West Bend, WI – The idea is simple: Make art, have fun, spread joy. The Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA) announces Chalk the State, a statewide event scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, July 25 – 26, 2020.
At the heart of summer MOWA is encouraging families, teens, artists, seniors, and people of all artistic inclinations to turn driveways, sidewalks, and parking lots into raucous and colorful works of chalk art for their neighborhood to enjoy. This all ages, all skill level, totally inclusive, free-for-all explosion of creativity and expressivity is all about coloring the state of Wisconsin with inspiration, optimism, and joy.
Leading Arts organizations throughout Wisconsin are partnering with MOWA for this two-day chalk art extravaganza taking place in communities across the state from Bayfield to Baraboo, Racine to Rhinelander, Eau Claire to Fond du Lac. Partnering organizations include the Milwaukee Art Museum, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Miller Art Museum, Paine Art Center and Gardens, Rahr West Art Museum, Racine Art Museum, Sculpture Milwaukee, and Wisconsin Visual Artists.
“Chalk the State is the perfect way to bring the creative energy of Wisconsin to each and every neighborhood. Our mission is to color the state one sidewalk at a time,” said MOWA Executive Director Laurie Winters. “Partnering with arts organizations across the state is unprecedented, and speaks to the respect and support arts organizations have for one another and for the communities they serve.”
Chalk the State took inspiration from MOWA’s annual Art & Chalk Fest which was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19. Each summer the museum parking lot became a concrete canvas for chalk artists to create ephemeral masterpieces that 20,000 visitors could enjoy while walking around the museum’s campus.
This year MOWA shifts the event to everyone’s front door, inspiring Wisconsinites to create their own colorful art right outside their homes and businesses for their entire neighborhood to enjoy.
Being a part of this event is easy. Anyone can host a chalk event in their own town or city and invite the community to join in the fun. Join the Facebook page at Facebook.com/chalkthestate or visit chalkthestate.com for event details.
Arts organizations wishing to partner with MOWA for this event should email info@wisconsinart.org.
Media interested in becoming a media sponsor should email marketing@wisconsinart.org.
chalkthestate.com | Facebook.com/chalkthestate | #chalkthestate
