2nd Annual Chalk Festival May 2-3 Burns Court

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Announcing the 2nd Annual Burns Square "Avenida de Colores" Chalk Festival

Saturday May 2nd, 9 a.m. - Midnight and Sunday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

"A non-stop weekend festival of performance art!"

Street Painters, or "I Madonnair" who were Italian artists, have used chalk as their medium and the street surfaces as their canvas for more than 400 years. These performance artists will magically transform South Pineapple Avenue into a gallery of fine art that while painstakingly detailed and beautiful is only temporary - and YOU, the observers can be part of the process for free!

The theme for the festival is Flora, the sensual goddess of spring, associated with blooming flowers, vines, olives, fruit trees, bees and honey-bearing plants as well as sensuality, love and romance. Roman festivals have honored Flora since 238 B.C. to please the goddess so she would protect the spring blossoms against bad weather and ensure their liberation after the confinement of winter. She is usually depicted in paintings in flowing goddess fabric attire surrounded by blossoms.

Over thirty professional Street-Painters (Madonnari) are traveling to Sarasota from all over the United States to participate alongside twenty Sarasota artists and over twenty students from various schools. The street surface of South Pineapple Avenue will be turned into a gallery of fine art with masterworks depicting this years theme, the Goddess Flora and Springtime and you, the observer, are a part of the art process.

The Children Chalk Area will inspire our up and coming young street-painters 12 years old and younger. We want to cultivate our Sarasota children's skills early for future success of the festival! Each child can chalk a 2' X 2' square to help us build a quilt of magnificent artwork. There will be face-painting, balloon artists and magicians.

Stage performances will include Camp Cigma and Ilan Magic, Johnny Fox professional Sword Swallower, The Arch, Radio-Free Carmela and the Transmitters, Jacobites Band (pipes and drums), Los Rumberos, Kim Jenkins, Tbone & the Vine Street Band, Yoe Yander, Vin Lamar, Bob's Band and Sarasota Gold Band. There will be four small stages positioned throughout the festival for single performers, magicians, balloon artists and musicians. Phillippi Elementary will perform with over 50 students from grades 2 - 5.

There will be delectable' food available from Nancy's BBQ, 5One6 Burns, Esca and our local restaurants, as well as grog and beverages.

Sponsor and Artist Pre-Event Party May 1, 6-9 p.m. Burns Court Villas Courtyard with previews of select stage performances, will also see the unveiling of the balloon gown...yes, a gown made completely with latex balloons.

PLEASE CONSIDER BEING A SPONSOR!

Artist Blog: http://avenidadecolores.blogspot.com

Denise Kowal, Event Chair, [e-mail]