Let's talk about the Via Colori ® Houston... what are the highlights that everyone should be aware of this year?
Every year, Via Colori takes place the weekend before Thanksgiving in downtown Houston in Sam Houston Park and the surrounding streets of Allen Parkway and Bagby.
Street Painting Artist Lysa Ashley (at right)
This year's highlights include Melanie Stimmell as the 2009 El Paso Feature Artist and Lysa Ashley as the Quantum Energy Partners Feature Artist. The Center for Hearing and Speech Feature Artists are Bryan Higgins and Kenneth Pierson, veteran Via Colori artists and local Houstonians who regularly donate their time to the Center for Hearing and Speech. Our confirmed guest artists this year are Genna Panzarella and Cecelia Linayao.
Via Colori features 200 emerging artists, Houston Press award winning musicians at two stages, 20 participating Houston area school districts working in our Aprendista section, children's activities, and food selections.
In addition to street painting, this year attendees will have more of a variety of activities that will include a festival-wide scavenger hunt, photography activities, the Houston Mobile Zoo and more.
What do we look forward to that will be new to artists and street painting fans from the festival last year?
Via Colori has been expanded to an entire additional city block this year. That means more artists, more activities, and more fun!
Do you have a theme or special focus for the festival?
One of the great things about Via Colori is that the artists have the freedom to paint whatever their imanginations can conjure. Every year, attendees are treated to a wide variety of artistic styles, themes, and programs. There is something for everyone - young, old, professional artists, hobbyists or just those who appreciate artistic expression. The ongoing theme will always be to create more awareness for CHS while making art more accessible to the community.
Do you get artists interested in doing the 3-D illusionary or anamorphic chalk art styles?
Absolutely. Several of our artists have created 3D pieces of artwork. In fact, Melanie Stimmell painted a stunning 3D mermaid piece her first year with Via Colori. And we expect more this year as well.
The response from the onlookers we find bring the 'wow' factor into the art and bring the creative best in the street painters... what types of subjects have been the most successful for the festival?
A diverse range of work is exhibited at the festival and that range is what makes the festival so unique. We have classic recreations, contemporary and abstract, landscapes, portraiture, animals, you name it -it is reflected on the street. Via Colori Houston is so special because it is about the "process" of creativity and audiences love to watch the work take shape throughout the entire weekend.
Please share the mission of the Center for Hearing and Speech with our readers and how the street painting art aspect has been beneficial to your work in the community.
CHS Mission Statement:
The Center for Hearing and Speech enables children with hearing impairments to realize their full potential by teaching them listening, speaking and literacy skills.
We are so touched that all of our artists feel a connection to our mission and want to be a part of the festival to be able to give back to a local, worthy organization. The two-day event, free to the public, will raise awareness and critical funds to help CHS serve with hearing impairments.
The festival has helped bring more awareness to the general public to an organization that has been around for more than 60 years, but maybe everyone in Houston wasn't aware existed.
We have always liked the idea of children’s squares and the fun the kids have doing them at festivals throughout the country. What is your view on encouraging and inspiring the street painting art form with children and younger student artists?
Although, our age limit for participating artists in the main area of the festival is 18 years old, we completely support and encourage young artists. In fact, this year our Via Apprendista Apprentice Artist section has doubled in size to include many more Houston area schools. We conduct an art competition among local school districts and feature the winners as artists in the Apprendista section of the festival. Some teachers even come out with their whole class.
The Via Bambini section is a huge hit with children and families. In this section, we invite anyone, but especially families with children, to purchase a smaller square for a minimal fee to create their own street painting.
The festival itself is about creative inspiration and building community. Sharing ideas, trading tips, encourage young artists and each other is all a part of our meaningful weekend.
Where do you see the festival going and growing in the near future?
Via Colori is bigger and better every year and once people visit, they return again and again, and usually bring more friends.
Our goal for the future is twofold:
1. To create more awareness for CHS by reaching more individual and families who would be inspired by the art showcased at Via Colori
2. To keep expanding the number and diversity of the particpating artists
We are reaching out to minority organizations, community groups, and new media channels to connect with people who may not be aware of Via Colori. We also are making a concerted effort to add diverse musical acts that may already have a following among particular audiences that we want to reach.
Since the squares are sponsored by companies and individuals, adding more squares requires additional business support.
Is there anything that we may have missed that is unique and special to the festival?
Via Colori is a fun festival with art, music, children's programs, food and drink, and a creative energy that is hard to duplicate. That, paired with the heartfelt mission of the CHS, makes for a great event that everyone can feel good about attending and supporting.
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