We got an exclusive impromptu interview with one of our favorite Chalk Art artists at EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts!
Nate Baranowski at EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts
EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts is one of our favorite times to visit EPCOT around the year, and while we were busy eating and drinking our way around the park to find out the best options for you to try out this year, there are other parts of the festival we rave about year after year like the entertainment. The festival’s entertainment options are a don’t miss between the animation classes, listening to Broadway performers singing Disney songs at night, and taking in all of the chalk art and watching the artists in progress as they bring these creations to life. But, an unexpected circumstance brought us face to face with a chalk artist who had to come back and make some adjustments to his newly minted creation (and he was gracious enough to answer our burning questions!)
We’ve been fans of Nate Baranowski’s perspective-based chalk art for a while, so when one of our reporters stumbled upon his piece at this year’s Festival of the Arts Chalk Art walk and saw it had been rained out overnight, he was intrigued. We were really starstruck when our reporter spotted Nate arriving to fix it, and he couldn’t resist stopping to ask him a few questions about his process — he graciously agreed to answer a few questions for us!
Whoa!
This particular design featured MARVEL’s Hulk in a forced perspective design that have become super popular to the festival. Tons of people eye the Chalk Art walk just to get a glimpse of this unique artwork and have been able to take their own photos with them putting them right in the middle of the design!
Perspective-based Chalk Art in 2023
We started our line of questions with a heavy-hitter. We asked when something like this happens, does it affect him emotionally or is letting go simply part of the process. Nate explained that this is very much an art of letting go, and he knows what to expect—especially at this festival. He went on to explain that normally, when rain is forecasted, he covers his pieces with plastic. However, the night before there was only a 5% chance of rain, so he decided to leave the piece uncovered.
Oh, no!
He then gestured to other nearby works, pointing out how they remained intact, noting that it wasn’t a heavy rain. Instead, for some reason, water collected and formed small puddles at his location, causing the damage. He also mentioned that his particular technique involves starting with a washable paint, which allows for more vibrant colors but also prevents moisture from absorbing into the ground as easily, contributing to the issue.
Poor Hulk
The paint jugs you see in the photos are both the culprit and the hero of his work—essential for creating the dynamic and vivid colors that make his art so striking. As he worked on restoring the piece, a leader arrived with rags to help absorb the water from the sidewalk.
Blessing and a curse
From his demeanor, our reporter sensed no sadness. In fact, Nate shared that while people often tell him how exciting it is to see a finished piece and take photos inside it, the true spirit of the festival is “artistry in action.” He loves being part of the live experience, with people watching as he brings his creations to life. WOW, if that’s not enough to move you to an emotional state, we can’t help you any further!
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Your Guide to ALL the Entertainment at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts
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Which of the entertainment offerings do you check out during EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts? Leave your list for us in the comments below!
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Good little article. You spoke to a real person and presented the facts. Too many posts have been speculation recently or non news. This is the sort of article I would like more of. It would be great if you spoke to more of the artists. Thanks for stopping to chat with Nate.