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A chalk artist draws a piece inspired by the Charlie Brown comic strip during a previous year's event.

Courtesy Harrington Center for the Arts

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A chalk artist creates a sidewalk art piece during the 2023 Chalk it Up festival.

Courtesy Harrington Center for the Arts

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The Adobe campus in Lehi will be transformed into a sea of chalk art this weekend.

Dozens of artists hailing from across Utah and outside of the state will convene for the sixth annual Chalk It Up festival, happening Friday and Saturday.

The Harrington Center for the Arts organizes the yearly event to provide space and opportunity for local artists to display their talents in a unique setting.

The sidewalk art competition also exposes community members to a one-in-a-kind experience without being bound by an admission price.

Summerisa Stevens, president of the Harrington Center for the Arts, says the organization aims to provide opportunities like Chalk It Up that are either free or low cost for attendees. “And that’s in order to make art more accessible regardless of, I guess, your social standings or your economic value in our community,” she said.

“Chalk art has such a unique power to inspire all ages because it removes barriers that would otherwise intimidate a nonartistic community member to participate in an art event,” Stevens added.

Artists of all ages will spend hours crafting colorful cement masterpieces on the Lehi Adobe campus.

Stevens said the event gives younger and aspiring artists the opportunity to network with professionals who may offer advice or different technique methods. “It’s just a really cool community feeling where even the best artists want to help inspire the next generation of artists to explore their creativity and to get better and better,” she said.

The history of chalk art goes back to the 16th century in Italy. It was revived in the 20th century and has become a popular activity for children and people of all ages.

Chalk It Up runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, with a free chalk art beginners class from 5-6 p.m. Friday.

Competitors will be judged according to their age category and based on a variety of factors. “We allow artists to chalk about what they’re passionate about and are excited about, and so it’s not just all one theme or one style that’s being done,” Stevens told the Daily Herald. “You have artists that all have very different styles and creative level.”

Around 15,000 people are anticipated to attend the two-day festival to watch the works of art come to life while enjoying numerous attractions including food trucks and vendor booths and even doing some chalk art of their own.

“It’s not like going to a museum where you feel like you have to be an art aficionado to be there, right? Chalk It Up is for anyone, any level. You can come and have fun and you’re gonna love what you see,” Stevens said.

The Adobe campus is located at 3900 Adobe Way in Lehi.

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