Crossroads Hotel
June 29–June 30, 2026
Solo Exhibition

SOAKIE’S WAS HOME is an interactive solo exhibition that tells the story of Soakie’s: a Black gay bar that operated in Downtown Kansas City from 1993 to 2004 before being forced to close due to an $850 million government-sponsored gentrification project. This revival exhibit tells the story of Soakie’s, an Italian sandwich shop that doubled as a Black gay bar in Downtown Kansas City from 1993-2004. Guests will be able to view archival material provided by {B/qKC}, a community archive of Midwestern Black queer history founded by Montalvo, alongside video installation.

Archival materials used in this exhibition are populated from {B/qKC}: a Black queer community archive founded by Montalvo.

Exhibition Statement

“Originally exhibited at The Waiting Room Gallery, Montalvo presents “SOAKIE’S WAS HOME”: a solo exhibition telling the story of Soakie’s, a Black gay bar in Downtown Kansas City from 1993-2004–ultimately shutdown by an $850m government-sponsored gentrification project.20 years since the bar’s closing, this exhibition explores how we use Soakie’s’ memory to build Black queer futurity. Building from their previous exhibitory work with {B/qKC}, a community archive of Kansas City’s Black queer history, this revival show is chronologic–guiding audiences through the lifetime of KC’s last Black gay bar.”

(photos captured by Lynnie Holl)

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Closing Reception for “SOAKIE’S WAS HOME,” the re-up

Works featured:

• Archival materials from {B/qKC}
  • Framed materials from the gary_carrington_collection, {B/qKC}, 2023, image reproductions in frames of varying sizes and colors
  • Framed materials from the starla_carr_collection, {B/qKC}, 2023, image reproductions in frames of varying sizes and colors
  • Framed materials from the tisha_taylor_collection, {B/qKC}, image reproductions in frames of varying sizes and colors
• STACKED CRTs, 2025, assemblage and 1 minute and 30 second video
  • HOME, 2025, SD video poem with captions, no sound, 1 minute.
• Zines, and video histories of Black queer elders in Kansas City

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