A number of major events in the Media City this month, including the Downtown Burbank Arts Festival. San Fernando Blvd was closed to vehicle traffic between Magnolia Blvd and Olive Avenue, the weekend of June 3 and 4, from 11 am to 6 pm. The closure allowed thousands to visit more than 180 decorated booths filled with art work, jewelry, housewares, photography, specialty foods and much more.
On the Chalk Block, a group of artists created right on the street. Among those creatives, Alex J. Cabalu.
He is a special projects development coordinator for the South Bay Workforce Investment Board in Hawthorne, which provides free services for those seeking employment and career education. That’s his day job. However, art is his calling. “I am a lifelong artist, ever since I first saw drawings in a Highlights for Children magazine; I knew that I wanted to do what they did. It also helped that I had beautiful paintings by both of my grandfathers adorning the walls at home and at my cousins’ homes. It felt normal and natural to be an artist.” Cabalu explained in an email.
Festival organizers asked the artists to create a chalk scene from a film. Cabalu chose Back to the Future, one of his favorite movies.
You can see more of Cabalu’s art work and learn more about his journey at his website https://appojax.com
