2nd Annual Burns Square ‘Avenida de Colores’, Sarasota, Florida - May 2nd and 3rd, 2009: An interview with Event Chair Denise Kowal

Blog Now on Streetpainting.tv was pleased to speak with Denise Kowal, Event Chair, about the 2nd Annual Burns Square ‘Avenida de Colores’ in  Sarasota, Florida on May 2^nd and 3^rd, 2009. 

 

Read on to find out what Denise has to say about the festival!

 

What is different this year and different than other festivals?

Good question and as far as I am concerned everything we do is new because we are only in our second year.  What I have found different about our festival than most I have watched and tried to collaborate with is that we have a mission to promote and support the artists beyond just their weekend under the sun (hopefully) during one weekend.  We created an artist blog, that while it is still coming into fruition, we plan to expand into our website giving the artist an opportunity to post their biographies, websites and images of their work.  We decided after we had partnered with the Sarasota Film Society our first year as our 'benefiting' organization that we would never probably have 'extra' money to give away. Performance Art is a 'cause' in itself and it is that in which we work to support.  Our community genuinely feels indebted to these artists who give of themselves in such a beautiful way, creating magnificent art that is an act of non-attachment. We are fortunate to have a good film industry in Sarasota so we have film crews documenting the event and we have flown our new website designer, Melissa Clark Designs, in from Boston to document the event to rework the website for next year.

 

What are the highlights that everyone should be aware of this year?

We were really lucky to have Lori Escalara, Kitty Dyble Thompson and Mike Kusun help us our first year.  Lori was our Featured Artist and only professional street painter.  She helped us with all those goofey questions we asked trying to get our event organized.  Ultimately nobody can hold your hand the whole way and we learned a lot.  All three are returning this year.  Other than that, all our artists are worthy of being the Featured Artists, there are really no exceptions...even the High School Student section has talent that will blow the publics mind.  OH, and Johnny Fox, Sword Swallowing Extraordinaire is flying in from NY to perform.

 

   

What do we look forward to that will be new to artists and street painting fans from the festival last year?

Wow, that is an easy one, the number of professional Street Painters, known Musicians, Students and the Children's Area has more than tripled.  This year we have over 70 Street Painters participating, many who are professional Madonnari.  Last year we had about 20 with only one professional street painter.

 

Do you get artists interested in doing the 3-D illusionary or anamorphic chalk art styles?

Yes, I believe we have three artists doing anamorphic images this year.  Lori Escalara our Featured Artist is doing an anamorphic image that we will set up a camera for people to have a change to be interactive with the image and have their picture taken.  Kitty Dyble Thompson is doing an amazingly hard anamorphic image with the use of a cylinder mirror, which was a real asset to the festival saving us space after the county installed a storm drain in the middle of the street this year.  It is funny what you have to work around and how you tackle the challenges.

 

Does the festival work with arts education or related subjects?

Yes, first we have technique classes for High School students and for first time street painters the day before the event. We encourage everyone to attend the class because you never know where that one technique will come from that will improve your piece.  It is a fun time for those who have been street painting for years and years to share stories and give advice on how to get chalk to stick to shell in our Florida streets!  We work with the area school art departments to encourage participation.  Most schools have teams of students working on one square.

  

Do you have a theme or special focus for the festival?

Oh yes we have a theme, and I love it!  We had to move our festival date of November because of a massive storm drainage project in our downtown.  When I chose the May 2-3 date I did research on that time in history and discovered the Floralia Festival dating back to 230 BC that celebrated the Goddess Flora who was the protector of springtime and blossoms...and many other things but we are staying focused on Springtime.

  

  

Where do you see the festival growing and going in the near future?

Sarasota is a very cultural area with many art venues.  I believe this will attract a very strong street painting following and the festival will become very successful and grow quickly.  I am very interested in helping that happen and I am also very picky and realize quantity does not equate to quality so moving forward we will become more defined in our rules when participating.

 

We have always liked the idea of children's squares and the fun the kids have doing them at the festivals throughout the country.   What is your view on encouraging and inspiring the street painting art for with children and younger student artists?

We are no different than most festivals in that we feel you cultivate the arts in children at a young age to ensure the success of things such as the festival.  Our Children's Chalk Playground guarantees that with over a 2000 2' X 2' squares for our talented artists 12 years of age and younger.  The children's area will have magicians from Camp Cigma, professional balloon artists, face-painting and dessert decorating.  We are going to attempt to document each child who participates for future success of the festival.

 

Is there anything that we have missed that is unique and special to the festival?

You, the observer... ends up being the most unique and special part of this type of festival.