Sarasota Chalk Festival Competes for World Record

Sarasota Chalk Festival founder, Denise Kowal, confirms acceptance to complete for a Guinness Book World Record by creating the Largest Anamorphic Pavement Art at the Venice Municipal Airport Festival Grounds during the 2014 Sarasota Chalk Festival in Venice, Florida, its new location after six successful seasons in the City of Sarasota.

“I am thrilled to announce that Kurt Wenner, founder of anamorphic pavement art, has agreed to design our 17,000+ square foot installation”. Kowal announced at the Feathers & Fins fundraiser at Fins at Sharky’s on the Pier, Friday evening.
Anamorphic, or 3D pavement art, was invented by Kurt Wenner in 1984. By adapting the Renaissance techniques of perspectival anamorphosis, Wenner was able to transfer the illusion of soaring architecture and floating figures from the ceiling to the ground below. Using a new geometry with oblique angles he was able to create compositions that appear to rise from, or fall into, the ground.
Renowned artist and author of “Sidewalk Canvas: Chalk Pavement Art at Your Feet”, the first book published about street painting as an art form, Julie Kirk, will lead the international team that includes many national and local artist to create the largest underwater scene to honor the theme ‘Extinct and Endangered Species’ during the 2014 Sarasota Chalk Festival.
“Having the opportunity to break a world record at any point in time is an honor,” says Kowal, “To be able to inspire and bring recognition to our community, while providing lasting memories for all our participants, is why we started.”
The Sarasota Chalk Festival bring the global community of artists from around the world, together once a year, to host famous artists, in pavement arts and has debuted the largest number of breakthroughs in the art form than any other event worldwide. Notably Edgar Mueller created the first day/night pavement art in 2010 ‘Save Me,’ Kurt Wenner multi-tier anamorphic pavement 2012 ‘Circus Parade,’ Michael Kirby Opera Set 2011 with the Sarasota Opera performed Madame Butterfly in full costume and Anthony Cappetto showcased the first Augmented Reality pavement art along with Leon Keer ‘Lego Army’ in 2011.
The current world record for anamorphic art measuring 16,900 square feet was awarded in Germany in 2012. It broke the 2007 world record of 8,073 square feet held in the Netherlands. All the world-record holders have performed at the Sarasota Chalk Festival in past seasons and may even lend their hand in securing this world record for the U.S.A. “We all support each other,” says Kowal.
“The record is within our reach”, says Kowal. “It will take several weeks and dozens of professional pavement artists, local artists and hundreds of volunteers to complete. Not to mention the tremendous amount of supplies that will be used.” Kowal is hopeful that supporters will rally to raise the funds needed to secure the World Record in Venice. “With the help of major sponsors like Fairfield Inn & Suites Venice, official Guinness World Book Lodging Sponsor, who will house the lead artists for 140 room-nights, we are well on our way” explains Kowal.
The Guinness Book 3D installation will take place at the Venice Municipal Airport Festival Grounds. It will open to the public on November 14th, when visitors will have the opportunity to enter the painting and have their photo taken as a part of the scene between November 14th and 17th.
Kowal explains, “This is an interactive installation. Major sponsors will have benefits that include working with the artists, picking species to be included and even a possible cameo in the final artwork.” Sponsorship opportunities are currently available.
For more information on the Guinness World Record installation please contact Denise Kowal at (941) 954-5800 or by email at Denise@ChalkFestival.org.

The Sarasota Chalk Festival has relocated to Venice, Florida after six successful seasons in the City of Sarasota. Scheduled for November 10-17, 2014, the festival became the first international street painting festival in the USA in 2010 and remains the only one to date. It is a local community-based cultural event that welcomes, once a year, the global community of the most renown pavement artists from around the world to participate, creating artwork to support a chosen theme. It is known to host the most innovations and world-debuts of the art form than any other event worldwide that included Edgar Muller’s day/night painting ‘Save Me’, Kurt Wenner’s ‘Circus Parade’, Leon Keer’s ‘Lego Army’ and Anthony Cappetto’s ‘Augmented Reality’. Notable performers include daredevil Nik Wallenda, who in 2012 performed with his wife on 60’ sway poles for the festival’s circus theme. The Sarasota Chalk Festival in Venice 2014 is produced by Avenida de Colores, Inc, a 501c3 cultural arts charitable organization. It is the first and only international festival in Sarasota county that is free for all to participate in and attend.

Avenida de Colores, Inc. is a cultural arts 501C3 charitable organization that is entirely volunteer. It partners with communities to draw tourism and commerce to area businesses, and creates cultural experiences that create a sense of place and joyous memories for residents. The organization focuses on pavement artists and art where chalk/pastels are used as the medium and the road surface as a canvas. They have over 50 outreach programs that work with area artists as well as schools, libraries and other communities around the globe. This volunteer structured group produces the world renowned Sarasota Chalk Festival, as well as the Going Vertical Program and the Floralia Infiorata 2015.

For more information about Avenida de Colores, Inc. and the 2014 Chalk Festival in Venice please visit our website ChalkFestival.org or contact Denise Kowal, Festival Founder, at Denise@ChalkFestival.org.