“Water People,” a four-panel mural series, was unveiled this month at the Southeast Community Center’s indoor community pool.
The installation by artist Woke3 explores Black communities’ spiritual and ancestral connections to water through vibrant portraits of Kansas City residents.
“Water is more than just an element,” says Woke3. “It’s power, memory, spirit. And if we don’t protect it, we lose our joy, our strength, and our connection to something greater than ourselves.”
The work was commissioned through Kansas City’s One Percent for Art program, which allocates 1% of municipal construction budgets to public art projects throughout the city.
Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw, Councilmember Darrell Curls, Parks & Recreation Commissioner Stephenie K. Smith, and Municipal Arts Commission representatives attended the unveiling celebration on May 9.
The four paintings add beauty to the pool area and each has a distinct theme:
- “Force” — A determined swimmer cuts through waves with home reflected in his goggles, embodying persistence against obstacles.
- “Joy” — Two young girls play in water — including the artist’s daughter— capturing childhood’s carefree connection to water.
- “Memory” — Honors ancestors lost during the Middle Passage, and the artist says the water symbolically holds the weight of that history in this installation.
- “Libations” — Depicts the sacred act of pouring water as an ancestral offering, bridging worlds between living and ancestors.
“Force” – A swimmer pushes forward through waves, reflecting strength and determination in the face of obstacles. 
“Joy” – Two girls play in water, capturing the innocence and happiness of childhood’s connection to nature. 
“Memory” – This solemn portrait honors ancestors lost in the Middle Passage, with water carrying their legacy and spirit. 
“Libations” – A sacred moment of pouring water honors ancestors and traditions passed down through generations.
Each painting contains a hidden heart representing America’s heartland, alongside sea creatures and subtle pollution elements like discarded bottles.
“This painting is my offering to them, my way of saying: I see you. I remember you. I honor you,” Woke3 said about “Memory” and it honoring the Middle Passage.
The artist constructed each panel using MDO board and treated lumber for durability in humid conditions. Each required at least three people to install and received thorough varnishing to withstand pool conditions.
The artist said he used locals as inspiration points for each of the figures in the series. For example, the painting “Memory” features Kansas City artist J. LeRoy Beasley.
“If I run into people, I feel the energy, I see them, and it just calls me to paint this person,” said Woke3.
In creating the installation, Woke3 began with a blue base layer and what he calls a “doodle grid” or a subtle sketch guiding the composition. He then blends spray paint with acrylic techniques.
“No matter how far we have to swim, no matter how deep the struggle, we carry the power of water within us. We are the force,” said the Nashville-based artist, who moved from street art to commissioned installations.
The Southeast Community Center pool area and its latest art installation are open to the public offering swimmers an immersive art experience celebrating water’s profound significance to Black identity, ancestry and community.
