WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAU) -- Wausau's 400 Block will turn into a giant canvas this weekend with the return of Chalkfest with the Center for the Visual Arts.
Master artist Mort McBain says chalk art draws people in like few other styles of art can do. "Most art is created somewhere else and you see the finished product. With Chalkfest you can come down here and watch these artists working on their piece, you can see how it develops, and then you can see how it look when it's all done, and it's wonderful." The art also only stays around for as long as the rain holds out, which McBain says lends to the spectacle of the pieces.
This is the 11th year of the event, and McBain says it's looking to be big. "Last year we had 340 individual spaces, that means 340 artists out here with their friends. This year the registrations are right on track to at least meet that, if not exceed it, so we're looking for a great turnout this weekend." Pre-registration is over, but you can still come down on Saturday and see if there are spaces left to work with.
McBain says the 400 Block is an excellent place to work, thanks to the wide and sturdy concrete that makes up the sidewalks. "We're one of the first events that have been here since the block was created for that purpose, and it's been great. It's been a wonderful 11 years, and the festival gets bigger every year, and we're looking to break more records this year too."
The event runs Saturday and Sunday on the 400 Block in Wausau. It's 20 dollars for a square, and you'll get a space to work at and a set of special pastel sidewalk chalks to work with.