Local Artist Juan Enrique Velazquez to Compete at 3rd Annual Graffiti Arts Festival on Saturday, March 14, 2020

    FORT WORTH, TX, February 25, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ -- A bevy of America's top spray can artists will be coming to Fort Worth to compete for a cash prize at the 3rd Annual Graffiti Art Festival that will be held in the Fort Worth Design District at 1953 Golden Heights Road on Saturday, March 14, 2020, from 11 am to 3 pm.

Among them will be local Artist Juan Enrique Velazquez, a current student at Tarrant County College earning an Associate of Arts in Visual Arts, an Army reservist, and an evangelist for his hometown of Fort Worth.

"When I was on active duty, so many of my fellow soldiers told me they wanted to move to Fort Worth because of how much I talked about my hometown as the best city to live in," said Velazquez.

"I also love country music and the cowboy culture that has deep roots in Fort Worth," said Velazquez. Inspired by both, the local artist plans to paint a mural for the contest that pays homage to country music legend George Strait.

I think everyone who has listened to George Strait's music has positive memories that go with his songs," said Velazquez. "For me, 'I Saw God Today' reminds me of when my daughter was born; 'Texas' reminds me to chase my dreams and reminds me of the reasons I joined the army."

In addition to competing at the festival, Velazquez also has a solo art show coming up at the stockyards. "Many of my pieces have a connection to Fort Worth and its unique culture and I am looking forward to sharing my art with other people who love our city," said the artist. The solo exhibition will be held at the end of 2020 at Artes de la Rosa Cultural Center for the Arts.

Each of the artists chosen to compete at the Graffiti Art Festival will create a billboard-sized art piece with an inspirational, family-friendly theme. The artists' canvasses will be shipping containers that are part of Box Office Warehouse Suites, the innovative business park at the center of the Fort Worth Design District.

"The Fort Worth Graffiti Art Festival has grown every year," said Jennifer Knittel, Administrator of the Fort Worth Design District. "The first annual graffiti art contest drew about 4,000. The second, about 8,000. This year, we expect to draw more than 12,000," said Knittel.

In addition to the graffiti art contest, the event will include scores of arts and crafts vendors, food trucks and tours of spaces for lease at Box Office Warehouse Suites, North Fort Worth's new shipping container business park. Vendors interested in renting space at the event can visit the design district's graffiti arts festival page.

Festival attendees can also do the Snap and Share Art Walk, a series of interactive murals that are ideal for snapping selfies or other photos to share. This year, the art walk is sponsored by Salon and Spa Galleria Alliance.

Sponsors will be raffling prizes throughout the event, including a one-hour Lamborghini Driving experience donated by Fort Worth Car Storage. Admission to the event is free. The event is dog friendly. Those bringing a furry friend will want to visit the Golden Triangle Dog Park that is part of the new design district.

About Fort Worth Design District
Fort Worth Design District is a business enclave made for creative entrepreneurs in fashion, design, architecture, technology, and other fields that prize both design and aesthetics. 50+ acres, Fort Worth Design District features retail shop spaces, studios and workshops, showrooms, light industrial spaces for makers, distributors and manufacturers and office suites. The center of the district is Box Office Warehouse Suites (BOWS), an eco-friendly business park made from more than 100 recycled shipping containers. Surrounding BOWS is Golden Triangle Business Park with industrial and warehouse space for lease. Nestled in the complex is Paddock Place Office Suites, the horse barn turned into office suites.

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