Women lead the way as the Downtown KC Outdoor Music Series Continues

The next 3 Art in the Loop/KC Streetcar performances will be led by female musicians and artists:

 

FlamenKcmo, Thurs. 8/5, 5-6:30pm, lightwell, 1100 Main Street

FlamenKcmo performs both traditional and cutting edge flamenco with dancer Melinda Hedgecorth, guitarist Beau Bledsoe, and singer Antonio Rojas. FlamenKcmo is a flamenco music and dance trio with members from Sevilla, Spain, and Kansas City. They will present songs and movement about resiliency through love, faith, and dedication to happiness. The joyful call of the singer, the accompanying tremolo of the guitar, and the percussive release of the dancer are all affirmations of how to unite and move forward together.

www.45gradosflamenco.com

 

Nicole Springer, Thurs., 8/12, 5-6:30 pm, lightwell building, 1100 Main St.

Kansas City’s own Nicole Springer is an award-winning, critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist. Nicole’s music is a heartfelt, passion-filled vocal showcase that crosses genres from gospel and pop to folk and rock. Her live performance is “lyrically personal but also nostalgic and fresh within its sound” – Blended Music

https://www.nicolespringersings.com

 

Jessica Ayala & the Arquesta del SolSoul, Mon., 8/16, 5-6:30 pm, City Market, near 3rd & Walnut.

Jessica Ayala is an Indigenous Colombian American Two-Spirit multi-discipline artist. Ayala is a spoken word poet, musician, published author, cultural worker, and former writer-in-residence at Charlotte Street Foundation. Through her band, Arquesta Del SolSoul, she creates spaces to exploring concepts of internalized oppression, decolonization, and self-love fusing Jazz, Native percussion, and Hip-Hop.

All performances are free and open to the public. Bring chairs and cool drinks to enjoy the performance!  In the case of inclement weather, the performances will take place inside lightwell, 1100 Walnut, 1st floor. Masks will be required inside.

The 2021 Art in the Loop Project is made possible through the generous financial support of the KC Streetcar Authority; the Missouri Arts Council; Arts KC; as well as corporate sponsors including Stinson, Academy Bank, Copaken Brooks, HNTB, JE Dunn Construction, McCownGordon Construction and many others. This project is also supported in part by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund.

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, www.facebook.com/artintheloop, or twitter.com/ArtintheLoop.

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Contacts:

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

KC Streetcar
Donna Mandelbaum, Communications Director, dmandelbaum@kcstreetcar.org, 816-877-3219

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Downtown KC Music Series Continues: Corey Clark Performs, Thurs. 7/22, 5 pm @KC Streetcar Library Stop (9th & Main)

The 2021 KC Streetcar and Art in the Loop live music series continues this Thursday, July 22 at 5 pm with Corey and Adrean Clark. Clark is a singer-songwriter living in Kansas City, Missouri. After years of playing bass in several bands around the metro, his focus is now playing mandolin with his son Adrean accompanying him on guitar. This father-son duo creates and performs storied, original songs steeped in influences from Townes Van Zandt to John Prine.

Catch Corey & Adrean at the KC Streetcar Library Stop (Northbound) in front of the Commerce Tower building at 9th & Main from 5-6:30 pm on Thursday, July 22.

Performances will be held every Thursday afternoon, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Specific location information will be announced on the KC Streetcar and Art in the Loop websites (www.kcstreetcar.org and www.artintheloop.com) and social media sites (@kcstreetcar, @artintheloop).

The schedule of musicians is as follows, with so much to hear and experience this summer, you won’t want to miss any of it:

  • Jul. 22 – Corey Clark at the KC Streetcar Library Stop Northbound (9th & Main, Commerce Tower)
  • Jul. 29 –  Amado Espinoza at KC Streetcar Metro Center Stop (12th & Main, in front of lightwell)
  • Aug.  5 – FlamenKcmo at KC Streetcar Metro Center Stop (12th & Main, in front of lightwell)
  • Aug. 12 – Nicole Springer at the KC Streetcar Metro Center Stop (12th & Main, in front of lightwell)
  • Aug. 16 – Jessica Ayala featuring Arquesta del Sol at the KC Streetcar River Market North Stop (3rd & Walnut, inside the City Market)
  • Aug.  26 – The Wires at the KC Streetcar River Market West Stop (4th & Delaware)
  • Sep. 2 – Kadesh Flow at the KC Streetcar River Market North Stop (3rd & Walnut, inside the City Market)

The 2021 Art in the Loop Project is made possible through the generous financial support of the KC Streetcar Authority; the Missouri Arts Council; Arts KC;  as well as corporate sponsors including Stinson, Academy Bank, Copaken Brooks, HNTB, JE Dunn Construction, McCownGordon Construction and many others. This project is also supported in part by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund.

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, www.facebook.com/artintheloop, or twitter.com/ArtintheLoop.

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Contacts:

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

KC Streetcar
Donna Mandelbaum, Communications Director, dmandelbaum@kcstreetcar.org,  816-877-3219

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2021 Art in the Loop/KC Streetcar Performance Series Kicks off Thurs., July 15 with Black Creatures

As part of the 2021 Art in the Loop Project Resilient, the Kansas City Streetcar and Art in the Loop are hosting a live music series along the KC Streetcar route this summer. Music will range from folk, hip-hop, jazz, and soul to funk, country, indie, latin, and classical with original music and covers of popular songs performed by local artists!

The performances will be held every Thursday afternoon, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Specific location information will be announced on the KC Streetcar and Art in the Loop websites (www.kcstreetcar.org and www.artintheloop.com) and social media sites (@kcstreetcar, @artintheloop).

The schedule of musicians is as follows, with so much to hear and experience this summer, you won’t want to miss any of it:

Jul. 15 –  The Black Creatures at the KC Streetcar River Market West Stop (4th & Delaware)

The Black Creatures

Jul. 22 – Corey Clark at the KC Streetcar Library Stop Northbound (9th & Main, Commerce Tower)
Jul. 29 –  Amado Espinoza at KC Streetcar Metro Center Stop (12th & Main, in front of lightwell)
Aug.  5 – FlamenKcmo at KC Streetcar Metro Center Stop (12th & Main, in front of lightwell)
Aug. 12 – Nicole Springer at the KC Streetcar Metro Center Stop (12th & Main, in front of lightwell)
Aug. 16 – Jessica Ayala at the KC Streetcar River Market North Stop (3rd & Walnut, inside the City Market)
Aug.  26 – The Wires at the KC Streetcar River Market West Stop (4th & Delaware)
Sep. 2 – Kadesh Flow at the KC Streetcar River Market North Stop (3rd & Walnut, inside the City Market)

Everyday Strangers performed at the kick-off event on July 7.

The music series was announced at the 2021 Art in the Loop Kick-Off Event on Wednesday, July 7, during which the audience enjoyed the music of Everyday Strangers as they magically blended genres and styles while challenging rhythm and the fundamental aspects of music.

Making Moves Collaboration

This year Art in the Loop is collaborating with Making Moves, a monthly dance program providing performance opportunities for local and regional dance makers. to include 2 dance performances. Reina Gray, a dancer and choreographer from Kansas City, Missouri pursuing a BFA in Dance at NYU Tisch School of the Arts.  In her work Reina seeks to elicit the simple beauties in life, as well as to emphasize imagination and awareness. She was inspired by the project theme “Resilient” to create and perform Sisyphus. With the Greek myth as her inspiration, this dance focused on how resilience is a constant pursuit in addition to the necessity of being undeterred by failure. In the words  of Gray “the dance goes somewhere but it may never arrive as is the case of an ever-growing city, and life in general.”   Click here for a video clip from the performance.

The dance series continues on August 12, 7:30 p.m (location tbd) with Brillo Performance. Brillo resides at the juncture of movement-based healing and immersive contemporary dance where transformational process and art-making intersect. Brillo is led by Katie Brennan and Oscar Trujillo.

The 2021 Art in the Loop Project is made possible through the generous financial support of the KC Streetcar Authority; the Missouri Arts Council; Arts KC;  as well as corporate sponsors including Stinson, Academy Bank, Copaken Brooks, HNTB, JE Dunn Construction, McCownGordon Construction and many others. This project is also supported in part by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund.

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, www.facebook.com/artintheloop, or twitter.com/ArtintheLoop. 

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Contacts:

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

KC Streetcar
Donna Mandelbaum, Communications Director, dmandelbaum@kcstreetcar.org,  816-877-3219

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Join us on Wed., July 7 at 6 p.m. 2021 for the Art In the Loop Project Kick-Off Event

Jazz: The Resilient Spirit of Kansas City by Hector Garcia

The Art in the Loop Foundation invites you to our  Kick-Off event for the 2021 Art in the Loop Project:  Resilient, on Wednesday, July 7 at 6 p.m. in the lightwell event space, 1100 Main Street. The public is invited to join us for an evening of art, music, and dance as we introduce the 2021 visual artists. Enjoy the jazz stylings of Everyday Strangers and a dance performance by Reina Gray.  We will also announce the 2021 Art In the Loop KC Streetcar Performance Series at the kick-off event. The Art in the Loop KC Streetcar Performance Series will feature performances by local musicians at various KC Streetcar stops every Thursday from July 15 through September 2 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. as well as two dance performances in collaboration with Making Moves.  The event is free and open to the public; click here to RSVP.

This year marks the eighth year for the Art in the Loop Project and includes artwork based on photography, painting, digitized illustrations and paintings, and more. The Art in the Loop Project is a curated outdoor exhibition of temporary artworks presented in partnership with the KC Streetcar Authority.  Artists responded to the 2021 theme of “Resilient” and addressed questions about what an inclusive, equitable, accessible, and vibrant Downtown Kansas City looks like and what is needed for our city to remain resilient.

The following artists’ works will be displayed at streetcar stops and on one streetcar vehicle from July through October.

Artist and Art Installations:

  • Allison Bowman, Sacred Spaces, KC Streetcar Library Stop, Northbound
  • Robert Castillo, Resilient Encoded, KC Streetcar Library Stop, Southbound
  • William Dubois, Beyond the Looking Glass, KC Streetcar Crossroads Stop, Southbound
  • Hector Garcia, Jazz: The Resilient Spirit of Kansas City, KC Streetcar Vehicle #804
  • Smitha George, We Under One Sun, One Moon, and on One Earth, KC Streetcar, River Market West Stop 
  • Angie Jennings, Love Who You Love, KC Streetcar Power & Light District Stop, Southbound
  • Megan Leong, Beauty in Small Things, KC Streetcar North Loop Stop, Southbound
  • Brittany Noriega, Silver Lining, KC Streetcar Metro Center Stop, Northbound
  • Shelly Pinto, Patchwork, KC Streetcar Kauffman Center Stop, Southbound
  • Katrina Revenaugh, Love & Bee Loved, KC Streetcar Crossroads Stop, Northbound
  • Sheron Smith, Together We Rise, ARTwall, 13th & Grand

Visit www.ArtintheLoop.com to learn more about the artists and their artworks.

Artists are selected for the annual program through an online application process open to artists in the Kansas City metropolitan area. A selection panel consisting of local artists, curators, educators, and community members reviewed over 40 applications and selected 11 artist teams.

The 2021 Art in the Loop Project is provided artistic guidance by Kyle Mullins, who is serving in his first year as art director for the organization. Mullins is a dance artist living and creating in Kansas City, MO. He is the artistic director of his company Cerca Trova, where he creates works of dance theater, and producer of Making Moves, a monthly dance performance series he founded in 2019. He also works as a Peer Facilitator for Artist INC. He is a former Charlotte Street Foundation Studio Resident. Mullins danced in NYC for ten years before relocating home to Kansas City. He holds an MFA in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. www.cercatrovadance.com

The 2021 Art in the Loop Project is made possible through the generous support of the KC Streetcar Authority; the Missouri Arts Council; Arts KC;  and corporate sponsors including Stinson, Academy Bank, Copaken Brooks, HNTB, JE Dunn Construction, McCownGordon Construction and many others. This project is also supported in part by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund.

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, www.facebook.com/artintheloop, or twitter.com/ArtintheLoop. 

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Contacts:

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

KC Streetcar
Donna Mandelbaum, Communications Director, dmandelbaum@kcstreetcar.org,  816-877-3219

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2021 Art in the Loop call for Performers, Musicians, & Dancers

The Art in the Loop Foundation (AILF) is in search of performing artists to bring their creativity to Downtown Kansas City for the 2021 Art in the Loop: Streetcar Summer Performance Series.

Through a competitive, open-call process, AILF selects local artists to perform live music, performance, and other site-specific work along and near the KC Streetcar route in Downtown Kansas City. Selected artists will perform either on one of eight Thursday afternoons (Art in the Loop: Streetcar Summer Performance Series) or for one of two evening dance performances in partnership with Making Moves. Artists will receive a small stipend for their work.

2021 Theme/Prompt: Resilient
What does an inclusive, equitable, accessible, and vibrant Downtown Kansas City look like? What is needed in order for our city to remain resilient – particularly within this present moment? For the 2021 Art in the Loop Project, we are looking for artists to respond to these questions and to explore their vision of resiliency. Proposed projects should reflect these questions and ideas in ways that engage and stimulate Kansas City audiences.

Eligibility:
Professional artists, musicians, spoken-word artists, dance artists, and other performers, at least 18 years of age residing within 50 miles of Kansas City are eligible.

Applications are due June 21, 2021.  Click here to learn more and apply!

Contact Art Director, Kyle Mullins, kylewmullins@gmail.com, or Program Director, Ann Holliday, ann@downtownkc.org with any questions.

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.

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2021 Art in the Loop – Call for Visual Artists Due 5/12 – Info Session Recording

Apply now for the 2021 Art in the Loop Project: Resilient!  Applications are due May 12.  Watch this recording of the information session held earlier this week and then apply at www.artintheloop.com!

Read the full call for artists at https://www.artintheloop.com/opportunities/

The application requires a written description of your proposal and a short narrative about your goals for public engagement. Stipends will range from $500-$2,500 depending on the category. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, May 12, 11:59 CST. Applications must be made online via the application portal.

Questions may be directed to Art in the Loop Art Director, Kyle Mullins, kylewmullins@gmail.com, or Program Director, Ann Holliday, ann@downtownkc.org.

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Art in the Loop Project: Resilient – Call for Visual Artists Open thru May 12

The Art in the Loop Foundation (AILF) is seeking visual artists to engage the community through an exhibition of public artwork along the KC Streetcar route in Downtown Kansas City from May 31 through October 31, 2021. This is our 8th annual summer public art program. 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 artwork alive for a 5-month outdoor program.

The 2021 theme/prompt is “Resilient” – What does an inclusive, equitable, accessible, and vibrant Downtown Kansas City look like? What is needed in order for our city to remain resilient – particularly within this present moment? For the 2021 Art in the Loop Project, we are looking for artists to respond to these questions and to explore their vision of resiliency. Proposed projects should reflect these questions and ideas in ways that engage and stimulate Kansas City audiences through public art installations.

This year artists may submit proposals in four categories, KC Streetcar Wrap, ARTwall (13th & Grand), KC Streetcar Stop and KC Streetcar Stop/816 Day. Read the full call for artists at https://www.artintheloop.com/opportunities/

The application requires a written description of your proposal and a short narrative about your goals for public engagement. Stipends will range from $500-$2,500 depending on the category. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, May 12, 11:59 CST. Applications must be made online via the application portal.

For information about eligibility, 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.

Performance artists and musicians, stay tuned for our second call for artists in which we will have opportunities for performances along the KC Streetcar route and more. The performance based call will be released in May.

Questions may be directed to Art in the Loop Art Director, Kyle Mullins, kylewmullins@gmail.com, or Program Director, Ann Holliday, ann@downtownkc.org.

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.

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KC Streetcar Celebrates Black History Month with Local Artists

Artwork by JT Daniels

Join KC Streetcar’s Third Annual Black History Month celebration on Friday, February 26 at 7:00 p.m. for Storytelling on the Streetcar: Celebrating Black Culture. This virtual event is a celebration of Kansas City’s black culture through dance, poetry, art, and music and will premiere on KC Streetcar’s YouTube page and Facebook page.

Storytelling on the Streetcar: Celebrating Black Culture is a community celebration hosted by the KC Streetcar Authority and sponsored by BMG Advisors, Port KC, and Union Station.

Participating artists, dancers, and musicians include:

Special guests include Mayor Quinton Lucas, Crissy Dastrup (Co-Founder Troost Market Collective), Kemet Coleman (Community Leader + Musician), Justice Horn (Community Activist), LaVail Harrington (KC Streetcar Operator), and Kiona Sinks (Community Activist + Social Innovator). Storytelling on the Streetcar artwork created by Kansas City artist JT Daniels and video created by Estuardo Garcia Media.

“The KC Streetcar is more than just connecting people to destinations, it’s also about connecting people to each other, experiences and opportunities. ‘Storytelling on the Streetcar: Celebrating Black Culture’ attempts to connect our riders and Kansas Citians to the rich and diverse cultures that make our city so wonderful,” said Donna Mandelbaum, communications director, KC Streetcar Authority.

Tune in on Friday, February 26, at 7:00 p.m. for Storytelling on the Streetcar: Celebrating Black Culture on KC Streetcar’s YouTube page and Facebook page.

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Art in the Loop Wants to Hear From You!

It’s a new year and time for a fresh start! 2020 was a challenging year for artists and arts organizations.  Art in the Loop included.  While we were able to showcase the work of local artists along the KC Streetcar route through our 2020 Art in the Loop Project, we had to cut the music and performance aspects of the project due to COVID-19 requirements and related funding decreases.

But now it’s 2021, and the Art in the Loop Foundation is taking stock of our strengths and weaknesses, our programming, and our partners. We’re taking a fresh look at how we fit into the cultural arts ecosystem of Kansas City and we would like to know your thoughts.

Please take some time to complete the questionnaire at this link or see below.  It should take 10-15 minutes to complete.

We will use the results to help guide the next 5-years of Art in the Loop programming.

Questions or comments? Please contact Ann Holliday, program director, ann@downtownkc.org.

 

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Art in the Loop Highlighted at KC Artists Coalition’s 2020 Coalesce Event

So Long & Good Luck at River Market West KC Streetcar Stop and 2020 Coalesce dress both by Megan Ganey

 

On November 7, 2020, the Kansas City Artists Coalition held their second Coalesce: The Art of Couture event – it was a glorious evening celebrating the fusion of art and fashion. Styled by Wlaa Style, Coalesce was an immersive art experience where fashion and fine art came together in a breathtaking collaboration celebrating fine art on the runway.

Eight local Kansas City artists transformed gowns into walking canvasses of fine art with a virtual experience unlike any other and 5 of those artists were 2020 Art in the Loop artists. Take a look at their Art in the Loop installations and dresses below!

KC Streetcar provides the canvas for Art in the Loop each year, allowing local artists to display their work at KC Streetcar stops and even onboard vehicles.  This is an annual program that usually lasts through the summer. We are so grateful that KC Streetcar agreed to leave the artwork in place for an extended period so head Downtown and use this map to locate the artwork! Visit artintheloop.com for more information about the artwork and artists.

Hold installed at the Power & Light District NB KC Streetcar Stop with dress both by Robert Castillo.

36/36 Series, Quilt Paintings and dress by Jessica Rogers at Crossroads SB KC Streetcar Stop.

So Long & Good Luck and dress by Megan Ganey, River Market West KC Streetcar Stop.

Light Breaks Where No Sun Shines and dress by Nazanin Amiri Meers, Kauffman Center SB KC Streetcar Stop

Hope & Gratitude and dress by Ada Koch, on KC Streetcar vehicle.

Detail of dress by Ada Koch with excerpts from Glenn North’s poem “Standing Strong” that was commissioned for the Art in the Loop Project.

All photographs by Margaret Norcross Photography.

 

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Art in the Loop Celebrates Kick-Off Online!

Yesterday, Art in the Loop kicked off its 2020 exhibition in Downtown Kansas City with an online event.

Every artist in this year’s program provided a two-minute video about their artwork and what it means to them to be part of this amazing program. Additionally, there are interviews with artistic director, Bo Hubbard; director, Ann Holliday; and Donna Mandelbaum, KC Streetcar Communications Director. The kick-off video runs a bit over 40 mins but it is well worth the watch to better understand what this year’s program is all about and how it is making an impact on local artists and Kansas City.
More so than ever, Art is needed.

 

The 2020 Art in the Loop Project is made possible through the generous support of the KC Streetcar Authority; the City of Kansas City, Missouri; the Missouri Arts Council; Arts KC;  and private contributions. To make a contribution visit http://artintheloop.com/support or contact ann@downtownkc.org.

Project partners include the Downtown Council, Downtown Community Improvement Districts, the KC Streetcar, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City Art Institute, Union Station, the City Market, and the National WWI Museum and Memorial.

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

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2020 Art in the Loop Self-Guided Tour

The 2020 Art in the Loop map is now available! Take a self guided tour of 10 artworks by local Kansas City artists using the map below as your guide. This is an opportunity to experience new artwork at a time when many galleries and museums remain closed. You can take KC Streetcar and walk, grab some curbside snacks or pop in a restaurant while your at it. This is a free, family friendly experience.

Each artwork includes a title sign providing additional information. You can also find more information about the artists on our website artintheloop.com.

You can also learn more about the program and hear from each individual artist by attending our virtual kick-off event on Wednesday, July 8 at 5:30. Register and learn more at: https://2020artintheloop.eventbrite.com

 

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