Graffiti Marathon: Westport and Broadway

Westport represents a distinctive subculture within the Kansas City community.  It is hip.  It is alternative.

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It is the place young people go on Friday night, Saturday night and St. Patrick’s Day.  It is also a mecca for graffiti artists.

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AKKA Karate deserves its own post.  Located at 40th Terrace, just North of Westport Road, AKKA is rich with graffiti.

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Colorful images fill the East and North sides of the building.  They delight us with their creative energy.

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Tigers, fish with fangs, honey bees and other strange critters, known and unknowable, confront us from the walls.

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If you look closely, and compare the images on these walls, you will start to see similarities to other paintings on walls throughout town.

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Scribe, whoever you are, congratulations on some great work.

Next, we will cross Broadway where more graffiti awaits us.

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Graffiti Marathon: Lost To Construction

Graffiti is most often painted on deteriorated buildings, alleys and parking lots.  As a result it is highly vulnerable to destruction.  Last Sunday, Terry and I explored the River Market area in search of graffiti Terry and I remembered as a wonderful site of some noteworthy graffiti.  Terry remembered it was in the River Market area.  IMG_3660We found it, sort of!  In an alley just East of the Broadway Bridge, we found remnants of the art, most of it behind a high fence that obstructed my view almost completely.IMG_3659 (1)

Located between 2nd and 3rd streets, it is worth a visit, if only to record that which will soon be lost to us.  I do not begrudge Kansas City development activities, but will still miss this wonderful wall.

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As with much of Kansas City’s graffiti, these paintings in the River Market, exist on the fringes of our community.  They are, very much a part of our culture, proof that wonderful art is available to all of us.  Happy hunting!

Graffiti Marathon: Kansas City Style Part II

Kansas City’s most exciting graffiti is found in the nooks and crannies of our town.  Many businesses either pay for their art, or at least willingly provide a canvas for their work.  What a wonderful gift for Kansas City to offer the art to others.

Foxx Equipment is located just North of the Broadway Bridge, where West Pennway and Washington intersect with Southwest Blvd.  You can find the building by driving straight West from Broadway.vYou will know you have found this pot of graffiti gold when you see the wall with the words “Desert Feud”.  I am, admittedly, somewhat confused as to the nature of the feud unless it is a battle between the demonized letters and the evil alien cartoon.  At least that is my interpretation.  But whatever you see in the image, it is great fun.

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Foxx has two parking lots, one facing the public street, the other set on the East and South of the building.  Both lots are filled with colorful paintings that are great fun to behold.

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Whether you prefer the explorers, the ballerina in the cowboy hat or the prison escapee (in the black and white stripes), it is hard not to be grateful to the artists.IMG_3646

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Next stop is just a few blocks East of Broadway.  See you soon.

Where In The World Is Sophia? Sheila Kemper Dietrich Park

During one of Sophia’s infrequent trips to the U.S. from her home in the Netherlands, Terry and I wanted to share with her some of our favorite places.

Sheila Kemper Dietrich Park is one of my favorite Kansas City parks for children.  There is plenty to amuse any 3-year-old.   The park has:

A Sea Monster

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A pirate ship

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A chance to “steer” the ship

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And much more.  Great fun for the young and young at heart.