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!
We’re constantly reporting on all of the latest Disney World updates, changes, and bringing you all there is to see, do, and eat at Disney World! Be sure to stay tuned with us at Disney Food Blog for all the latest.
Your Guide to ALL the Entertainment at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts
MAKE THE MOST
OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS
DFB's guide to the Festival of the Arts details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget, and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest.
It includes all the must-have information for navigating this colorful festival at Disney World, including:
- ? Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations!
- ? The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!)
- ? All the details on special events, artist meet-n-greets, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more!
MORE Festival of the Arts INFO!
See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival of the Arts
Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages
Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts!
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
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.