This year 44 different artists will produce 30 pieces on public and private buildings throughout the city. Sacramento Congresswoman Dolores Matsui was on hand for Thursday’s kick off.

“It's public art in the best sense and it brings it to a level where you can't escape it,” she said. “It's all around you. It's on walls taller than you. It could be above you. And it really does force people to look at it. And there are many features of it that you may not necessarily see in museums.”

Wide Open Walls will feature talks by the artists, running tours, a rooftop experience and close with a party and concert. You can also walk around anytime and see artists at work.

The festival runs through August 18. For more information and to see murals from the last two years, visit wideopenwalls.com. A number of those murals remain up today.