Putting Chalk to Pavement: Bakersfield Museum of Art Presents its 27th Annual

Via Arté Italian Street Painting Festival  

  

Bakersfield, CA – - The Bakersfield Museum of Art’s 27th Annual Via Arté Italian Street Painting Festival will be held Saturday, October 18th and Sunday, October 19th at The Marketplace, 9000 Ming Avenue in Bakersfield, from 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM. A beloved local art tradition since 1998, the shopping plaza’s parking lot will be transformed by professional artists, students, and children into a gallery of extraordinary chalk masterpieces for visitors to enjoy. Via Arté is sponsored by The Marketplace, First Washington Realty, and Stockdale Podiatry Group. Admission to the event is free.  

During the festival, thousands of spectators will watch artists unleash their imaginations using the asphalt as their canvas. Participating artists are encouraged to draw their inspiration from the Masters, reminiscent of the classic Italian Street Painting style. More than 100 professional and high school student artists from around Kern County will participate in this year’s Via Arté.  

This year’s featured artist, Jason Henderson, began participating in Via Arté in 2012. Known for vibrant images inspired by comic book characters and popular culture, Henderson will create a 12’ x 16’ rendering of an image created by Billy Mariano de Luz aka Butcher Billy, commissioned for the Los Angeles Times upon the death of comic book artist Stan Lee. The image depicts Lee surrounded by many of the superheroes he created, including Thor, The Incredible Hulk, and Iron Man. 

This year’s festival also includes our Via Bambino children’s area, where children and their adults can create their own chalk masterpieces. Families can purchase a professional-quality box of chalk and a 2 ft. x 2 ft. square area for $25.   

Children ages 6-12 can take a chalk painting class at Via Arté. Led by BMoA instructors, students will have a private Q&A session with 2025 Via Arté featured artist Jason Henderson, followed by instruction from BMoA’s art education team. Students will then create their own chalk paintings. Classes are $45 for BMoA members and $60 for non-members; preregistration is required. Each student receives a reserved 2’ x 2’ square, a set of professional chalk pastels, and a commemorative t-shirt.  

Visitors can also participate in an opportunity drawing at Via Arté where festivalgoers an enter to win either $3,000 worth of travel anywhere in the world courtesy of Uniglobe Travel, or a 5-day/4-night cruise to Mexico, the Bahamas, or the Western Caribbean and a $500 Visa Gift Card. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased at Via Arté, or by calling or visiting the Bakersfield Museum of Art. The drawing will be held on Sunday, October 19th at 4:00 PM at the Via Arté Festival.  

The Via Arté Italian Street Painting Festival is the largest annual fundraiser for the Bakersfield Museum of Art. Proceeds support BMoA’s exhibitions, education, and community programs as well as the care and maintenance of the Museum’s permanent collection.  

More information and a detailed schedule of events can be found at www.viaartebakersfield.com.