Via Colori Festival Artist Named

SBISD Via Colori Apprendista artist Kira Slentz poses with the artwork she
will recreate at the festival at the intersection of  Bagby and Walker.

Spring Woods High junior Kira Slentz has been selected as this year’s Via Colori Apprendista artist for the annual downtown street painting festival.

Kira will recreate an unusual fantasy character that she first created in soft pastel chalk on a downtown street during the Via Colori Street Painting Festival, which will be celebrated Nov. 22-23.  Her artwork will be located on a six by six ft. square at the intersection of Bagby and Walker.

Spring Woods High senior Lilya Gehman was also selected to participate in designing one of the the SWHS ten by ten ft. group squares.  Multiple SWHS students will create the final street painting masterpieces.

The Via Colori Street Painting Festival is a free, two-day event that attracts up to 25,000 visitors annually. The streets of downtown Houston become a giant canvas during the festival for artists that range from students like Kira to professional street painters from across the nation and Mexico.

SBISD Via Colori Apprendista artist Lilya Gehman was selected
as one of the artists to create a group street painting at the
intersection of  Walker and Smith.  Her work is shown above
(right).

The theme for this year’s festival is “The Art of Sound.” Street artists young and old will draw inspiration from music and nature to remind festivalgoers of the amazing gift of sound. The festival benefits The Center for Hearing and Speech, for which it has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. LINN Energy is this year’s festival sponsor. 

Several other Spring Woods High student artists are expected to join Kira and her teacher, Crystal Fiocchi, at the downtown festival. Several Spring Woods High teachers and students have been featured in recent years at this festival.

This year’s event will include several new features:  Tromp I’oeil, a 3-D chalk art section; strolling performers; and an exclusive Mood Lounge.

Returning popular features include Via Bambini, a street chalk section for kids; IKEA Scavenger Hunt; live music on three stages; a Family Zone; and food and drink vendors.

For details on Houston Via Colori, please visit www.HoustonViaColori.com.