Tempe Marketplace will undergo a colorful transformation with its inaugural Chalk Art Festival on Saturday.
Seven local artists will come together from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to create chalk art on sidewalks within the shopping center and encourage admirers to create their own murals.
Tempe Marketplace Marketing Director Arian Ploszaj said she was excited about helping bring the event to Tempe Marketplace.
"There’s going to be six murals total throughout the center, and each mural will be large scale, very vibrant in color," she said. "Professional artists will be creating them on the sidewalks throughout The District at Tempe Marketplace."
The event is sponsored by the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance, a nonprofit organization committed to bringing art and culture to Arizona.
"When we meet with the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance, they mentioned that they’ve had chalk art festivals at other locations, and we thought it would be great to bring it to Tempe," Ploszaj said.
In addition to professionally crafted murals, attendees are also encouraged to tap into their creative sides.
Ploszaj said there will be an artist on hand to guide and assist festival-goers, should they choose to try their hand at a creation of their own.
"There’s a community mural, themed around giving thanks, that anybody can participate in," Ploszaj said. "But there’s also going to be some sidewalk space available if people have their own murals."
Ploszaj said this festival is an ideal activity for college students.
"Everybody loves and can appreciate art, and I think especially when you’re in college," she said. "It’s a fun event to explore art and creativity and just get outside in the nice weather with your friends to check out something different."
Interdisciplinary studies senior Brooke Schlott said she would be interested in an event that highlights creativity.
"I like art, and I think it’s definitely something different that’s happening in Tempe, especially since it’s close by," she said. "I’d probably stop by and look at it."
Healthy lifestyle coaching senior Emilee Horyza said she is also looking forward to the festival.
"I think it sounds like a really fun event to go see and participate in," she said. "It sounds like something where you can bring a friend or significant other, and I think it would be really enjoyable."
With Veterans Day on Monday, Ploszaj said the festival will honor both active military members and veterans.
"We’re going to have one mural by a professional artist that will be specific to Veterans Day and themed around the military," she said.
For more information and for more coming events at Tempe Marketplace, visit the event's webpage.
Reach the reporter at semann@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @SunDevilStyle
