Paseo Colorado Welcomes 18th Annual Pasadena Chalk Festival

PASADENA, Calif., June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- For centuries, artists have painted beautiful images on the boulevards and squares of great cities, using chalk as their medium and the street pavement as their canvas. These artists and their creations were not a destination unto themselves. They were a wonderful element of the everyday business of these cities. Paseo Colorado's interconnected mix of retail, entertainment, housing and garden promenades helps the Pasadena Chalk Festival continue the legacy of the street painting art form by offering festival visitors an opportunity to shop and dine as the artworks come to life.

The Pasadena Chalk Festival returns to Paseo Colorado Father's Day Weekend, June 19 - 20, from 10am – 7pm. The festival is FREE and open to the public.

Now celebrating its 18th year, the Pasadena Chalk Festival places over 25,000 sticks of pastel chalks in the hands of hundreds of "Madonnari" (Italian for street painter) who come from across Southern California and points beyond to spend two days on their hands and knees creating spectacular murals on concrete areas the size of two city blocks. In every style imaginable, from classical to contemporary, whimsical and fantastic, to socially relevant, the murals are designed and created by independent artists as well as teams representing art schools, museums and cultural centers. The artists are an incredibly diverse group, representing many ethnicities and age ranges. Prestigious cultural festivals in Europe, North America and South America celebrate this traditional art form and are popular attractions for artists, art lovers and people from all walks of life.

The Pasadena Chalk Festival will celebrate its 18th Anniversary by attempting to establish the Guinness World Record for the Largest Display of Chalk Pavement, to authenticate its title as The World's Largest Street Painting Festival.  

In addition to the extraordinary opportunity to watch artists at work, guests will be treated to live music and children can get into the creative act in CHALKLAND, sponsored by Clif Kid's Nutritional Bars. The area is designated for kids and families to create their own chalk drawings on Father's Day Cards provided by Clif Kid's and Paseo Colorado. There will also be FREE face painting and other activities for the children.  

One of the highlights of the Pasadena Chalk Festival is "Animation Alley," a specifically designed area spotlighting some of the top and upcoming animators and graphic designers from Southern California. The feature has proven to be a success as talented artists created masterful chalk renderings of their signature work, including classic characters, renowned personalities from film and television and the artist's own original murals. "Animation Alley" is located in Lower Theatre Court at Paseo Colorado.

In 2010, the Pasadena Chalk Festival introduces two new additions for the artists. On Upper Theatre Court, the new "Chalk of Fame" sponsored by ArcLight Pasadena will be designated for artists who will create chalk murals of famous movie posters with a special prize from ArcLight Pasadena awarded to the winning mural in this category. For the artist awards, a new category has been established for "Best Artist Original Design."

Always a highlight of the Pasadena Chalk Festival is the "Madonnari Bistro" and the "Artist Gallery." A designated percentage of the food and drink sales from the Bistro will benefit the Light Bringer Project's ongoing art programs. The "Artist Gallery" is where affordable, small painted canvases by the participating artists and a variety of Festival merchandise will be available for purchase. Proceeds will be donated to the Light Bringer Project.

At the conclusion of the festival, participating artists will select the outstanding murals of the festival, including Best Overall, Best Technique, Best Use of Color and more. Festival visitors will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite mural, the "Paseo Colorado People's Choice" award. Ballots will be available in the center's retail stores.

The Pasadena Chalk Festival benefits the community arts programs of the Light Bringer Project, a Pasadena-based, non-profit arts organization founded by local residents who were interested in the role the arts, architecture and design played in the growth and development of their community. For more information on Light Bringer Project programs and partnerships, visit www.lightbringerproject.com.  

Paseo Colorado is located at 280 East Colorado Boulevard (between Marengo and Los Robles Avenues) in the heart of Pasadena's historic downtown Civic Center. Convenient parking is available. For more festival information, the public may call (626) 795-8891 or visit www.pasadenachalkfestival.com.

SOURCE Paseo Colorado