For Immediate Release
Contact:
Susana Weymouth
813-221-2787
susanaweymouth@tbbca.org
Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts specially commissioned chalk artists will create amazing works of art for TBBCA Chalk Walk with Gasparilla Festival of the Arts March 3 & 4 under the eaves Tampa Museum of Art
TAMPA, Fla. (March 1, 2017) – Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (TBBCA) is thrilled to pARTner with the 48th Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, for another exciting TBBCA Chalk Walk Saturday, March 3rd from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday March 4th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., under the eaves of the Tampa Museum of Art, alongside the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and Kiley Garden. Eight specially commissioned chalk artists will create live art to the theme of “Flight”, with an additional commissioned young chalk artist demonstrating her talents in the Festival’s VIP area.
“We are proud to offer this TBBCA Chalk Walk once again at the heart of downtown Tampa with our valued Cultural pARTner Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts,” says Susana Weymouth, Executive Director of TBBCA. “It is a great opportunity to support talented artists of this genre and technical skill while providing a free, fun, family-friendly and accessible program for all ages and levels of art appreciation. TBBCA Chalk Walks help attract the public to area cultural offerings and businesses.”
GFA President of the Board of Directors, Jodie Orozco, commented that GFA “Board of Directors and Committee are proud to present the 48th annual Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, a juried art fair featuring over 250 visual and performing artists from across the country working in glass, jewelry, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, watercolor, wood and other media.. We’re all looking forward to enjoying it.” In the past, the festival has attracted tens of thousands of visitors from across the region.
About TBBCA
Tampa Bay BCA (TBBCA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1989, one of 11 national Business Committees for the Arts, part of the private sector network of Americans for the Arts. TBBCA mission is to unite Tampa Bay area businesses to champion arts education, arts and culture for a prosperous community, based on the philosophy that ‘the arts are good for business, and business is good for the arts.’ TBBCA provides advocacy, resources and support for arts and cultural organizations, artists, and arts education, and builds awareness of arts and culture as important economic drivers in our community and essential contributors to our quality of life. For information contact TBBCA Executive Director susanaweymouth@tbbca.org or (813) 221-2787, or visit www.tbbca.org.
About GFA
The Gasparilla Festival of the Arts is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation dedicated to producing an annual, premier juried outdoor art festival for the enjoyment and education of patrons, artists and guests as well as for the enhancement of the Tampa Bay area’s cultural arts. The non-profit organization relies on support from sponsorships, on-site retail sales and corporate and individual gifts to fund its programs and events. The Tampa based organization is staffed entirely by volunteers. Information for festival-goers is posted to the GFA’s website www.gasparillaarts.org or call (813) 876-1747.
About TBBCA Chalk Artists
Dani Grazziano is a 10th grader at Steinbrenner High School in Lutz Florida. She is the Vice President of her High School Art Club. She is also the 1st and only Graphic Artist for the high school’s year book. Dani has been chalking murals in her driveway since she was 7 years old where she has had many admirers from multiple communities. They would come by just to see her chalk art. Danielle entered her first chalk show at the age of 12 for the Sun Coast Arts Fest at The Wire Grass Mall in Wesley Chapel, FL. At that show she won honorable mention for her drawing of Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night. She was competing with seasoned artists and was received by them with open arms as the next generation of chalk artist. Dani has since gone on to chalk in many other shows including many of TBBCA’s Chalk Walks, where she has also been winner of People’s Choice Awards. Dani hopes to go to Ringling College of Art & Design and become an animator and voice actress.
Twenty two years ago his employer at the time asked Ron Hawkins if he wanted to be their sponsored artist in a sidewalk chalk event in Orlando. Ron had never drawn that large before and considered it a challenge. Through all the rain, pain and mental strain he is still producing side walk art. He considers this a form of Zen art – start with a blank sidewalk, create artwork and let nature (sometimes the festival) take it back to its previous state. Every festival gives him new techniques that are learned from the best artists in the world. He loves Monet’s artwork and as such creates his artwork with an impressionistic feel. More photos have appeared in magazines of his chalk boxes than his artwork. They are a photographer’s dream, organized colors of fancies that will be created. Most of his creations have an underlining meaning for the interpretation of the viewer, animals and landscapes are the focus.
Holland King’s love for illustration began at the age of 12 when he was introduced to comic books. He was forever changed and decided to be a comic book illustrator. Holland studied illustration at the San Francisco Academy of Art. After an enlistment in the Army, he settled in Tampa, Florida where he started to draw comics for different independent publishers. His work has appeared in galleries and restaurants throughout the Tampa Bay Area. He began working with chalk at a South Tampa eatery, where his chalk art there became a draw for the store and was featured in Restaurant Monthly Magazine and on Charlie Belcher’s local news program. He has been working as a freelance artist and chalk artist ever since. Some clients include Cornerstone Creative Studios, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Murals, Noble Crust Restaurant, “These Mayan Hands” Art Gallery, World of Beer, Red Star Rock Bar.
Bridget “BK” Lyons is a Florida Artist who focuses on colors in her paintings. That love of color has become a staple in her choices for street painting. Over the years, she has moved on from flat, bright images to develop her passion for colors and just how far she can push the limits. Her style continues to evolve in street painting, by her mixed use of carefully selected reproductions and inspired original pieces. Aside from street painting, BK also enjoys photography and painting in acrylics.
Nancy A. Naulty is a freelance artist and photographer. She specializes in many different mediums. She is a designated Master Chalk Artist with the Florida Chalk Artist Association and a member of the International Street Painting Society. She is employed as an artist at Painting with a Twist in Lake Mary, FL. Nancy is also an established muralist and has completed several large scale murals for businesses in Central Florida. She has over 12 years’ experience as a chalk artist and has participated in many street painting festivals across the state of Florida. Nancy enjoys gardening, music, playing guitar, cooking, boating and fishing. She is a foster mom to abused and neglected animals with the Animal Rescue Konsortium in Deland, FL. Born in Lawrenceville, N.J. she graduated from Lawrence High School with an Award in Art Excellence. She now lives with her husband and son in Orange City, FL
Tim Ritter is a 38 year old Thai American freelance artist, & very established street painter/chalk artist specializing in Thai & Asian art. Born in Okinawa, Japan in 1979, grew up in Tampa, Florida & resides in Orlando, Florida. Tim is a proud member of the Florida Chalk Artists Association since 2009. He was invited to Los Angeles in March 2017 by world renowned grafitti artist David Choe to appear on The Choe Show an immersive art experience, for his artwork. He has won many awards in street painting. Two time winner for best original art at Festival of the Masters, Walt Disney World collaborating with master sculptor artist Kumpa Tawornprom who introduced him to chalk art in 2008. In 2017 he won 1st place $2000 prize at Naples Pelican Bay Rotary chalk art festival, 1st place best of show at Uptown Arts & music Festival, Mayors choice at Port Orange family days chalk festival, and 1st at the St. John’s River chalk art festival. He has also been a featured at the Palatka Chalk Explosion. As of late he has been painting mini murals on electric boxes for the City of Orlando at Festival Park in the milk district. Tim lives by the quote of one of his favorite artists Henri Matisse “Creativity takes courage.”
Kumpa Tawornprom is an artist and sculptor whose works display impressive color sense and technical skills. He is influenced by his birthplace -Thailand – and Thai heritage. Kumpa’s studies were initially civil engineering, but he was encouraged to pursue fine and graphic arts at St. Petersburg College. From his studio in Safety Harbor he creates works in many mediums, ranging from Styrofoam, cement, metal, wood and stone, to paint, chalk, pencil and other materials. His amazing painted murals, storefronts, large statues, and other recognizable public works can be found throughout Safety Harbor and the greater Tampa Bay area, as well as Disney and Warner Bros. theme parks, urban centers including Miami and Las Vegas, and throughout the country.
Doug Wright is an artist/illustrator currently living in Palm Harbor, Florida. In 2008, he was invited by a friend to participate in the Bloom’n Chalk Fest in beautiful Safety Harbor, Florida. He loved the tactile nature of the medium and appreciated the act of pure artmaking, given the temporary state of the final piece. Doug’s chalk art has received numerous awards at chalk events, including: Bloom’n Chalk Fest, Safety Harbor, FL Best Piece (Classical) – 2008, Best Piece (Wild Things) – 2016, and People’s Choice – 2017; Hyde Park TBBCA Chalk Walk, Tampa, FL Best Small Piece – 2010; Hippiefest, Clearwater, FL 1st Place – 2011; and Clearwater Beach Chalk Art Festival, Clearwater Beach, FL 2nd Place – 2013
Cass Womack has devoted her life to education and the arts. After teaching programming and animation for 4 years and working another 10 as a production artist in the video game industry, Cass decided to take up street painting as a way to get out of the office and reconnect with the community. What started as a hobby in 2011, blossomed into a lifestyle. Cass now travels all over the US and Canada sharing her unique, colorful style, her vast knowledge and love of public art. She loves to experiment with new techniques, surfaces and mediums.
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