Our first Sidewalk Chalk event went extremely well! Over 25 people of all ages participated in the competition, and the free-for-all section was busy all day. Sure, some of the little ones were more interested in the cool sound the chalk made when thrown, but everyone had a great time decorating the Square in their own way.
Chalk flyer, created by Shelagh
Shelagh Leutwiler organized the event out of the goodness of her heart and her love for public art. A big thank you to Shelagh for a job well done. We’re already planning for next year’s event(s). We’re thinking a spring and a fall event, since we had such an overwhelmingly positive response.
Shelagh and Bobbie Crews discussing the possibilities for next year.
Local artist Bobbie Crews volunteered to be a judge this year. Bobbie frequently works in pastels and has been commissioned to do chalk drawings at local restaurants including Aubry’s. We are hoping to work together for next year’s event to have local artists start a day early and create large pieces that would be on display all weekend. Bobbie is already on board and we are excited about working with her in the future. To see some of her work, visit her website. She was also featured in October’s issue of Downtown Knoxville & Everything West. You can read that article online at http://everythingknoxville.com/content/view/165/78/.
In addition to Bobbie, the judges were Sarah Shebaro (printmaker at YeeHaw), Marcia Goldenstien (drawing professor at UTK) and Burnadette West. Thank you for your help!
Entrants were assigned into an age category for competition, but anyone could participate in the free-for-all section. The divisions were: 2-6, 7-11, 12-15, 16-20 and 21+. There was also a category for “Best Message.” Competitors were assigned a pre-marked and numbered 4′x4′ section of the Square and given a set of sidewalk chalk. Judging took place at 1:00 and prizes were given out at 1:30pm.
First place in the 2-6 category went to Zadie Fiveash, age 5. Second place: Orion Carpenter, age 4.
Zadie's first place drawing.
First place in the 7-11 category went to Forest, age 7, the son of MSFM vendor Adam at Spring Creek Farm for his farm-inspired drawing. Second place: Megan DeBow, age 8.
Forest's red fields and white tree.
First place in the 12-15 category went to Grace Khalsa, age 12, perhaps the most dedicated of all of our artists. Grace and her father were one of the first to arrive, sketch in hand. Unfortunately, Grace’s idea was based around a zebra, for which black was a vital color. Our sidewalk chalk didn’t include black, so she and her father went on a search for black chalk, returning with charcoal a while later. And the work was well worth the effort.
Grace Khalsa outlining her zebra
Grace's finished drawing.
Second place in 12-15: Joseph Quiggle, age 15
Joseph Quiggle's "Market Square"
First place in the 16-20 category went to Jodie Masterman, age 20. Second place: Heather Mattew, age 16.
Jodie Masterman and friend working on her drawing.
First place in the 21 and up category went to Rhonda Kitchen for her drawing on John Lennon. Second place: Brandy Slaylegh.
Rhonda Kitchen's John Lennon.
Many participants took the opportunity to increase awareness of something they though important, such as water quality, the upcoming presidential election, farming and, or course, the UT Vols. The judges awarded 3 artists with distinctions for “Best Message”.
First place went to Christal Yost, a local artist who used 4 of the assigned spaces and the existing storm drain to create a message about water pollution. Each of the 4 sections represented some aspect of our water system, such as home lawn run-off and industrial pollution, all centering around the central drain.
Christal Yost working on the neighborhood portion of her drawing.
Christal drawing the sun.
Christal’s drawing was too big to be captured from ground level, and we didn’t have a way to photograph the whole thing, unfortunately. But the drawing was wonderful.
Second place went to Ellen Epley, who also volunteered her time at the MSFM information booth. Ellen’s drawing featured a food pyramid with what vendors supplied each of the food groups.
The food pyramid.
Ellen in process.
Tracie Hellwinkle won 3rd place in the “Best Message” division for her drawing in support of urban gardening, of which the MSFM is a big fan. Tracie and her husband Chad have started the Knoxville Permaculture Guild working to promote sustainable urban gardening and permaculture design in our community.
Tracie's "Grow Food, Not Grass"
Big thanks to all who participated. More photos of the event can be found on our flickr site.
Huge thanks to all those who donated prizes: The Tomato Head, MSFM vendor Janet Edkins, Tennessee Valley Bikes, Knoxville Visitor Center, Shelagh Leutwiler and Downtown Wine and Spirits. The Market Square Farmers’ Market also gave Market Money to winners.
