All are welcome to celebrate the unveiling of the new public art installation honoring the La Yarda community on September 20! The event begins with a red ribbon dedication of the mural panels created by artist Javy Ortiz at the corner of the Lawrence Loop at 8th & Delaware. Mariachi musicians will guide community members down the trail to Van Go (715 New Jersey Street) for a community celebration with refreshments and live music. Maria the Mexican will perform an invigorating selection of music inspired by each of the six mural panels.
The La Yarda Public Art Project was produced by the Lawrence Arts Center and made possible by funding from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas as part of LiveWell Douglas County’s Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant. This project recognizes the contributions of the La Yarda residents and invites visitors to revisit history while engaging in the outdoor trail system. Historical signage to accompany this artwork is supported by the Douglas County Natural and Cultural Heritage Grant Program. The celebration is made possible from grant support from the City of Lawrence Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture.
Special thank you to the steering committee comprised of members from the La Yarda families, art professionals from the City of Lawrence, the Lawrence Arts Center and the East Lawrence Neighborhood Association, and community partners from LiveWell Douglas County and the Watkins Museum of History.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Javy Ortiz is a Mexican-born interdisciplinary artist residing in Lawrence, KS. As a self-taught artist, Javy works prolifically to expand his knowledge and craftsmanship while embracing an experimental approach to creating. He pulls inspiration from personal experiences, as well as pop culture and contemporary social issues. Mixing and layering mediums such as acrylics, spray paint, and epoxy resin, Javy creates compositions that explore identity and resemble the path we navigate through our daily lives. Javy’s work has been featured in numerous group exhibitions regionally and can be found in many private collections.
ABOUT THE MUSIC
Influenced by traditional Mariachi music, Maria The Mexican is a mezcla of Mexican folklore and Rock n’ Roll. For ten years, Maria Elena Cuevas performed with her grandmother’s mariachi band Mariachi Estrella. In 2012, Maria connected with longtime Alt-R&B musician Garrett Nordstrom to form the fusion of Maria The Mexican. MTM is mixed with a touch of blues, soul, funk, and rock n’ roll enhanced by the musical knowledge and sounds of Nordstrom. With a southwestern flare and melancholy motifs, Maria The Mexican rocks it out in Spanish and English with a host of emotion.
LA YARDA HISTORY
Throughout Lawrence’s history, people have immigrated to Douglas County for work and made the area home. Few communities have shared closer bonds than the Mexican-American community of La Yarda. Two depressions in Mexico at the turn of the century, unrest brought on by the Mexican Revolution (1910-1925), and a high demand for railroad workers brought men to America for work. These railroad workers (who in Lawrence came mostly from Vera Cruz or Juarez) were usually employed with the railroad from March until October, when many returned to Mexico. In the 1920s, housing was built in Lawrence’s Santa Fe yards to encourage employees and their families to remain year-round. This Mexican-American community, the first housing complex in Lawrence, came to be known as La Yarda.
Formerly located just east of the Santa Fe Railroad, La Yarda consisted of two U-shaped brick buildings on concrete slab, each divided into five housing units. It was referred to by the outside community as the Sante Fe Apartments. The two buildings, each housing about 50 people, faced each other with a wide courtyard that was the hub of community activity. The courtyard provided a pump that was connected to the city water supply, and a large tree stood at one end that provided shade for communal meals. Outhouses were located at the perimeter and gardens were grown at the other end of the complex. The structures were prone to flooding, but the construction method allowed for cleaning by hosing down after a flood.
Generosity and a close-knit family enabled the Mexican-American community to make it through hard times. The women worked side by side doing laundry, cooking, and keeping a watchful eye on the children. The men tended the gardens, growing foods such as corn, peppers, chickens, and hogs, that were shared within the community. No one went hungry—not even strangers passing through from the trains. There was always a welcoming smile and respect for another human being. Members socialized, worked, and often attended religious services together. Residents built tennis, basketball courts, and a baseball diamond where children could play.
The flood of 1951 destroyed La Yarda. Families that called the area home moved into homes on Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York streets. The local Mexican-American community has kept a close tie to its heritage through faith, music, dance, and community. The community celebrates their heritage with the annual St. John’s Mexican Fiesta, which began in 1981 and has continued to grow larger and more popular each year.
