News Release: March 22, 2007

"Grant funds from the city of San Jose shall support in part the Heart of Chaos Artisan Collective Chalk Art Festival in three different San Jose neighborhood parks or other comparable public locations in San Jose in June, July, and August 2007."

Catalyst's Heart of Chaos Receives a Mini Grant to help Support the First Annual Sidewalk Chalk Festival in San Jose.

Heart of Chaos (HOC) community outreach task force headed by Anabella Pinon, Miguel Machuca and Joanne Hobbs will put on the First Annual San Jose Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival at three different neighborhood parks on the last Saturday in June, July and August, 2007. The three parks will be selected according to recommendations by the city and neighborhood associations and by their sidewalk access. The chalk art festival will bring an explosion of color, vitality and a sense of community to each park as HOC artists demonstrate the many varieties of chalk art and invite the children and adults in the neighborhood to create their own art using chalk provided by Heart of Chaos. Designated areas of the park’s meandering sidewalks will be the target of child, youth, adult and senior and artists, professional and novice. The by-in from the park’s neighborhood association will help bring neighbors, families and friends to each event.

Under the supervision of project coordinator Anabella Pinon, ten selected HOC visual artists will work individually on designated sections of the park’s sidewalk. In between every artist will be several open sections with trays of colorful chalk intended for anyone who visits the park on that afternoon and wants to create their own fanciful chalk art painting. Picture adults, youth and children working side by side inspiring and encouraging each other. Picture families creating a collaborative art work.

In addition to the chalk art, there will be music by HOC musicians, a clay table for children, and a food table to purchase refreshments. The event will be documented by HOC emerging videographers and photographers and the local press will be invited to attend and participate. From 12 noon to 4 pm, visitors, neighbors, and community members can watch and admire art being created on the spot—or roll up their sleeves and jump in to create their own masterpiece. At 4 pm, the best drawing will be judged by an independent panel and winners notified the following day. First prize is $250 with smaller cash prizes awarded for runners up.

Chalk artists for the first event at Lincoln Glen Park have already been selected. Download Chalk Art Festival June 30th card front; back

Contact Anabella to be considered as a chalk artist for the July 21st and Augusts 25th events at apinon@gmail.com