Posted on by Anne Sandler · 40 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #249: Art in the park (and other places)

This is one challenge I’m not twisting and putting my own spin on for John’s Art in the Park. I’m presenting two pieces of public art that I think are amazing. The first is our annual Chalk It Up held every September in Fremont Park. This park is a large square block where chalk artists gather annually to sketch and paint images. The amazing part for me is that these art works will disappear within a few days. To put that much effort into creating a work of art only to have it gone, takes something special from the artists. We usually get there early to avoid the crowds. These images were taken in 2021 and have been posted on my blog. I’m hoping that you will enjoy seeing them again or appreciate them for the first time. The artists paint with liquid chalk or color with regular sidewalk chalk.

My next art in the park selection is dear to me and tugs at my heart strings. It can be found in the World Peace Rose Garden next to our State Capitol building. My husband is a Vietnam Veteran and was a radio operator traipsing through the jungles. The sculptures depict the medics, the wounded and the soldiers who walked through the jungles. They are simply amazing. And it’s a sad day in history that our soldiers came home to such a poor reception. I’m so glad that the wrong is being righted.

I’m happy to share these two pieces of art. Thank you John for this challenge. Remember to link to this post and use the Lens-Artists tag in the reader section. Next week Amy will be presenting a wonderful challenge so look for her post.

If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info. 

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 27 Comments

Beyond kids: Chalk It Up

Each year Fremont Park in Sacramento hosts Chalk It Up where artists claim a sidewalk square and create art with chalk. Some use liquid chalk and some use regular chalk. We went on the last day of the festival. I was surprised at how many artists were still at work. It was to be another triple digit day. So when we arrived at 7:30 a.m.. there were many others trying to beat the heat.

There were many wonderful squares, but you know art, it’s what you like! I narrowed down my many likes and came up with these to show you. First look at some artists at work.

These artists are willing to stop talk and explain their art. Next there were some pictures that were 3D.

Now, the best of the rest!

It was difficult to choose which pictures to show you. Maybe next year you’ll have to do down to see them for yourself. Or, find a festival like this in or near your home town.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 11 Comments

Sidewalk Fun: Chalk it up 2021

Remember when you were a kid playing with sidewalk chalk? Each year Sacramento takes it a step further with their Chalk It Up contest held Labor Day weekend. Artists are invited from all over to paint with chalk at Fremont Park. Some squares are sponsored by a business or organization.

Last year, because of the pandemic the 2020 festival was shown all over Sacramento, typically in front of the artists’ homes. In 2021 the show returned to Fremont Park and other venues around Sacramento — a big change for us visitors.

We went to the park early, before the start time, in the morning before the crowds came. Fortunately, some of the artists started early; unfortunately some had their work covered by plastic sheeting.

But there were enough to make the trip worthwhile. Here are some I liked and then I’ll show you my favorites.

Now my favorites.

I’m always amazed with what these artists create with sidewalk chalk and liquid chalk. I can’t wait for next year.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 2 Comments

A walk in the park! Chalk It Up 2019

I’m late in attending this annual activity that started in 1991, but I made it to Chalk It Up this year. Artists claim their squares on the sidewalk that surround Fremont Park in Sacramento and create wonderful pictures.

The festival is a three-day affair on a weekend. Friday is the day the artists begin and they work through the weekend, finishing their creations on or before Sunday. Some artists had sponsors and they showed their names on the square. I’m not sure how much it cost to paint a square.

This is from their website: Chalk It Up promotes and supports Youth Arts by offering small grants to K-12 classrooms, and youth arts projects throughout the Sacramento region. We do this in large part with our annual Chalk It Up! Festival which encourages artistic expression of all kinds through a three day celebration of chalk art, live music, and regional food and craft vendors.

This year it was on Labor Day weekend (It may always be on this particular weekend!) and we chose to attend on Sunday. I was amazed at how many people were out on that last day, and how they calmly walked along the perimeter of the park. We were not allowed on the sidewalks. Some squares were finished but others were being worked on.

Once we walked around the park, we walked the sidewalks that ran through the park where there were food and craft vendors and a band. Different bands entertained throughout the weekend.

So, walk along with me! I did my photography thing while taking and processing these images. I cropped in when I wanted to show the picture and artists. While my watermark in on these as the photographer, I did not create these wonderful art pieces.