Art in the Loop Live Performances Begin Wednesday

A free performance with electronic jazz, improv theatre and a puppet show is happening at  Oppenstein Park this Wednesday, the opening live event of this year’s Art in the Loop.

This is the ninth year for Art in the Loop, a cultural initiative by the Downtown Council and the Downtown CID that brings public art and performances to downtown including artworks at streetcar stops and an entire streetcar transformed to a rolling work of art.

And as a complement to the visual works, several live performances are taking place in the next few months, according to a press release.

The first one at Oppenstein Park this week will be followed by aerial acrobatics and music on 816 Day (Aug. 16), and then, the Sept. 14th Artwalk will feature an ambulatory dance performance at every Streetcar stop and more music.

The following artists will be performing Wednesday at Oppenstein Park from 5:30- to 8 p.m.:

–Alberto “Alber” Racanati 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 gesture to the rich jazz history.

A performance by b. hive theatre will be at Oppenstein Park. (Photo courtesy Art in the Loop)

–Emily Bartlett and b.hive theatre is a performance group focusing on Playback theatre. Pulling from theatrical modes of improvisation, storytelling, and psychodrama, Playback theatre involves quilting a pattern of connections between performers and their audience.

–Pollinators Parade by Lavinia Roberts is a puppet show meant to teach us about the population crisis of our local pollinators. Since Lavinia not only writes and performs her puppetry performances, she also builds the puppets, she is able to fold details into layer after layer of educational content.

All the events are free and open to the public. People are invited to bring folding chairs and coolers. While not necessary, it would help organizers if people register in advance. RSVP at  Eventbrite.

Art in the Loop also commissioned artists this year for temporary artworks in collaboration with the Kansas City Streetcar Authority.

Artist Davin Edwards work “Darrius’s Garden” was chosen to wrap a streetcar as part of Art in the Loop. (Photo courtesy Art in the Loop)

“Artists responded to the 2022 theme of ‘Sustainable’ and addressed questions about how one defines sustainability, what are the intersections between art and sustainability and what a sustainable Downtown Kansas City looks like,” according to the release.

The winning entries included artwork based on photography, painting, digitized illustrations and paintings. Their works will be displayed at streetcar stops and on one streetcar until November 2022.

Artist and art installations: Devin Edwards, Darrius’s Garden, on KC Streetcar 806; DINKC Galicia, Generations, at the Power & Light southbound streetcar stop; David Wayne Reed, Mother, at the Kauffman Center southbound stop;

Jennifer Lapka with A.P. Visual, The Dieynaba Dress, at the Metro Center northbound stop;
Raffaela Malazarte, Mahalaga, at the Library northbound stop; Dave Loewenstein, You Are Here, at the Union Station stop, and Sol Anzorena, Take Care of Who Cares For You, at the River Market west stop.