Atonement In Swope Park Haiku

by Annie Klier Newcommer

From Watermelon Hill, Shelter #5
(1950's—1960's)

To the Ethnic Festival
(1976—present)

how long the journey
for the black
watermelon seed

performers on stage strive
to show every color
the art of the dance

ABOUT THE POET

Annie Klier Newcomer resides in Prairie Village with her two muses, David, her husband of forty-three years and their Aussiedoodle, Summit. She is a poetry editor for Flapper Press Poetry Café, and has published the poetry chapbook, Comets Relationships that Wander. Annie has studied with Molly Peacock in NYC who is a guru of transportation poetry. Most notably, Annie has family living in both London and New York City who often remind her that “You can't understand a city without using its public transportation system.” ― Erol Ozan

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Shaun Friesen has been an Art Director at Crux for just under a year. For more than two decades, Shaun has used his formal art and design education to create visual branding to help businesses grow and thrive as a designer, illustrator, Art Director, and Creative Director. From corporate logos, signage and apparel to websites, email marketing and 3D drafting/modeling, Shaun’s experience is both versatile and inspiring. Shaun can be found VR gaming and spending time at Bar-K in Kansas City with his dogs, a Dutch Shepard named Sydney Rose and an American Eskimo named Neo.

Taylor Dietterich is an art director at Crux. As a versatile graphic designer, video editor and motion graphics artist, he is passionate about creating visually compelling work that tells stories. With years of experience in the industry, he has honed his skills in various design software and techniques. Taylor's design philosophy centers on simplicity, clarity, and balance, and he is always looking for new ways to push creative boundaries in both static and moving media.

ARTISTS' STATEMENT

In collaborating on this poster, we wanted to capture the essence and vibrance of Kansas City’s historic and diverse community, while still honoring the difficult truths so many of our citizens must bear. Immersing myself in the poem's imagery was immediate, and through our use of typography, color, and photography, we aimed to create a visually compelling piece that would embody a textured version of our great Kansas City–one that has bright and colorful future even though is still trying to make amends with its past. My hope is that the poster will serve as a tribute to the history of the city and inspire others to explore its ethnic diversity and cultural perseverance.