Sidewalk Chalk Festivals

The first chalk festival we went to was one we stumbled on in Saratoga Springs many years ago during a visit to one of our college daughters. It was a fundraiser and artists, businesses, and organizations could purchase the large sidewalk squares on a city block close to the college. So children from local schools were casually drawing next to artists who were meticulously recreating famous artworks. I remember being most impressed by a replica of a vintage cigarette package.

A few years later Northampton had it’s inaugural sidewalk chalk festival. About eight to ten artists were invited to draw in different locations around town during the day and their creations were showcased during the evening Arts Night Out. The first year featured nationally known sidewalk chalk artists. In subsequent years it became a juried selection process with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes.

So I was curious to see what the inaugural “Chalk Howard Street” here in Chicago would be like. I knew from the publicity that it would feature nationally known 3D and 2D artists. And that local artists could apply for a spot, that businesses could buy a square, and that children could come to the festival and draw as well. Like other Chicago street festivals it would also include bands and food booths.

The festival was taking place between 11:00 and 8:00 and even though it was over 100 degrees we headed up by bus and train around 1:00. I hadn’t thought about whether the drawing would be done by then and we found some completed art and some in progress. Two partial blocks were closed off and the featured artists had areas at either ends of the street.

Artist: Nate Baranowski

Artist Anat Ronen

In order for these to be 3D you had to stand in a specific place and look through your phone camera. I’m going to have do some research on that because I know artists can create pieces that are 3D to the naked eye. They probably use some sort of fixative on these too since people were allowed to pose on them for photos.

The other professional chalk artist had a sign saying “all chalk, do not touch” and some rolled up plastic behind it that I guess could be used to cover it if it rained. It did rain after we left but we didn’t get to see it in action or how the others faired.

Artist: Jennifer Chaparro

This artist apparently also does 3D creations at times since there is one featured on the Howard Street website.

There were also four “Professional Artists”. Craig and Jamie Rogers were still working on what was going to be another 3D piece.

Artist: Elizabeth Niemczyk

These two unfinished ones are by the other two professional artists Jessi Queen and Chelsey Austin.

There were also 4×4 squares that local “emerging” artists could apply for or that sponsors could purchase. These were all in one area and the squares had been taped off and painted black. Some of them were finished and some artists were hard at work in the hot sun. I noticed that some squares were labeled but empty. It was probably too hot for some!

There was also a large rectangle set aside for children to draw in but children had actually covered the streets and sidewalks of the whole festival.

It was so hot that we didn’t stay long but I’m glad we made the trip since if we hadn’t, I don’t think we would have gotten to find out what it was like. One of the things that we have been having to get used to in Chicago is the fact that everything that happens here doesn’t get covered in the newspaper the next day! (Population of Northampton, MA: 28,549 vs. Population of Chicago, Illinois 2.7 million)