BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Bakersfield Museum of Art hosted the 20th annual Via Arte Italian Street Painting Festival at The Market this weekend.More than 200 expert and trainee artists used countless pieces of chalk to develop over 150 artworks in the museum’s largest fundraiser.This year’s included artist was Art Sherwyn and his team.
“Considering it’s the 20th anniversary, we’re putting a party together,”said Sherwyn.”I indicate we’ve got all these wonderful characters in art history. We’ve put party hats on them and blow things in their mouth and we even got Mona Lisa smiling, she’s pleased, so we put this lovely party together.”Sherwyn and his group developed the birthday celebration drawing in a 12 feet by 24 feet
box, the biggest piece in the history of the festival.”This is the best program and as you walk around they are remarkable, “Sherwyn said.While most pieces you’ll see
have plenty of color, Beth Chaney selects to use black and white every year.Her piece this year honored the late Anthony Bourdain, touching many, some even stating it made them cry.” It was a huge loss losing him and I think a great deal of people sort of felt that so I though it was a good tribute to him, “Chaney said.Chaney has always wanted art. She has drawn for the festival the last 15 years, starting as a junior in high school.”I think it’s simply expressing our ideas, our emotions
, connecting to each other since art can be seen throughout cultures, throughout the world and it’s simply kind of a universal shared thing,”she said. From professional and trainee artists to the”Young child squares” for kids, visitors produce their own work of arts. “It brings enjoyment,”stated BMOA’s Scott Heilman. “All the families and the kids are painting
and accumulating throughout the weekend. The live music, it’s fantastic to see the kids develop all
these wonderful little squares and for all the professional and high school artists create these works of art, they’re great.”If you didn’t make it out to this weekend, the chalk artwork will be on display till dusk Monday night.The Market lies at 9000 Ming Ave.
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