Northeast Arts KC provides sign-up area for artists to reserve their square. | Photo by Julia Williams

Julia Williams and Dorri Partain
Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor

Saturday, July 27 was a cultural feast for Northeasters, which braved high humidity and chance of thunderstorms to attend local festivals.

However, this weather didn’t stop artists from around the Kansas City Metro from participating in Northeast Arts KC’s annual Chalk Walk from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Concourse Park (200 Benton Blvd). 

This year, Northeast Arts KC partnered with Art as Mentorship to host Chalk Walk and Celebrate Ameri’kana Music and Arts Festival within the same venue. 

With local vendors and organizations offering information, goods for purchase and live music, this park — beyond the century-old historic residences along Gladstone Boulevard — provided a space for artists from all walks of life to bring their talents and enjoy a diverse atmosphere. 

Chalk Walk — which celebrated its 17th year Saturday — is a free event, open to the public. Organized by Northeast Arts KC, it invites locals and artists of various mediums and skill levels to create sidewalk artwork with oil pastels. 

Fueled with its mission to celebrate culture and diversity,  the  festival proceeds go toward Northeast Arts KC — a non-profit organization working to provide arts and culture programs to Northeast and Kansas City residents, according to its website.  

“I grew up in the Northeast and I always wanted to do it — this is my first year participating,” said local, self-taught artist Yadi at Chalk Walk, Saturday. 

 Yadi said her work traditionally focuses on promoting Hispanic mental health — allowing her to discover her inner child with art. Her Chalk Walk piece — which included a Michaelangelo inspired quote — involved nature. 

“I love landscapes; Concourse has amazing landscapes and sunrises, so it was perfect,” Yadi said.  For those interested in Yadi’s work, follow @soulart_kc on social media. 

Several additional artists attended Saturday’s festival including Christopher Taylor and Become More. 

Taylor said this was also his first Chalk Walk. 

“I’m new to Kansas City; I wanted to come see what it’s about,” Taylor said. 

While watercolor is a staple for Taylor, he said this experience was very different from his usual work. Emphasizing on growth, his Chalk Walk piece was the creation of a floral garden scene. 

Become More — also known around the metro as Brian Mapes — attended his second Chalk Walk over the weekend. 

“It’s pretty similar, good vibes, good people — it’s a lot of fun,” Become More said in an interview, Saturday. 

A multi-medium artist, Become More was among one of the four mural artists selected for the 12-foot high,”Truck-eating Bridge” murals along Independence Avenue. 

While he said he had no idea what he wanted to create prior to this festival, he prefers to come in and play with his designs. 

To learn more about Chalk Walk, or Northeast Arts KC, visit its website: https://www.northeastartskc.org/chalk-walk. 

On a smaller scale — and an inaugural event — KC Sambusa Fest took over Maple Park (1832 E. Missouri Ave) from 3 to 7 p.m. Sponsored by Camel Culture — U.S.’s largest producer of camel milk — this festival’s purpose was to highlight East African culture. Fun activities included a bounce house and petting zoo, where attendees of all ages could pet and feed a variety of animals — goats, donkeys, and star attraction, Cooper — a dromedary camel.

Along with raffles, an Ethiopian coffee ceremony demonstration, dance stage and Sambusa eating contest offered unique entertainment. To demonstrate life on the other side of the globe, organizers built a Somali hut and offered samples of camel milk — which is higher in protein, lower in fat and lactose than cow’s milk.

Additional sponsors of this year’s event included American Somali Association of Greater Kansas City, Somali Bantu Community Association of Greater Kansas City, Eleos Coffee, Yasmeen Cafe and multiple Halal markets around Northeast.