Amazing Balboa Park chalk art at Little Italy’s Festa!

Friendly artist at 2015 Festa in San Diego's Little Italy shows me the source material for her Balboa Park themed chalk art creation!
Amazing artist at 2015 Festa in San Diego’s Little Italy.  Smiling, she shows me the source material for her Balboa Park themed chalk art!

Brace yourself! Here come dozens of super cool photos! Check out the amazing chalk art created today for 2015 Festa in San Diego’s Little Italy!  The special theme this year is the centennial of Balboa Park!

Gesso Italiano chalk art is a tradition at Little Italy’s Festa, and every year I’m blown away by all the colorful creations. Most of the images this year are inspired by beautiful Balboa Park, or paintings or artifacts contained in its museums. I arrived to take photos about an hour before the event opened, and many artists were still hard at work. I spoke to one who said their masterpiece took about seven hours to complete. Now that’s dedication to art!

I’ve inserted the team name at the beginning of each caption. Enjoy!

Cecelia Ramos Linayao. Face of child riding Balboa Park's hundred-year-old carousel, which debuted in 1915 for the Panama California Exposition.
Cecelia Ramos Linayao. Face of child riding Balboa Park’s hundred-year-old carousel, which debuted in 1915 for the Panama California Exposition.
Lesley Perdomo. Madonna and child, a popular theme of Gesso Italiano artwork.
Lesley Perdomo. Madonna and child, a popular theme of Gesso Italiano artwork.
Robert Guzman. I believe this might be a hippo at the world famous San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park!
Robert Guzman. I believe this might be a hippo at the world famous San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park!
Tonie Garza. The iconic El Cid Campeador statue in the Plaza de Panama. Chalk art celebrating Balboa Park's centennial in 2015.
Tonie Garza. The iconic El Cid Campeador statue in the Plaza de Panama. Chalk art celebrating Balboa Park’s centennial in 2015.
Team Parada. A beautiful face with elaborately styled hair.
Team Parada. A beautiful face with elaborately styled hair.
I didn't get the team name, but this exquisite white chalk portrait was one of my favorite pieces at Festa in Little Italy!
I didn’t get the team name, but this exquisite white chalk portrait was one of my favorite pieces at this year’s Festa in Little Italy!
Before Festa opens, chalk artists work on their creations on two blocks of Beech Street in downtown San Diego.
Before the Festa event opens, chalk artists work to finish their creations.  The art covers two blocks of Beech Street in downtown San Diego.
Squadra Terun. A vividly colorful flower. Perhaps this depicts a scene from Balboa Park's reflecting pool.
Squadra Terun. A vividly colorful flower. Perhaps this depicts a scene from Balboa Park’s reflecting pool.
A bit of random chalk art on the street near the official Festa competition entries.
A bit of random chalk art on the street.  I spotted this near the official Festa competition entries.
Ciao! A chalk image of lilies and koi in the reflecting pool and the Botanical Building in Balboa Park.
Ciao! A chalk image of lilies and koi in the reflecting pool, and the Botanical Building in Balboa Park.
I didn't get the team name. The artist was working from what appeared to be a poster or advertisement with the word Ventimiglia, which is a city in Northern Italy.
I didn’t get the team name. The artist was working from what appeared to be a poster or advertisement with the word Ventimiglia, which is a city in Northern Italy.
Lisa Bernal Brethour. Delicate white blooms formed of chalk.
Lisa Bernal Brethour. Delicate white blooms formed of chalk.
Brianna Cunha. Stylish Gesso Italiano art appears to possibly show bubbles, a glass of beer and wheat.
Brianna Cunha. This stylish Gesso Italiano art appears to possibly show bubbles, a glass of beer and wheat.
Bijan Masoumpanah. This chalk art seems to depict a classic sculpture of a bearded head.
Bijan Masoumpanah. This chalk art seems to depict a classic sculpture of a bearded head.
Valerie Michelle. A super colorful parrot and tropical fish!
Valerie Michelle. A super colorful parrot and tropical fish!
Weenie Kingdom. One of the carved wooden horses from the historic Balboa Park Carousel.
Weenie Kingdom. One of the carved wooden horses from the historic Balboa Park Carousel.
Salgado. Perhaps one can see this big cat at the San Diego Zoo!
Salgado. Perhaps one can see this big cat at the San Diego Zoo!
Killer Queens. Dinosaur skull represents what one is likely to see at the Natural History Museum in Balboa Park.
Killer Queens. Dinosaur skull represents what one is likely to see at the Natural History Museum in Balboa Park.
Cobian. Figure in flowing red dress reclining on a couch.
Cobian. Figure in flowing red dress reclining on a couch.
Team Arcala. Chalk interpretation of the historic Cabrillo Bridge and California Building. The artist had looked for hundred-year-old photos of the bridge under construction, without success.
Team Arcala. Chalk interpretation of the historic Cabrillo Bridge and California Building. The artist had looked for hundred-year-old photos of the bridge under construction, but without success.
Meg. A big smile and a boldly colored work of chalk art taking form on a San Diego street during Festa!
Meg. A big smile and a boldly colored work of chalk art taking form on a San Diego street during 2015 Festa!
Team Pinoy. California Tower and the words Balboa Park Centennial Celebration 2015.
Team Pinoy. California Tower and the words Balboa Park Centennial Celebration 2015.
Team Chalkolate. Another chalk representation of the famous El Cid equestrian sculpture near the center of Balboa Park.
Team Chalkolate. Another chalk representation of the famous El Cid equestrian sculpture near the center of Balboa Park.
Campo Elementary. These gifted students won first place last year! What will this chalk art creation be?
Campo Elementary. These gifted students won first place last year! What will this chalk creation be?
John Vaughn. Chalk version of ornate plaster designs above the west arched entrance to Balboa Park.
John Vaughn. Chalk version of ornate plaster designs above the west arched entrance to Balboa Park.
Two blocks in Little Italy were full of rampant creativity this morning.
Two blocks in Little Italy were full of rampant creativity this morning.
Michael Zamora. Fantastic chalk face based on an Italian painting in the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park.
Michael Zamora. Fantastic chalk face based on an Italian painting in the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park.
Art Within Reach. I thought at first this might be a dog in the lily pond. Then I thought it might be Moby Dick. It's actually a polar bear at the zoo! No ears yet!
Art Within Reach. I thought at first this might be a dog in the lily pond. Then I thought it might be Moby Dick. It’s actually a polar bear at the zoo! No ears yet!
Team Pierre. Vintage images take form as a skilled Gesso Italiano artist takes on the cool theme of Balboa Park's centennial.
Team Pierre. Vintage images take form as a skilled Gesso Italiano artist takes on the cool theme of Balboa Park’s centennial.
Kira Lewis-Martinez. More cool chalk art with a nostalgic feel. The Panama California Exposition marked Balboa Park's debut in 1915.
Kira Lewis-Martinez. More cool chalk art with a nostalgic feel. The Panama California Exposition marked Balboa Park’s debut in 1915.
Lydia Puentes Phillips. Very color koi swimming in the Balboa Park reflecting pool. Great chalk art that captures one of my favorite places!
Lydia Puentes Phillips. Very color koi swimming in the Balboa Park reflecting pool. Great chalk art that captures one of my favorite places!
Raney and Talbott. These guys are basing their image on one of the arched walkways along El Prado--specifically the one next to the Timken Museum.
Raney and Talbott. These artists are basing their image on one of the elegant passageways along El Prado–specifically the one next to the Timken Museum.
Coronado High School. A completed portion of what should eventually be a stunning work of art.
Coronado High School. A completed portion of what should eventually be a stunning work of art.
Liberty Charter High School. A fun giraffe and zebra!
Liberty Charter High School. A fun chalk art giraffe and zebra!
Canyon Crest Academy. The most popular inspiration for this year's Balboa Park centennial theme is the reflecting pool with its beautiful koi and lilies.
Canyon Crest Academy. By far the most popular inspiration for this year’s Balboa Park centennial theme is the reflecting pool with its color-splashed koi and lilies.
Lidia F. Vasquez. Wow! This elaborate mask is super inventive! It's formed out of elements from Balboa Park's unique architecture!
Lidia F. Vasquez. Wow! This elaborate mask is super inventive! It’s formed out of elements from Balboa Park’s unique architecture!
Torrey Hills Elementary School. Gesso Italiano artwork is a tradition at the Festa celebration in Little Italy. I look forward to it every year!
Torrey Hills Elementary School. Gesso Italiano artwork is a tradition at the Festa celebration in Little Italy. I look forward to it every year!
San Diego High School. A girl with a camera in the Botanical Building! I love it!
San Diego High School. A girl with a camera in the Botanical Building! I love it!
Faithful Ambassadors Bible Baptist Academy. Cherry blossoms courtesy of the Japanese Friendship Garden! Is this awesome, or what?
Faithful Ambassadors Bible Baptist Academy. Cherry blossoms courtesy of the Japanese Friendship Garden! Is this awesome, or what?
Washington Elementary STEAM Magnet, based right here in Little Italy! Lots of little colorful scenes along the border.
Washington Elementary STEAM Magnet, based right here in Little Italy! Lots of little colorful scenes along the border.
Team Noni. A very colorful tiger comes alive on the street! More zoo chalk art!
Team Noni. A very colorful tiger comes alive on the street! More amazing zoo animal art!
Julyen Ecoffey. Mother and child spending a sunlit day in San Diego's wonderful Balboa Park.
Julyen Ecoffey. Mother and child spending a sunlit day in San Diego’s wonderful Balboa Park.
Cathedral Catholic High School. Lady with umbrella faces the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Another great image.
Cathedral Catholic High School. Lady with umbrella faces the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Another great image.
Sycamore Ridge Elementary. Not only are there lily pads in the reflecting pool, but there's an Italian gondola! And an Italian flag over the Botanical Building!
Sycamore Ridge Elementary. Not only are there lily pads and flowers in the reflecting pool, but there’s a Venetian gondola! And an Italian flag over the Botanical Building!
Dos Mustachios. One of the two fountains near either end of the Botanical Building. The actual fountains were recently restored by the Friends of Balboa Park.
Dos Mustachios. One of the two fountains near either end of the Botanical Building. The actual fountains were recently restored by the Friends of Balboa Park.
Torrey Pines High School, National Art Honor Society. I could feast my eyes on this glowing chalk artwork all day long!
Torrey Pines High School, National Art Honor Society. I could feast my eyes on this glowing chalk artwork all day long!
Elisabeth Eckert. Abstract image of Moreton Bay fig tree roots, probably either near the Palm Canyon stairs or Natural History Museum.
Elisabeth Eckert. Abstract image of Moreton Bay fig tree roots, probably either near the Palm Canyon stairs or Natural History Museum.
Mel Clarkston Art. It's a green people mover! I see colored tiles from Spanish Village, flags from the International Cottages, and a butterfly from the Zoro Garden!
Mel Clarkston Art. It’s a green people mover! I see colored tiles from Spanish Village, flags from the International Cottages, and a butterfly from the Zoro Garden!
Mount Miguel High School. Everyone loves the reflecting pool. The calm natural beauty is inspiring.
Mount Miguel High School. Everyone loves the reflecting pool. The calm natural beauty is inspiring.
San Pasqual High School. Classic images from Balboa Park rendered using simple, colored chalk. Fantastic!
San Pasqual High School. Classic images from Balboa Park rendered using simple, colored chalk. Fantastic!
The creativity couldn't be contained! It flowed right out of the specified boundary and onto the nearby asphalt!
The creativity couldn’t be contained! It flowed right out of the specified boundary and onto the nearby asphalt!
Steve Alan and Friends. Simple but captivating.
Steve Alan and Friends. Simple but captivating.
Aaron Hernandez. This is crazy! Looks like Planet of the Apes! I'm guessing these are hip simians who hang out at the San Diego Zoo...
Aaron Hernandez. This is crazy! Looks like Planet of the Apes! I’m guessing these are hip simians who hang out at the San Diego Zoo…
Team Arancio. A portion of this chalk art resembles that cool mural painted earlier this year in Spanish Village for the Balboa Park centennial.
Team Arancio. A portion of this chalk art resembles that cool mural painted earlier this year in Spanish Village for the Balboa Park centennial.
Chalk Riot. Wow! I love this! The nice artist said she incorporated elements from throughout Balboa Park, including the facade of the Museum of Man.
Chalk Riot. Wow! I love this! The nice artist said she incorporated elements from throughout Balboa Park, including the facade of the Museum of Man.
Godfrey's. And finally a stooping giraffe. The San Diego Zoo is a favorite place in amazing Balboa Park.
Godfrey’s. And finally a stooping giraffe. The San Diego Zoo is a favorite place in amazing Balboa Park.
Soon thousands will crowd the street to enjoy this great chalk art. I swung by early and got photos of works in progress!
Soon thousands will crowd the street to enjoy this great chalk art. I swung by early and got photos of works in progress!

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Published by

Richard Schulte

Downtown San Diego has been my home for many years. My online activities reflect my love for writing, blogging, walking and photography.

29 thoughts on “Amazing Balboa Park chalk art at Little Italy’s Festa!”

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