The Marketplace got a bit more colorful on Oct. 11-12 with the 10th annual Via Arte.
The event, which was put on by the Bakersfield Museum of Art, had artists of all ages and experience levels from all over Bakersfield drawing both originals and re-creations on the two parking lots in front of the fountain.
Participating artists included professionals, amateurs and students. Many worked in a group, but others worked individually.
There was also a separate section for younger children called Via Bambino.
Jennifer Williams, who participated in her seventh Via Arte in Bakersfield and 10th overall, worked on a piece that was a Halloween-inspired recreation of the Dante Gabriel Rossetti “La Ghirlandata” painting.
“There is nothing more fun than inhaling chalk dust, getting dirty and having rainbow snot,” Williams said. “Some people like to go off-roading. This is like the off-roading of the art world.”
Darla Kendrick recreated one of Marc Davis’ stretching room portraits featured in the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland for her fourth year at Via Arte.
“My dance company is my sponsor. I do it every year. I just write them a letter saying, ‘It’s time again. Send me a check,'” Kendrick said with a laugh.
For many of the participating artists, chalk and soft pastels are not their usual medium. Williams said she usually works with acrylic and pencils, and Kendrick said her choice in medium depends on what the project calls for.
“I work in whatever I feel like that day,” she said. “Whatever seems to work in the moment.”
There were plenty of spectators at the Marketplace both days to see the artists’ creativity in action.
“[Via Arte] shows you that there’s a lot more talent in Bakersfield than people think,” said Kathryn Burnett. “We need to support local art in order for the art community in Bakersfield to flourish.”