This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Rio Grande Street at The Gateway got a bit of a makeover Friday and Saturday, turning its typically gray lanes into a gallery of vibrant street murals.

And all of it was chalked.

The Chalk Art Festival aims to spotlight the urgent need for foster families, according to event host Utah Foster Care. The organization says 2,900 children in foster care and their foster families have benefitted from the event, which is in its 15th year.

The festival featured street painter Julie Kirk Purcell, who created a 3-D lizard, and more than 100 local artists. There also were various arts projects for children, family booths and food trucks.