Back in November, we visited the annual Sarasota Chalk Festival.
This is a community event designed to showcase some of the world’s best temporary art and artists. There’s no rule that they have to be professional artists, either. The only rule is that they need to create their art with chalk.
Every year, the event has a theme. One year’s theme was “Circus City USA” because Sarasota is the home of the Ringling Brothers Circus.
Another year, they chose the theme “Legacy of Valor: Honoring Veterans, Inspiring Patriotism” and even erected a small Statue of Liberty in the middle of the street.
Prepared to be amazed
We arrived early on Saturday morning to the sound of music playing from loudspeakers throughout the town. Though the ads said the event was free, volunteers at the gate asked for donations as people entered. Who can blame them? The festival provides all of the artists’ materials, and that can get pretty pricey. Good chalk sets can cost upwards of $500!
The artists had been hard at their work since the day before, creating beautiful pictures in chalk on the street, but it had rained overnight, and water had gotten under some of the protective tarps. Some dabbed at their creations with cloths, while others continued working and waited for the sun to dry things out. Still, there was a happy, upbeat mood. They wouldn’t let the weather get them down. I guess it’s all a part of the art form.
Artists chose their own designs, everything from Washington crossing the Delaware to World War II photos of family members and more.
My favorite design was a massive chalk art picture that took up the entire street. I took this photograph through a fisheye lens they’d set up. The whole thing appeared in 3D.
Sarasota Chalk Festival, going vertical
Artists could draw not only on the streets but also on the sides of buildings.
This one completely amazed me:
More than just pictures on pavement
During the festival, people were able to take classes (for a fee) to learn the art form. One section showcased the work of young artists, including both children and students.
Even visitors could participate, thanks to cubes covered in blackboard paint.
If you ever visit Sarasota, don’t bother looking for the artwork. All the art is temporary. A few weeks after the event, Sarasota made sure that every spot of chalk disappeared, thanks to a pressure washer.
