Author Spotlight
Sophia Brockmeier
Fountains, barbeque, Patrick Mahomes – the first three words to come to mind when I think of Kansas City. But one word is missing: color.
Driving downtown, I’ve always turned my head at the bright murals that pop out against the old, dusty buildings in Kansas City.
They stand for more than their face value, depicting themes of Kansas City history that many have yet to explore. By diving into the history depicted in the murals around Kansas City, I aimed to explore our hometown’s vibrant culture.
The Avenue of Murals – a collection of streets in the heart of downtown – is home to over six murals, and I visited three of them.
The first stop on my tour of The Avenue of Murals was to Wyandot Echos by Duane Dudley, Joe Faus and Alisha Gambino on 636 Minnesota Ave.
The mural is a visual representation of the Wyandot Nation’s journey across the country in 1843. After being forced to leave their hometowns, their people traveled by Steamboat to Kansas City. As each Wyandot clan migrated they formed Kansas City, Kansas, according to kansasstatehistory.com.
Stretching diagonally across the mural is the Kaw River – connecting all the elements of the mural. The top right corner features a Wyandot Native American, looking toward another Native American floating down the river. This simple artistic detail made me realize that these were real people forced to move across the country.
What stood out to me was the mural’s largest element: a sea turtle. I was a little confused at first considering Kansas City has a non-existent sea turtle population. The turtle’s shell is formed by a mountain landscape – representing separate Wyandot clans such as deer, bears, frogs and fish. The turtle was on the mural to represent and display each clan making their journey and once again add a more personal touch.
Making my way down the Avenue of Murals, I made my next stop at Joe Faus and Alisha Gambino’s El Baile de la Vida, which translates to “The Dance of Life” in Spanish, on the corner of 826 Minnesota Ave.
El Baile de la Vida is an illustration of a lively Mexican party including people from all decades dancing Folklórico – a personal and connective Mexican dance.
Scattered throughout the mural are familiar images of skeletons from Day of the Dead – a common occasion for Folklórico dance. People are seen dancing with their family, swaying their dresses and making music to celebrate the occasion.
El Baile de la Vida felt more approachable than the others to me – maybe it was the younger children painted on the mural or the recognizable symbols. Either way, it caused me to pause and take in the mural for longer than the other ones I toured.
This mural is not only a tribute to Folklórico dance but also a way to display the importance of family and celebration in Mexican culture. On the same street as El Baile de la Vida are Quinceañera dress shops for fifteen-year old girls to look for a special gown to celebrate her shift to womanhood.
The atmosphere added more to my experience – mariachi played in the neighborhood streets giving life to the characters in the mural. It made me almost feel like part of the scene, I could imagine the 2D people swirling around me to the beat of the mariachi music. It was exciting to feel immersed in the mural.
The last stop on my tour was to Dawning of a New Day by Joe Faus and Alisha Gambino at 1207 N. 7th St.
Dawning of a New Day represents the value in generations in the African American community through depicting traditional African culture on the left side and modern-day African American leaders on the right.
The traditional side depicts people dancing with their hands in the air and eyes closed, as well as people playing musical instruments such as guitars and maracas.
On the modern day side, American civil rights activists such as Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King Jr. are depicted on the mural. The art style made it easier for me to recognize these leaders.
The mural illustrated Kansas City’s strong African American history completely.
The Avenue of Murals taught me that color in Kansas City doesn’t only stand for the beautiful murals painted on downtown buildings but also engulfs our culturally rich and historical environment. It paints the vibrant picture of American and Kansas City culture that we all must not forget.
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