HISTORY OF PASADENA CHALK FESTIVAL

16th Century Europe was an era of unprecedented change.  New discoveries in science, technology, capitalism and even the discovery of a new continent was the beginning of modern times. It was also recorded as a time for expressionists of popular art. In Italy, street painters or “Madonnari” created beautiful images on the squares of great cities using street surfaces as their canvas.  This cultivated a “boom” of subculture itinerant artists, which over centuries transitioned from creating art and careers to making political, social and religious statements.

Today, street painting has been adopted by several cultures throughout North America, South America and Europe. Paseo Colorado with the Light Bringer Project, a Pasadena-based nonprofit arts organization, is committed to bringing street painters into the mainstream. Now, this unique art thrives in Southern California’s Pasadena Chalk Festival.

The festival welcomes over 600 talented artists from across the United States. Chalk muralists create various styles of art ranging from classical to contemporary, and from whimsical to cultural.  The Chalk Festival which began in 1993 in Pasadena City Hall’s Centennial Square, now takes place in the beautiful setting of Paseo Colorado. Painters use mammoth portions of the 565,972 square foot village-style shopping center and the festival was officially named the World’s Largest Street Painting Festival by Guinness World Record™ in 2010.

Throughout its 20-years, the Chalk Festival included the diverse communities of Los Angeles and supported local nonprofit organizations that focused on community programs in the San Gabriel Valley and Old Pasadena.  Light Bringer Project, one of the forces and beneficiaries behind the Chalk Festival, introduced Room 13 artist team in 2008.  This South L.A. artist team is an international network of student-driven creative studios teaching the learning pillars of philosophical inquiry, creative expression, reciprocal learning and business enterprise.

Since 1993, the Pasadena Chalk Festival has undergone changes as its popularity grew.  The festival’s name transitioned from Chalk on the Walk to Chalk It Up to Absolut Chalk to its current moniker. The Festival also features an Animation Alley, Chalk of Fame and the Artist Gallery, making it one of the world’s most notable art festivals.

Historical Timeline:

(1993) CHALK ON THE WALK
Centennial Square, Pasadena City Hall
Over 150 visual artists participated in this first Los Angeles-area event. Proceeds benefited community arts programs and HIV/AIDS resources.

(1994) CHALK IT UP
Centennial Square, Pasadena City Hall
More than 200 artists participated in the event, which supported community arts opportunities and homeless programs in the San Gabriel Valley.

(1995) CHALK IT UP
Old Pasadena Historic District, Pasadena
Over 200 artists participated and raised funds for community arts programs in the heart of this popular Old Pasadena retail/entertainment center.

(1996) CHALK IT UP
West Hollywood Park (at Pacific Design Center), West Hollywood
Over 300 artists participated in West Hollywood raising dollars for community arts programs and homeless support services. Kurt Wenner, recognized as one of the world’s greatest street painters or “Master Madonnari,” served as guest artist.

(1997) ABSOLUT CHALK
Universal CityWalk, Universal City
Over 350 artists participated in creating 150 murals at the entertainment venue. Absolut officially joined the festival as title sponsor.  Participating artists created a large centerpiece mural, each drawing in a square foot of space, to the outline of the signature Absolut bottle shape.

(1998) ABSOLUT CHALK
Centennial Square, Pasadena City Hall
Approximately 400 visual artists created over 150 murals in support of local arts and cultural opportunities. Guest Aboriginal artists from Brisbane, Australia and the continent’s Central Desert created the festival’s centerpiece mural in their ‘dreamscape’ dot motif.

(1999) ABSOLUT CHALK
Centennial Square, Pasadena City Hall
Over 400 artists from the United States, Europe and Japan descended upon Pasadena City Hall to create pastel chalk murals supporting arts education.

(2000) ABSOLUT CHALK
Centennial Square, Pasadena City Hall
As the number of artists continued to rise, the centerpiece reflected the multicultural nature of the event featuring a giant hand symbolizing unity.

(2001) ABSOLUT CHALK
Centennial Square, Pasadena City Hall
After an overwhelming response to the public drawing area the previous years, a new ‘Chalkland’ area was designated for families and inspired newcomers to try their hand at the chalk art medium. 

(2002) ABSOLUT CHALK
Centennial Square, Pasadena City Hall
650 visual artists returned to Pasadena’s Civic Center to participate in this unique public art form. 13 Tibetan Monks from the Gynto Vajrayana Center participated as the festival’s special guests.

(2003) ABSOLUT CHALK
Centennial Square, Pasadena City Hall
Over 650 artists, the largest in the festival history, created 200 stunning street murals for the 11th year.

(2004) ABSOLUT CHALK
Paseo Colorado, Pasadena
Almost 700 artists created approximately 200 murals. The festival took place in the Center Plaza of this shopping village. This was the first year the festival moved to Paseo Colorado and remained its home for the next eight years.

(2005) ABSOLUT CHALK
Paseo Colorado, Pasadena
Street Painting Festival made a return appearance to Paseo Colorado featuring 700 artists. 75,000 visitors made this event the biggest ever.

(2006) PASADENA CHALK FESTIVAL
Paseo Colorado, Pasadena
2006 produced many milestones including the renaming of ABSOLUT CHALK to PASADENA CHALK FESTIVAL. "Famous Fathers" award category was introduced, national sponsorships were in place and record-breaking attendance made it the most successful chalk festival.

(2007) PASADENA CHALK FESTIVAL
Paseo Colorado, Pasadena
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, “Animation Alley” (dedicated to animators and cartoonists) was introduced.

(2008) PASADENA CHALK FESTIVAL
Paseo Colorado, Pasadena
Received support through a grant from the City of Pasadena Cultural Affairs Department. This year initiated a themed mural award from AT&T entitled “Connecting the World.” Light Bringer Project’s Room 13 artists from South L.A. participated as a team.

(2009) PASADENA CHALK FESTIVAL
Paseo Colorado, Pasadena
Incorporated another new section of pavement, “Chalk of Fame” designated for murals of famous movie posters and characters.

(2010) PASADENA CHALK FETIVAL
Paseo Colorado, Pasadena
Festival organizers set the Guinness World Record™ for the “Largest Display of Chalk Pavement Art” authenticating its claim to be “The World’s Largest Street Painting Festival.” Record-breaking attendance with old and new artists made this a historic year!

(2011) PASADENA CHALK FESTIVAL
Paseo Colorado, Pasadena
Officially crowned as the “World’s Largest Street Painting Festival”, record-setting attendance viewed breathtaking murals.