The Independent
Once again the Kayenta Arts Foundation brings life to the desert this April 25 and 26 with the 5th Kayenta Street Painting Festival. Awash with florescence, Kayenta will teem with artists and creators of all ages, painting the streets. Established artists, invited by the Kayenta Arts Foundation, and students from middle grades through high school will decorate allotted spaces with bright pastel pictographs.
With the theme: “Rock, Stars, and Wildlife, the Kayenta Street Painting promises fun for all. The Festival is free to the public. Two additional events are planned for Friday and Saturday evenings for which a nominal fee will be charged. A kick-off party marks the advent of the Festival, Friday April 24, with food, music, and dancing from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. Music will be provided by the fantastic local group Prime Time. Visitors can also sign up for a Star Gazing presentation Saturday evening.
The Street Painting Festival was the brain child of Aimee Bonham, a local artist whose vision was to bring art into the streets. This display of colorful, cultural diversity and imaginative images offers two of life’s staples: beauty and creativity. Each year the Festival features a student competition as well as an invited artist competition. In 2014 a showing of a special documentary on street painting around the world was given and two international street painting artists delighted visitors as they produced their masterpieces. An amazing 3-D image was also completed by Ms. Bonham last year and this year she will create one of a more permanent nature. During the weekend Anat Ronen, a Texas artist, will be painting a wall mural in the village for year round enjoyment.
The Street Painting Festival will take place Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be student competitions to observe, artists creations in progress, and a People’s Choice Award. Anyone who wants to try their own hand at chalk art may purchase a 2X2 space of their own. The Festival is made possible by the Kayenta Arts Foundation and its sponsors who donate funds and inkind gifts, as well many, many volunteers who believe in being “Part of the art.”
