Chalk it Up at Midtown Art Fest

COEUR d'ALENE - Chalk artists will be creating exciting, one-of-a-kind work from 5-8 p.m. Aug. 15 at Chalk it Up, a community sidewalk chalk art show.

The show will feature 11 artists from Coeur d'Alene and Spokane and will take place from Montana and Roosevelt avenues along the Fourth Street sidewalks in Midtown as part of the Midtown Art Fest, which begins at 4 p.m.

"It's an idea to bring artists together to have a place to do free-spirited and inventive art using a medium that's transitory," said Barb Mueller, founder of Gizmo-CDA. "It's not permanent."

Festival organizer Taylor Burgeson has worked at Capone's for about 15 years and said she has always wanted to tie the Midtown community together with a neighborhood celebration.

"I'm so excited," she said. "I've always liked the community feel we get just from the customers here."

This is the first time a music and art festival will take place in Midtown, something Burgeson said she has been thinking about organizing for years.

"I think this area has always been really creative," she said, referring to the antique and boutique shops that have appeared in that area in recent years as well as the artistic atmosphere of the neighborhood.

The parking lot south of Fray will be used for vendors and Burgeson said she is working on scheduling about five performers. Vendor booths are still available and $25 for a 10-by-10-foot space. The fee will be waived for kids ages 12 and younger who want to run a booth.

"It's tapping into that community energy," Burgeson said.

Gizmo-CDA will be hosting creative kids activities and participants will be able to purchase their own squares to decorate in chalk or buy posters from the artists with proceeds going to Gizmo.

The event is free and open to the public. It is presented in conjunction with Gizmo-CDA and Art on the Edge.

Info: iheartmidtowncda@gmail.com.