AVENIDA DE COLORES

JOIN US OCTOBER 30 & 31, Halloween Style

2010-03-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

Avenida de Colores Chalk Festival | Burns Square | October 30 & 31, 2010

Join us as we celebrate the spectacle of a 500-year-old performance art tradition, Italian street painting. With this years theme... a little funny... and a little spooky, Halloween style!!

Come watch as hundreds of artists transform South Pineapple Avenue into a one-of-a-kind chalk art gallery for 40,000 visitors. Jay Schwartz from California states, "the biggest allure of the medium is that it is a pure art form - a mix of Fine Art and Performance Art. The paintings are ephemeral - vulnerable to the elements - and only viewing them in context can provide a lasting impression."

A Family friendly event....

Saturday morning we will host Sarasota's largest PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST ever! Come between 8am till Noon to carve your pumpkin or bring one already carved.

Saturday evening we host the VAMPIRE FASHION SHOW with tickets available online or on-site. Come have your photo taken with one of our vampires to send home to mom and dad!

In addition, outdoor and indoor spooky movies hosted by the FRINGE FILM FESTIVAL will be available at various locations as well as films at the Burns Court Cinema.

And most importantly, the SUNCOAST COMMUNITY BLOOD BANK with be available to take your blood!

Onstage, talented local musicians perform rock, swing, jazz, contemporary and more throughout both days and evenings.

COME, RELAX AND ENJOY THE ART OF PERFORMANCE....

SARASOTA'S LARGEST PUMPKIN CARVING & DECORATING CONTEST

2010-03-01T09:05:00.000-08:00

The Avenida de Colores Chalk Festival will host Sarasota's Largest and Burns Square's First Annual Pumpkin Carving and Decorating Contests!... and yes, the contest is not anywhere close to the fine art being created by the I Madonnari Italian Street Painters!

The First Annual Burns Square Pumpkin Carving Contest is Saturday, October 30th. Pumpkin Carvers can work from 8am - 2pm on their pumpkin (Pumpkins will be available on-site to purchase). Finished Pumpkins must be at the contest location by 3pm and can either be carved on-site or off.

The public will vote on the artwork throughout the festival and prizes will be awarded to the winners of the Carving contest on Sunday!

1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Prizes for - Most Original, Most Scary, Most Funny, Most Artistic and Peoples Choice

Contestants donate $5 to enter. Carvers need to bring their own tools to create a winning masterpiece!! Pumpkins entered in the contest become donations to the festival. The pumpkins are auctioned off for the charity.

Good Luck and Have Fun (Safely)!

HENRY DARNELL TRAVELS TO SARASOTA FROM CALIFORNIA

2009-05-05T22:01:00.000-07:00

Henry Darnell is a professional artist in the film industry and a 1st Place Winner of the 2009 Avenida de Colores Chalk Festival. He recreated the beautiful face in the painting by Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun, 'Flora oder Hebe'.

Darnell has enjoyed creating street paintings and interacting with festival crowds for eight years. "I relish reproducing art of master painters. It gives me a chance to study and appreciate their talent and technique. I have to thank my fellow artists for their support and advice. My goal is to participate in as many festivals as possible in the coming year."

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: GM SUNSET SUPERSTORE

2009 FEATURED ARTIST LORI ESCALARA & PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER 2007 RETURNS!

2009-03-09T13:15:00.000-07:00

World renown Street Painter and 2009 Featured Artist, Lori Escalara will again return to perform her street painting talents in the I Madonnari tradition. Lori was the winner of the People's Choice Award during the 1st Annual "Avenida de Colores" Chalk Festival. Lori was instrumental in the 1st festival giving us much needed insight, inspiration and talent...The Burns Square area owes her gratitude.

Lori is one of the Masters of the Craft having traveled across the United States and to China to chalk the streets for over 15 years. She has been Featured Guest Artist and won many venue awards for her beautiful chalk artwork.

Lori is a fine artist residing in North San Diego County and a native of Los Angeleno. Her professional career began at the age of twelve when neighbors would hire her to execute portraits of their loved ones in oil and pastels. Lori's love for art and history has taken her to the Mediterranean to study history, culture, artists and artwork. Her artistic interests are figurative. She practices in a variety of wet and dry medium on paper, canvas and ceramic.

In 1995, Lori organized "The Culver City A.R.T. Group," and severed as its founding president. Lori also is a Board of Director Emeritus for Ballona Creek Renaissance in Los Angeles.

She has created various public art installations such as community based mural projects and fine art painting throughout Southern California. You can can see some of Lori's exploits (including the 1st Annual Burns Square "Avenida de Colores" Chalk Festival at http://www.youtube.com/loriescalera and by going to her website: www.thestreetpainter.com.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: WWSB ABC 7

ANN HEFFERMAN BRINGS A BEAUTIFUL BOUNTY OF BOTANICAL TO BURNS SQUARE

2009-03-08T14:12:00.000-07:00

Ann Hefferman created her first street painting 16 years ago for Santa Barbara's I Madonnari Festival. She has been a featured artist at festivals in the U.S., from the west to east coast, and has participated internationally in festivals and exhibitions in Grazie du Curtatone, Italy, Toba, Japan and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Ann graduated in 1980 from UCSB in Studio Art. Her work on pavement and paper is often inspired by forms in nature, especially botanical subjects. She lives and works in Santa Barbara.

Avenida de Colores 2009 is a perfect opportunity for her to share her appreciation for the inspiration of....Flora.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: COMFORT SUITES UNIVERSITY PARK

HAVE CHALK, WILL TRAVEL JEANIE BURNS ATTENDING AVENIDA DE COLORES

2009-03-07T11:46:00.000-08:00

Jeanie Burns saw street painting for the first time while studying art history and architecture in Italy. She is a freelance graphic designer by profession and participated in her first street painting festival in nearby Lake Worth in 1996. In the years since, her work has generated growing recognition and has been featured prominently in media coverage of the event. Having been "bitten by the street painting bug," she has expanded her participation to many other street painting events and exhibitions throughout Florida, California, New York City , and returned to Italy to participate in Grazie di Curtatone.

"What I've always appreciated about this particular art form - both as an artist and as an onlooker - is watching the art emerge, rather than seeing only the finished piece. It's a great opportunity to bring art to people in a way they may never have seen it presented. I enjoy being a part of such a unique and publicly accessible creative exhibition for the entire community."

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: CITY OF SARASOTA

MICHAEL KASUN RETURNS FOR 2ND ANNUAL AVENIDA DE COLORES

2009-03-07T10:28:00.000-08:00

Michael Kasun is an active visual artist working most with water based media (acrylic, gouache, watercolor). His subject matter varies between cityscape, bird themes, human figure, landscape and abstracts. He attended the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and finished his educationat the Milwaukee School of the Arts (the flagship of the Milwaukee School of Art and DCesign where he graduated with a BFA in drawing and painting. Mike was the founding member of the drawing collective called the Flesh Experts. This group drew and painted from the live model and has been active for more than 20 years.

His work has been shown at numberous galleries in the Milwaukee area and also Key West. Shown most recently was a series of life models called hu(man) at the Milwaukee Gay Art Center and a series of small scale paintings of North American songbirds exhibited at the Portrait Society Gallery.

Another interest is pavement chalk art competition. This past summer he won best of show at the Bayshore chalk art competition. In 2007 he was awarded the people's choice award at the same chalk fest. Mike participated in the first Avenida de Colores here is Burns Square downtown Sarasota in November 2007. We are lucky to have his talent and wonderful personality return to be with us again.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: HIBISCUS SUITES

JENNIFER NICHOLS CHAPARRO TRAVELING TO SARASOTA FOR STREET PAINTING

2009-03-05T13:45:00.000-08:00

Born in St. Joseph, Michigan in 1962, Jennifer Nichols was born into an artistic family. Her grandfather, Harry Stinson, was a recognized sculptor, painter and Art Professor at the University of Iowa and Hunter College in New York City. His talent was passed on to Jennifer. Jennifer's formal art training started in high school, and she began to accumulate awards and sell some of her early paintings.

Later Jennifer attended UCLA, graduating with a degree in Design, focusing on costume and clothing design, and was heavily influenced by the artist Erte. She continued to pursue painting while working in advertising and raising her two daughters in Dayton, Ohio. Jennifer's work was exhibited in various galleries and events in Ohio between 1992 - 1999. She also was very involved with the Dayton Visual Arts Center, serving as their president and as a board member.

In 1999, she moved to Palm Beach, Florida. In 2005, Jennifer and her daughters, began participating in the Street Painting Festival in Lake Worth, Florida, the largest street painting event in the United States, attracting 100,000 visitors each year. Jennifer and her daughters have completed several large 10' X 10' works, usually featuring women and children, a theme that draws much attention.

Jennifer's work shows a unique talent for capturing faces and expressions. By working to duplicate the colores and shading of the original art, Jennifer stays true to the original work of art. Using soft pastel chalk on pavement or concrete surfaces, these large works of art are washed away after each event. Jennifer's philosophy is that street painting is as much about the performance and execution, as it is about the art. The painting is as much about the performance and execution, as it is about the art. The immediacy and challenges of the "canvas", weather and medium make each piece special and unique. Usually over the course of 2 days, each piece comes to life before your eyes.

In addition to the chalk art, Jennifer has done work in a variety of media such as pen and ink, watercolor, gouache and fiber, and freelances as a graphic designer, specializing in logos, advertising materials and websites.

ARTIST SPONSOR: MELISSA CLARK DESIGNS

LORELLE MILLER A MODONNARA PARTICIPATING

2009-03-05T05:55:00.000-08:00

Lorelle Miller was born in Beverly Hills, California and raised in the San Fernando Valley. She has been an award winning artist since early childhood. She graduated from the California State University of Northridge, earning her BA in Art. She continued with graduate work in Sculpture and illustration.

Ms. Miller has received a professional designation from the Music Center Education Dept. and the Los Angeles Art Commission and has continued her study of fine art with several of today's master artists. She has taught for College of the Canyons, Saugus School District, and SCV - Arts and services on the Arts Advisory Board for the City of Santa Clarita.

Her typical subject matter as been figurative throughout most of her career yet there has always been a deep-seated passion for nature. The extraordinary challenges of landscape and plein air painting has fed her continuing hunger to grow as an artist and painter.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: AWESOME ORCHIDS

JAY SCHWARTZ STREET PAINTER ATTENDING AVENIDA DE COLORES

2009-03-05T04:12:00.000-08:00

After stumbling into Italian street painting in 1992 by accident and now making a lot of his own chalks, so that he can use colors that can't be reproduced through any other medium, Jay's passion for the medium has taken him to festivals throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia.

"The biggest allure of the medium is that it is a pure art form - a mix of Fine Art and Performance Art. The paintings are ephemeral - vulnerable to the elements - and only viewing them in context can provide a lasting impression." Street painting has become more than a hobby for Jay, it's somewhat of an addiction; as soon as he recovers from one painting he is looking forward to the next. "As Madonnari, we endure many physical challenges while creating our murals. Wind, heat, time, and the possibility of rain are all working against us."

Jay Schwartz, founder of Ideaworks, a Santa Barbara and Las Vegas-based interactive agency, with clients ranging from museums to Las Vegas Casinos, is a graduate in fine arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara as well as Pasadena's Art Center College of Design.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: GM SUNSET SUPERSTORE

ALICE CRITTENDEN STREET PAINTER ATTENDING

2009-03-05T03:00:00.000-08:00

Denise Kowal is proud to announce that Alice Crittenden and her helper Alicia will be guest street painters traveling from Santa Barbara California to perform during the Avenida de Colores May 2 & 3 Chalk Festival.

Borrowing from the Impressionists and the Expressionists, Alice loves to discover color relationships and the effects on the viewer's emotions. "I have been drawing and painting from the time I could hold any implement that would make a mark."

Alice's father was an art critic who diligently encouraged talent, yet he was never one to hold back on pointing out areas that needed reworking. "My greatest inheritance from him? He instilled in me the truth that each person has been imprinted with a creative force that needs to be communicated. It should not lie dormant. I believe our creativity is part of our life force - it needs to be exercised regularly!"

Her work is in private collections in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Not only has Alice displayed her work in solo shows, but her ceramics, paintings, serigraphs, etchings, and pen and inks have been displayed in juried shows as well. She is yet to discover an art medium she doesn't enjoy! Alice retired the advertising business when her daughter was born. She is currently pursuing her work from her home studio when she is not traveling painting the street in chalk festivals.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: SRQ MAGAZINE

JANE PORTALUPPI ATTENDING STREET PAINTING FESTIVAL

2009-03-04T03:34:00.000-08:00

Denise Kowal witnessed firsthand the work of Jane Portaluppi last week at the Lake Worth Chalk Festival and with a brief interaction while Jane worked to finish her masterpiece (with three other talented artists) because of a chance recommendation by a fellow artist Jay, Jane has agreed to attend the Avenida de Colores May 2 & 3.

"This uncommon art form, part performance art and part fine art, is what I love to do, as much as my passion for classical oil Painting." Jane was born in the U.S. but raised in Europe from Russia to Italy where from an early age she was expossed to the European masters. She returned to the States and studied at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C. She had her first street painting experice in 1991 in Santa Barbara, which under the vision of Kathy Koury, was the first town in the U.S. to bring this artform to the pavements of American cities. Jane has participated in Madonnari festivals throughout the U.S., Mexico & Europe. And of course every year she packs her chalks and joins a handful of American artists to compete in Grazia.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: DENISE KOWAL

JACKLYN KOVACH TRAVELING TO SARASOTA TO STREET PAINT

2009-03-04T02:45:00.000-08:00

Jackie Kovach first participated in the Lake Worth Street Paining Festival 10 years ago and has been a featured artist for the past nine years. She recently attended the Bloom N Chalk Festival in Safety Harbor and won "Best Depiction of Mother and Child."

Her love of art began as a child and she usually finds her motivation in the face of a child. She is a portrait artist with an impressionistic flair and works mostly in pastels and acrylic paint.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: SARASOTA FILM SOCIETY/BURNS COURT CINEMA

NOAMI FOSTER STREET PAINTER ATTENDING

2009-03-03T21:27:00.000-08:00

Noami Foster graduated from the Western State College in Gunnison, CO with a BA in Commercial Art.

Thereafter she immersed herself in the art industry for 4 years until she dedicated her life to serving the ministry, that lasted for 10 years. From teaching art classes for elementary/middle school children to being a youth leader and mentor to several women, Naomi focused her time and talents on helping people find their purpose which brought healing to much of their lives.

In 2003 Noami followed her own purpose in life and returned to school. She received her 2nd degree, Bachelor of Science in Visual Communications at the Colorado Technical University. Combining her passion for the arts and her desire to help young people, and women reach their potential with much inspiration from the song "True Colors", a collection was created.

The True Colors Collection, though made up of African American and Bi-racial children, crosses all ethnic and cultural backgrounds, by capturing the spirit of a child in their everyday activities. In this collection you will immediately think about a child you know and that is the purpose of "True Colors". Pulling from her graphic design experience each expression from the collection was matched with a certain color. It's the combination of color and expression that makes this collection so very captivating.

Within one year of its creation True Colors has brought healing, hope, love and restoration back into lives of many, crossing the boundaries of race, social status and economic background.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: DOWNTOWN SARASOTA MERCHANT ALLIANCE (DSMA)

CAMP CIGMA - CHILDREN'S MAGIC CAMP ATTENDING SUNDAY

2009-03-02T14:38:00.000-08:00

Imagine Dr. Seuss, Willy Wonka, Dumbledore, James Bond, and Yoda joined together and opened up a camp that teaches children magic. That doesn't even begin to describe the incredible antics that two magicians, Josh Corn and Ilan, have put together into their Camp Cigma. With Dr. Lydia Corn at the reins keeping the two big children on track, the three of them have created a unique environment were children learn magic, explore their creativity through performance art, and create havoc through the many original games and activities the two magicians have masterminded.

The school teaches mysteries, misdirection, games, juggling, diablo, balloons, shadow puppets, doves and more.

"Magic is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen. -Goethe

STACEY WILLIAMS-NG TRAVELING TO STREET PAINT IN THE AVENIDA DE COLORES FROM MILWAUKEE

2009-03-02T13:13:00.000-08:00

Stacey Williams-Ng is a painter, designer and arts writer currently of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A native of Memphis, Tenn., she pursued part of her fine arts studies in France, at the Universite' de Haute Bretagne (Rennes II). In 1995, she obtained her BFA in Fine Arts with a specialty in Graphic Design. She is now working as a senior design and creative director for web-based media, with a painting practice on the side.

Stacey's artwork has been featured in Emerge Magazine, and she has been the recipient of several awards, including the second prize at the Bayshore Chalk Art Festival in 2008.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: SIESTA KEY BUNGALOWS

STIG LINDOW PARTICIPATING

2009-03-01T12:59:00.000-08:00

Stig Lindow was born in 1969 in Mont Clair, NJ but he and his family relocated to Florida by his first birthday. Those around Stig noticed his artistic talents long before he did. Up until 1983 he enjoyed the art classes his public school provided, then was chosen to take part in an advanced art class with Arlien Cameron who supported self awareness in learning. Stig was fortunate to have this mentor throughout High School in which he exposed to various mediums from jewelry to clay including castings, oils, acrylics, enamel, chalk, pastels and water colors. Stig has continued to self study.

Stig creates for the pure passion of art and is inspired by his thoughts and feelings as well as the thoughts and feelings of the people and environment that surround him. His various versatile timeless styles show this. With his innate gifts, he creates so that everyone can enjoy all, if not just one of his works. Within the circles he travels, Stig is known as a serious Artists with great talent.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: CREATIVE LOAFING

CRAIG THOMAS TRAVELING FROM MISSOURI TO STREET PAINT

2009-03-01T03:36:00.000-08:00

Craig Thomas is a freelance artist living in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He is known for his fine art, murals, and street painting. His work has taken him throughout the North America to Europe. Craig works commercial, public, student and private commissions.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: TELEMETRY STUDIOS

STUDENT JACK BERRY PARTICIPATING AGAIN IN THE AVENIDA DE COLORES CHALK FESTIVAL

2009-02-28T06:57:00.000-08:00

Jack Berry was the youngest street painter to participate with the adults in the Avenida de Colores 2007 winning a ribbon for his wonderful Beatles Abby Road album cover drawing.

Jack is now a 7th grade student at Pine View School in Osprey. He attends classes at Ringling College and enjoys using pastels and watercolors. He has participated in the Downtown Disney Chalk Festival. Jack is also a talented musician. He plays the guitar, cello, and piano. Don't be surprised if you see Jack performing for the crowds in more ways than with his street-painting.

SPONSORED BY: 301 KWIKIE INC.

STICKERS BY TELEMETRYSTUDIO.COM

2009-02-25T08:20:00.000-08:00

CHILDREN'S CHALK PLAYGROUND FOR ARTISTS 12 YEARS OF AGE AND YOUNGER

2009-02-24T00:14:00.000-08:00

Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m through 6 p.m. with other fun activities for Children.

Full of color and excitement when hundreds of square are chalked throughout the weekend by kids who will create a blanket of color.
THE CHILDREN'S CHALK PLAYGROUND IS SPONSORED BY THE FOLLOWING:
LKids Boutique, Richard Hoffman Contractor, Jack Vinales Antiques, Jenny's Skin Care, Paris.Couture, Pineapple Bay, Polo Grill, Urban Sanctuary Salon, Williams Parker, Woman's Exchange, Yan Lin Antiques, Richard Thomas, Suzette Jones, Ed Pandos, Architectural Salvage, Broken Egg, Esca, Galleria Amadoure, Pineapple Holistic Spa, Polo Grill, Starbucks, First Watch, Max's Dog Bakery, Caragiulos, Saks, Serendipity, Quintessential Hair, Dr. Eric Larson, LBK Club, Juno and Jove, Libby's Cafe' & Bar, Pastry Art, Burns Square Artist Market, Bush Garden's, PAL Circus

BETTY DOMINGUEZ TRAVELS TO SARASOTA TO CHALK THE STREETS

2009-02-23T22:31:00.000-08:00

Betty Dominguez was born in Barranquilla, Columbia and raised in Margate, Florida.

She has dedicated herself to the discipline of art and it's higher education and understanding for over 15 years. Betty is currently studying in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program majoring in painting at the Florida Atlantic University.

Her aim as an artist is to communicate with the world without speaking and to grab your attention with simplicity and color. Her paintings are an interpretation of her vision. Betty's art describes who she is, her vision, creation, strengths, weakness, self-confidence and most definitely it describes her. "The beautiful aspect of art is that it does not have to be perfect, it is what you want to make it."

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: MICHEAL'S ON EAST / MICHEAL'S WINE CELLAR

TRUMAN ADAMS CHALKING IN AVENIDA DE COLORES

2009-02-22T22:02:00.000-08:00

Truman Adams is a graduate of Ringling School of Art and Design, class 2000. He resides in Sarasota to be near his beautiful daughter Aurora. Truman is a professional portrait painter, illustrator, fine artist, faux finisher, muralist, musician, and teacher. He has recently become part of Ringling's School faculty teaching figure and portraits, both painting and drawing, plus still life and decorative arts at the Longboat Key Center for the Arts. Each year Truman donates head and shoulder portrait commissions to benefit different different charities, schools, and non-profit organizations. He has worked all over Florida in luxury homes and businesses creating murals and faux finishes. He has been blessed with hundreds of commissions art projects still having time to produce his fine art and music.

SARASOTA ARTIST LUTHER ROSEBARO PARTICIPATING AS A STREET PAINTER FOR FIRST TIME

2009-02-20T16:07:00.000-08:00

Luther Rosebaro, has been a resident of Sarasota for over 20 years. He has been drawing since he could hold a pencil. He is a self-taught artist who loves to draw whatever captures his attention. Luther's favorite tools are pencil (colored, charcoal, etc.).

He is currently a vendor at the Burns Square Artist Market and prior to that, his artwork was mostly possessed by his family and friends -- given as gifts.

This will be Luther's first year participating in the Avenida de Colores Chalk Festival in Burns Square and he is looking forward to the endeavor. Come and support Luther and his street painting.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: GALILEO RESTAURANT

KITTY DYBLE THOMPSON RETURNS!

2009-02-20T13:00:00.000-08:00

First Place Winner of 1st Annual Burns Square "Avenida de Colores" Chalk Festival, Kitty travels all the way from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to participate in 2nd Annual Festival.

She will be undertaking a truly amazing chalking challenge, an anamorphic chalk mural. A mural in which the design is almost indistinguishable as drawn upon the surface of the street but comes into vision when the reflection is viewed on a round cylinder mirror that is placed within the paintings center.

Whether Kitty is creating a chalk mural on pavement, sketching in front of the Louvre, drawing in a Sicilian piazza or creating a mural in Milwaukee, her goal is to make a connection between the place and the viewer. By taking her viewers on a journey and sharing her understanding of the truth to be found, she demystifies and makes beautiful what might otherwise be foreign or strange.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: INTERTAPE POLYMER

JUDY BRAGG PARDO TRAVELING TO SARASOTA TO CHALK

2009-02-19T16:25:00.000-08:00

Judy Bragg Pardo was born in upstate New York where she learned to love and appreciate nature. She moved to Florida and later attended Valencia Community College and received her A.S. degree in Graphic Design Technology. She is a graphic artist at the University of Central Florida and enjoys working in positive environments.

Her journey through life has always been balanced with her art and writing, the brush and pen. She paints mostly in watercolors or acrylics, but is not restricted to those mediums. Her work may be considered spiritual, surreal and/or visionary. She signs her name, "Jude."

Pardo loves the challenge to paint with pastels on large canvases of sidewalk cement in street painting festivals. Even though this is temporary art, she says her pleasure is to see the people enjoy her art, their smiling faces/taking the extra moment to sop and view her art.

Her interests are hikin, bike riding, music, becoming one with nature and medittaion/psychic/mediumship. She stands up for what she believes in.

"I thank my husband, children and family for all their outstanding patience and encouragement," Pardo stated in her closing.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: MADURO'S CIGAR BAR

CHARLENE HARDIN AND HER SON TRAVELING FROM ARIZONA FOR HER NEW PASSION 'STREETPAINTING'

2009-02-19T10:32:00.000-08:00

Charlene Hardin is a freelance writer, illustrator, and lifelong art-lover who lives in Arizonen with her husband Jason, three children (Alex, Dorian, Nicole), and two dogs (Sarge the Pug and Angel). Charlene studied art by attending various workshops and college classes on the subject over the past decade. For the past three years, she has worked to share her passion for art with local craft boutiques, various freelance clients, and through work in the community with children.

Last year, she was invited to participate in the first annual Via Colori Street Painting Festival in Scottsdale, AZ. Together, with her son Alex, she finished on 4' x 4' square on the first day of the festival, and thanks to extra space available, was permitted to complete another 6' x 6' square on the following day. Charlene is an enthusiasic volunteer, Free-cycler, recycler and parent. She has coordinated local events to benefit children's charities, and regularly participates in Charitable events such as the March of Dimes. Charlene's eldest son Alex often assists on volunteer projects and events.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: CONGRESSMAN VERN BUCHANAN AND SANDY BUCHANAN

LOCAL MULTI-TALENTED ARTIST, SAM CONABLE, chalking during the Avenida de Colores

2009-02-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

Sarasota's 6'1" heartthrob, Sam Conable, had to choose among his list of talents ranging from Designer, Musician, Animator, dreamer and Filmmaker and settle on his artists talent to undertake the challenging task of Chalk Painting. He will be among many talented artists, in which our community has never had the chance to experience, let alone marvel over.

Sam, born in NY, resides here with his wife, Lori and has two daughters. His favorite art medium is a black Sharpy pen and a piece of paper. His most interesting stunt was climbing the world's most powerful television transmitting tower in the middle of the night. His artistic talents are many. Please stop by and do not miss this amazing local talent and give him your support while he spends two days working on the street of South Pineapple Avenue.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: RINGING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN

LOCAL RISING ARTIST, TIM JAEGER, participating for the first time as a street painter

2009-02-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

He's been called passionate, humble, witty, and one of the five rising artist talents in Sarasota by Sarasota Magazine, and aficionado art collectors.

At 28, Tim has achieved local and increasingly national recognition. A 2002 graduate of the Ringling School of Art and Design, he decided to remain in the resort coastal town of Sarasota after earning his bachelors of arts, where he now works, paints, and lives with his wife, Laura. Born in Michigan and raised in Paducah, Kentucky, Tim is attracted by the colors, warmth and light of Florida, as well as its sophisticated and growing artist communities.

His work can be seen at Canvas Cafe' Gallery in Towles Court.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: CANVAS CAFE'

PROFESSIONAL LOCAL ARTIST LORI LOVEBERRY GEORGE STREET PAINTING

2009-02-17T07:24:00.000-08:00

Lori Loveberry George began drawing when she was six years old. Originally from Michigan, she attended Kendall School of Art and Design in Grand Rapids. She graduated from Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida in 1983, a printmaking major. Lori is a 2008 graduate of Eckerd College with a BA in visual arts. For twenty-two years, Lori and her husband, Micihael have owned a decorative painting business in Sarasota, Florida. Lori continues making art, as well as operating her business at her Sarasota studio.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: SARASOTA MAGAZINE

JAMIE TAAFFE CHALKING IN SARASOTA FOR FIRST TIME

2009-02-15T21:39:00.000-08:00

Jamie Taaffe, a native of Bradenton has always had a passion for art, but it is only recently that she has discovered the art of street painting and chalk art festivals. Surrounded and continually inspired by the art community of the Sarasota/Bradenton area has helped her become the artist that she is today.

Her love of art brought her to the University of Central Florida to pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree in Art Education, of which she will receive on the Saturday following this event. She is currently a student member of the National Art Education Association and Florida Art Education Association and has participated in the 2007 and 2008 Florida Conferences as well as the 2008 National NAEA Conference in New Orleans, LA. She has also had the opportunity to volunteer with the Education Department of the Ringling Museum of Art located here in Sarasota. These opportunities have allowed her to refine her skills as an artist, but also given her further professional development and experience researching and teaching art in the classroom. She has a personal experiences working with drawing, painting, printmaking, weaving, 3D art, and mostly recently, sidewalk chalk art festivals.

Her artwork has been shown at the High School Art Show at Village of the Arts in Bradenton, Florida in 2004 and 2005 where she received the Viewer's Choice Awards in 2005. Working with a group of fellow artists at the University she painted backdrops for a student independent film called the Creativity Machine directed by Thomaz Marcondes and Natalia da Silva. Most recently her work was shown at the 2008 Eco-Art Contest located in Lakewood Ranch.

Her first Chalk Art Festival in 2007 is where she fell in love with this new experience of chalk art. Since then she has participated in the 2009 Rotary Chalk Art Festival, just two weeks ago and is looking forward to chalking once again.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: JAKE'S DOWNTOWN

TIM DECKER, ANIMATION PROFESSOR TRAVELING FROM MILWAUKEE

2009-02-15T04:14:00.000-08:00

"Imagination if more important than knowledge." Einstein

Tim Decker has played an important role in children's entertainment over the past decade. With extensive experience in game animation, character design and children's television, Tim has taken the roles of Animation Supervisor for Disney Interactive, lead animator for Knowledge Adventure, and layout artist/animator for the award winning television series, "The Simpson's!" He has also appeared on many episodes of the "Imagination Station" as a guest artist inspiring children in the art of animation and cartooning. He has extensive experience directing animation in Canada, India, Korea and the United States.

Throughout his career, Tim has won numberous gaming awards from PC Magazine, Communiation Arts Magazine, Family Magazine and the Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Tim has a Bachelor's degree in Character Animation/Film from California Institute of the arts (CalArts) and an Associates degree in Illustration from Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design.

Tim is enjoying his second career as an Animation Professor at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and also at the Milwaukee Area Technical College. He enjoys working with the artists of tomorrow.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: CLOTHESLINE

HOVIER SANCHEZ AND THREE OTHERS FROM MIAMI TRAVELING TO SARASOTA TO STREET PAINT

2009-02-14T11:20:00.000-08:00

Traveling from Miami, this group of four talented artists choose the artist Salvador Dali as their inspiration without realizing they were around the corner from the Salvador Dali Museum.

Some artists use their bare fingers to work the chalk into the surface and others use tape or rubber gloves to protect their skin.

Notice the clock on the red table in this drawing and the perspective the camera took the image. The table top appears big and the table appears out of proportion.

Now view the red table and clock. The table is in proportion. This painting had elements of anamorphic art mixed into it. In which the painting needs to be viewed from a certain direction to see it proportionately.

ARTISTS SPONSORED BY: BURNS SQUARE MERCHANT ASSOCIATION

PATTY KOELLING, LOCAL ARTIST PARTICIPATING IN CHALK FESTIVAL

2009-02-12T20:40:00.000-08:00

Patty Koelling was born and raised in Herculaneum, Missouri. She attended Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri and graduated with a Bachelor in Science Degree in Industrial Technology with emphasis in Technical Illustration and Journalism.

Her love for art began in the 6th grade when her first pastel "Cat looing out the Window" was center stage at the high school's art exhibit. She then focused on photography when she inherited her grandfathers camera at 11 years old. She continues to create in oils, acrylics, pencil and is always searching for a new creative outlet.

She moved to Sarasota in 2001 with her husband, 2 children and 4 cats. Her career in street painting began after a visit to Disney Chalk Festival were upon seeing the art she decided she just had to learn it. Since then she and her daughter have participate in the Disney Festival of the Masters and the Orlando Rotaryfest. She has many many friends in the process creating art. She loves to talk to all the visitors, answering questions about the whole process.

JAMES PHILLIPS TRAVELING FROM JACKSONVILLE TO STREET PAINT IN THE AVENIDA DE COLORES

2009-02-11T09:55:00.000-08:00

James Phillips is a street painter from Jacksonville, Florida. He has been doing chalk art for thirteen years and it has taken him across the country and around the world to festivals located in Canada, the Netherlands and Australia. Street painting gives him a chance to express his creativity and showcase his talent in a public setting. He loves interacting with the patrons and passerby's so when you see him at the Avenida de Colores, stop and say hello!

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: 5ONE6 BURNS RESTAURANT

LOCAL ARTIST DOROTHY SABEAN-DAVIS STREET PAINTING FOR THE FIRST TIME

2009-02-11T08:12:00.000-08:00

Dorothy Sabean-Davis is a local self-taught artist. In 2005 she began her exploration of her artistic talents with intensive research at the local library, watched on-line tutorials, frequented the art museums, and set to work with a box of acrylic paints bought at a yard sale. Four years later (and with a better set of paints) a body of work has emerged. This is an eclectic mix of humor, humility, social commentary, nerve, and a loud pallet. She is currently creating an illustrated children's book depicting her Maryland farm days and the antics of her many farm animals.

While Dorothy (Dee) has worked in pastel chalk on paper, this will be her first attempt on the sidewalk, please wish her luck!

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: NANCY'S BBQ

STUDENT CARMEN CHAPARRO STREET PAINTING IN SARASOTA AT THE AVENIDA DE COLORES

2009-02-10T13:48:00.000-08:00

Carmen Chapparo was born in 1995 in Kettering, Ohio. Surrounded by art and artists, she quickly took up drawing and painting like her mom, Jennifer and older sister, Mercedes. Last year, she won a poster contest for Tri Rail in Palm Beach County, Florida. She also won 3rd place at Artigras this past February for a still life drawing. She loves to draw with pen, ink, markers and also on the computer with Photoshop. She is currently an eighth grade student at Jupiter Middle School of Technology in Jupiter, Florida. Her formal art training has been summer classes at The Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the past couple of years.

Carmen began street painting like most kids, out in front of the house on the driveway. But she soon graduated to the Lake Worth Street Painting Festival in 2006. She has participated every year since, either as a team or as a solo artist. She also participated in the first Bloom N Garden N Chalk Fest in Safety Harbor, Florida this past March. She loves to paint people and animals, and has a keen eye for color and the subtleties of shading and blending.

ARTIST SPONSOR: MICHAEL SAUNDERS & CO.

STUDENT COSTANTINO TOTH RETURNING FOR SECOND YEAR, 2007 3RD PLACE WINNER

2009-02-10T10:30:00.000-08:00

Costantino Toth completed an image that won him 3rd place in the 1st Annual Burns Square
'Avenida de Colores' Chalk Festival in 2007. He is returning to street-paint again with fellow student, Charles Harris. Both are in the 8th grade at Sarasota Middle School. Costantino is also musically talented so maybe in addition to seeing his street-painting, you possibly may hear him too. Charles is very athletic, loves sports and he practices basketball and football.

SPONSORED BY: FRANCE LATELIER

DIANA HAMILTON, 1ST ANNUAL CHALK ARTIST, CHALKING AGAIN IN THE AVENIDA DE COLORES SARASOTA

2009-02-10T06:10:00.000-08:00

Diana Hamilton is a landscape artist and preservationist. She is an active supporter of New Urbanism and issues that will improve the 'livable' environment within our downtown. She participated in the 1st Annual 'Avenida de Colores' Chalk Festival, which was her first time street painting. Diana is thrilled to be able to participate again this year as she so enjoyed the performace art and meeting all the great people who come to appreciate the work. She will be attending the tecnique class on Friday that the Professional Madonnari will teach prior to the festival's opening on Saturday morning.

LOCAL ARTIST MARIA GELINAS PARTICIPATING FOR SECOND TIME

2009-02-10T03:13:00.000-08:00

Maria Gelinas created the wonderful Breakfast at Tiffany's street paining during the 2007 Avenida de Colores. It was the first time Maria had used the street surface as her canvas.

Maria graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in Fashion Illustration. She freelanced for numerous designers on Seventh Avenue as well as for Henry Bendel in New York City. She was hired by Maas Brothers in Tampa as Head Fashion Artist for five year, freelanced for Burdines for two years, then went back to Maas Brothers for another seven years as well as Dillards for five years. She also did work for other smaller boutiques and private clients.

We are pleased to have this local talent participate again in the 2nd Annual Burns Square 'Avenida de Colores' Chalk Festival.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: BURNS COURT VILLAS RESIDENT ASSOCIATION

MELINDA & DESMOND GALLANT TRAVELING TO SARASOTA TO STREET PAINT

2009-02-09T03:55:00.000-08:00

Melinda Gallant became a Street Painter when she and a few friends found out about the Lake Worth Street Painting Festival. What started out as a fun weekend became 7 years of street art! Melinda has for the past 3 years worked with her husband Desmond and his daughter Danielle, a junior at New World High School in Miami studying art. Melinda and Des both work in theater and love to create art in their free time as a hobby.

ARTIST'S SPONSORED BY: IOPTICS EYEWEAR

SYDNEY NEFF, MARINA JULIA, MALINA PRISARAJN AND ELIZABETH BARCLAY COMING TO SARASOTA

2009-02-08T20:57:00.000-08:00

Sydney Neff, Marina Julia, Malina Prisarojn, and Elizabeth Barclay recreated "The Stars" by Alfonse Mucha during their first street-painting festival this year. They were happy how their first try turned out.

They all attend the Alexander Dryfoos School of the Arts and are 16 years old.

They are excited to try street-painting again in Sarasota.

STEVE AND KIM MACEWEN TRAVELING TO SARASOTA TO CHALK

2009-02-08T07:33:00.000-08:00

Stephen MacEwen grew up in a family of artists in Lakewood, Ohio. He graduated from Cleveland Institute of Art with a BFA major in Industrial Design and a Minor in Illustration.

After graduation he moved from the Cleveland area to Washington D.C. to work as a designer for a Trade Show Company. One year later he was asked to move back in Cleveland where the companies corporate office was. After working for the company for 8 years, he moved to Orlando and freelanced for a couple of years. This included working with Cinnabar, a company that does work for movies and prob companies.

Then in 1993 he landed a job at the Universal Studios Orlando and has been there ever since. With the last 9 years being lead scenic artist. That year he chalked for the first time at the Rotary Chalk Fest in Orlando. This has lead him to chalking at the Downtown Disney Festival of the Masters for the past 8 years.

Throughout the years, he has accumunlated many awards from Best in Show to Originality. "I really like making up my own drawings, it makes it that much more personal to me. Working with forced perspective, seems to get the best reaction from the on-lookers. It's fun hearing, "How did you come up with that idea? Or How did you do that?"

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: POPSEXTRA

LOURDES RODRIGUEZ CHALKING IN AVENIDA DE COLORES

2009-02-08T04:35:00.000-08:00

Lourdes Rodriguez has loved to draw since she can remember. Her favorite being pencil and charcoal and lately she has been 'experimenting' with pastel colors. She has only taken a few art courses at the Palm Beach Community College but overall she is self-taught in her craft. She paints anything that catches her attention and has a variety of subjects that she captures amazing well. This is her first time participating in the Avenida de Colores and her second time participating in a chalk street-painting festival.

She came from Puerto Rico in 1985 to Florida and resides in Palm Beach County. She has two wonderful children who are now 27 and 29 year old that also reside in Palm Beach.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: BILL WAGY PRODUCTIONS

TONIE GARZA COMING TO SARASOTA TO CHALK IN THE AVENIDA DE COLORES

2009-02-07T21:46:00.000-08:00

Toni Garza grew up in the San Fernando Valley in California. She always loved to draw, color, paint... you name it! Toni learned about 97% from her dad. He was a wonderful self-taught artist. She inherited his talent and passion for art and beauty. Her daughters are talented artists too.

Toni's first street chalk drawing experience was in 1999 at the Bella Villa Chalk Festival in Valenica, California. She was invited from there to the Fun with Chalk Festival in Mission Viejo for May of 2000 and thereafter invited to the Chalk La Strada in the "Little Italy" section in Dan Diego. She has returned to Bella Villa in 2000, 2001 and it's last year 2002. I've returned to participate in the Fun with Chalk Festival and Chalk La Strada in San Diego for several years. The City of Santa Clarita, CA decided to have it's own chalk festival as Bella Villa was no longer and The Santa Clarita Street Art Festival was born. She participated in 2006 and was officially a "Featured Artist" for the 2007 Santa Clarita Street Art Festival.

She is honored to have been invited to the Avenida de Colores here in Florida and looks foward to creating a masterpiece here. Enjoy!!

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: WHOLE FOODS MARKET

LESTER MENDOZA PARTICIPATING IN SARASOTA CHALK FESTIVAL

2009-02-07T20:31:00.000-08:00

Lester Mendoza was born in Honduras. He graduated from the Honduras' Fine Art School in 1990. He's experienced in all types of paint and has well knowledge in art and craft. He does professional faux-finishes as well as murals.

Studied with the Florida Painters Apprenticeship Program in West Palm Beach for three years, and works for designer and private clients. He has won numerous awards in contests. He is reliable, honest and excellent in his work.

WILLIAM WASHBURN STREET-PAINTING MAY 2 & 3 IN THE AVENIDA DE COLORES

2009-02-06T20:40:00.000-08:00

William Washburn will be graduating from the Ringling College of Art and Design the week after the Avenida de Colores Chalk Festival.

He works primarily in oils, but works in other media when it suits particular applications he may be working on. He feels that artists should be working amoung the people as much as possible, and that their work should not be all closed up in a studio. He feels the Avenida de Colores Chalk Festival contributes tremendously to that ideal, and also to the craft of painting as well. In his spare time he enjoys history, philosophy, flying, and film making.

KUMPA TAWORNPROM CHALKING AT THE AVENIDA DE COLORES SARASOTA

2009-02-06T08:13:00.000-08:00

Formerly a native of Thailand, Kumpa Tawornprom has a degree in Architectural Design from the Royal Thai Academy. He is also a Master Sculptor and Painter with many years of experience. Kumpa's traditional approach to his work lends itself to a timeless sense of beauty to any project he is committed too.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: HYATT PLACE UNIVERSITY PARKWAY

IIONA MCKINLEY CHALKING AT FESTIVAL IN SARASOTA

2009-02-06T07:01:00.000-08:00

Iiona McKinley was born in NY City, raised in South Carolina, and at the age of 13 moved to Largo, Florida. She completed high school at The Academy of the Holy Names in Tampa and attended St. Petersburg College in Clearwater from 1989 to 1990. She moved back to NC in 1990, and completed her 4-year degree, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in the Visual Arts from Lander University in 1992.

She currently resides in New Port Richey and truly loves living on the water and near the beaches. She enjoys boating to Anclote Key on weekends with her son and friends while admriing the beauty of the Gulf of Mexico. She keeps busy with her son, Zachary, attending college to earn her degree in paralegalism, volunteering at Bishop Larkin Catholic School, and discovering new avenues of art for creative personality.

Iiona continues to evolve creative outlets, currently exploring chalk media sidewalk art, while gaining a deeper understanding of art and it's commercial applications.

Art is a way of communicating, and its styles are always changing, just as styles of flooring, furniture, logos for our businesses and art that is placed on our walls. These all have an aesthetic influence on our daily lives. The only real constant in our live is "Change".

CAT DONAHUE CHALKING BLOSSOMS IN SARASOTA

2009-02-06T06:08:00.000-08:00

RONI FRANCOIS COMING TO SARASOTA TO CHALK

2009-02-06T05:32:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: LEXJET

CAROLINE BABIS ATTENDING FROM TAMPA

2009-02-06T04:22:00.000-08:00

Caroline Babis is a Tampa artist who works in a variety of media including ceramics, ink mono-prints, acrylics, oils, and pastels.

She has taught art and music to children for over twenty years, and often exhibits her sculpture, prints and paintings in a various shows and galleries. Caroline has organized successful art mural projects with her students. Creating art daily in her classroom at Lee Academy for Gifted Education, she leads them through exercises of replicating the styles of many different artists.

Caroline received a Bachelor of Fine Art in Painting from Flroida State University and a Master of Education from the University of Colorado. She combines her passions of art and teaching focusing on the "process" of creating art.

SPONSORED BY: BLUE LINE INC.

ZORAN PESHICH AND KAREN BAKER COMING TO SARASOTA

2009-02-06T03:52:00.000-08:00

Zoran Peshich and Karen Baker are visual artists and business associates who live in the Tampa Bay area.

Peshich paints landscapes, figures, and fantasy and space art in oils and acrylics. Originally from Europe, he studied fine art and environmental design at the Birmingham and Bournemouth Schools of Art, beginning his career as an artist in 1972 with exhibits abroad as well as in the United States. He has worked for several cutting-edge firms including Southern Ocean Shipyard, designing interiors to ocean-going yachts. A number of his space and fantasy art paintings are included in the private collection of "OMNI" magazine. He has completed murals, special effect paintings, and design projects for restaurants and private homes throughout central London, and spent more than a year in Cairo, Egypt, on a decorative arts project. In Florida, he recently painted 2 large-scale murals: one at the Safety Harbor Public Library and another at the Safety Harbor Firehouse #53.

Baker is primarily a pastelist who paints landscapes and florals and also teaches studio and plein aire classes and workshops in Florida and New England. She was mentored by Master Pastelist Herman Margulies and has studies with Wolf Kahn and Albert Handell. She is on the board of directors for Pastel Society of Tampa Bay and is a signature member of Connecticut Pastel Society and Pastel Society of America. Her artwork, which she exhibits in regional and national shows, is represented by galleries in Massachusetts, Vermont and Florida.

Both Peshich and Baker are co-directors of Art Ventures Etc., a diversified art business that includes promoting artists and civic art endeavors within their regional community. Together, they are members of the Exhibiting Society of Artists, curators of exhibitions for the Safety Harbor Public Library, and co-organizers for the annual Art N' Sole Open House Art Tour in Safety Harbor.

Novice Madonnari, they participated in Safety Harbor's First Annual Chalk Art Festival.

ARTIST SPONSORED BY: KALIETZA

DENISE KOWAL BRINGS CHALK FESTIVAL TO SARASOTA

2009-02-05T08:07:00.000-08:00

Denise Kowal, President of the Burns Square Property Owners, started the Avenida de Colores chalk festival in 2007. After years of hemming and hawing, Kowal plunged one year after being inspired by Ernie Ritz who promotes festivals on Main Street and now... the chalk event has become a desired performance art event for the city. Michael McNees (Sarasota City Manager 2000-2006) gave the idea to Kowal after he moved to Sarasota from Naples.

Kowal has been a steady hand in the revitalization of the Burns Square area since 1983 when she cast her lot in the area. In 1996 she moved into one of her properties and raised her two boys downtown. "They are both environmentalists who live the urban life", stated Kowal. Her property, The Herald Square Building, was built in the 1920's by the important architect, Dwight Baum and the 1950's addition was designed by Paul Rudolph, a noted Sarasota School architect. Kowal has owned and maintained the two historic buildings for over 23 years.

The festival was a natural for Kowal who comes from a family of artists, "it helps to be one, when working with them," she states. Raised on art school campuses through her childhood, Kowal is an artist (the sidewalks around her building display some of her work) and her two sons are following in the same footsteps, both multi-talented artists.

Kowal hopes to grow the festival throughout the city and yet is realistic the challenges artists and arts organization continue to have, because the saying, "starving artist," has some truth for Kowal. With a large number of generous and talented volunteers (remember the artists are donating their time as well) and with the hopes of gaining corporate sponsors, this year everyone is confident that the 'Avenida de Colores' Chalk Festival will be a definite must see and experience event!

Kowal can be reached at denisekowal@mac.com.

MARK 'THE BALLOON GUY' BYRNE'S POP-ABLE GOWN UNVAILED AT PRE-PARTY EVENT

2009-02-01T15:44:00.000-08:00

Mark has been creating magic with balloons for over 25 years. Originally a student at Parson's School of Design in New York City, Mark has turned squeaky balloon animals into high fashion. In 2007 he was asking to participate in the Kim Tom International Festival in Shanghai China. There as part of the month long show festivities he was asked to create balloon fashion along with a dozen other balloon artist from around the world. Slovenia, Israel, Japan, England, Canada and United States were all represent at the First Balloon Couture Show at the massive Oriental Arts Center in Shanghai, and a similar display was created for the closing ceremonies too.

Mark created 4 outfits with in 24 hours, many of these outfits were seen in the viral E-mail Amazing Balloon Dresses. Mark in fact was one of the models sporting a Monkey King outfit. Since then he has participate dalmost a dozen other shows and displayes both locally and in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Mark was featured on the Wearable Art Show in Dunedin where his fashions rocked the house. Mark is using his wonderful talent to raise money for charities and creating awareness of the diversity of balloon art.

Don't miss his "Flora Dress" at the Meet the Artist Party on Friday evening. Mark will be also appearing at the Avenida de Colores Chalk Festival making amazing Balloon Hats. Look out for him and his unique creations. Mark says he can make anything within taste and reason. Put him to the test if you wish!!

PROFESSIONAL PERFORMER, JOHNNY FOX, Sword Swallowing Extraordinaire

2009-02-01T13:10:00.000-08:00

Johnny Fox will be in Sarasota performing at the Burns Square "Avenida de Colores" 2nd Annual Chalk Festival, May 2 & 3.

Fox began performing magic and comedy while working as a waiter in Florida. He learned sleight-of-hand in the 1970's from Tony Slydini, an Italian magician known as the Master of Misdirection. In his early twenties, Fox was performing in Boulder, Colorado when he heard that his act had been stolen by a competing magician. He was inspired to begin swallowing swords for "an act people could not copy easily." It took him eight months to master the technique, although he has injured himself on a few occasions. Fox estimated in 1999 that he was one of twenty professional sword swallower's in the United States, many more than when he began.

Fox can swallow up to 22 inches of steel. Besides regular swords, his act has included swallowing a retractable tape measure, a giant screwdriver, and a neon glowing sword plugged into an outlet. His act also included eating fire until he learned that the chemicals used in the trick could seep over into the liver.

Fox has appeared at venues including comedy clubs (such as Caroline's), casinos, and tattoo conventions, as well as special events such as an Aerosmith album release party. His television appearances include the Late Show with David Letterman, a 1992 Jonathan Winters television special and a Maalox commercial in which he swallowed light bulbs. He was featured in a 2003 documentary 'Traveling Sideshow: Shocked and Amazed by Jeff Krulik'. He occasionally works as a consultant for other sideshow artists.

Denise Kowal met Johnny Fox while he was in town for the annual Ringling Museum fairs in 1997 (now extinct). He entered her store to purchase some antique frames but started doing tricks for her sons who at the time were only 8 and 11. After pulling a nail out of his nose that was over 4 inches long, they have been friends ever since.

Johnny will bring an act that is a lifetime memory for its viewers with his not-to-miss professional performance. Appropriate for all ages!

JUDY DEAN, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF POPS EXTRA SCHEDULING STAGE PERFORMANCES

2009-01-24T18:42:00.000-08:00

Judy Dean is Executive Producer of POPS Extra!, a Florida not-for-profit corporation. She is honored to assist the 'Avenida de Colores' not-for-profit organization as well as other not-for-profit's in creating awareness, through musical productions and special events, that provide a platform for the many talented musicians and entertainers in our community. Judy also produces POPS Extra!'s own concerts and events with a strong emphasis on preserving and growing arts in education, www.POPSExtras.org.

Judy has been an amazing volunteer scheduling the various musicians and stage acts who will perform throughout the two day performance art 'Avenida de Colores' chalk festival. Her steady hand and professional knowledge has been unsurpassed.

Stage performances will take place Saturday 10 a.m. - Midnight and Sunday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. There will also be various small stages with mimes and pantomimes as well as various local musicians performing sporadically throughout the festival during the two days. Please stay tuned for schedule line up.

VIN LAMAR TAKES THE STAGE SATURDAY 10:30AM-11:30AM AND 1PM-2PM

2009-01-23T18:49:00.000-08:00

Vin Lamar has joined with legendary music producer Neal James, to launch Vin's latest single, "Stoke the Fire" and self-titled cd. "Stoke the Fire" is currently being aired on radio throughout the US and internationally. His music has been on the New Music Weekly charts for most of the past two years and has been as high as #29 in the US.

"I got into music by going to church," says Vin. "It's where I first heard music sung and where I learned about harmony and song structure." Vin plays piano and guitar, learning from both professional instruction and self-teaching. Over the last 4 years he has composed hundreds of original songs.

The Vin Lamar musical style is considered to be somewhere between Americana, Alternative, Country and Pop. As a singer/songwriter, Vin has the ability to express and define certain chosen moments when life hands you challenges and obstacles. Yet, without missing a beat, he can cleverly embrace the amusing and lighter side of life in lighthearted and humorous offerings of the pen.

LOS RUMBEROS PERFORMING SUNDAY AT 11:30AM

2009-01-23T14:32:00.000-08:00

Los Rumberos is a local Spanish rumba flamenco group performing an intimate blend of traditional and contemporary Latin/World Music combining many different languages and a variety of exotic instruments. Member's backgrounds include Caribbean, South American and Portuguese decent.

THE JACOBITES BAND PERFORMING 4:30PM SUNDAY

2009-01-23T14:13:00.000-08:00

What do a pool man and a lawyer have in common? A judge and a physician? A computer analyst and a sheriff's deputy? What is so compelling as to prompt a half dozen folks to travel 100 miles or more, one way to Sarasota on a Sunday afternoon?

The answer may amaze you -- unless you've heard of The Jacobites Band!

This unique group of musicians draws people from every demographic to see and hear them. Not your typical Pipe & Drum Band, the Jacobites ROCK OUT with guitar, drums, bass guitar, keyboards and even brass performing music from the 60's to the present time -- along with some traditional Celtic tunes.

KIM JENKINS SINGING ON STAGE SATURDAY 11:30AM AND SUNDAY 1:30 PM

2009-01-23T13:43:00.000-08:00

An exceptional vocalist, Kim Jenkins has the versatility, power and range to cover a wide variety of music. He delivers some of the best renditions of Motown, 60's, 70's and 80's!

"He sings with an authenticity that enables you to enjoy each song as if it were being performed by the original artist."

Kim sings the music that you know and love. He is truly unique!

BOB'S BAND TAKES STAGE SATURDAY, MAY 2ND @ 7PM

2009-01-23T13:24:00.000-08:00

BOB'S BAND, named for their loyal and hard-working head technician came together in 2007. The band's material includes some of the finest British rock every written, while also offering some great material by American bands heavily influenced by British Rock - like Tom Petty. The repertoire includes The Stones, The Who, Eric Clapton, Cream, Rod Stewart, Joe Walsh and of course, The Beatles.

Bob's Band includes Steve Grabo - Vocals/Guitar; Dave - Guitars; JimE - Bass/Backing Vocals; Steve 'daboy' - Drums/Vocals and Features Bob as 'Lead Technician' or better known as Head Roadie.

These well-rounded and professional musicians - having performed for 40 years or more in some cases - are here to bring some of that music to life while adding the magic that is Bob's Band!

RADIO-FREE CARMELA & THE TRANSMITTERS...Local Band playing at Chalk Festival

2009-01-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

Pronounced: Karma-la

In a crowded and talented folk and acoustic community, Carmela Pedicini and her band stand out like champs. Never content with your average girl-with-guitar-in-coffee-shop sound, Carmela, et all bring an energetic and flat-out fun attitude to their glances back at the rich and weird catalog of Americana and country rock derived from the same source.

A guitar player since age 12 and a Floridian by birth, Carmela began writing songs as a young adult in the late 80's. She became truly obsesses with songwriting in the late 1990's while part of the neo-fold group Thread. In October 2007 Radio-Free Carmela and the Transmitters finished recording and mixing the songs penned by Tomara Kafka (a true relative of Franz) as well as their own material. The result is a CD titled "Americana Tourister" which also includes several guest musicians.

RFC & the Ts have graced venues from Miami to NYC. They do benefit concerts for Community Radio Stations WMNF 88.5 (Tampa) and WSLR 96.5 LPFM (Sarasota). They were even Michigan singer/songwriter Wally Pleasant's backup band on his 2005 tour of Florida. Radio-Free Carmela and the Transmitters continue to uphold their reputation for putting on a truly engaging live performance.

Instrumentation: Carmela - Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Doug Conroy - Bass, Backing Vocals, Dave Townsend - Drums, David Mishkin - Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Jerry Sparkman - Dobro, Mandolin, Laura Hamel - Backing Vocals

http://www.radiofreecarmela.com/

JOE YANDER PERFORMING ON STAGE AND THROUGHOUT BURNS SQUARE MAY 2 & 3

2009-01-22T12:08:00.000-08:00

Music has always been an important part of Joe Yander's life. He wrote his first song, about not liking fire trucks, when he was six. He could have been a doctor, lawyer or Indian Chief but music is his passion.

People say his music is unlike anything they have heard before -- which creates a nice feeling. In a world of homogenized sounds, he thinks it is important for an artist to color outside the box (unlike what we want the street painters to do). He strives with everything he does to keep the listener at peace and to desire more. He feels life is about love, living and passion, not about yesterdays and regrets. He blends sounds and beats and puts chords where they don't belong. He has developed a signature style.

As an artist, he never knows how the public will react to his work...but so far the response is remarkable!!

SARASOTA GOLD - CONTEMPORARY MUSIC WITH A BIG BAND SOUND PLAYING SATURDAY 4:30 PM - 7 PM

2009-01-22T11:26:00.000-08:00

Sarasota Gold's current book includes over 100 vocal and instrumental charts with everything from MODERN Latin charts to classic big band era and swing charts. They are known for their up-tempo energy with a modern, contemporary sound.

2ND ANNUAL BSQ "AVENIDA DE COLORES " CHALK FESTIVAL - MAY 2 & 3 2009

2009-01-15T14:00:00.000-08:00

Street Painting is an ephemeral artistic creation with the aid of chalk pastels that is both fine art and performance art, in which the view is an integral part of the process. Street paintings, just like musical performances, are artistic expressions that are not meant to last except in ones memory. It is absolutely impossible for the artists to be possessive of their work because a gust of wind or drops of rain can erase or stop their work immediately, which forces everyone, including the public to be in the moment and practice non-attachment.

The Avenida de Colores chalk festival will have over 20 professional I Madonnari traveling to Sarasota from all over the United States. Dozens of local professional and practicing artists will participate as well, many will try their skills at street painting for the first time during the weekend event. A student area will include over 20 artists from various schools as well as a separated children section for those 12 and under.

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. She is depicted in paintings in flowing goddess fabric attire surrounded by blossoms. She is a goddess of youthful pleasures, birth and fertility the direct opposite of Halloween.

A Festival honoring Flora began in Rome in 238 B.C. to please the goddess so she would protect the spring blossoms against bad weather ensure their liberation after the confinement of winter.

Come and enjoy the weekend with our chalk Street Painters who will tantalize you sights as they chalk examples of romantic, contemporary or neoclassical art onto the street surface throughout Saturday and Sunday. With over 50 volunteers and over 15 professionals traveling to Sarasota from around the United States as well as dozens of local professional talent, we are excited!

Performers will take the stage with various comedies and tragedy shows such as sword swallowing extraordinaire, Johnny Fox from NY. There will be a lack of sound by mimes on performing boxes and the beautiful sounds by pantomimes and musicians staged at different areas.

Tasty sensations with booths of delectable food selections from the various restaurants, Citrus Cafe', 5ONE6 Burns and Galileo as well as Nancy Krongold's BBQ and Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. Booths will be available for consumption of grog and spirits and fruit juice smoothies, mimosas, champagne, and beer).

The entire event is family oriented, beautiful and fun. Space for artists is going fast, so please go to www.avenidadecolores.com for your application! Sponsors for the artists are appreciated and recognized. For further information contact Avenida de Colores www.avenidadecolores.com or email Denise Kowal@Mac.com.

SARASOTA'S PREFERRED BAR-B-Q - NANCY'S BAR-B-Q WILL BE READY TO SERVE!

2009-01-03T07:56:00.000-08:00

Nancy Krohngold admits she may be in a category all her own: "There aren't too many white Jewish women making pork barbecue." Over the past five years she's perfected her secret dry rub recipe and pitmaster skills to create authentic North Carolina style Pulled Pork Bar-B-Q that wins raves from food critics and good ol' boy barbecue lovers alike.

Creative Loafing named Nancy's Bar-B-Q their Best of The Suncoast 2008 Critics' Pick for "Best Roadside Dining." She's attracted her fanatical following through word of mouth: "It's kind of a cult thing." Nancy caters, delivers, and serves at select concessions, including the 2nd Annual Burns Square Avenida de Colores Chalk Festival, while she searches for a storefront location.

BLOOM N GARDEN N CHALK FESTIVAL - SAFETY HARBOR MARCH 28 & 29

2009-01-02T17:58:00.000-08:00

"Every time I go to a chalk event, I learn something valuable", States Denise Kowal, Event Chair of the Avenida de Colores and attending the Bloom n Chalk Festival in Safety Harbor was no exception.

The street-painters had to battle unusually high winds throughout the day on Saturday. The winds litterally wisped the delicate chalk into the air before some artists could get their fingers on it to rub it into the pavement. Then after a days work into their two day paintings, some putting 12 to 14 hours, the forcast called for rain that evening. Artists had to cover their work in plastic and tape to protect it from the evening rain. In the morning, the rain did not stop and many beautiful works had washed down the street. It was a very sad sight at 11am when Denise Kowal arrived.

As the hours passesed and artists slowley started collecting around their squares to repair the damage, the cloads slowly moved away and the sun came out by 1. Artists began concentrating on their task and continue to finish their street-paintings before the 3 p.m. Awards Ceremony. The streets became crowded with patrons and beautiful art. Denise stated, "the process of non-attachment was clearly demonstrated by these artists who accept the weather as a part of the art process of performance street-painting."

TAMPA CHALK WALK

2009-01-02T12:04:00.000-08:00

Denise Kowal attended the Chalk Walk in Tampa on March 20th and met with Christina Cook with the Tampa Bay Business Community for the Arts who has organized the event. There were approximately 15 artists chalking on the sidewalks of Old Hyde Park Village.

Featured artist Lee Jones was there chalking an amazing image. Lee has undergone knee surgery and will undgo another just before the Avenida de Colores. She was kind enough to spend some time with us chatting...hopefully she will make it to Sarasota May 2nd & 3rd or possibly convince and assist her daughter with a street painting.

LAKE WORTH CHALK FESTIVAL

2009-01-02T05:26:00.000-08:00

Denise Kowal attended the Lake Worth Chalk Festival in February to meet artists and to see what could be learned that we could incorporate into the Avenida de Colores here in Sarasota.

WHAT IS ANAMORPHIC ART?

2009-01-01T06:26:00.000-08:00

The festival will have a few artists that are taking on the challenging art form of street painting and making it even more difficult by creating an anamorphic piece.

So what is Anamorphic Art? It is an unconventional way of seeing.

An anamorphosis is a deformed image that appears in its true shape when viewed in some "unconventional" way...such as through a camera lens or with round mirrors.

According to Webster's 1913 Dictionary: A distorted or monstrous projection or representation of an image on a plane or curved surface, which, when viewed from a certain point, or as reflected from a curved mirror or through a polyhedron, appears regular and in proportion: a deformation of an image.

In one common form anamorphosis - usually termed "oblique" - the unconventionality arises from the fact that the image must be viewed from a position that is very far from the usual in-front and straight-ahead position from which we normally expect images to be look at. Street Painter Julian Beever is a master in this craft.

In another common form - sometimes termed "catoptric" - the image must be seen reflected in a distorting mirror (typical shapes being cylindrical, conical and pyramidal). The Hungarian artist Istvan Orosz has produced some beautiful examples of these (e.g. Jules Verne, M. C. Escher). Kitty will be creating an image with the use of a cylindrical mirror.

We like to think that seeing is some kind of "direct" perception of reality. But in fact our brains are constantly interpreting and giving structure to the raw visual input from our eyes. Take the everyday situation of seeing an open door. Immediately, we give these objects a stable, rectangular form, which amazingly does not appear to change as we move relative to the object, but is that for actually there?

Hope this helps being the art into view for everyone, Denise Kowal