Dorri Partain
Managing Editor

While passersby have noticed and admired the newest mural on Independence Avenue for several weeks, the Indian Mound Neighborhood Association hosted an official Reveal Party on Sat., November 1 to celebrate its completion.

On a grassy area adjacent to the mural site, the east-facing wall on Furniture La Cuadra (5500 Independence Ave.), attendees enjoyed an array of foods prepared by International Marketplace businesses —- spicy beef sambusas from Yasmeen Cafe, paletas from Frutopia, and cookies and cupcakes from Elvira’s Panaderia.

Cupcakes —- chocolate and vanilla —– featured dragon and panda decorations to match the Asian theme of this year’s mural project.

A design submitted by muralist Michelle Renn, coincidentally an Indian Mound resident, was chosen from 11 submitted designs and work began the last week of September. Progress was contingent on the weather and a full-time work schedule.

“I missed 2 days right off the bat due to rain,” said Renn.  “But after that I would say it was like adding a full-time job to my schedule for 2 weeks. I would work my normal full-time from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., and then head over to the mural wall and work 1 to dusk. My husband Chris helped me most days, and my  friend Miriam Feingold came by a few afternoons to help out as well, so I must give them credit for all their help.”

Renn’s design concept was originally designed for a different building, 99 Cent Bargain Market (5304 Independence Ave.), where two murals would cover the front and west side of the building. That owner had chosen the concept featuring dragons and pandas but backed out of participating. In its place, Furniture La Cuadra was approached and plans proceeded with an altered design due to a longer wall.

“I added a new element (the pagoda) into the center to tie the two scenes together better,” said Renn. “The furniture store was extremely accommodating and they let us store our scaffolding in the building, so that was extremely helpful!”

In addition to challenges of reworking her design, reestimating how much paint would be needed and assembling and disassembling the scaffolding, Renn had planned a family trip to Florida the first week of October.

“I found out I got the mural (contract) only two weeks before our trip- but two weeks was the original time frame given, so I knew that if we could just stick to the original two-week window I would have had anyway, we could get it done before our trip, “ said Renn. 

Funding for this mural was from the City’s Neighborhood Empowerment Grant, submitted by the Indian Mound Neighborhood Association, which in turn worked with the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce as the fiscal agent to disperse the funds and put out the call for artists, among other details.

In this collaboration between the Chamber of Commerce, association president Jimmy Fitzner said that this project offered him and the association the opportunity to improve relationships with businesses within the Indian Mound boundaries. Without having input to help select the mural’s location, he stated that he probably wouldn’t have developed the relationship with Furniture La Cuadra’s owner that he has during this project.

Oz Aguilar, owner of Furniture La Cuadra, echoes Fitzner’s comments about this collaboration.

Aguilar opened his business in  2019, but other than signage, had not planned any exterior upgrades as he leases the building for the furniture store and tire shop next to it. The building owner approved the mural installation, and Aguilar stated they were both excited to participate in a program that highlights all the cultures of businesses found along Independence Avenue.

“People have been coming in to ask about the mural, they take pictures. The kids love it, it’s been a real boost for us,” Aguilar said.

Indian Mound Association President Jimmy Fitzner, artist Michelle Renn, Chamber of Commerce representatives Bobbi Baker and Rebecca Koop, and Indian Mound board members Dustin Fish, Kaye Hopkins and Riley Roach were all involved in this mural project revealed on November 1.