Jumped into a Splash of Color at the 2013 Sarasota Chalk Festival

Posted on Nov 17, 2013 | 0 comments

2013 Sarasota Chalk Festival, Nov. 17, 2013

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 opens in a new windowSarasota Chalk Festival and with one day left in the event I thought I’d mosey on up to see what was created this year.

Artist Tracy Lee Stum during the 2013 Sarasota Chalk Festival, Florida, Nov. 17, 2013

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.

Shadows during the 2013 Sarasota Chalk Festival, Florida, Nov. 17, 2013

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 opens in a new windowTracy 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.

“We Can Do It” 2013 Sarasota Chalk Festival, Florida, Nov. 17, 2013

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.”