Photos: Check out the sights and scenery of the Palo Alto Festival of the Arts

by Adam Pardee August 27, 2018 1858 Views

From chalk murals to glass sculptures, the annual arts fest was as vibrant as ever.

Marlon Yanes of Redwood City blends the oranges and yellows of the nose in his chalk mural off University Avenue on Tasso Street during the Palo Alto Festival of the Arts. (Photo by Adam Pardee)

The Palo Alto Festival of the Arts returned to University Avenue this weekend, showcasing a wide range of artists, including painters and printmakers, sculptors and glass blowers, and—of course—quite a few chalk muralists. Now in its 28th year, the annual end-of-the-summer arts festival once again drew tens of thousands of spectators to downtown Palo Alto over two days.

Six Fifty photographer Adam Pardee dropped by to capture some pics of the perennial Palo Alto event. Take a look….

Clockwise from top: A man sits and plays a piano provided by The Palo Alto Festival of the Arts on University Avenue during the festival on Saturday; Bob Culbertson simultaneously performs on his twelve-string chapman stick and didjeridoo on University Avenue; Thousands of visitors walked University Avenue to shop the hundreds of artists, eat fun food, listen to interesting music, and experience the chalk art murals; Rob Tryon of Santa Barbara colors in the body of a bat that is part of his chalk art mural. (Photos by Adam Pardee)

Clockwise from top left: Metal sculptures made from metal balls, pipes, plates, and bike chains were catching many of the festival visitor’s eyes as they approached University Avenue; Mim Lennig of Palo Alto delicately brushes the eye of her chalk mural with her finger to blend the colors; Along with the hundreds of art you may find around your house, there were also many artists who made shirts, dresses, and these fine leather belts; The Palo Alto Festival of Arts blocked off ten blocks of University Avenue on Saturday and Sunday and featured hundreds of artist who showcased their photos, paintings, jewelry, sculptures, woodworking, and much more. A small section of street in the chalk art section of the festival off University Avenue was reserved for children to design and create their own chalk mural. (Photos by Adam Pardee)

Clockwise from top: Kurt McCracken of Clayton, California poses in front of his pottery and sculptures that are heavily influenced by the music of his children; A father with his daughter and son take turns getting their picture taken inside the Palo Alto Fire Department firetruck on University Avenue; A group of festival goers admire the tall, street lamp-like structures with glass pinwheels powered by the wind on University Avenue; Sweetgrass, a California Coast Music Camp alumni band, performs at the edge of the ten-block festival on University Avenue. (Photos by Adam Pardee)

Hien Nguyen of Oakland takes a small break to examine his printed version of what he hopes to create through chalk during the Palo Alto Festival of the Arts. (Photo by Adam Pardee)

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