by Jenn Ngeth
On July 20, Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery's fourth annual Lowrider Block Party in White Center drew in crowds of people on a sunbeaming day, showcasing tuned-up cars (and bikes) with every corner covered in intricate designs.
Nestled on 17th Avenue Southwest between Roxbury Street and 100th Street, this year's block party expanded to include even more blocks compared with previous years, and it showcased the vibrant lowrider culture in our city. Attendees had the opportunity to gaze into these automobiles, getting up close to their grills to admire the beauty and care that went into every car from Seattle's car clubs, like Eazy Duz It C.C.
Classic R&B music weaved through the street as people checked out the numerous vendors that focused on Chicana/o Latinx (and other BIPOC communities) art, food, and culture, with a strong emphasis on community in White Center. Partygoers wandered in the heat, with mangonadas from Cafe Calaveras in hand to cool down, while enjoying entertainment, like the "Car Hop" competition to show off the cars' hydraulics; attending live musical and art performances; or getting tooth gems from 89links to shimmer in the sun.
Brought together by their love of classic American cars, people from all walks of life enjoyed the dazzling beauty of these lowriders and were shown how the Chicana/o culture from Southern California shaped this subculture in Seattle.
Despite the rapid changes in White Center within recent decades, it has continued to thrive and showcase the multicultural communities who live in Seattle. Nepantla's Lowrider Block Party was a reminder that there's power in diversity and solidarity in this pocket of the South End.
Jenn Ngeth is a Khmer American woman from Seattle, Washington, who grew up in South Park. She received her A.A.S. in visual communications from Highline College and is a published poet and multidisciplinary artist.
📸 Featured Image: A red Buick displays its hydraulics set at the fourth annual Lowrider Block Party on July 20, 2024. (Photo: Jenn Ngeth)
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