Chalk It Up Crewe Visual Arts

‘Chalk It Up’ is an international pavement art festival. Renowned artists from across the globe will be creating 12ftx16ft pieces of artwork

Over the August Bank Holiday weekend (26-27), around 30 artists will be heading to Crewe’s Market Square to take part in ‘Chalk It Up’, transforming the pavements into a riot of colour.
The artists, many of them multi-award winners and world renowned, will be arriving from across the globe, including from the United States, Mexico, the Netherlands, Italy, France and the UK.
They will use chalk pastels to create impressive 12ft x 16ft pieces of artwork and will be competing for a series of cash prizes. During the weekend there will also be opportunities for visitors to give pavement art a go themselves, as well as a children’s competition.
The festival is being organised by Urban Canvas – professional pavement artists from Liverpool – in collaboration with Cheshire East Council, which is funding the event in partnership with Crewe Town Council and local firm Whitby Morrison, renowned ice cream van manufacturers.
While it is the first time Crewe has played host to a festival of this type, the town has a long history of pavement art.
Pavement art originated in Britain and during the Victorian era, the artists, known as ‘screevers’, flourished around areas where tourists and business people passed through, such as railway stations. Crewe was no exception.
All artists – many of them known for 3D pavement art – will be working on their creations between 10am and 6pm on the first day (August 26) of the festival and the morning of the second, with judging then taking place during the afternoon.
On day one, visitors can add their mark to a giant chalk painting in Lyceum Square from 1pm-4pm. That evening will then see the UK premiere of ‘GESSO – the art of street painting’, a new documentary film about street and pavement art.
On day two, from 12pm-3pm, children can participate in a competition on Lyceum Square where there will be prizes for different age groups.
The festival is part of Coloured Earth, a series of international pavement art events and festivals organised by Urban Canvas for the UK.
It is also supported by Toulon International de Street Festival, in France, and Festival Bella Via, in Mexico.

Confirmed artists include:

Vicente Rios Zarazua, Mexico.
Adry Del Rocio, Mexico
Anthony Cappetto, USA.
Carlos Alberto Garcia, Mexico.
Cesar Polack, Mexico.
Christine Edwards, England (Crewe).
Hannah Bold, England.
Jean-Marc Navello, France.
Jennifer Chaparro, USA
John Bulley, England.
Keith Fearon, England.
Ketty Grossi, Italy Laurellene, Sturtzer, France.
Mark Sheeky, England (Crewe).
Omar Saenz, Mexico.
Ruben Poncia, The Netherlands

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