Ribbon cutting to celebrate new Lawrence bus shelter art by Indigenous artists

A ribbon cutting this weekend will celebrate six local Indigenous artists and their new works adorning Lawrence bus stop shelters.

Lawrence Transit has invited community members to the event in honor of the artists who created 10 new works of art featured on bus stops across Lawrence, according to a city news release.

Contributing artists include Aubrey Anne Bell, Zoe Bell, Iris Cliff, Mona Cliff (HanukGahNee), Tokeya Waci U (Comes Dancing First) Richardson, and Odessa Star Comes Out.

The project was a collaboration between the city and Lawrence’s Indigenous Community Center and was funded by the Douglas County Community Foundation.

“Many thanks to the Indigenous Community Center (ICC), project partner for this round of bus stop beautification,” the news release said. “The ICC led the artist outreach and selection process and has been integral to the realization of this project.”

The event is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 16 at Haskell LIGHT, 137 Pawnee Ave. in Lawrence. Attendees will gather to eat at 1 p.m., with food provided by Monteau’s Indian Tacos. Remarks will be given at 1:15 p.m. The ribbon cutting will take place at 2 p.m. at Bus Stop 63, which is just around the corner near the Haskell Museum and Cultural Center at 2411 Barker Ave., followed by photos there at 2:15 p.m.

Both entrances to Haskell LIGHT are accessible, according to the release. There are two accessible parking spaces by the front entrance, and the back entrance near the parking lot is accessible by ramp. Most of the event will take place indoors with seating and refreshments provided. There is also an accessible path from the back door of Haskell Light to the bus stop. Parking is available in the parking lot at the corner of Barker Avenue and Indian Avenue.

Here’s a list of all the artists, the names of their works and the locations of the bus stops they beautified, via the Lawrence Transit website:

• Artist: Aubrey Anne Bell
  Title: Tree N A, Location: Bus stop 183 – 6th & Lawrence
• Artist: Zoe Bell
  Title: Waste Cave Story, Location: Bus stop 180 – 6th & Wisconsin
• Artist: Iris Cliff
  Title: Mishibizhii, Location: Bus stop 118 – Massachusetts & 17th
  Title: The White Buffalo, Location: Bus stop 196 – Locust & N 3rd
•  Artist: Mona Cliff / HanukGahNee
  Title: Dear Deer, Location: Bus stop 63 – HINU
  Title: Baker Wetlands Wildlife, Location: Bus stop 72 – Haskell & 23rd
•  Artist: Tokeya Waci U (Comes Dancing First) Richardson
  Title: Less’ Riiide! Location: Bus stop 213 – Iowa & Harvard
  Title: The Sky’s Awake, Location: Bus stop 189 – 6th & Kasold
•  Artist: Odessa Star Comes Out
  Title: Sunkawakan (Horses), Location: Bus stop 7 – 33rd & Iowa
  Title: Wogligleya (Design), Location: Bus stop 193 – 6th & Monterey Way

Read the artists’ statements at this link.

Lawrence Transit buses are fare-free for all of 2023. Visit lawrencetransit.org for more information.

Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.

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