Chalkfest Comes to Key West, Florida

Online, January 13, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Artists from across the state of Florida were in Key West, Florida for the 2nd annual Key West Chalkfest. From November 21st through the 24th, 2013 members of the Florida and Central Florida Chalk Artists Association converged on the tiny island city to compete in the festival held at the seawall on the Truman Waterfront. Every year, artists will be provided chalk and a 10' x 10' concrete area in which to create the 3-D chalk art that has gained great popularity in recent years.

Originally thought to have begun in London (Disney's Mary Poppins) as early as 1906, chalk art over the past century has become a legitimate, albeit temporary, art form. The first chalk art competitions began in 1972 in Italy, with a two week festival known as "Paint the Streets."

Americans got in on the fun around 1987 when Kurt Wenner and Manfred Stader introduced the art in Old Mission Santa Barbara, California. By 2002, chalk art competitions were on the climb with nearly every major city joining the trend. In 2008, Mark Wagner and 4,000 plus elementary school students from Alameda, California set the Guinness World Record for the World's largest Pavement Art covering nearly 90,000 square feet.

As popularity grew, the state of Florida, due to its warm climate and sunshine, became a primary spot for chalk artistry. One of the largest chalk art events is held in Lake Worth, Florida, attracting nearly 400 artists and 100,000 spectators viewing over 250 works of 3-D chalk art. Hosting the 2nd Annual Key West Chalkfest, the island expected approximately 200 artists in the competition in November 2013. Both adult and youth categories are eligible for prizes, awarding first, second and third place prizes. The entry fee for the Key West Chalkfest competition is free (available only to experienced chalk artists) and viewing is open to the public. Key West Chalkfest is also pet friendly.