Imagine dozens of artists coming together…

creating art directly on the streets of our city…

all while making a difference to deaf children and their families.

Via Colori®, a Street Painting Festival, is a unique event that attracts thousands of families throughout Houston to celebrate an artistic journey and make a difference to a truly worthy organization, The Center for Hearing and Speech. The festival, presented by AIG, will showcase more than 175 artists, professional and amateur, who will create original works of art on the street in a pastel medium. Gourmet cuisine, entertainment and children’s activities will round out this spectacular fall weekend in Sam Houston Park and the surrounding streets of Allen Parkway and Bagby. The two-day event, free to the public, will raise awareness of CHS’s mission to help children with hearing impairments, as well as help raise much needed funds.

The Artist at Work

We invite you to become an artist in Houston’s Via Colori. All that is required of you is your artistic talent on the days of the festival. Your art supplies, a t-shirt, an artists’ reception and other benefits are all funded by generous sponsors. As a Via Colori artist, you will create a work of art using pastels and asphalt as your media. Environmentally, soap-based pastels are similar to the oil-based pastels many artists are familiar with and will be provided to each artist at the launch of the event. No other media or material is permitted.

The artists are not required to submit preliminary sketches or concepts; they are free to create any artwork that complies with two rules: it must be appropriate for public, family viewing; and no commercial messaging – logos, slogans or spokes-characters – is allowed.

Artist Squares, sponsored by businesses, companies and individuals, will be 4’ X 4’, 6’ X 6’ and 10’ by 10’. You may choose to paint any size square at the time you sign up, and the square location and sponsor will be assigned at the artists’ reception the evening before Via Colori. Depending on how quickly you work, a small square can be painted with a moderately complex drawing within three or fours hours, with plenty of time for breaks with the other artists.

Artist Workshops

Via Colori artist workshops are beneficial for a variety of reasons. Professional street painting artist, Melanie Stimmell, will conduct a workshop demonstrating different techniques, explain the highlights and challenges of street painting, and give you tips. You will also have an opportunity to meet fellow Via Colori artists, see numerous photos of festivals in other cities as well as photos from our inaugural event, and have the opportunity to ask questions. This is a good time to sketch out your design, get feedback and recruit any assistants.

To sign up as an artist or for more details, please contact Ashly at 713.523.3633, ext. 123 or visit www.HoustonViaColori.com. You will receive more information about the event after submitting this on-line form. Don’t hesitate! We are expecting a lot of artistic support at this exciting event and the number of artists is limited by the number of square sponsors).

We hope you’ll help support The Center for Hearing and Speech and join us in this celebration of creativity on November 17 and 18, 2007.