Beautiful chalk faces created on a Little Italy street!

A beautiful face comes alive on a Little Italy street. Amazing chalk art will be a central attraction at the annual Festa celebration in San Diego.
A beautiful face comes alive on a Little Italy street. Amazing chalk art will be a central attraction at the annual Festa celebration in San Diego.

Tomorrow Festa will be enjoyed by thousands of people in Little Italy. One of the annual festival’s biggest attraction is the amazing chalk art, which is also known as Gesso Italiano. Today the chalk artists began creating their masterpieces. Their unusual canvas is two blocks of asphalt along Beech Street.

I walked this afternoon from Cortez Hill down to Little Italy, to see how far the artwork has progressed. Most of the artists had already made a good start.

I looked with wonder at many colorful chalk art faces that have gradually come to life. The artists, when drawing a human form, often begin with the face. So many beautiful faces were gazing up from the asphalt.

Festa begins tomorrow, Sunday, at 10 o’clock. Thousands will enjoy the finished chalk masterpieces. I will definitely be there!

Chalk artists line two blocks of Beech Street. It's a very special October weekend in downtown San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood.
Chalk artists line two blocks of Beech Street. It’s a very special October weekend in downtown San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood.
This chalk artist uses a grid to form his emerging creation.
This chalk artist uses a grid to form his emerging creation.
Another face mysteriously materializes on the street. Many different colors of chalk can be used to create subtle effects.
Another face mysteriously materializes on the street. Many different colors of chalk can be used to create subtle effects.
Elaborate chalk artwork, also known as Gesso Italiano, is being created the day before 2016 Festa begins in Little Italy.
Elaborate chalk artwork, also known as Gesso Italiano, is being created the day before 2016 Festa begins in Little Italy.
Chalk can be used to produce truly sensational images.
Chalk can be used to produce truly sensational images.
Another chalk artist at work creating a bold face in the middle of the street.
Another chalk artist at work creating a bold face in the middle of the street.
Many classical images borrowed from Italy's rich culture will appear tomorrow on Beech Street for 2016 Festa.
Many classical images borrowed from Italy’s rich history and culture will appear tomorrow on Beech Street for 2016 Festa.
Chalk and asphalt. Passion and skill. A human face is born.
Chalk and asphalt. Passion and skill. A human face is born.
Eyes peer up from the street, regarding a talented chalk artist.
Eyes peer up from the street, patiently regarding a skilled chalk artist.
A colorful chalk angel in Little Italy.
A colorful chalk angel almost ready to take flight in Little Italy.
A beautiful face beneath a halo.
A beautiful face beneath a halo.
Flying purple hair, and a glowing face in the sunlight.
Flying purple hair, and a glowing face in the sunlight.
A laughing face slowly takes life. Chalk artists have converged to create beautiful art in Little Italy for Festa!
These eyes have been infused with life. Chalk artists have converged to create beautiful art in Little Italy for 2016 Festa!

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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.

7 thoughts on “Beautiful chalk faces created on a Little Italy street!”

  2. I am reminded again of how temporary art… graffiti, chalk painting, sand sculptures, art to be burned at events such as Burning Man, etc., have become part of our modern life. What do you think it reflects about our world, Richard? –Curt

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    1. I don’t know if I can draw a definite conclusion. Chalk art and sand sculptures have always been temporary–it’s their nature. Graffiti and Burning Man seem like something else, something new in our modern world– Perhaps many people in an increasingly hectic, materialistic, secular society don’t readily accept the idea of selfless permanent truth or beauty. Graffiti in many instances is marking out territory, imposing the self upon others. It is often subversive, in your face. It often rejects established ideals. Burning art seems almost like an act of despair. Everything is temporary. Everything turns to dust. I don’t know. Perhaps I’m just being reactionary. People are complex. The world is complex. Two contradictory sayings both seem to be true. There is nothing new under the sun . . . and the only permanent thing is change.

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      1. Thanks for the thoughtful response, Richard. I have often thought about the question, particularly since I have been to Burning Man many times and have seen much beautiful art go up in flames. (Much of the art from there doesn’t burn and now graces communities around the world.) It seems to me to reflect an Eastern perspective, impermanence, as you have suggested. Let go… –Curt

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  3. Pingback: Cool photo memories from October 2016. – Cool San Diego Sights!

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