| |
More than 45 chalk artists and plein air artists will converge on the village sidewalks to create original works and compete for cash prizes. Chalk Walk is a free community event with plenty of family-friendly entertainment. The three-day festival will include live musical entertainment; children’s activities including chalk art, face painting and a bounce house; art and open-air market; an “Accessible Art” chalk drawing experience for individuals with limited movement or fine motor skills; and a Chalk Tail Party on Friday and Saturday night with drink specials.
“Our goal with Chalk Walk is to bring the community together around art,” says Christina Campbell, general manager of Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts (TBBCA). “Sidewalk art has a rich history of being an accessible form of art for all people, regardless of your artistic abilities.”
Headlining the musical entertainment at the Chalk Tail Party on Friday night, May 7, is musician Chris McCarty whose soulful acoustic-rock has wowed live audiences and television audiences alike. A Gainesville native, McCarty has performed at Gator Growl opening for Sugar Ray and has also shared the stage with such great artists as Blues Traveler, The Wailers, G Love and Special Sauce, Average White Band, the legendary James Brown, and Dave Matthews.
Also in the entertainment lineup are two, hot local bands: pop-rock-contemporary band, 10th Concession, opening for McCarty, and alternative-country group, Have Gun, Will Travel, performing on May 8.
At the conclusion of the event on Sunday, a prestigious panel of judges will announce the winners of the chalk art and plein air artist contest winners. The TBBCA will award a total of $2,600 in cash prizes and announce the People’s Choice award.
Although chalk drawing is a temporary art, artistic photographer Rob Bovarnick of Rob/Harris Productions will capture the work of select artists in a permanent photography series depicting the roots of sidewalk art to its 16th century Italian history. The photography series will be available on tbbca.org following the event. All proceeds from the Chalk Art festival will go towards the TBBCA’s “Save the Artist” program to build a stronger arts and culture community in Tampa Bay.
Sponsors for the event include Ferman Acura Mazda-Tampa, Sweetbay Supermarket, Blue Moon, Hyde Park Village, tbt*, St. Petersburg Times, Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine, Historic Hyde Park Neighborhood Association, Tampa Realistic Artists, 101.5 The Point, Magic 94.0, Pitch Inc., Premier Eye Care, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Older, Lundy & Weismann Attorneys at Law, Charles A. Hounchell, P.A. Attorneys and Counselors at Law, Hill Ward Henderson, Taylor Sales & Marketing Consultants, Law Offices of Robert J. Nader, Busch Gardens, VSA Florida, Mantra Creative, Rob/Harris Productions and The Franciscan Center.
WHAT: TBBCA Chalk Walk
WHEN:
8:30 am-10 pm Friday, May 7
8:30 am-10 pm Saturday, May 8
10 am-3 pm Sunday, May 9
WHERE: Hyde Park Village (742 South Village Circle)
HOW MUCH: Free
ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS:
Friday, May 7
4 pm: 10th Concession
7 pm: Chris McCarty
Saturday, May 8
1 pm: Blake High School Jazz Combo
7 pm: Have Gun, Will Travel
Sunday, May 9
11:30 am: Grey Beard
2 pm: Artists Awards Ceremony
About TBBCA
Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts (TBBCA), founded in 1989, is a nonprofit organization of businesses committed to supporting the arts. The TBBCA (tbbca.org) is an affiliate of the national Business Committee for the Arts, which in 2008 became a part of Americans for the Arts. The mission of the TBBCA is to help build a stronger arts and cultural community with the support of area businesses.
|
amy[.]pitchpublicity.com 
