Chameleon participates in the Underground Railroad Project for the Troost Festival

     The ground on which Chameleon facility stands was once the area where escaped slaves hid prior and during the American Civil War. The slaves escaped across the Missouri river on dark nights to Quindaro Kansas and freedom as part of the underground railroad.

     On April 19th, 2008, Chameleon worked with the Troost Festival to create a tribute to remember this important history by producing artworks the festival. The date also marked the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s death and Earth Day. Father David of the Egypt Orthodox Bookstore and spiritual leader for the 31st and Troost area worked with other committed members of the Troost community to weave these threads into a celebration of Troost neighborhood.

     Hugh Merrill and students from his community arts class from the Kansas City Art Institute made large graphic figures of slaves to place in the woods where these remarkable people hid while waiting to escape via the underground railroad to freedom. The students are also made posters to place along the route of the run.