Chalk artists fascinate me. Pavement is their canvass as they create stunning works of art taking anywhere between a day to a week to create yet they can easily walk away from it and let Mother Nature – or a power washer – take care of it. Today was the fifth day of the 2013 Sarasota Chalk Festival and with one day left in the event I thought I’d mosey on up to see what was created this year.
I figured arriving by 10:30 a.m. would allow crowd-free time to enjoy the 2-D and 3-D street art. Boy, was I wrong! Crowds were thick and it seemed as though you needed to push your way through in order to get a good glimpse of the 3-D work. Yeah, I know. Good for the festival and Sarasota but not so good for enjoying the art.
I’m not very aggressive when it comes to crowds so I really didn’t see all the 3-D chalk art as it should be enjoyed. While in line to see the piece by Tracy Lee Stum, a woman behind me was commenting on all the smartphone photos being taken and the lost of “appreciating the moment.” Unfortunately, in order to appreciate the art, I needed to snap photos so I could look and enjoy them later without the crowds.
Now in its seventh season, the Sarasota Chalk Festival attracts more than 500 artists from around the world and has gained attention as one of the country’s top chalk festivals. Taking place in Sarasota’s Burns Square District, this year’s theme is “Legacy of Valor.”
Will I attend next year? Absolutely! It’s worth wading through the crowds to see these disposable masterpieces created.
Enjoy my additional images of the Sarasota Chalk Festival on my Flickr account.
