Chalk art by artist Julio Jimenez.
Tom Coston and Patty Hurley, the organizers of the Pasadena Chalk Festival, gave an inspiring overview of the unique event at the Pasadena Museum of History (PMH) on July 11th, 2017.
By George Patton
They led us on a colorful journey that started in Paris, where an intern of the Light Bringer Project raved about a chalk art event in the “City of Love,” saying, “We’ve got to do this in Pasadena.” Then onto Switzerland where internationally known public muralist Kurt Wenner was brought to Pasadena to get the event off the table and onto the sidewalk. After inspecting the concrete at City Hall, he said, “This is the worst surface for creating chalk art.”
Nevertheless 1993 saw the beginning of the Pasadena Chalk Festival. In the brutal heat of summer, about 100 artists labored to create beautiful works of chalk art. Many returned the following year to manifest their visions onto concrete once again.
This year 600 artists sweltered and succeeded in bringing their visions and other inspirations to reality on the walkways of Paseo Colorado.
A Story of Chalk and Perseverance
Chalk art by artist Annabelle Bardenheier (Photo – George Patton).
Why do they do it? Most have such stiff and sore joints that they have trouble walking for days after the event.
According to Robin Bevan, a veteran artist of many chalk festivals, the rare interactive process of the public and the artist at their sidewalk studio allows for education and conversation about art.
Another chalk artist says for her, it’s a family tradition that brings them together, sharing the hardships and joys of the experience. The husband of another participant says it’s like a marathon, a peak experience, brought to an inspiring finish, a trial of heat, chalk dust, sweat, and willpower.
The inner chalk channeling that the artists develop into works of art was discussed, as we viewed slides of their past and present work.
Woman on diving board by artist Julio Jimenez.
Julio Jimenez, an artist specializing in 3-dimensional chalk art, explained how he chose this year’s eye-popping chalk art statement. The inspiration for Julio’s 2-dimensional-defying gift was a billboard showing a voluptuous woman, lying on her stomach on a diving board. He recreated this image on concrete, the diving board suspended over the cool, blue water of a pool. It seemed as if you could jump in and escape the intense heat of the day.
Nearby a mermaid with the head of a chicken relaxed in her watery undersea world. The inspiration for this scene was the artist’s ten year-old daughter’s vision. Her daughter also created her own chalk art piece.
The Pasadena Chalk Festival makes art accessible to everyone and shares the process of the art’s creation, from its conception to its completion.
Art makes us think and helps us feel!
> You can check the “Art in the Street: 25 Years of the Pasadena Chalk Festival” and its companion exhibition “The Art of Getting There: Railroad Inspired Artistry” at Pasadena Museum of History through August 13, 2017.
Pasadena Museum of History 470 W. Walnut St. Pasadena, CA 91103 (626) 577-1660 Exhibition Gallery Hours Wed-Sun, Noon-5 p.m. $7/person Members and Children under 12, free.
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