Pasadena Chalk Festival -- Breaking with Tradition

It seems to be festival day in Pasadena.  The two-day annual Chalk Festival is underway at Paseo Colorado.  A small music festival is at the plaza next to Macys on Lake Avenue.  And something is happening on El Molino at Colorado Blvd. in the Playhouse District -- I'm not sure what is it, but El Molino is closed.

But back to the Pasadena Chalk Festival ...

The first chalk art festival I saw was at the Santa Barbara Mission about 15 years ago.  The plaza in front of the Mission was covered with very detailed copies of great religious paintings of the Renaissance.  Quite beautiful and this established my idea of what a chalk festival was.

One artist at the Pasadena Chalk Festival is working in that tradition--but many are opting for more contemporary works.  Some are even going all in and creating their own images--not copies of anyone else.

Early on Saturday morning, most of the works were just getting started.  One, however, that was already completed was a humorous comment on the LAPD.  Well, I think it was intended to be humorous.  And it certainly was an original design.

Anime is another source of inspiration for quite a few of the artists.

Another original design--but this one disregards the lines that are traditionally supposed to be the edge of each artist's work.   I noticed a couple of others who were treating the lines as suggestions rather than firm limits!

But the real break with tradition has to do with the medium.  It's supposed to be chalk!  Last year there were two people who were "painting with chalk"--this year there are many.  It sure is faster, but the look is definitely not the same.

But the real radical -- a revolutionary in the world of chalk art festivals -- is an artist named Sasha K who decided to do splash art in her square.  No messing around with those little sticks of chalk.  Just mix up some kids poster paints in plastic buckets and splash them on the plaza in front of the Convention Center across from Paseo Colorado.




The Pasadena Chalk Art Festival continues tomorrow June 19th.  Stop by after you have taken Dad out for brunch.