From: Reyes, Erika Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 Subject: MEDIA ADVISORY: Call to Chalk Artists-Chalk the

Block 2011 Attachments: Chalk the Block.jpg, Chalk Art Devocion.jpg, Chalk Art Space.jpg

Museums & Cultural Affairs MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release: July 13, 2011 Contact:

Juli Lozano, Public Affairs @ 541-4010 or c: 472-1949

CALL TO CHALK ARTISTS Chalk-the-Block, Public Art Festival 2011

Deadline: Thursday, August 25, 2011
Calling all artists! The City of El Pasos Museums and Cultural Affairs Department is looking for local and regional artists who would like to produce chalk art on the sidewalks of Downtown El Paso as part of the Fourth Annual Public Art Festival, Chalk the Block. ELIGIBILITY Participation is open to all artists, who reside in El Paso, Las Cruces, and Ciudad Juarez. Interested artists may choose to apply in the following categories: Arts Festival Plaza Artists, San Jacinto Plaza Artists, or Sheldon Street Artists. Artists are encouraged to have assistants or teams to ensure their work is completed on time. SELECTION PROCESS An appointed jury panel made up of community members and local visual artists will review artist applications and select the artists on a competitive basis to participate in Chalk the Block 2011. Selected artists are required to attend a chalk art workshop instructing participants how to make and handle chalk. Artists are responsible for the production of a creative and original design to be done in chalk on a sidewalk block for the event. AWARDS All selected artists will receive honorariums for producing their work of art. Both San Jacinto Plaza Artists and the Sheldon Street Artists categories will each be competing for First, Second, and Third Place cash prizes ranging from $150 to $1000 (6 winners). In addition, all artist categories will be considered for a Best of Show Award of $2,000.

2 Civic Center Plaza El Paso, TX 79901 p: (915)541-4481 f: (915)541-4902 www.elpasoartsandculture.org

The event will be held on October 14-16, 2011. Spaces will be limited, so apply today! HOW TO APPLY Interested artists are encouraged to apply online at www.callforentry.org. Applications will be taken through Thursday, August 25th. Selected artists to participate will be announced by September 6th. For a detailed description on how to apply, project qualifications, and submission requirements please visit the www.elpasoartsandculture.org homepage. ABOUT THE EVENT On October 14-16, the City of El Paso Museums & Cultural Affairs Department will host its fourth annual Chalk the Block Public Art Festival in Downtown El Paso. Attended by over 25,000 El Pasoans and tourists annually, Chalk the Block invites and promotes the participation of local and regional artists. Original works of art will be exhibited as part of a 3-day long festival. Featured highlights for 2011 include: sidewalk chalk art, performance by nationally-renowned fire and aerialist troupe Flam-Chen from Tucson, NM, an interactive Birdsong installation by artist Mary Lucking, a site specific music installation by local artist Dave Ford, a Fire Pagoda by artist collective Poetic Kinetics (who famously created works for Beijings Olympic Park), and an animated video installation on downtown El Pasos historic facades by Chinese Artist Jay Yan. Additionally, a partnership with The Downtown Management District will create several Pop-up Galleries, which are temporary art exhibits located in vacant storefronts in downtown El Paso. Additional programming will cater to a variety of ages and interests, including: art vendors, live music entertainment, performance art, an interactive kids zone, food and refreshments. For additional information please contact: Alejandra Carrillo Public Art Program Specialist (915) 541-4257 E-mail CarrilloAM@elpasotexas.gov Or Erika Reyes Production Coordinator (915) 541-4280 Email ReyesEX@elpasotexas.gov

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2 Civic Center Plaza El Paso, TX 79901 p: (915)541-4481 f: (915)541-4902 www.elpasoartsandculture.org