Washable art paints the town

Donna Santos, advertising and art director for Creative Link, and her partner, Myrion Lanau, paid homage to the rainy weather Saturday with an appropriately titled work, "Raincheck."

Despite showers that delayed "Chalk It Up" for two hours, artists were able to create murals under canopies and extended rooftops at the ArtPace-sponsored creative event Oct. 2 on Houston Street downtown.

The event was to raise recognition for ArtPace, a Foundation for Contemporary Art, and to introduce the community to contemporary art.

"Many people are familiar with the Blue Star Complex and Southwest School of Art and Craft, but when ArtPace is mentioned, the answers are a little hazy," Darryl Mix, external affairs director of Art Pace, said Tuesday in an interview.

Despite the weather, 58 out of 65 artists showed up for the day's events. Nine were from this college.

The showcased artworks featured detailed sidewalk murals drawn in chalk, though it wasn't the only medium used in the works. Some artists added paint or ink into their designs. Artists don't generally interact with their audience.

"I'm looking forward to interacting with the public," Joan Fabian, image resource specialist in the library, said in an interview Oct. 1. "I like to interact."

Fabian's work was showcased in front of the Majestic Theatre. Her piece was titled "ArtPace, We Love You."

The event included Artist's Alley which was an area designated for the public, and a Kidszone for children to create their own masterpieces.

Some children opted to create full-body portraits by lying on the ground and having a friend or parent draw an outline around them. Most of these portraits can be seen across from the San Antonio Children's Museum.

Though the event was family-oriented, Mix said he also wanted to express sophistication.

"Having children being able to draw is fine, but I also wanted to present local artists to create art that had a certain concept behind it," Mix said.

Lecturer Sabra Booth and her ARTS 2334, Printmaking 2, students Lee Martinez and Kristy Perez made a debut with their work, "Jezebel's Delight," by the SBC building at Houston and North St. Mary's streets.

The abstract work is made of chalk and ink, which is pressed on by silk-screen.

"We started last night and came back at 9," Booth said Saturday.

She said it was a great opportunity to participate in collaborative work with her students.

"I'm teaching them to silk-screen," she said. "It's a great chance for them to do public art."

Booth also said that art should play an important part in the community.

Her students, both fine art sophomores, expressed their enthusiasm of the event.

"Art Pace is awesome," Perez said.

Martinez agreed.

"It's great," he said. "We didn't let the rain scare us off."

Most artists kept high spirits despite the weather.

Santos kept an optimistic attitude about her work, despite having a passerby walk on it, leaving a muddy footprint behind.

"It's on the sidewalk. People are going to walk all over it. If it isn't them, then it will be the rain that washes it away. What can you do about it?" she said with a smile.

Passersby and rain aren't the only factors that will wear away the murals.

Mix said the city might power wash the sidewalks. Depending on who owns the property, the businesses could also erase the work themselves.

Fabian's work in front of the Majestic was hosed off the day the event took place.

"I was really upset about that," Fabian said Monday. "When I drove by around 5, they were hosing down. I guess they didn't want them out there for the Johnny Mathis concert."

 Slide show for Washable art paints the town