Wow, it seems impossible that a whole year has passed since I shared with you my first experience of participating in our annual Chalk Walk! Here we are, back around the calendar to July, and I am happy to announce that I have now had my second experience! My daughter, Abigail and I signed up in early April to once again, spend an entire weekend in the downtown streets of our city, getting extremely dirty and drawing our unique ideas in chalk for the spectators to enjoy.
Since I had so many people contact me after I posted last year, I am taking the opportunity to share not only my daughter’s and my creations, but also many other drawings that were done with you again this year. The rules for the event were as follows:
1.) If you wanted to draw something to enter in the judged contest, the categories were:
a) Trompe L’Oeil – meaning 3D-Art that appears to pop from the pavement.
b) Fort Wayne Native American History
c) Fort Wayne Architecture
d) Best Reproduction of Artwork relating to Social Realism
e) People’s Choice
2.) Watered-down water-based Tempra Paint could be used to fill large areas of the pavement.
3.) Subject matter had to be appropriate for spectators – children included.
Abigail decided months ago to fill her 4’ x 4’ square with M&M’s. I thought she did a great job for being 10 years old.
Since she finished her drawing on Saturday, when we returned on Sunday (so I could finish mine), she decided to sign up for another space. Any unclaimed squares were released on Sunday to anyone who wanted to draw. Here’s her second drawing.
Based on the rules and categories, I decided to try my hand at the Trompe L’Oeil this year and use a very recognizable character to all who strolled by. I also decided to try the 8’ x 8’ square instead of the 4’ x 4’ size I did last year. Here is my creation!
Oh, how we love Curious George in our household~ My 3-year old daughter sets her clock by when George is on T.V., and heaven forbid if she ever misses the program! We’re talking the Niagra Falls of tear-tantrums! When I finished, my husband brought her down to see the drawing. Let me just say she went nuts… twice! Once, when she initially saw him and was full of excitement. The second time when she realized we couldn’t “pick him up off the street” and take him home with us! I really had a great time drawing him and watching the progression of the artwork from start to finish. It was a constant parade of people ALL weekend saying, “Hey, look, it’s Curious George!” I was glad that I was doing a good enough job that people knew it was George!
Now that I’ve shared our creations, I will post a peek at some of the other truly AMAZING works that came to life in the street over the fun weekend.
This was incredible in person. It won the People’s Choice Award. This guy did a similar portrait of one of his daughters last year.
These mosaics were so bright, precise, crisp and cheerful to see!
This was a phenomenal rendition of a volleyball! Something so basic made into something so amazing!
This one was for all of the Nintendo Fans!
I thought this was perfect since the weather was so hot – in the 90’s both days! Good thing it was just a drawing so it didn’t melt!
This was a drawing from the Movie Artwork.
This was done for the Native American History Category.
A square full of bubbles! Who thought that this could look so cool on the sidewalk?
This won a Trompe L’ Oeil Award.
Here are a few others that I thought you might like to see!
Who knew that such beautiful pieces of artwork could be created with sidewalk chalk? Because of my fine art background, I have an overwhelming appreciation for every one of these incredible creations!
I did have two major regrets about the weekend, however; one, that I waited a little too long to apply sunscreen to my back and shoulders, so I suffered from a fairly severe sunburn that will surely begin peeling soon, and two, that I’m not in better shape! I spent the best part of two days on my knees with my lower legs tucked underneath me, and the muscles in my upper thighs were so stretched and sore that I really could barely walk, let along sit or stand without major pain! So, in preparation for next year, I shall begin a concentrated exercise program and stock up on the sunscreen!
If you would like to see more from this event, you can check out our local Museum of Art Website in the next couple of weeks. By then, they should have most of the photos posted for viewing. http://www.fwmoa.org/section/53/Chalk-Walk
Hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I’ve enjoyed sharing it! Be sure to look for summer festivals in your neck of the woods—you never know what kind of arts and crafts you may stumble upon or choose to be a part of!
Happy Summer~
Karen (Kabby)