There’s no other way to put it. With the transformation of plain old pavement into gorgeous, vibrant masterpieces, Larimer Square’s 16th annual Denver Chalk Art Festival is simply a visual feast.
More than 200 artists (both professional and newbies) will take their craft to the streets on Saturday and Sunday, June 2–3, creating an art gallery of sorts on the very pavement of downtown Denver’s Larimer Square. Their tool of choice? Why, chalk, of course. WHEN: Sat., June 2: 10 a.m.–10 p.m. | Sun., June 3: 10 a.m.–8 p.m. WHERE: Larimer St. (between 14th and 15th streets) | Downtown Denver
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Featured artists will spend the two days of the festival on their hands and knees, first drawing the outline for their piece, then moving on to lay the color base, followed by layering and blending vivid pastel colors to create the desired contrast and depth. The festival is an amazing opportunity to watch the creative process in action, observing artists in their true element.
Produced by the Larimer Arts Association, an organization committed to arts education and awareness in downtown Denver, the Denver Chalk Art Festival is completely FREE to the public, though there will be beverages and food available for purchase and a designated kids’ corner (between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. only) which will provide children with the opportunity to create their own chalk art masterpieces for a small donation.
Local high schools and youth groups will also be competing, working together to create a chalk art drawing in pursuit of a prize. The winning group’s visual arts department will receive art supplies for their program.
[caption id="attachment_37279" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Highlands Ranch High School's winning chalk art creation in 2017, Courtesy of Facebook[/caption]
And don’t forget to snap photos of your favorite chalk art drawings, then submit them to the “Capture the Color Photo Contest” by uploading them to the festival’s Facebook page with the hashtag #DenverChalkArtFestival. Prizes will be awarded!
For more information, visit the festival’s website.
Have you been to the Denver Chalk Art Festival before? Will we see you there? Let us know in the comments!