West Bend, WI – Art & Chalk Fest, a free outdoor live arts festival returns to West Bend for its 5th annual two-day event showcasing Wisconsin art and artists. Presented by the Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA), Art & Chalk Fest takes place Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21. The museum expects to welcome more than 20,000 visitors this year.
Situated just forty minutes north of Milwaukee, Art & Chalk Fest provides a weekend of art experiences by artists in all mediums. More than 20 professional chalk artists will transform the museum’s parking lot into a concrete canvas of ephemeral chalk masterpieces, many of which are interactive and appear three-dimensional.
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Artists and artisans will demo their art-making processes and sell their original artwork including paintings, jewelry, pottery, and more. Many popular demos from 2021 will return this year such as glass blowing in a mobile hot shop, pottery throwing, and balloon sculpture. A full listing of participating artists can be found at wisconsinart.org/festival
“Art & Chalk Fest brings together some of Wisconsin’s best artists for festivalgoers to watch their art-making process whether the medium is chalk, clay, glass, or music” said Ally Wilber, MOWA curator of public programs. “We want people to come to the event and stay awhile—to soak in the abundant creativity of the Wisconsin art community.”
An expanded Family Activity Zone offers a space for kids of all ages to ignite creativity with interactive performances, art-making projects, and a community chalking area sponsored by Horicon Bank on Veterans Avenue which is closed to through-traffic during the event.
Festivalgoers can enjoy live music throughout the weekend surrounded by the blooming hydrangeas in the MOWA Gardens with performances that include Donna Woodall, Boom Forest, Moonglow, No Seatbelts, and Mambo Surfers.
More than 15 food trucks line the festival street from ice cream to street corn, from tacos to falafel. The festival beer garden features a selection of beers and non-alcoholic options.
As part of the weekend events, MOWA offers free museum admission on Saturday and Sunday. The exhibition on view, Tom Jones: Here We Stand, showcases more than 120 works by the Madison Ho-Chunk photographer in his first full-career retrospective.
The festival is free to the public on Saturday, August 20, 10 a.m. –5 p.m. and Sunday, August 21, 10:00–4:00. Find full event details at artchalkfest.com or search #artchalkfest on social media.
IMAGE CREDIT
Artist Peter Davidson chalks his creation at Art & Chalk Fest 2021. Courtesy of Andrea Waala
A vital cultural center, educational institution, an expanding network of ideas, the Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA) collects and interprets American art through the lens of a single state. Informed by dynamic initiatives and collaborations, MOWA is an innovative forum for contemporary artists, socially relevant exhibitions, lectures by artists and industry experts, and engaging classes and activities for all ages.
MOWA has two permanent venues—the West Bend “Mothership” and MOWA | DTN in downtown Milwaukee’s Saint Kate—The Arts Hotel—as well as two partnering community organizations that create access across the state. MOWA annually welcomes 200,000 visitors, making it a cultural destination for the art and artists of our time.
