One of the most common questions I get is: What happens to the artwork after a chalk art festival ends? It’s a great question, and the answer depends on the festival and the city hosting it.
In some cases, like a festival I recently finished, the artwork is washed away as soon as the event wraps up. Before the streets are reopened, the city cleans everything off with power washers. For people who aren’t used to temporary art, it can be a hard thing to see all that hard work disappear in a matter of minutes. But for the chalk artists and most attendees, it’s a familiar part of the process.
Other festivals take a more natural approach. They let cars drive over the artwork right away and let the elements gradually wash it away over time. Rain, wind, and the daily hustle of the streets eventually take care of it. Sometimes, they combine both approaches—leaving the pieces to fade naturally, then removing them once they have faded enough to not be discernible.
No matter how it happens, chalk art is always temporary. And we, the chalk artists, are OK with its removal or future life after we’ve finished the work. It’s one of the unique aspects of this medium. The fleeting nature of the artwork makes it all the more special while it’s on display. You get this beautiful moment to enjoy it before it’s gone. And that, for me, is part of the magic and allure of chalk art.
Here are some videos I created to show the different ways the artwork is removed after a festival.
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