Chalk the Block celebrates 15th anniversary this weekend
EL PASO, Texas - The City of El Paso is excited to announce that Chalk the Block presented
by Raiz Federal Credit Union is back this weekend in the Downtown Arts District.
The Museums and Cultural Affairs Department invites the community to celebrate and
commemorate the 15th anniversary of Chalk the Block. The celebration includes local artistic
talent such as chalk artists, musicians, muralists and arts and crafts vendors. In addition,
interactive installations from internationally recognized artists will be featured during the festival.
Even if rain is in the forecast this weekend, Chalk the Block goes on. "We continue on with our party," said Rebecca Munoz with the City's Cultural Affairs and Recreation Department. "We do have contingencies for weather if it does occur, but all of our events will take place, regardless of the rain. We'll have the El Paso Museum of Art and El Paso Museum of History open during the event so people can go in and dry off if rain does come."
“In 2007, we had no idea that a one-day event involving 12 local artists would grow into the
largest arts festival in the region,” said Cultural Affairs and Recreation Managing Director Ben
Fyffe. “Over the years, we have been thrilled to grow the event and showcase not only local
artists but bring artists from throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas to close to 50,000 El
Pasoans and visitors annually.”
Chalk the Block will host a Preview Night from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, October 7, and will take place
from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, October 8, and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, October 9.
Must-see activities include a Mural Walk curated by Christin Apodaca of El Paso along the Pedestrian Pathway, Chalk-Bot installation by Fab Lab of El Paso located on the Arts Festival Plaza, another installation called Bike Zoo by Jeremy Rosen of Austin. You can find it at various locations around downtown, along with another installation by Parer Studio of Sydney, Australia called Intrude. One other art installation called Cloud Swing by New Orleans artist Lindsay Glatz will be located at San Jacinto Plaza.
A kids zone will be set up on Oregon Street and local & regional musicians and artists will be performing at San Jacinto Plaza. All of the events are free. Complete details are available at http://chalktheblock.com.
Chalk the Block is a collaborative event programmed by the City of El Paso Museums and
Cultural Affairs Department and the El Paso Community Foundation with support by Raiz
Federal Credit Union, the Texas Commission on the Arts and Visit El Paso.
