ArtWalk Celebrates 40th Anniversary with Community Mural in Little Italy

Mission Fed ArtWalk, the largest and longest running fine arts festival in Southern California, is back for its 40th year, celebrating both visual and performing arts.

Head to Little Italy at 11 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday to participate in community art projects and view, experiment with or create with new mediums.

“We believe art has the power to connect communities, cultivate new artistic talent and create a better quality of life for all through cultural enrichment,” said Curt Brooker, of ArtWalk San Diego’s director. “The festival brings thousands together to view and purchase artwork, enjoy live music and participate in interactive art experiences.”

For Mission Fed ArtWalk’s anniversary, the ArtWalk team wanted to give something back, so a mural, created by artist Jonathon Pucci, will be painted this weekend and then moved to its home at Ballast Point on India Street. See the community create it in the Piazza della Famiglia during ArtWalk festival hours.

On both Saturday and Sunday, also enjoy:

• KidsWalk, a hands-on experience provided by arts education groups from throughout San Diego County.
• An art demonstration by Blick Art Materials using Cyanotype photo reactive cloth. When an item is placed atop the cloth in the sun, a silhouette of the item appears in the cloth. Visit the Blick booth in front of their storefront, 1844 India.
• Guests can create their own watercolor bookmark with help from Artist and Craftsman Supply. Materials include watercolor paper and paints, a variety of leaves, a small paintbrush and masking fluid. For artists of all skill levels, the acitivity is near the corner of India and Cedar Street.
• Watch the piazza turn into a floral oasis, as participants use sing tissue paper, pipe cleaners to make paper flowers to add to ArtWalk’s anniversary display. 
• Celebrate 40 years of ArtWalk by printing a custom commemorative ArtWalk t-shirt in the piazza. 

ArtWalk attracts 100,000 art collectors and visitors to purchase art from established and emerging artists.