| Palm Springs, CA – An estimated 2,500 residents and visitors alike gathered on an idyllic day to enjoy the Third Annual Chalk Art Festival in Downtown Palm Springs over the weekend. “It was so exciting to see the response to the festival this year,” says Diane Sampson, President of Palm Springs Sunup Rotary Club. Through the event, Sunup Rotary Foundation raised over $5000, which will benefit the Palm Springs Unified School District arts programs and Polio Plus.
 The festival also had a record number of artists this year with 120 registered Professional and Student competitors as well. Gus Moran of Anaheim won the professional category with a colorful take on the Statue of Liberty. “Giraffe Family” by local Omar Contreras won first place in the student division. Photos of the event can be found on the Palm Springs Sunup Rotary web site and Facebook page.
 Beautiful weather and live music inspired the artists throughout the day. Traditional jazz by the Hot Purple Energy Band floated on the breeze towards the famous “Forever Marilyn” statue. The day wrapped up with favorite Giselle Woo and the Nightowls who are nominated for “Best Band” this year. The event included a Kids Zone with activities and a free-style chalk art area for the non-contestants, a beer garden for adults plus other vendors and activities.
In just three short years, the festival has grown in attendance from a few hundred to this years’ record numbers. Palm Springs Sunup Rotary created the event in 2010 with the support of the City of Palm Springs Public Arts Commission because of budget cuts that hit the arts programs in the Palm Springs Unified School District. “In a variety of studies it has been shown that arts education helps students learn, motivates them to stay in school and can improve their ability to retain information,” says Kristin Bloomer of the Rotary, “We hope this arts based platform will make the difference for local children to inspire them to learn, and go on to college and fulfill their potential.”
The Chalk Art Festival is presented by Palm Springs Sunup Rotary Club and City of Palm Springs Public Arts Commission. Palm Springs Sunup Rotary is part of Rotary International an international service club whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. To learn more about Rotary you can visit their web site http://www.PalmSpringsSunUpRotary.org or their Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/RotaryClubofPalmSpringsSunup.
Photos:
1) Palm Springs Chalk Art Festival (Photo Credit David A. Lee Photography)
2) Palm Springs Chalk Art Festival Professional Division Winner “Liberty” by Gus Moran (Photo Credit by David A. Lee Photography)
3) Palm Springs Chalk Art Student Division Winner “Giraffe Family” by Omar Contreras (Photo Credit by David A. Lee Photography) |
