KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An interactive, online map now highlights murals across the historic neighborhoods of northeast Kansas City, Missouri. To celebrate the expansion of murals in the area, chamber of commerce members will host an event Tuesday evening.
The Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce created the map pointing users to nearly 30 murals from 18th and Vine streets to Scarritt and Topping avenues.
Several of the murals are a result of a summer mural program the chamber promoted in 2017 and 2018 and will launch Tuesday for 2019.
Chamber President Bobbi Baker said the murals are all about placemaking.
“When you make a place, I feel safe, secure, I want to go in and do business because I see the heart in the art and I think that is important in a community,” Baker said.
Muralist Zac Layman painted a wall near Independence Boulevard and Chestnut Avenue with portraits of three women who own, or owned, businesses in the area. He said murals counter stereotypes about the neighborhood and show visitors the people living in the area care about its appearance.
“It's just a bright spot sometimes in a dark area,” Layman said. “I think we need more of that. Especially when people who aren't from the neighborhood come. Instead of seeing a vacant house, or a burnt-out building, you see a beautiful mural. It's a lot better.”
Tuesday is National Mural Day. The Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce will begin accepting applications from artists who would like to paint a mural this summer with the theme “past, present and future.”
The chamber is hosting a celebratory event Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Mayfair Cleaners, 2807 Independence Ave. In case of rain, the event will move to the chamber building at 2657 Independence Ave.
—
