Event mirrored previous years with lessened COVID-19 related restrictions
Loveland Reporter Herald, by Austin Fleskes, September 11, 2021
Artists, vendors and community members once again took to Fifth Street Saturday as the long-running Pastels on Fifth event returned for another year with a stronger return to form.
The event celebrated its 11th year of bringing together artists and community members to enjoy art and help raise money for Alternatives to Violence, the local victim’s rights advocacy non-profit, throughout Saturday as artists got to work creating beautiful street art.
“It’s so exciting to see the event back in full,” said event coordinator Vicky Paul-Bryant.
“Just being able to have such a great community event while things have been closed off (is great),” said Kari Clark, executive director for Alternatives to Violence.
While the event was held during 2020, it had to be pulled back and changed as questions still raged around the pandemic; this included fewer artists, spaced out artists and separating artists and community to try and keep people as spaced out as possible.
But the greater understanding of the pandemic in 2021 allowed the event to return to normalcy, albeit with more masks than in years past.
Amanda Waddell, co-coordinator for the event, said that as of around 10:30 a.m. everything was moving smoothly and artists were hard at work. She said while she arrived at 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning, she knew some artists arrived and started even before she set up.
Loveland artist Dion Weichers said that he showed up at his sidewalk section on the southwestern corner of Lincoln Avenue and Fifth Street around 8 a.m. to get started on his piece for Verboten Brewing and Barrel Project. He said that he has been part of the event since it started in 2010.
“I just love it,” he said. “I look forward to it every year.”
He said that the event is a great way to get the community out to enjoy the art for a good cause.
“To have the community embrace that and block off two blocks, it’s a great thing,” Weichers said. “It’s a great feeling.”
Phoenix artist Mercedes McCluskey said that she came out to the Loveland event to show off her art as well as visit with family.
“It’s fun being around a bunch of artists and seeing all the styles,” she said. “It’s a very peaceful environment.”
Fort Collins artist Nicole Cluster said she has also been part of the event for the last 11 years. Much like Weichers, she said it is an event that she looks forward to every year.
“I love having the experience to be out with other people,” she added.
While the artists got down and artsy early Saturday morning, community members began to file in right at 10 a.m. to see the work in action.
The Gaona family came out Saturday morning to see the artwork. Damien Gaona said they heard about it on Facebook and thought it would be something cool to come and see.
Shirley Gaona, Damien’s mother, said she liked see the artwork being created and was looking forward to “coming back to see it (finished) later.”
Loveland resident Kiley Barrett and her three daughters, who have come to the event before, saw it was coming back once again and decided to stop back.
“The girls love art, so we love seeing the creativity,” she said.
Waddell said the event is a great way to bring out artists and community to help a cause like that of Alternatives to Violence. She added that the need to support ATV is always important, especially after the pandemic brought on more stressors for those suffering from domestic violence.
“Being able to write ATV a check for what they need is the most important thing,” Waddell said.
Clark said the event allows the group to get their message out and let people know they are there to help for those in need.
“You cannot help victims of violence if they don’t know where to go,” she said.
Paul-Bryant said the Pastels on Fifth has become an impactful, positive event for all of Loveland, bringing together artists to show off their skills, community members who can enjoy the art together and for Alternatives to Violence to further spread their message.
“It has become a Loveland tradition,” Paul-Bryant said. “It really is a win-win-win.”
Those unable to come out Saturday can still enjoy the artwork along the stretch of Fifth Street after the event ends. Paul-Bryant also said the people’s choice award can be voted on until Sept. 19. More information can be found at pastelson5th.org.