By Xermi Jenkins, Contributor
Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project’s 3rd Tampa Bay Chalk Festival will be held on Saturday, May 3, from 9 am to 4 pm on the historic Deuces corridor along 22nd St. from 7th Ave S to 9th Ave S, with the theme “Our Watery Futures.”
This year’s festival is being sponsored by the City of St. Pete along with Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) and includes an environmental panel at WADA/ArtXchange 515 22nd St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712, from noon to 1 pm.
Panelists include Professor Joseph Dorsey, USF Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Director of Food Sustainability and Security; Kira Barrera of Suncoast Sierra Club; Erica Hardison of One Community Grocery Co-op; and Jessica Lewis of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. The panel will be moderated by Maranda Douglas of the Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project.
On Monday, March 17, artists involved in the 3rd Tampa Bay Chalk Festival met for a learning session around local watery ways, led by TBEP’s Jessica Lewis.
PDAP’s Chalk Festival organizer Debi Yati Garrett, along with festival artists and community members, took part in the learning session. Moderated by PDAP board member Maranda Douglas, the session was held on Zoom and included an educational slide presentation for artists sharing insight on Tampa Bay’s waterways.
“It was an extremely educational and interesting presentation that we hope supports the artists’ understanding of some of Tampa Bay’s environmental concerns as they consider the festival’s theme as they plan their artwork,” affirmed Garrett.
The chalk festival’s focus on the environment was inspired by PDAP board member Jabaar Edmond’s work with Community Development and Training (CDAT) on local environmental issues, including the “Smell Something, Say Something” campaign.
When Garrett first came up with the idea to do a chalk festival in 2023, conversations with board members brought to light the opportunity to engage families in the important environmental issues of the region.
The event also offers local organizations the opportunity to share information as they table on the Deuces the day of the festival.
“Living in Tampa Bay, we are surrounded by water, it is in the air we breathe, the views we cherish, and the rhythms of our daily lives. Our bays, estuaries, and coastlines shape our culture, our climate, and our community,” shared Garrett. “We saw an opportunity to use art as a bridge—connecting people to place, culture to conservation, and stories to stewardship.”
“Chalk art felt like the perfect medium—playful and temporary, yet incredibly powerful in its ability to tell stories and spark awareness. It invites people of all ages to stop, observe, and connect—with the art, artists, and free art activities.”
The long-time St. Pete educator and artist relayed how the festival has served “a space where creativity flourishes and where people can collectively explore the link between cultural expression and environmental responsibility.”
She noted that by blending creativity with environmental education, the festival aims to inspire the community to “view our waterways not just as beautiful backdrops, but as living, vital parts of our ecosystem that deserve our care and protection.”
Support for this year’s festival came from sponsors including the City of St. Petersburg, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, WADA/ArtsXchange, Deuces Live, Creative Pinellas, A Mother’s Arms, and businesses along the 22nd Street Corridor.
Garrett added that free festivals become a testament to the power of community-led initiatives. “Though the chalk eventually washes away, the impressions it leaves behind are lasting, and we hope, help people feel connected to the land and water around them.”
To learn more, visit https://tbchalkfest.com, and follow the event on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tampabaychalkfestival, Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/1125457646067895.
To find out about Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project, visit https://pinellasdap.org, and follow them on Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/pinellasdap, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/PinellasDAP, and Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/pinellas-diaspora-arts-project.
