Art in the Loop 2023

ART IN THE LOOP ANNOUNCES 2023 VISUAL ARTISTS

The KC Streetcar Authority and the Art in the Loop Foundation (AILF) are pleased to announce the 2023 Art in the Loop visual artists and art installations.

This year marks the tenth year for the Art in the Loop Project, which includes artwork based on photography, painting, digitized illustrations, paintings, and more. The Art in the Loop Project is a curated outdoor exhibition of temporary artworks presented in partnership with the KC Streetcar.  Artists responded to the 2023 theme of “Celebrate” by addressing questions about how one defines celebration, what are the intersections between art and celebration, and what celebrating Downtown Kansas City looks like.

Artists are selected for the annual program through an online application process open to artists in the greater Kansas City area. A selection panel consisting of local artists, curators, educators, and community members reviewed over 100 applications and selected 8 artist teams.

The following artists’ works will be displayed at KC Streetcar stops and on one KC Streetcar vehicle, #804, between June and November 2023. You can find images of each installation online at www.artintheloop.com and by visiting the below locations.

Artist and Art Installations:

• Arin Yoon, Here, With You, at the River Market North Streetcar Stop
• Adrianne Clayton, The Little Princess, at the ARTwall at 13th and Grand (Install later this summer)
• Bubblegum Kurt, Party Balloons, at the Crossroads Northbound Streetcar Stop (Install to start July 7th) 
• Fred Trease, Disco Cloud, on KC Streetcar #804
• Isaiah Lee, Demonstrations 3, at the Metro Center Northbound Streetcar Stop
• Kaitlyn B. Jones, How to Build an Altar for the Living, at the Library Southbound Streetcar Stop
• Khyneesha Edwards, Black Boy Joy, at the Union Station Streetcar Stop
• Madeline Marak, Flower Garden, at the River Market West Streetcar Stop (Install to start July 7th)  

The public was invited to attend the unveiling of KC Streetcar #804 for the Art in the Loop Project “Celebrate” on Wednesday, June 21 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. at the Union Station Streetcar Stop.

This was the chance for Kansas City to meet local artist Fred Trease and see his artwork ‘Disco Cloud’ wrapped around a streetcar.  This event also featured a music performance from DJ and Producer Encode. Encode is a character, artist and a project created by Xavier Martin.

The 2023 Art in the Loop program officially kicked-off on Wednesday, June 21 at 5:30 p.m. with a special reception at the Kansas City Public Library Central Branch (5th Floor). The evening featured all of the 2023 visual and performance artists and guests were entertained with dance and music as well. The kick-off event was free and open to the public.

The 2023 Art in the Loop Project is provided artistic guidance by Marissa Starke, who is serving in her first year as the visual art director, and Jade Osborne, who is serving in her first year as performance art director for Art in the Loop.

In addition to the KC Streetcar Authority, other Art in the Loop partners include the Downtown Council, Downtown Community Improvement Districts, the Kansas City Art Institute, and the AI Hub. The AI Hub is located in the River Market and is a creative co-working space that caters to artists, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. This year marks the first time Art in the Loop is partnering with the AI Hub and they have been instrumental in providing the 2023 visual artists with the technical tools to bring their art to life on the KC Streetcar shelters and streetcar vehicle.

For Art in the Loop questions, contact Art in the Loop Visual Art Director, Marissa Starke, marissastarke@gmail.com, or Program Director, Ann Holliday, ann@downtownkc.org. For more information about this year’s project, visit www.artintheloop.com, www.facebook.com/artintheloop, or twitter.com/ArtintheLoop.