Festival Girl Rates: Chalk Urban Art Festival

Festival Girl Verdict: 4/5

On a beautiful (overcast day) I head out to Parramatta, Church Street, to be exact. My favourite kind of environment; smiling people, creative inspired stalls and small businesses and delicious and exotic food to eat. Focus - Chalk Art first, Food second. Strolling down the promenade, the chalk Art pieces start to emerge. 

Festival Girl Highlights:

This year's theme is a soulful tribute to ‘The Blues’ -  open to interpretation – music, colour, environment, emotions

This piece by Brian Tisdall really jumped out from the canvas - striking colours and beautiful depth, a real  contender

Artist Arto Heino didn't want to stop the creative process as the sprinkles started to drop and reluctantly took his nostalgic work of blues legends work under cover.

Looking at Edd Aragon's work, listening to the amicable funky Blues band walk up and down the streets playing with joy made this work really sing

Zachary Craig's vibrant work really stood out and really put you in the moment

The colours of passion come alive through the medium of chalk

My personal favourite was Luke Marcatili's about the singing Spanish man - the colours were so beautiful, alluring and intriguing, I couldn't keep my eyes off of the work

Here is Luke's final version of his work that he has kindly provided from his blog

Another of my favourite works of the event, Ala Paredes Abyssa de la Mer piece was so intriguing and mesmerizing

Arts teacher Vishwanath Panchal created a worm hole portal allowing Parramatta to experience the beauty and extravagance of the colour infused Indian culture 

Rudy Kistler's work drew a crowd - seeing the faces of people smiling and passers by randomly taking pictures with their phones was delightful is always a really wonderful sight to see. 

Anton Pulvirenti's work had beautiful craftsmanship - each stroke was delightful to witness

Like Pied Pipers, this Blues Band paraded up and down Church Street luring passersby to come take a gander and experience Art

The event features a pavement chalk art competition where “Kids Take Part in Art” featuring a giant Parramatta Eel and other fun workshops. 

The River Wise Mural - designed by children teaching the future about recycling and up cycling recycled materials  to represent all the things that shouldn't be appearing in our rivers.

  

Last year’s winner, Bondi's Leeanne Ricci gleamed from ear to ear with her piece, "Urgent Attention: Kevin Rudd" and is back again with her new work.

The winner will be announced tomorrow so be sure to go along to see the works be finalised and ofcourse, who is this year's winner of MasterChef... I mean, 

Champion Pavement Artist of 2010.

Festival Girl Lowlights?
The Rain - typical Sydney weather behaviour with 4 seasons in one day. Wanna know a little secret - All the chalk works are drawn on canvases which means in case of emergency they can be moved out of the way. After all, it would be a shame if all that work and effort would get ruined.


Dammit I Missed it?

For more information and to see and vote for the artists attending Chalk Urban Art Festival 


******The Winners have been announced*****


Champion Pavement Artist & winner of the People’s Choice Award was Jenny McCracken, Anton Pulvirenti took out 2nd prize and Brian Tisdall won the ISS Security Guards’ Choice Award.  Ala Paredes was awarded Best Novice and Justin Feuerring the Encouragement Award for his creative use of chalk in his portrait of Muddy Waters. Take a look at the video to see all the action of the day.

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Festival Girl Rates: Chalk Urban Art Festival

Chalk Urban Art Festival - Bring it On Parramatta

I’ve always (secretly) loved chalk art. Ever since I was really little, I always loved painting and drawing and being creative in all sorts of arts and craft. I loved it so much, that I would draw on everything – you should have seen my mum’s face when she saw all the drawings I did under the dining room table. I guess I thought I was a little Michelago.

That’s the day I was introduced to chalk art. I spent long, hot summer days with my little yellow box of chalk with the white chalk nearly down to a nub. I painted the biggest murals my street would allow; white fluffy clouds, with green landscapes and pretty flowers. My knees pink with pebble marks which didn't phase me at all. And like magic, the sprinkle of the humble garden hose or rain drops would wash away my masterpiece. Each day I could come back to my blank canvas and design my own world. The best thing was my mum loved that her furniture was safe from my etchings for at least one more day.

Seeing the Chalk Urban Art Festival over this weekend in a local newspaper took me back and had my spidey senses tingle. In a splendour of an outdoor gallery, Art comes to the people. Held in Church Street Parramatta from Thursday 7th through to Sunday 10th October, the 4 day extraganza saw an amazing 30,000 spectators pass by last year. This year's theme is a soulful tribute to blues musicians.

With over 30 artists from all over the globe, there is something for the kids and kid in all  of us. The event features a pavement chalk art competition where “Kids Take Part in Art” featuring a giant Parramatta Eel and other fun workshops. 

The CUAF competition features some great contenders fighting for a prize of $5,000 and of course, the title of Champion Pavement Artist. Last year’s winner, Bondi's Leeanne Ricci gleamed from ear to ear with her piece, "Urgent Attention: Kevin Rudd."

There is a plethora of artist that will be attending the event, including different medium international artists – Artist Bernardo Von Hessberg from Italy; Glenwood Illustrator and experienced Courtroom Sketch Artist Ala Paredes; Wallsend body painter Brendon Ussher; Wahroonga 3D animation specialist David Towey; Melbourne scenic artist and puppeteer Joe Blanck; Slovakian born artist Renata Cooper and Indian arts teacher Vishwanath Panchal just to name a few.

  

Event Details:

When: 7 - 10 October, 2010

Where: Church Street Parramatta. See Google Map 

Theme: The Blues

Cost: FREE

For more information and to see and vote for the artists attending Chalk Urban Art Festival 

Come back to see Festival Girl's review of the Chalk Urban Art Festival  next week.

Chalk Urban Art Festival - Bring it On Parramatta

Festival Girl Rates: Bead and Gem Show | Olympic Park Sydney 2010

Festival Girl Verdict: 3/5

 

The 2010 Bead and Gem show somehow snuck up on me this year, even though I've been to this event for the last 3 years, really need to invest in a diary that slaps me in the face to remind me.

This is a cute event for the all beadgeeks who are nutters about beads, designing and making their own jewellery, buying hand made jewellery, precious gems, gold and silver, pearls, beading supplies, findings, tools, books and did I mention beads? I think I could spend the rest of my lifetime counting the number of beads  housed for the show and so many different varieties, there really is something for everybody.

YES these events are usually catered for the female loving bead-obsessed customer, but I did see a few boys being dragged along by their girlfriends saying, 'we're almost done.' Good on you fellas who stick it out, we will owe you one when some motor event is on and you make us come along and watch you drool all over chromed 26" rims and busty blondes wearing hot pants. Hmm, starting to question if the trade off is really that fair?
Festival Girl highlights of the day:
One of my favourite thing about this event is the free workshops of bead and jewellery classes. They are frequent and very welcoming to sit down, listen to the professionals and learn different techniques, or open your eyes to show you that you can do it too. Best advice is to bring a pen and note pad as photos are not allowed.


Featuring in the show also is the chance to see the featured juried exhibit of inspiring bead art that makes your jaw drop and say "really...these are made only from beads?"

Some of the exhibitors include:

Beads Online 

Love these wooden tree necklace stands, with cute resin necklaces, so cute from Beads Online

For those who know me by know, I LOVE Japanese and Russian Dolls - How adorable

Storybook bracelets - beautiful

Kezzi Design 

An upcoming designer with some beautiful pieces, see Kezzi Designs for more

Hot Dot Designs

For the funkiest Zebra tools in town, check out Hot Dot Designs

Kimono Girls

Now I Just adore Kimono Girls stall, from the authentic Japanese prints to the oh so cute inspired accessories

NewChris Beaded Flowers

A rose by any other name...

A colour for every mood...

Patterns for these stunning works of Art are available from NewChris Beaded Flowers

Maybe this is what the garden of Eden looks like - in a crafters world

Picture Perfect

Posh Pendants

So many beautiful textures and gems - sensory overload

Beaded accessories available from Posh Pendants, email for more info

Would wearing ALL these bracelets at once be too much? There is too many to choose from 

Note to self - Must find big enough shelf in my room to house all these pretty creatures

Ah to have all the time in the world (and money) to have a look at all these

The RockShop

Beads...Beads...and more Beads

So many pretty colours, the RockShop is located in QLD, so if your in the neighbourhood...

Venetian Imports 

Venetian imports are direct importers of Murano glass beads, Venetian glass beads...

...Italian Jewellery, fans and masks.

 ...Murano glass

...Venetian glass

  

 Aww how cute, these cuties are definitely not for kids

Festival Girl lowlights of the day:

No pictures policy. This event is probably one of the most strict of all these fun loving crafty events, so be warned, there is a no photo policy without getting permissions. I understand why the policy is in place, protecting intellectual properties and copyrights on designs etc. However, on a personal note, when you are excited young beader going to their first show and getting snap happy, being told 'no pictures or you will be kicked out' is quite a harsh smack in the face of reality and bums you out. But never mind, thats why people like me are out there doing the hard yards so you all don't have to :)

Expense:

1 day Visitor Ticket $13.00

2 day Visitor Ticket $26.00

3 day Visitor Ticket $30.00

Concession(student, pensioner) $11.00

Children (9 - 12 years) $7.00

Children 8 and under free

Dammit I missed it?!

If you'd like to visit this event, it is happening again same time next year and exhibits in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Check it out Bead and Gem Show site for more info. 


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