 Wyoming Street – Click here to register

Community, Sponsors & Supporters

Artists have played a key role in the revitalization of Downtown Kansas City over the past few decades and this will continue. In the words of renowned local artist Michael Toombs,  “Through projects like Art in the Loop, Downtown KC is becoming part of a highly visible cultural landscape that reminds us of who we are, as well as inspires us in who we are yet to become.” We have unique opportunities for your organization to connect with the community and support local artists through sponsorships and charitable donations. 

We appreciate the generous support of the KC Streetcar Authority, Henderson Engineers, JE Dunn Construction, Stinson LLP, Copaken Brooks, UMB Bank, and the Kansas City Art Institute. This project is funded in part by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund, as well as by awards from the Missouri Arts Council, ArtsKC, and the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts – Commerce Bank Trustee and other philanthropic supporters. 

For more information contact: Ann Holliday, ann@downtownkc.org, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the Downtown Council and Executive Director of the Art in the Loop Foundation. 

For more information about the project and the artists, visit www.artintheloop.com, www.facebook.com/artintheloop, or twitter.com/ArtintheLoop

The Lawrence Arts Center, in collaboration with LiveWell Douglas County and the City of Lawrence Department of Parks, Recreation, Arts and Culture, is seeking a professional artist or artist teams to develop a long-lasting, innovative, original work of art to honor the Mexican American community of La Yarda, a housing unit created by the Santa Fe Railroad to house workers from 1920-51. The artwork will be installed on the Lawrence Lawrence Loop trail system in East Lawrence within a few blocks proximity of where the La Yarda neighborhood once stood. Emerging artists are encouraged to apply in collaboration with more established artists and/or fabricators. Community engagement will be an important part of this project and artists with cultural connections to history are especially welcome.

The total anticipated public art project budget is $35,000. This not-to-exceed total must cover all costs associated with the design, fabrication, installation, infrastructure, site preparation, site visits, and other related expenses.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Interested artists should enter and submit their application materials, listed below by 11:59 p.m. Central Time, March 15, 2024.

For more information visit https://www.findinglayarda.com/publicart or contact Marlo Angell, marlo@lawrenceartscenter.org or
785-843-2787 ext. 132

2023 ART IN THE LOOP CLOSING RECEPTION
Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Kansas City Public Library Central Library

14  West 10th Street
Kansas City, Missouri

Join with friends and colleagues as we celebrate the 2023 Art in the Loop Project: Celebrate The curated outdoor exhibition, staged in partnership with KC Streetcar, concludes with an in-person reception, illustrated review, and reflection on the year’s artwork and performances. Art in the Loop organizers and participants will look back on the artistic works and performances featured from June to October.

The evening will include a reception with live music by Kirstie Lynn and Galen Clark from 5:30 – 6:00 p.m followed by a presentation highlighting this year’s art installations and performances, including first-hand accounts from selected artists from 6- 7 p.m. The evening will conclude with an additional performance by Lynn & Clark.

2023 Visual Artists

  • Adrianne Clayton
  • Arin Yoon
  • BubbleGum Kurt
  • Fred Trease
  • Isaiah Lee
  • Kaitlyn B. Jones
  • Khyneesha Edwards
  • Madeline Marak

2023 Performing Artists

  • Alber
  • Circus Scorpius
  • Encodetherobot
  • Kansas City Dance Collective
  • Kirstie Lynn and Galen Clark
  • Mimi Nichole
  • Soundz of Samba
  • The Swallowtails
  • Tristian Griffin Dance Collective
  • True Lions
  • Underground Homies
  • Zee Underscore

Art in the Loop is designed to make cultural experiences available to downtown residents, visitors, workers, and anyone who finds their way in downtown Kansas City. This art exhibition and performance series was financially supported by the KCMO-Neighborhood Tourism Development Fund, Missouri Arts Council, ArtsKC, the KC Streetcar Authority, the Downtown Council of Kansas City, Downtown Community Improvement District and many generous corporate sponsors including Stinson, Copaken Brooks, JE Dunn Construction,  Henderson Engineers, and UMB, as well as the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts, Commerce Bank Trustee, and the Kansas City Art Institute.  We also appreciate the support of our site partners, Kansas City Public Library, City Market, and Union Station.

The best way to get to the Art in the Loop closing reception is by KC Streetcar. Just hop on and ride to the Library streetcar stop at 9th & Main.  If driving, parking is available in the Library garage on Baltimore.

Click here to RSVP. Contact Ann Holliday, ann@downtownkc.org, with any questions.

‘Demonstration 3’ Interview with Isaiah Lee

Demonstration 3

Isaiah Lee’s artwork is displayed at the Metro Center Northbound Streetcar Stop. It comes from a set of paintings displayed at AI Hub. We interviewed Isaiah to talk more about the work that formed the basis for the Streetcar Stop Art. Isaiah’s work will be featured at the Artwalk on September 13th.  

Can you describe your artwork and what it means to you?
The piece, in the most basic words, is a look forward to what I would like to experience like with my own child. It’s reflecting on my own childhood and seeing what I missed out on and what other people missed out on, but at the same time, still giving some praise to fathers who are present. This piece is part of a set. These pieces are all following a narrative. The paintings have to do with Black life in America and the Black experience. I completed another series called the Homestead paintings. As a whole, they illustrate the spread of Black people and the spread of our influence post-slavery. The artwork from the Demonstration series, which the streetcar stop artwork comes from, are more specific situations. 

What was the process of deciding the color palette and the specific imagery that you chose?
I’m a really big color theorist. I’m big on things being really colorful. I don’t pick colors at random. I make sure to choose colors that go together. I use the color wheel and aesthetics a lot to go through and determine the shape of everything. The eye is most attracted to squares and circles. I’m manipulating a kind of system but it’s mainly based on what’s appealing to me. That’s first and foremost. It’s really easy to communicate emotions with squares and colors. I wanted people to feel warm with the colors that I used to contrast with the background. It was deliberate, but it was also intuitive. The background is blank because I wanted the focus to be on the two people. The warm background iss important because it fills your entire peripheral vision. You’re supposed to stand really close to those paintings and look at them almost like you’re looking at a map. My intention is for the audience to feel so close to the people in the painting that it almost feels like you’re also hugging the child.

How did you choose which of the Demonstration pieces to send in with your application?
There are three pieces in the set; I chose Demonstration 3 because it fits the celebration theme the best. All of the pieces are celebrating Black people, but I feel like this piece celebrated something really personal to me. I felt the strongest connection to this piece, more so than most of my other work.

How is Demonstration 3 different from the other projects that you’ve done?
This painting is different from the art that came before it because it’s so specific. A lot of the other pieces I’ve done are pretty broad and they don’t really touch on an individual issue. There are also figures with it. I normally don’t do faces or people. Demonstration 3 is fairly religious. Demonstration 3 in particular uses a reference to the religious painting of Mary holding Jesus. It was kind of hard to find actual images of a man holding a baby so my reference came from paintings of Mary and Jesus, then I created my own narrative around it. In a lot of the pieces that I’m working on now, the faces are much more specific. In Demonstration 3, the face was pretty nondescript and I did that deliberately because I wanted more people to be able to connect to it. A lot of what I’m working on now is much more specific to me. Demonstration 3 is very specific to me, but it is also more relatable to more people. Now, I’m looking more inward and reflecting on the religious issues I had in the past.

How long have you lived in Kansas City?
I grew up in Lee’s Summit and then I went to college in Warrensburg when I was 19. After I moved to Warrensburg, I came back to Lee’s Summit. I’ve been in Missouri my entire life and I’ve lived in Kansas City for probably 18 years. 

How did you find out about Art in the Loop?
I didn’t recently start getting involved with galleries or any public art until I moved back home. I found out about Art and the Loop when I saw the call for artists this year. A bunch of people were telling me, ”Oh, you should apply” or “you should submit for this.” It’s been a really cool opportunity.

Thank you, Isaiah Lee, for sharing more about your art and story!


For more information about Isaiah’s artwork and the other artists featured this year, visit www.artintheloop.com

The 2023 Art in the Loop Project is made possible through the generous support of the KC Streetcar Authority, JE Dunn, Henderson Engineers, Stinson LLP, and other corporate partners. This project is funded in part by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund, as well as by awards from the Missouri Arts Council, ArtsKC, and the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts – Commerce Bank Trustee.

 

Project partners include the Downtown Council, Downtown Community Improvement Districts, KC Streetcar, and the Kansas City Art Institute.

For more information about the project and the artists, visit www.artintheloop.com or www.facebook.com/artintheloop

# # #

Contacts:

Art in the Loop
Ann Holliday, Program Director, ann@downtownkc.org, (c) 816-718-1355

Marissa Starke, Visual Arts Director, marissastarke@gmail.com, (c) 816-519-4236

Jade Osborne, Performing Arts Director, jademuse@gmail.com

 

KC Streetcar

Donna Mandelbaum, Communications & Marketing Director, dmandelbaum@kcstreetcar.org, (c) 816-877-3219

 

‘The Little Princess’ Interview with Adrianne Clayton

Adrianne Clayton’s artwork is displayed at the ARTwall at 13th and Grand. We interviewed her to learn more about ‘The Little Princess.’ Adrianne’s artistic process, her history with art, and her experience as a member of this community.  

 How did this piece come about, and what is the meaning behind it?
This piece came about after hearing about giant canvases on sale at a nearby Ross for $30. I rushed to the store purchasing all 4 of them as I’d been taught by my mother to look for the sale and get the “bang for your buck.”
Not long after, I was scheduled to have an exhibit at the Natasha Ria Gallery and I needed to create a body of work.  I didn’t want the work to only be aesthetically pleasing; I wanted there to be a message that would speak to the hearts of little girls of all ages.  There are so many people that we interact with from childhood to adulthood, from our most intimate and close family members to friends, neighbors and teachers. There are also hidden figures that contribute to who we are and why we are. My desire was expressed through my artwork as an appreciation and celebration of black female pioneers whose life has impacted the world in a way that an easier path was made for us all.  I began to paint the small girl reflecting the earlier years when we are most like a sponge watching and absorbing. I wanted her to perch upon a couch with her feet up as if she were royalty. I began adding her mother who is her first influencing relationship as I have been both the child and the mother at this point in my life understanding both roles. As I painted I began to think about ways to incorporate other women without taking the focus off of the little girl and I thought, “Oh, her clothing!”  She will wear past and present African American Female Trailblazers who are powerful through resilience like the wet nurses/slaves, or Michelle Obama who set the standard for African American women high ranking positions, Sojourner Truth who used words to get people to see beyond appearance and Cicely Tyson who has modeled ageless talent in the acting arena. I collected and printed photographs of these powerful women and began to collage them for her dress. 

How has this project differed from other works you’ve done?
This project did not really differ from past projects as far as process because I often collage when painting. In the past acrylic paint was my go-to because it dries quickly. Sometimes when collaging I attach an ornament of some sort like a pair of beautiful earrings, fabric or simply printed photos.  Not too long ago, I painted a portrait for a family whose father had passed. He always wore denim shirts, so I found a pair of jeans, and I constructed a denim shirt because it made it more sentimental and impactful.  In the Little Princess I collaged as usual but used a lot of faces.

What’s been your experience with Art in the Loop before this year?
I’ve worked with Art in the Loop for two projects now.  The first time I submitted for a streetcar stop I was conflicted about sending the painting, Mother’s Plight. I chose it in line with the theme but I knew my truth would offend some people.  I decided to take a chance and submit it anyway. I was surprised when I was informed that it was unanimously chosen. I have been continually impressed with Art in the Loop.  They have provided so many opportunities for all types of artists to be represented in public space.  

The staff are all so kind and so loving, they make sure you have support when necessary and they care about sharing your work in the light possible.  After the the streetcar stop I thought the next time there was a call for artists, “Well, I’m gonna submit again.” It was and has been a great experience and a great opportunity to be in public spaces and I’ve met some really great artists, and people and gained lots of resources like the Art Incubator Hub.

What has the process been like getting it ready to go up on the ARTwall?
My image didn’t fit the space being a perfect square so we had to almost double it in length which created two girls sitting on the sofa instead of one; it works because I have a twin. Working with The AI Hub was amazing. They have been super helpful in making the process a very smooth one.  This husband, wife and toddler squad downloaded the image of my painting while discussing the best way to adjust the art for the space. They tagged teamed flawlessly both using their strengths to make the image you will see for a year.  

The printing was another story due to the size of the wall but I’m excited to see it up.  

How long have you been in Kansas City, and what’s been your experience living here?
I am a Kansas City native, born and raised here in a very blended family. I am the fourth oldest child coming in 20 minutes behind my twin sister, Andrea Clayton-Jones who is also an educator.

While growing up in Kansas City I was a part of the South Suburban Athletic Association, we are a sports family! I took classes at the sewing co-op at Linwood United Methodist and Presbyterian Church where my Granny, Doris Clayton, Nana, Juanita Gibson and Aunt Cheryl Martin taught us to sew every Saturday.  My first job was at the Nelson Atkins Museum when I was in the 7th grade when one of my art teachers asked my mother if my twin and I could work in the Creative Arts Center as teacher assistants.  Talk about a great job, there was a closet, more like a small room with wall-to-wall shelving filled with any and everything imaginable for creation. I had a lead teacher named Maria who allowed me to teach classes sometimes.

I went to school in the Kansas City, Missouri School District participating in sports and the arts. I’ve had arts education since about fourth or fifth grade and through high school as a part of the Magnet School Programming.

I have had the privilege of working under some amazing artists and teachers while attending Wendell Philips (Mrs. Cole) the Kansas City Middle School of the Arts (Dr. Richard Bay and Betty Hudson) and Paseo Academy (Mario Jordan, K Mendenhall, Wendy West,  Rusty Newton, Mr West, Lonnie Powell, Andrea Davis and Anthony High).  Dr. Bay taught me to explore, experiment, and try anything, he was wild and fearless and I learned that fearlessness in art exploration from him. Betty Hudson told me in the sixth grade, “Adrianne, if you’re not gonna create your own characters, then stop copying them.” That was the beginning of me drawing what I saw in life and being inspired by life when creating.  Mr. Jordan told me I would be a great teacher when I was in about the 10th or 11th grade and I have been for almost 23 years.  Mr Powell was my first painting teacher and he pushed me to not run away from difficult things and gave me the space to grow which is how I teach in my classes. My very first art teacher was my Nana, Juanita Gibson, a beautiful watercolor painter who saw my talent early on.

Kansas City was a great place for me to grow into who I am today.  Without so much culture and community I don’t know who I would be. Kind of like the little princess, yep she’s me.

Thank you, Adrianne Clayton, for sharing more about your art and story!

For more information about Adrianne’s artwork and the other artists featured this year, visit www.artintheloop.com

The 2023 Art in the Loop Project is made possible through the generous support of the KC Streetcar Authority, JE Dunn, Henderson Engineers, Stinson LLP, UMB and other corporate partners. This project is funded in part by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund, as well as by awards from the Missouri Arts Council, ArtsKC, KCAI and the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts – Commerce Bank Trustee.

 Project partners include the Downtown Council, Downtown Community Improvement Districts, KC Streetcar, and the Kansas City Art Institute.

For more information about the project and the artists, visit www.artintheloop.com or www.facebook.com/artintheloop

# # #

Contacts:

Art in the Loop
Ann Holliday, Program Director, ann@downtownkc.org, (c) 816-718-1355
Marissa Starke, Visual Arts Director, marissastarke@gmail.com, (c) 816-519-4236
Jade Osborne, Performing Arts Director, jademuse@gmail.com

KC Streetcar
Donna Mandelbaum, Communications & Marketing Director, dmandelbaum@kcstreetcar.org, (c) 816-877-3219

Thank you, Adrianne Clayton, for sharing more about your art and story!

‘How to Build an Altar for the Living’ Interview with Kaitlyn B. Jones

How to Build an Altar for the Living

Kaitlyn B. Jones’ artwork is displayed at the Library Southbound Streetcar Stop. It shows one frame from her short film ‘How to Build an Altar for the Living’. We interviewed Kaitlyn to talk more about the original short film that formed the basis for the Streetcar Stop Art. We recommend you watch the film before reading this interview here: https://vimeo.com/545766878. Kaitlyn’s work will be featured at the Artwalk on September 13, 2023.

What inspired you to create this video?
In the Spring of 2021, while visiting my grandparents’ house in Waco, Texas, I sat for breakfast with my great-grandmother, who, at the time, was 101 years old. I don’t remember exactly how the conversation got started, but soon I started asking her questions about her life growing up on a small farm in Gonzales, Texas. I pulled out my phone and before I knew it, I had recorded over two hours of oral history. One of the stories that really stuck with me was a girlhood memory of turning the bark of a wax tree into chewing gum. My great-grandmother’s formative years were shaped by the Great Depression and the aftermath of World War I, so obviously, chewing gum was a luxury they couldn’t afford at the time–but they made do with what they had grown on their land. Her chewing gum memory resonated with me the most because its simplicity brought her so much joy that she vividly remembered it over 90 years later.

A lot of my work as an artist is centered around Black legacy and lineage. I draw a lot of inspiration from my familial history and my attempt to preserve that rich history. I don’t think anyone would have known such a specific detail about her life if I had not taken the time to ask her about her childhood, or if I had not recorded her telling it. Storytelling is so important–especially for Black people. The survival of our culture is dependent upon the stories we tell to the next generation. Even the simple things are worth celebrating.

We typically think of altars as something you build for somebody who’s passed away, but in How to Build an Altar for the Living, I explore what it looks like to build an altar for somebody who is alive and well…giving them their flowers while they’re still breathing. I decided to build the altar from plants that I found around my childhood home. At the center, I placed an old wooden chair that I found in my grandmother’s backyard. I built this altar for myself, to honor my life, but I also built it to honor my great-grandmother, who will turn 103 in September. In the first half of the video, you hear the audio recording of my great-grandmother telling her chewing gum story. Everything after that is just my own exploration of what I imagine my legacy might be.

You wear three costumes in the video in total. You wear the dress, the sweatpants, and then the overalls. Can you talk a little bit about what each of those costumes represents?
Every outfit was a deliberate choice. I grew up in a Baptist/Episcopalian Christian household. I’d spend summers going to vacation Bible school with my cousins at my grandmother’s church in Waco, Texas. I have vivid memories of attending Easter services, Sunday school, and all sorts of different church activities. Although I am not religious in my adulthood, the Black Baptist culture that raised me is still very present in the way that I live my life.

In the video, I’m wearing overalls and cowgirl boots to reference my great-grandmother’s Texas farm life–even though in reality, she’s never worn pants a day in her life–and I blew a bubble of chewing gum in reference to her story. During filming, I used the “church lady” outfit and the “sweatpants” outfit to explore the relationship between the religious teachings I grew up with and my queerness.

I’m not a masculine-presenting person in reality, but there was something fun about exploring masculine energy in contrast with the feminine energy that radiates from the church ladies I would see on the front pews in my grandmother’s church on Sundays. At the time of filming, it had been a little over two years since I came out to my immediate family and I was having a really hard time balancing a Christian identity with the fact that I am gay. I wanted to explore those two dichotomies and how they make me who I am.

What was the process of making the video like?
The process of putting them all together was pretty haphazard, honestly. I filmed all the scenes in one day. I knew I wanted three sections, but the editing is really what brought it together.

In the beginning, the spinning circle is exactly what the loading screen for ancestry.com looks like when you type a name in the search bar. I’ve always felt frustrated by sites like ancestry.com because I don’t think I should have to pay to learn my own history. Especially when Black history has always been gatekept and erased by oppressive systems of power. Layering the videos of myself on top of one another was a visual “meshing” of all of my identities.

Why did you end the video with the masculine person sitting in the chair?
I ended on the masculine outfit mainly because it was the part of me that felt the strongest and still feels the strongest to this day. Not necessarily the masculine-presenting part…but the queerness that it represents. Being a proud lesbian has freed me in so many different ways. And I have found that living authentically in my queerness has freed me a lot more than religion ever did. I think that’s why the video ends the way it does. It’s my own way of saying, ”This isn’t going away. This is not a phase. It’s not an experiment. It’s something that’s here to stay, and whether you like it or not, it’s me.”

In the second half of the video, ‘I Believe’ by John P. Kee plays. How did you decide on that song choice?
Honestly, the song was kind of random. John P. Kee is an iconic gospel artist, and “I Believe” was a song I heard throughout my childhood. I guess I selected the song because it felt like home. It felt familiar. I didn’t think much about what song I was choosing until I finished the video, and then I realized it fit perfectly.

When did you move to Kansas City, and when did you find out about Art in the Loop?
I moved to Kansas City in July of 2022. My coworker, David Wayne Reed, was a part of Art in the Loop last year, but I didn’t make the connection between my coworker David, and David whose art was on the Kauffman Streetcar stop until I had lived here for a few months and finally discovered that the reason art was on the Streetcar stops was because of Art in the Loop. I think it’s really awesome that rotating public art is made available in places that people pass by every day. When I saw the Art in the Loop call for 2023, it was important to me that I figure out which of my works fit within the theme organically. This year’s theme, “celebrate”, wasn’t a word that I had used explicitly to describe my work, but it definitely reflects what I do. I celebrate the seemingly mundane. I celebrate lineage. I celebrate history, storytelling, intergenerational communication, and Black historic preservation.

On the streetcar stop is one frame from the video. Why did you choose that frame?
I think the image of me in overalls with the giant bubble of chewing gum reflects the intergenerational storytelling of the complete work. The chewing gum story is my maternal great-grandmother’s memory and the photograph at my feet is of my paternal great-grandmother holding my grandmother as an infant. The whole image brings together both sides of my lineage in a way that represents the theme and the work really well. Most of the time, Black women are the keepers of familial histories and traditions, and I’m honored to be able to continue that legacy.

For more information about Kaitlyn’s artwork and the other artists featured this year, visit www.artintheloop.com


The 2023 Art in the Loop Project is made possible through the generous support of the KC Streetcar Authority, JE Dunn, Henderson Engineers, Stinson LLP, UMB and other corporate partners. This project is funded in part by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund, as well as by awards from the Missouri Arts Council, ArtsKC, and the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts – Commerce Bank Trustee.

Project partners include the Downtown Council, Downtown Community Improvement Districts, KC Streetcar, and the Kansas City Art Institute.

For more information about the project and the artists, visit www.artintheloop.com or www.facebook.com/artintheloop

# # #

Contacts:

Art in the Loop
Ann Holliday, Program Director, ann@downtownkc.org, (c) 816-718-1355
Marissa Starke, Visual Arts Director, marissastarke@gmail.com, (c) 816-519-4236
Jade Osborne, Performing Arts Director, jademuse@gmail.com

KC Streetcar
Donna Mandelbaum, Communications & Marketing Director, dmandelbaum@kcstreetcar.org, (c) 816-877-3219

‘Disco Cloud’ Interview with Fred TreaseDisco Cloud

Fred Trease’s artwork is wrapped around Streetcar #804. We interviewed Fred to talk more about the work that formed the basis for the Streetcar art, as well as the process of getting it on the Streetcar. Fred’s work will be featured at the Artwalk on September 13th.  

What inspired you to make the Disco Cloud?
It started with some drawings I’ve been doing for a while called Exuberance, and they were about the exuberance of the LGBTQ+ community. They were on the Charlotte Street Art Boards earlier in the year, and I adapted them for the streetcar.

How does this piece represent the exuberance of the LGBTQ+ community?
Right now, we’re really under attack from so many places, and I wanted to remind myself of what a beautiful community we are. We’re like none other. The radiance and the joy that we have is sometimes forgotten when the world beats down on us. This was my way of getting back in touch with that.

Why did you decide to make a companion playlist?
I looked at the design and thought, “Well, it needs, it needs a playlist.” It screams out that it has to have one. It got a big one because it’s about six hours now, because I couldn’t stop adding. The music came from lots of places. It comes from classic gay dance music to more contemporary music as well. There are also parts of my personal history in there. There’s a Donna Summer song on there which is the first song I ever heard when I walked into a gay bar. I knew that song had to be there. It’s been really fun making it, and it keeps growing. It also has this historical element because it goes along from lots of different time periods. It’s not what most people would think of as disco. There’s plenty of disco there, of course, but there’s also all kinds of dance music that has the same feelings I want to invoke. The same joy I’ve found in my community.

How did you decide on the name Disco Cloud?
It was instinctual. It felt right. Looking at it, it is this cloud that goes all the way around. My concept for it was that if you were on the streetcar, you were sitting in this cloud. This swirling cloud of color and sound and joy and happiness.

When did you move to Kansas City, and why did you stay?
I moved here in 1991, so this fall, it’ll be 32 years. I worked in environmental public health for a long time, and I was working in southwest Missouri. I decided it was time to move on and somewhere else. I got this great job here, not thinking I would be staying as long as I did, but here I am.

How did you find out about Art in the Loop?
My husband and I applied last year, but that proposal didn’t work out. The lesson is always to keep trying, though, because this year, I was fortunate enough to be selected. Everybody’s been great to work with.

What was the process of getting the piece from inception to actually being on the streetcar like?
About five years ago, I started doing digital drawings on a small tablet. That’s where the original drawings were made. They’re pretty small drawings. It worked out really well with the billboards last year. When we started to do them for the streetcar, we realized they were too small. They’ll just be pixelated. We had to redraw them. We brought them up on a screen, and then I would go over what I had and draw it again. It turned out to be nice because I could change the colors. The ones I’d done originally had a scratchy quality to them. Redoing the colors, they turned out better and brighter and happier. That took a while to do. We also had to redo the ones inside the streetcar too.

What is the value of public art in society?
It’s really important. One that’s really special is the streetcar. What I love about it is it’s a surprise to everyone. One could be walking or driving downtown, and then suddenly, there is this beautiful piece of art along the street. This year there’s a playlist to go with it, and that makes it an experience for the riders. Waiting for the streetcar and getting on Streetcar 804, they won’t know they have the opportunity to take part in this experience until they get on. Public art is great in general because it gives people things to talk about and brings a little happiness to daily life.

Thank you, Fred Trease, for sharing more about your art and story!


For more information about Fred’s artwork and the other artists featured this year, visit www.artintheloop.com

The 2023 Art in the Loop Project is made possible through the generous support of the KC Streetcar Authority, JE Dunn, Henderson Engineers, Stinson LLP, UMB, and other corporate partners. This project is funded in part by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund, as well as by awards from the Missouri Arts Council, ArtsKC, and the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts – Commerce Bank Trustee.

 

Project partners include the Downtown Council, Downtown Community Improvement Districts, KC Streetcar, and the Kansas City Art Institute.

For more information about the project and the artists, visit www.artintheloop.com or www.facebook.com/artintheloop

# # #

Contacts:

Art in the Loop
Ann Holliday, Program Director, ann@downtownkc.org, (c) 816-718-1355

Marissa Starke, Visual Arts Director, marissastarke@gmail.com, (c) 816-519-4236

Jade Osborne, Performing Arts Director, jademuse@gmail.com

 

KC Streetcar

Donna Mandelbaum, Communications & Marketing Director, dmandelbaum@kcstreetcar.org, (c) 816-877-3219

‘Here, with you’ Interview with Arin Yoon

Here, with you

Arin Yoon’s artwork, Here, with you, is displayed at the River Market North Streetcar Stop. We interviewed her to learn more about her artistic process, her history with art, and her experience as a member of this community. Arin’s work will be featured at the Artwalk on September 13th.  

Is this piece part of something bigger?
I made this work during my time at the Tallgrass Artist Residency. The residency took place in Matfield Green, where the population is under a hundred people. Even so, it has a really robust artist community, including the Tallgrass Artist Residency, the Rural Arts Collective and Matfield Green Works. When you set foot there, you can feel the energy of the land. Much of the Midwest used to be tallgrass prairie, but now less than 4% remains.  

What’s your Kansas City story?
I immigrated here in the mid eighties. My dad was going to graduate school in Warrensburg, Missouri, and we had come to visit, but he didn’t want us to leave, so we ended up staying here. I am now a military spouse and my family has been stationed in Fort Leavenworth for almost five years, the longest we have been in the same place in a long time. There’s something about the Midwest that keeps pulling me back. We immigrated here and this is our second time being stationed here, so I really feel a connection to this land. When I pass by Warrensburg, Missouri and I see the signs for the town, something stirs in me, a pull to my past. When I immigrated here, it was really important for us to learn English and assimilate. This project is about reconnecting with this land and carving out space for myself, my children, and my memories through photography. 

How did all this culminate in the piece for Art in the Loop?
In the Art in the Loop piece, my daughter and I are wearing hanboks, traditional Korean dresses. When we made this picture, my children were five and seven, the same ages as me and my brother when we immigrated here. That didn’t feel like a coincidence. I knew I wanted to bring these traditional Korean dresses, almost like an intervention on the land. When you think of the prairie, you think of cows and bison, farmland and farmers, settlers and of course the problematic mythology of cowboys and Native Americans. You don’t necessarily picture immigrants on this land. Historically, our contributions and experiences have been easily overlooked or erased. With this image, I’m inserting myself and my cultural history into the preconceived notions many Americans have of this landscape. This is my way of creating new memories with my children. The land also remembers.
     The image is installed at the River Market North Stop, which is meaningful to me because my parents used to be weekend vendors at City Market. They used to sell goods like earrings and belts. My dad was in graduate school, so this was their only source of income. Having my work displayed there feels like a full-circle moment. I imagine them in this space, but now with their descendants watching over them from the future. When I went to see the piece for the first time, I got a little emotional thinking about the significance of that moment

How did you find out about Art in the Loop, and when did you decide to become a part of it?
I applied last year, and my work didn’t get selected, but I applied again this year, and it was selected. I knew that Art in the Loop was a place where I wanted to show my work. I’m a big fan of public art. I don’t think gallery spaces always feel accessible to everyone. Public art is great because it’s out there in the open and anyone can engage with it. Art is something that creates community and that can create healing. When it’s publicly displayed in a functional space, it reaches more people. And this interaction in turn changes the meaning of the work which is exciting to think about. 

How did you first hear about Art in the Loop?
I love being a Kansas City based artist because it really feels like a community. I know a lot of artists and photographers here and it’s a very supportive community. There are so many great art organizations in KC like Art in the Loop, Charlotte Street and AI Hub. I found out about Art in the Loop because I’ve seen the work displayed over the years and always admired it and realized it added a little extra joy to the day, especially for my children, when we experienced the work at streetcar stops. 

How did you decide on the photograph for the Streetcar Stop out of all the pictures in your set?
The picture I selected embodied the story I was trying to tell as an individual piece. This piece is about everything that led up to the moment in the image and everything that is the future. The most important thing, though, is about being in the present moment with my children. The act of making this work and having it be a collaborative process with my children is what is at the core of this image.

How did you decide on the composition of the image?
As a photographer, you take a ton of pictures, especially if you have someone else clicking the shutter. My son was the one taking the pictures from a tripod I had set up. My daughter and I moved around a lot and tried different poses but I knew I wanted one image from behind which would create a little anonymity, like this could be anyone. In terms of installing the image, compositionally we just wanted to make sure the subjects fit in one panel on the streetcar stop. The subjects were on the right side of the frame, so it worked out. The panels on the left and right were AI-generated through a new Photoshop tool called generative fill just to extend the grass to the left and right to fit the dimensions of the streetcar stop.  

Thank you, Arin Yoon, for sharing more about your art and story!


For more information about Arin’s artwork and the other artists featured this year, visit www.artintheloop.com

The 2023 Art in the Loop Project is made possible through the generous support of the KC Streetcar Authority, JE Dunn, Henderson Engineers, Stinson LLP, UMB Bank, and other corporate partners. This project is funded in part by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund, as well as by awards from the Missouri Arts Council, ArtsKC, and the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts – Commerce Bank Trustee.

 

Project partners include the Downtown Council, Downtown Community Improvement Districts, KC Streetcar, and the Kansas City Art Institute.

For more information about the project and the artists, visit www.artintheloop.com or www.facebook.com/artintheloop

# # #

Contacts:

Art in the Loop
Ann Holliday, Program Director, ann@downtownkc.org, (c) 816-718-1355

Marissa Starke, Visual Arts Director, marissastarke@gmail.com, (c) 816-519-4236

Jade Osborne, Performing Arts Director, jademuse@gmail.com

 

KC Streetcar

Donna Mandelbaum, Communications & Marketing Director, dmandelbaum@kcstreetcar.org, (c) 816-877-3219

Flower Garden

Join us for an evening helping to create art
2023 Art In the Loop Event, July 22, 6 p.m. at the River Market West Streetcar Stop


(Kansas City, Missouri) – The Art in the Loop Foundation is pleased to host an evening of community fun and music on Saturday, July 22 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the River Market West Streetcar Stop in Downtown Kansas City on the Streetcar Stop. Local artist Madeline Marak will bring her artful flower garden to life with the help of the Kansas City community. The community is invited to help install the colorful, acrylic flowers onto the back glass of the River Market West streetcar stop. As the flowers are assembled, each layer of transparent color interacts with each other to create new color combinations. Participants will also enjoy the musical styling of local contemporary jazz musician Alberto Racanati, a contemporary jazz musician originally from Italy and now working and living in Kansas City. Performing under the moniker “Alber,” Alberto’s music is deeply influenced by his connection to the city and his survey of its various musical cultures. This event is free, family-friendly, accessible, and open to the public.
RSVP Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/flower-garden-installation-day-an-art-in-the-loop-event-tickets-667812102977

The following artists will be featured at the July 22nd Flower Garden Installation event. More information about each of these artists can be found at www.artintheloop.com.

Madeline Marak: Madeline Marak is from Shreveport, Louisiana. She received her Masters of Fine Art from the Sam Fox School of Art and Design at Washington University in St. Louis and her Bachelors of Fine Art from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. She has recently moved to Kansas City to join the vibrant arts community and continue as a practicing artist.

Alber: Alberto Racanati is a contemporary jazz musician originally from Italy and now working and living in Kansas City. Performing under the moniker “Alber,” Alberto’s music is deeply influenced by his connection to the city and his survey of its various musical cultures. A synth-heavy electronic beat describes the bright lights of downtown and playful trumpet melodies gestures to the rich jazz history. Music that engages many generations and many cultures can culminate in a musical cocktail that pushes the boundary of what music can be.

Artists responded to the 2023 theme of “Celebrate” and addressed questions about how one defines celebration, what are the intersections between art, performance, and celebration and ways one can celebrate Downtown Kansas City.


The 2023 Art in the Loop Project is made possible through the generous support of the KC Streetcar Authority, Henderson Engineers, JE Dunn, Stinson LLP, and other corporate partners. This project is funded in part by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund, as well as by awards from the Missouri Arts Council, ArtsKC, and the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts – Commerce Bank Trustee.

Project partners include the Downtown Council, Downtown Community Improvement Districts, KC Streetcar Authority, and the Kansas City Art Institute.

For more information about the project and the artists, visit www.artintheloop.com or www.facebook.com/artintheloop

# # #

Contacts:
Art in the Loop
Ann Holliday, Program Director, ann@downtownkc.org, (c) 816-718-1355
Marissa Starke, Visual Arts Director, marissastarke@gmail.com, (c) 816-519-4236
Jade Osborne, Performing Arts Director, jademuse@gmail.com

KC Streetcar
Donna Mandelbaum, Communications & Marketing Director, dmandelbaum@kcstreetcar.org, (c) 816-877-3219