The 23rd Annual Denver Chalk Art Festival

This past weekend the 23rd Annual Denver Chalk Art Festival took place in Denver's Golden Triangle neighborhood. This festival started out in Denver's historic Larimer Square back in 2003 as La Piazza dell 'Arte Larimer Square and soon became La Piazza Italian Chalk Art Festival, before adopting the Denver Chalk Art Festival name. When the Covid Pandemic hit, it was held virtually, and after a year held in conjunction with the Cherry Creek Arts Festival (which now co-produces the event), it moved to its current location around 12th and Bannock, close to the Denver Art Museum, the Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Arts, and the Clyfford Still Museum.

And I must say that CherryArts, the non-profit that runs the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, has done a good job with the Chalk Art Festival, turning it into a major event, going from 42 artists in 2003 to 230 this year. The artists include professionals who travel the country participating in these festivals, local artists, and people who are just beginning. And instead of just a single street, it now extends over 5 blocks of the Golden Triangle Neighborhood. The only thing I disliked this year about the festival is that there seemed to be an inordinate number of cat art, such as the one in the photograph on the right. Seeing cat after cat represented in chalk get pretty old, pretty fast, at least for me.

Far better to see chalk portraits of unicorns, fairy tale characters, lions, and especially weird or scary looking people, such as the woman in the photograph on the left. Despite weather forecasts predicting severe thunderstorms and hail, large crowds showed up for the event yesterday afternoon. The lines moved slowly past the art works, but that was okay, since instead of storms, it was all sunshine and pleasant temperatures. 

One of my favorite chalk art pieces was sponsored by Toyota and was a rendition of the same view as the one right in front of us, which I thought was pretty clever. Although to be honest, I did not even register that it was the same view until I looked at the photograph, seen on the right, on my computer screen later on. So much for my powers of observation. In any case, the festival made for a fun day, and I really enjoyed it. In addition to the chalk art, there were also lots of food vendors and a stage where various bands were scheduled to perform. I looked on the website to see what bands were going to play, but the only one I could find listed was "Check Back Soon," evidently playing both Saturday and Sunday. Never heard of them. Go figure.