An art installation reimagining a housing unit where La Yarda community members lived during the 1920s-50s in eastern Lawrence is nearing completion.
Residents and descendants of La Yarda, a Mexican American community of many railroad workers and their families, are participating with a team of Lawrence artists who are documenting their legacy. The art installation, part of the Finding La Yarda project, is set to go live in August at the Lawrence Arts Center.
Several artists have contributed to the project, which has been in the works for more than two years.
Marlo Angell, project director, previously worked on a documentary, “Searching for La Yarda,” with filmmaker Lourdes Kalusha-Aguirre. The film included oral histories of people who had lived in La Yarda before it was destroyed by a flood, and the stories of their descendants. The immersive installation builds upon that work.
The installation will feature photographs by Ann Dean, ceramics by Jonathan Christensen Caballero, visual art by Justin Favela and video projections by Peter Jasso and Angell, according to a recent post on the La Yarda Documentary Facebook page, and “Jeremy Rockwell is manifesting the dream with architectural design from Brenna Buchanan Young!”
People can view the installation beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St. in downtown Lawrence. It’ll remain open through Sept. 21 during the arts center’s regular hours, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.
Additionally, contributing artists will give an Insight Art Talk at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16 at the arts center.
Learn more about the installation on the website, findinglayarda.com/installation.
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