Chalk art has come a long way since the days of jumbo-size pastel sticks and blacktop doodles. The fine art of the blackboard crayon has restyled from simple hieroglyphic drawings to precise Monet replicas and complex 3-D realism.

This weekend, the Gateway Mall will host Utah Foster Care Foundation’s 7th annual Chalk Art Festival. This colorful event invites more than 120 artists, ages 12 and up, and an estimated 17,000 guests for a weekend of urban chalking and foster-care awareness. In support for Utah’s 2,600 children in foster care, the festival hopes to raise funds, honor foster parents and educate Utah’s need for future foster assistance. Along with the sidewalk art stroll, a Kids Korner will be available for the petite Picassos curious and eager to perform their own chalk-art displays.

Do a little shopping, a little art browsing and a little donating. (Kris Heitkamp)

Chalk Art Festival @ The Gateway, 400 W. Rio Grande St., June 19, 4–9 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.–9 p.m. ChalkArtFestival.org