Community members gathered Wednesday evening to celebrate the unveiling of Van Go JAMS artists’ five custom picnic tables that honor Lawrence and Kansas culture.
The picnic tables, named “A Seat at Our Table,” feature both Lawrence and Kansas history, landmarks and culture to help welcome international guests visiting during the World Cup this summer.
“We’ve painted murals throughout the years, but this series of painted and mosaic picnic tables is the first for us,” Art Director Rick Wright said. “Most murals are meant to be seen. These tables are meant to be experienced as guests can sit, converse and share a meal and explore some of the many great features of our community.”
Themes on the tables include nature, Kansas history, sports, school spirit, diversity and culture. The mosaic on each table in a swirl pattern serves as a reference to the official FIFA World Cup match ball.
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Nineteen teen apprentice artists worked in teams on the five tables, including seniors Rebecca Clark and Gia Hayes.
“I was able to not only grow as an artist, but as a person too,” Clark said. “Art is not just about making something that is visually appealing, but it’s also about telling a story, connecting with people, and creating something meaningful for both yourself and others.”
The tables will be placed in their location in early June, and that location will be revealed at a later date. Wright said he is confident the tables will be used by “high profile visitors” this summer.
After the summer, the tables will be put up for auction by Van Go.
“Public art has a unique way of bringing people together,” Executive Director Lori McSorley said. “Long after tonight, these murals will continue to tell a story about our community and young people who helped shape it. The murals we unveiled tonight are a beautiful representation of Lawrence that will be put on the world stage.”
World Cup matches begin Thursday, June 11, and the final match is set for Sunday, July 19. Six matches are slated for Kansas City between Tuesday, June 16 and Saturday, July 11.
Van Go JAMS is an employment opportunity for 14- to 18-year-olds who have identified barriers to employment or education. JAMS run eight-week sessions three times throughout the year.
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Maya Smith (she/her), reporting intern, has worked with The Lawrence Times since February 2026. She was born and raised in Lawrence and is a journalism student at the University of Kansas. She works at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications as a communications assistant and has been a freelance reporter for the Kansas Reflector since 2024. Read her work for the Times at this link.
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