Pastels on 5th to color downtown Loveland sidewalks
Alternatives to Violence benefit set Saturday
Mark Silvers, a high school art teacher at Resurrection Christian School in Loveland, provides a little coaching to his former student, Amarie Stocker, as she works to complete her portrait on the sidewalk on East Fifth Street in downtown Loveland during Pastels on 5th on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. The 2019 benefit for Alternatives to Violence will take place Saturday, Sept. 14, along Fifth Street between Lincoln and Cleveland avenues in downtown Loveland.
By Kate Powell
Reporter-Herald Staff Writer
Pastels on 5th is dedicated to bringing color to the sidewalks of Loveland and returns Friday and Saturday for its ninth year.
The art festival draws creatives from across the country to decorate the sidewalk squares of Fifth Street alongside the Loveland Museum.
This year, approximately 150 artists will take up the chalk to benefit Alternatives to Violence, a nonprofit dedicated to aiding victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking. ATV also provides advocacy for these individuals, and information to the general public on these issues.
Co-coordinator Amanda Waddell said, “Pastels is bringing beauty and art to our streets that lasts for weeks and sometimes months, and it’s a really fun family-friendly event, to bring awareness to not only the services that ATV offers, but the fact that this is happening in our community and there are ways to help.”
This year, Pastels on 5th is extending its lineup to include Friday, Sept. 13. Coinciding with Loveland’s Night on the Town, the festival will include a marketplace with artisan vendors, an ATV raffle and information booth, music and dancing, and Tips and Tricks from artist DaLisha Verdeyen at 5:30 p.m. Then, at 6:30 p.m. the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes March to stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence will begin.
Kyle Bannister, a 3D chalk artist, will begin his piece in the evening on Friday and prepare for the interactive portion of the work on Saturday.
“I’ve been following his stuff for a while, and he is amazing. I think the community will really get into what he’s doing and what he has planned,” Waddell said.
On Saturday the main event opens at the Loveland Museum. Kids can head over to the newly expanded play area hosted by RJ’s Amazing Events, where guest superheroes and princesses will be available to tie balloons and help children find their inner Picasso. Live music will be playing throughout the day on the main stage, with local favorites like Big Thompson Brass, Dave Beegle and Macy Warner.
Attendees of all ages can choose their favorite piece of art and vote as many times as they wish, each ballot is $1. The Juried Art, People’s Choice and Kids’ Choice Awards will be announced at 4:30. While the chalk art will remain on the sidewalks until the rain washes it away, visitors can take home a piece of the festival at the artisan marketplace.
“I think it was crafted with Loveland in mind, and over the years it has evolved to fit our community so perfectly while remaining family-friendly and free, so it’s accessible,” said Waddell, “It’s a beautiful way to represent what Loveland is as an art community, and to remind people that we are doing this for a local nonprofit and for their community.”
Admission is free, but all donations go directly to Alternatives to Violence. Find out more at pastelson5th.org and head to the Loveland Museum on Saturday to participate in the fun.
Original article published by the Loveland Reporter-Herald.