CHULA VISTA – Southwestern College’s 8th annual street painting festival this week was a fanfare of color and wonder as artists from all over San Diego convened to strut their stuff and promote Women’s History Month.
Spectators were able to spend two days looking at great chalk and graffiti art, eating at one of the food carts available, or shopping at the various clothing and accessory stands set up along Jaguar Walk.
The theme of this year’s event—“Celebrating Women of Character, Courage & Commitment”—attracted more than 60 chalk artists and raised more than $3,700 for the college’s Women’s Resource Center.
Event organizer Brenda Mora said she was blown away by all the community involvement, which included college and community artists and even a Girl Scout troop.
“The part I really loved was seeing all the parents with their kids,” Mora said. “Members of the college got really involved too.”
Best in Show went to the Southwestern College student club, Art Collective, for “Women Against Human Trafficking.” The chalk-painted image of a female form huddled within a box was a commentary on the illegal sex trade.
Twelve-year-old Lidia Fernanda Vasquez took the Best Portrayal of Women’s History award with her portrait of Frida Kahlo.
Mora said Lidia has been competing in the event since she was 9 years old and she now works with, and competes against, chalk artists throughout the county.
Cecilia Linayao, a professional artist, and Giovanni Cerda, a Southwestern College student, took home the Most Original award for their graffiti art titled, “I Am Malala.”
The canvas contained a chilling image of Malala Yousafzai, with half her face de-fleshed, allowing the viewers to see the bone beneath. Yousafzai is the Pakastani women’s rights activist who was wounded by a Taliban gunman in October 2012 for speaking up for the right of girls to be educated.
Best Technique went to Hugo Moreno for this dazzling portrait of the late actress Audrey Hepburn and the Committee’s Choice Award went to Jorge Donate for “Queen of My World,” a street painting dedicated to his mother.
View more photos of the festival here.
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HUGO MORENO – Winning chalk artist Hugo Moreno creates his masterpiece of Audrey Hepburn. |
KAHLO – The finished chalk entry of winning 12-year-old artist Lidia Fernanda Vasquez. |
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MALALA – The haunting graffiti art that pays tribute to woman activist Malala Yousafzai. |
