Chalk It Up Adapts for Pandemic Life in its 25th Year – San Antonio Magazine

Since Artpace cant invite thousands of San Antonians downtown for its annual Chalk It Up art festival on Saturday, its bringing art into the community.

From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, 20 featured artists will create chalk murals on sidewalks or pavement at one of 10 San Antonio Public Libraries. One library in each City Council district was selected and locals will have the chance to drive through each branch to view the works.

It was very important for us to stay connected to the community, Artpace executive director Riley Robinson said during a virtual press conference on Oct. 5. Community is our theme.

Robinson said in some years the event has drawn as many as 35,000 people downtown, which obviously wasnt an option in 2020. But, knowing how difficult the COVID-19 pandemic has been on both the community at large and the artist community, they knew they needed to figure out a way to keep the event going.

Along with public art at area libraries, student groups have also created chalk masterpieces that theyre sharing virtually. Known as TeamWorks, the program provides a chalk kit to each registered student team, which this year included 54 groups from 10 area school districts, said Katie Pace Halleran, co-chair of Chalk It Up. This year, students had the month of September to work on their pieces before submitting photos of them for viewing and judging online. Winners will be announced at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Halleran said theyre also hopeful that families will get involved from home by using their own chalk to create work on their driveways, sidewalks and streets and sharing them via social media with #ChalkItUpAtHome. Share it virtually so we can come together in as many ways as possible, she says.

Featured artist Fernando Andrade said it wasnt until he was in college that he began visiting museums and art galleries, so hes always loved that Chalk It Up gives families the chance to see artwork in the community. His work will be on display at Central Library.

This year may look a little different, adds featured artist Brbara Miarro, but it will be just as impactful. Since were dispersed through the city its like were taking over the city, said Miarro, whose mural will be at Carver Library.

Typically, Chalk It Up is Artpaces second largest annual fundraiser, Robinson said. This year, theyre thankful to sponsors for supporting the event. He added that it has always been important to Artpace to ensure professional artists are paid for their work and theyre able to do that this year thanks to support from the San Antonio Public Library Foundation.

Chalk It Up

Saturday, Oct. 10

10 a.m.-2 p.m.

See the Murals

Central Library: Works by Fernando Andrade and Cassidy Fritts

Carver Library: Works by Brbara Miarro and Anthony Dean-Harris

Mission Library: Works by Isabel Ann Castro and Mark Anthony Martinez

Cortez Library: Works by Juan Miguel Ramos and Justin Korver

Las Palmas Library: Works by Joe De La Cruz and Jeremiah Teutsch

Henry Guerra Library: Works by Xavier Gilmore and Katrina Guzman

Maverick Library: Works by Ruth Buentello, Yoko Misu and Nathan Segovia

Igo Library: Works by Alan Serna and Richard Armendariz

Parman Library: Works by Madison Cowles Serna and Jasmeet Kaur

Tobin Library: Works by Kaldric Deshon Dow and Cherise Rhys Joy Munro

For a full map, including locations of student murals, visit artpace.org/chalk-it-up

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Chalk It Up Adapts for Pandemic Life in its 25th Year - San Antonio Magazine