Via Arte

9th Annual Via Arte Italian Street Painting Festival
October 13-14, 2007

Saturday 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
The Marketplace
(corner of Ming Avenue and Haggin Oaks Boulevard)

Presented by Diane S. Lake Family and Donahue Schriber

Free Admission and Parking - Everyone Welcome
Wheelchair accessible
Information: (661) 323-7219

The sidewalks of the Marketplace will come alive with color and light this fall as the Bakersfield Museum of Art presents the 9th Annual Via Arte Italian Street Painting Festival, October 13-14.

This exciting and colorful festival provides a weekend of family fun and entertainment as the sixteenth century Italian tradition of street painting transforms The Marketplace pavement into vibrant collages of life-sized original and recreated works of art, all crafted from chalk. Via Arte will feature local artists, children, students, and visiting artists who create the artwork as crowds stroll by, viewing the artistic process.

The festival is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on October 13 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on October 14, although visitors may stop by any time to observe the works in progress. Admission and parking are free.

Via Arte is presented by The Bakersfield Museum of Art, Diane S. Lake Family and Donahue Schriber. Brighthouse Networks is sponsoring the Featured Local Artist while Klassen Corporation is the sponsor for the high school artists. KERO/Azteca is psonsoring the visiting artists. Premier Management Company is supporting the Via Bambino Area while Castle & Cooke is supporting professional artists. San Joaquin Community Hospital/Adventist Health is sponsoring the artist awards.

Other sponsors include Sierra Printers, Aera Energy LLC, American General Media, Chevron Valley Credit Union, Chevron, Coca Cola, Willis Design, Tejon Ranch, The Bakersfield Californian, Southern California Orthopedic Institute, Walker-Lewis Rents, Kern Schools Federal Credit Union, Optimal Hospice Care.

Numerous other businesses and organizations sponsor individual artists' squares.

It is anticipated that thousands of patrons from Bakersfield and beyond will congregate to watch these talented statewide and local artists transform the pavement into brightly colored masterpieces.

"This is a wonderful event for everyone who enjoys beautiful art and who wants to watch real artists at work. It's a fun and educational family outing," said Emily Falke, Bakersfield Museum of Art's chief curator and organizer of Via Arte.

On the evening of Friday, October 12, the visiting artists will begin work on their masterpieces. Each artist at Via Arte receives a square of pavement ranging in size from 4 x 6 feet to 12 x 12 feet. Artists work throughout the weekend perfecting their creations, with awards presented for outstanding art work on October 14 at 3 p.m.

Local high school students will also grace the pavement with art, sponsored by Klassen Corporation.

Children are welcome to become a Via Arte artist in the popular Via Bambino section. Children can join hundreds of other pint-sized Picassos as they design colorful artworks on the pavement. For just $10, budding artists receive a 2 x 2 foot square, along with a souvenir box of pastel chalks. Via Bambino is sponsored by Premier Management Company.

Sponsorships are still available. Square sponsors' names are stenciled on the beautiful pieces of art for thousands of attendees to see. Sponsors may select their own artist or let the Museum provide one.

Featured entertainment includes Claydoh the Clown,Campbell Foster, Bahiyya AlmasBelly Dancers,Mauro Vizcarra,Tony O'Brien, Ken Bausano Multi-Instrumentalist.Truce, the OldSchool Band, Fat Daddy Blues Band and Mento Buru.


Proceeds from Via Arte benefit the Bakersfield Museum of Art Educational Programs.

Interested in sponsorship or in being an artist for Via Arte? Download the VIA ARTE BROCHURE .