Chalk the Walk included artwork from youth and adult artists. Liz Fredendall
Chalk the Walk artists used pastels instead of traditional sidewalk chalk because pastels are more vibrant and weather-resistant. Liz Fredendall
Chalk the Walk artworks adorned the sidewalks downtown between Main and University Street in Mt. Pleasant. Liz Fredendall
Chalk the Walk artist Malia Reger touches up her artwork before it is judged. Liz Fredendall
“There was a session on Wednesday where they gave us our supplies … and one of the girls who works at Art Reach showed us a lot of techniques, which is stuff I hadn’t heard before,” says Leah Coicou, who created this piece with Erika Squanda. Liz Fredendall
Chalk the Walk artists and family members admire other artworks while they wait for the judges. Liz Fredendall
Chalk the Walk judge Laurie Peters (right) and her daughter Christina (left) take notes as they look at the contestant's artwork on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020. Liz Fredendall
First place Chalk the Walk winner Malia Reger (left) and second place winners Erika Squanda (middle) and Leah Coicou pose for a photo at Art Reach of Mid Michigan on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020. Liz Fredendall
First place Chalk the Walk winner Malia Reger poses with her artwork. "I just kind of started drawing," she says. "I did a sketch of it and I drew the fish first and then I just kind of kept with the surrealism and just kind of built it from there." Liz Fredendall
Artists competed this past week in the annual Chalk the Walk event, a workshop and competition hosted by Art Reach of Mid Michigan where artists of any age create artwork on the sidewalk in downtown Mt. Pleasant.
A $25 entry fee gave artists access to the Art Reach’s workshop, a set of chalk pastels, and a sidewalk square downtown between Main and University Street to use as their canvas.
“In past years we’ve done it right down the block in front of the old Isabella Bank building and so they were right on top of each other,” says Amy Powell, Executive Director of Art Reach of Mid Michigan. “This year, we decided to offer artists the chance to chalk anywhere on the block between Main and University that’s closed off. We’re hoping that will give artists kind of freedom to pick a square that they want to chalk and then offer plenty of social distancing as well.”
Malia Reger from Farwell, Michigan received first place in the competition and Erika Squanda and Leah Coicou from Midland, Michigan, worked together on a piece and placed second. The winners received certificates to Art Reach that can be used on classes or merchandise.
To learn about upcoming programs and workshops from Art Reach of Mid Michigan, visit artreachcenter.org.
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