Mission Federal ArtWalk Returns to San Diego’s Little Italy April 28-29

Spring has finally sprung in San Diego and there is no better way to celebrate than with the largest fine arts festival in Southern California, Mission Federal ArtWalk! Returning to Little Italy for its 34^th year this Saturday, April 28 through Sunday, April 29, Mission Federal ArtWalk is San Diego’s premier arts and culture event that attracts over 100,000 visitors each year for the two-day free festival covering 17 blocks of Little Italy’s seaside streets.

Attendees have the opportunity to experience and purchase artwork from over 350 local, national and international artists showcasing every medium including painting, sculpture, glass work, photography, fine jewelry and more. Each year, guests enjoy live music and dance performances, interactive art activities, street food and family-friendly art projects at KidsWalk. New to this year’s performance line-up is ArtTALKS, which will feature Spoken Word performances by local artists.

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“We are so proud of bringing this festival to San Diego’s Little Italy for over a third of a century and connecting the community and visitors to the vibrant arts scene in San Diego,” said Sandi Cottrell, director of Mission Federal ArtWalk. “Mission Federal ArtWalk is a staple in the community bringing people from all walks of life together to enjoy the purest form of expression. No matter if you’re an avid art collector or just starting a collection, there is something for you to enjoy and experience.  Our mission is to make the possibility of owning fine art available to everyone, and the festival’s welcoming environment helps facilitate that connection.”

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Every year Mission Federal ArtWalk brings several new and unique interactive elements to the weekend-long event, and this year is no different. New to this year’s event is Artist & Craftsman’s Supply Interactive Art Project, where attendees will come together and create an abstract painting using Ampersand panels, Jacquard alcohol inks, and POSCA acrylic paint marker and Artist & Craftsman’s Community-Wide Mural, a large, community-wide painting installation using different “color quadrants” to create a rainbow effect. The mural portion of the art project will be led by fine artist Carly Ealey, known for her KAABOO Music Festival mural installations.

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Mission Federal ArtWalk will also include a unique interactive experience with a little something for everyone. The SPACE by Vanguard Culture, is a unique pop-up art experience for attendees enticing all five of the human senses, located in the new Piazza Della Famigila. On Saturday, activities include” free advice”, watching art come to life in the form of a colorful fabric installation and enjoying the hip hop musical style of Dreams Made Flesh. Sunday includes sampling ceviche from award winning chefs, viewing a fashion show by Los Angeles designer Carolina Hernandez, talking to artists and strangers to engage your intellectual side and all weekend leaving a footprint mark on a “million-dollar work of art” by artist Daniel Barron.

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“Visitors and artists are encouraged to express themselves through our interactive art experiences and uncover talents they never knew they had. While viewing the hundreds of artists’ works, attendees can connect with the artists. These interactions make the process of purchasing artwork extremely personal, as you have an opportunity to learn about each artists’ creative process,” said Cottrell. “The festival is an open environment that breeds creativity and leaves attendees feeling energized by the live music, dance, rich culture, and interactive art activities—all in beautiful Little Italy.”

The annual art festival is brought to San Diego by the same team that brings ArtWalk @ Liberty Station to the Arts District in Liberty Station every August, and ArtWalk Carlsbad to North County for its debut edition in September 2018.

Mission Federal ArtWalk will be located between Ash and Grape Streets in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, 2018 and Sunday, April 29, 2018. Attendance is free.