A free to the public pocket park activation with local performers, community activities, yard games, artist vendors and food trucks.
Summer in the City September 11th Line-Up
12:00-1:00pm – Amado Espinoza, a unique performing artist, composer, and instrument maker from Cochabamba, Bolivia, that respects his folk traditions of the Andes Mountains while creating compositions that are sincere to his musical-wanderlust personality.
2:30-4:00pm – Community Activity led by Viva la Tinta, a celebration of the printmaking legacy – not only contained to fine arts but as a tool for community building and social progress. Viva la Tinta will invite the community to watch a live printing demo and participate in making a print themselves. This hands-on experience will bring to life the magic of printmaking.
3:30-6:30pm – Art Market with Local Art Vendors:
Anita Easterwood, a multi-disciplinary visual artist, born and raised in Kansas City, enjoys creating art that celebrates life, centered around fashion, history, culture and sisterhood.
Tokeya Waci U Richarsdon of Coup Count Designz is a member of the Oglala Lakota and Haliwa-Saponi tribes whose inspiration comes from the old teachings from childhood stories, read in books or told by elders in my tribe(s). Tokeya recreates a modern style of Native American Ledger art that traditionally uses its main purpose of having a visual reference to reflect the stories and teachings that one would hear from their elders.
Mariah Markt works range from murals to postcards of various subject matter, with a favorite medium of silkscreen art prints.
Emily Alvarez loves exploring the duality of human experience through vibrant, ecstatic, playful and sometimes eerie artwork. These reflections include large-scale public art projects, digital and painted illustrations, ink drawings and small-scale sculptures and accessories.
Yum Yum Ceramics specializes in hand crafted unglazed terracotta planters that have style and soul. The clean, architectural forms create a dynamic contrast of light and shadow that allow your plants to exist and thrive in a small piece of artwork.
5:30 – 7:30pm – Art in the Loop featured artists:
The Swallowtails, a genre-bending acoustic duo that fuses rock, pop, and folk genres by-way of their unique instrumentation. Featuring Miki P on acoustic guitar/vocals, and Rachel Lovelace on bassoon/vocals, the songwriting duo from Kansas City is making waves throughout the Midwest and beyond.
Unique Sixteen (Unique Hughley) is a celebrated poet and activist whose work amplifies the Black experience and resilience. His activism shines through poetry that confronts systemic inequities, mentoring youth, and advocating for creative expression as a tool for healing.
EleveN2wenty2 is a professional vocalist trio based in Kansas City, Missouri. The group consists of a soprano (Kai Manning), alto (JaNay Adgers) and Tenor (Darius Sheppard). EleveN2wenty2 have stepped to the forefront and are exploring their own artistry as featured artists by headlining their own shows and releasing original music!
Lunchtime and Evening Food Trucks:
Smoke N Seoul
Doggie Style Hot Dogs
With the goal of engaging workers and residents, Summer in the City supports our thriving, creative community by weaving various talented artists and community members of Kansas City into the tapestry of Downtown. Sponsored by the Downtown Community Improvement District (DCID), in partnership with Jackson County, Art in the Loop, The Downtown Council and area businesses, Summer in the City ignites, activates and celebrates the greater community of Downtown Kansas City.
For more information visit: https://www.downtownkc.org/summerinthecity