Fresh on the Scene
Wichita, grab some ice cream and a set of checkers and gather round your new front porch. In July, Downtown Wichita unveiled six outdoor spaces, collaborations between local creatives matched with small business owners to help extend and enliven their street presence. Funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and support through Wichita Community Foundation’s Knight Foundation Fund, this placemaking initiative aimed to capture the community atmosphere of a midwestern front porch.
Public at the Brickyard
Kevin Harrison, a multi-talented storyteller, songwriter and speaker designed vibrant original artwork and new lighting elements.
Lucinda’s
Painter and ceramicist Elisabeth Owens created new window and signage treatments, a playful, interactive sculpture, and landscaping and seating elements.
Wichita Cheesecake Company
Artist Engy AlGarf crafted a homey outdoor seating area with collapsable umbrellas and a graphic sidewalk treatment.
Standard Issue Company
Architect Drew Phillips drafted this shady structure and recruited a Boy Scout troop to help him build it.
Old Mill Tasty Shop
Artists Chiyoko and Sarah Myose, a mother-daughter team, commemorated the 90th anniversary of Old Mill with this jaunty and colorful outdoor seating area.
Jenny Dawn Cellars
Horticulturist and landscaper Belinda Smith created a new patio with greenery and barrel tables topped with checkerboards.
