Sidewalk Chalk Art Fest Spices Up Downtown San Angelo

It was an overcast morning Saturday at this year’s Sidewalk Chalk Art Fest downtown. Sidewalk chalk artists of all ages were scattered throughout the courtyard and sidewalks surrounding the courthouse busily creating masterpieces.

“This is a free family event that Art in Uncommon Places sponsors; we’ve been doing it for 12 years,” said Julie Raymond of Art in Uncommon Places. “Anyone from zero to one hundred can come out and enjoy, and create we provide the chalk.”

Raymond passed out free packages of Crayola chalk as “This Will Be an Everlasting Love” by Natalie Cole played over the loud speaker and a couple danced on the sidewalk.

Across the street on the east side of the courthouse, Laurel Dane was hard at work on a mural of a pheasant. “When I was younger I made quite a few extra dollars doing this same thing on a pier in Maine,” said Dane. “ I was about 19, and wasn’t very good at being a waitress, so I started drawing things like this on the pier, and people loved it so much they put money in the hat I had set aside. You never know what your natural talents will take you or do for you, you just have to not be afraid and try.”

Central freshman student, Julia White, sat near the courthouse steps and recreated a mural from a printed picture she brought. It depicted a young girl kneeling in grass as a rose hovers above her out stretched palm, all cast in shades of blue, while hints of pink from bloomed lily pads surround her.

Further down the steps, Captain America and Ironman were captured in an impressive display of comic book art. Eli Flores, the artist, works for the San Angelo ISD. When asked what grade art class he teaches, his response was, “I’m a custodian for the school system, not a teacher.”

Spiderman, Batman, and a self-portrait of the artist, Eddie Flores, could be found against the bushes that have blooms a shade of pale pink, next to the foundation in the center of the yard. Flores incorporated an illustrated version of these into his sidewalk contribution as the blooms seemed to fall on the shoulders of the trio. He sat back to admire his work, “I used a hand mirror to draw myself in,” he said.

By noon, the sidewalk and courtyard concrete were filled with colorful artwork of all by artists of all ages. You didn’t need to be Leonardo da Vinci to join in on the chalk art fun, just an imagination.

Art in Uncommon Places is a non- profit organization that depends upon donations and grants to keep events like this alive.

“We are looking forward to the Day of Giving on May 5,” said Raymond. “The amount that’s donated to us that day will be matched by the San Angelo Area Foundation,” said Raymond.

Not too far away at 1 Love St, the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts and Angelo State University were showing off connections between art and science at “Family Day: Art and Science.” This was also a free educational event geared towards school-aged children.

The overall theme was that you couldn’t create art without science. ASU and Howard College students from various campus organizations took part in the days’ events. Participants were encouraged to create their own edible rocks, and make DNA keepsake amulets from cheek cells with special guests, Bio Rad, and watch chemistry magic shows.

For more information on art contact SAMFA at 325-653-3333 or visit www.samfa.org.