Gunnison Legacy Wall unveiling will kick off with Chalk Art Festival
Robert Stevens
Managing editor
Sept. 14, 2017
GUNNISON—A chalk art festival is being held in Gunnison on Saturday, Sept. 23 to kick off the unveiling celebration of the Gunnison Valley Legacy Wall.
“Chalk it up!” will be held at the corner of Center and Main Street from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Aimee Bonham, street painter and artist, from Dana Point, California will direct the hands-on experience that can include anyone and everyone of all ages and all skill levels.
Bonham is an experienced chalk artist and festival director. She has served as the director of the Kayenta Street Painting Festival in St. George, and participated as an artist in many shows throughout the West.
“Aimee is excited to share her experience and talents with us,” says Lori Nay, founding director of the Casino Star Theatre, a sponsor of the festival.
According to Nay, Bonham plans to create a design with an overall image that will be made of 2’ x 2’ squares on the pavement just north of the Legacy Plaza. Each participant will be given a square which they will paint with color, lines, and shapes of their choosing. At the end of the day, the many squares will come together to create a vivid, dynamic mural that will be meaningful to those who participated and to the crowd that will enjoy it as part of the unveiling celebration that evening, which will be from 5-8 p.m.
Participants can sign up to reserve a time and a square by contacting Nay at 435-979-9235 or lorinay@gmail.com. Participants can also sign up, receive their pastels and pick a square
during the day of the event between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
“We want to accommodate anyone who shows up and wants to participate in this ‘first-time-ever’ experience,” Nay says.
In addition to sponsorship by the Casino Star Theatre, Chalk It Up! is funded by the Utah
Arts Council, through the Random Acts of Art Grant.
“We wish to thank Gunnison City for the street closure and the temporary use of Center Street for our canvas for this art experience,” Nay says.
Signups are helpful but not required. Though there is no fee for participation, but a donation of $5 would be appreciated to help offset the cost of materials, says Nay.
