Want to go?
WHAT: Sandusky Art Walk: Family Chalk Fest
WHEN: 5-8 p.m. Thursday, July 5
WHERE: Downtown Sandusky
COST: Free
INFO: sanduskyartwalk.com
There’s a great scene in the 1993 feature film “Six Degrees of Separation” where Donald Sutherland talks about a dream he had regarding children’s art.
He says, “Look at the first grade — blotches of green and black. The third grade — camouflage. But second grade, Matisses, every one.”
One of the many messages of Sutherland’s lines is that discriminating art lovers need to loosen up a bit and explore all avenues of expression. It’s this idea that explains why the Sandusky Art Walk series brings back its Family Chalk Fest event 5 to 8 p.m. July 5 throughout downtown Sandusky.
For those folks who like to think the world is their canvas, well, here you go. Take some of the free chalk provided and get busy on the sidewalks and streets.
“Last year it went well,” said Art Walk Chairman Judy Corso, a 1965 Sandusky High School graduate. “We’re not doing it any differently. We’re kind of building on last year’s event with hopefully more participation. What really surprised me last year was the variety and the beauty of some of the drawings. I didn’t realize you could do with chalk.”
Inspired by others has been Corso’s rally cry behind the Art Walk Series, which involves themed art events attracting shoppers and residents into the downtown Sandusky area. While Corso aped the idea for the overall Art Walk theme after visiting a similar event in Columbus’ Short North, the chalk art notion came to her after visiting the Chalk Art Festival in Oberlin.
“The Oberlin event has a variety of people from professional artists, who do only chalk art, to 3-year-old kids,” Corso said. “It’s probably an area of six to eight blocks and some of it is so absolutely beautiful that you’d want to take a picture of it and hang on your wall. It’s open to anyone who thinks they have any artistic talent.”
Highlights of last year’s Sandusky Chalk Art event, which featured 25 participants, included amazing designs in the Peddlers Alley area and other portions of the downtown area.
“It’s open to anyone who would like to display their talents,” Corso said. “From what I hear, people loved it.”
It’s funny, when thinking about chalk art, the idea of nails on a chalkboard somehow enters one’s mind.
“You’re right,” Corso laughed, “and fortunately we have no chalkboards.”
For more information, visit
sanduskyartwalk.com.
Watch video from last year's Family Chalk Fest HERE:
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