Photograph by Mike Plante, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
On Saturday, September 1, The U. City Loop will be hosting its second annual Get Your Chalk On! Festival. Taking place on the sidewalks along Delmar, participants will have the opportunity to make their own chalk creations.
The Get Your Chalk On! Festival was developed over the course of a few years, and was a combination of different ideas. Bringing photos of 3-D chalk drawings to The Loop business meetings and pitching ideas of painting The Loop's sidewalks as an art event were a couple of ideas combined to develop this festival.
Jessica Bueler, Loop Special Business District President, explains why The Loop was the chosen venue for this festival: “The Loops has been designated ‘One of the Ten Great Streets in America’ by the American Planning Association,” she says. “The Loop is all about embracing individuality and diversity, and we thought that this sidewalk chalk event would complement the Loop perfectly.”
The festival's debut last year brought in 150 artists, ranging in age from toddlers to professional adult artists. Bueler explains why she believes people of all ages enjoy this festival.
“This is a great family and neighborhood event that has a very minimal cost to participate,” she says. “As art programs are being eliminated at schools throughout the country, we think that it is important that we provide an atmosphere that encourages artistic expressions.”
Participants are able to express their artistic abilities in one of four categories: Best of The Loop Theme (your favorite part of the Loop), Chalk of Fame (famous St. Louisans), Most Creative (create a story) or Chalk Land (kids 12 and under). Once registered, all the artists have to do is show up.
Check in is at 9 a.m. at the Chuck Berry statue, where they will receive all of their supplies. (Blick Art Materials, located in The Loop, is responsible for the chalk donations, Bueler explains.) After receiving their chalk, participants will be directed to a designated part of the sidewalk and work on their creations until 5 p.m., when the judging will begin. One winner from each of the four categories will all be announced on The Loop website with photos of their artwork, a story about their artistic background, and a link to their portfolio or personal website if available. The festival also includes a Viewers' Choice category, where people may go online and vote for their favorite sidewalk chalk drawings on the Delmar Loop Facebook page.
Other prizes include a variety of cash prizes and gift certificates, including gift certificates from a variety of Loop businesses. To register for the event, go to VisitTheLoop.com/about/events/; for more information, email VisitTheLoop@gmail.com or call (314) 726-2020.
