We can walk on them, dine on them (well, maybe someday), and we can……create art on them?
Recently, I saw some photos of the Sacramento Chalk-It-Up festival, which brings out the artist in everyone. The Sacramento event is a fund-raiser for education and the arts, and the sidewalk art created over Labor Day weekend is left for all to enjoy through the entire month of September.
Our weather might not be quite so cooperative, but the idea still has possibilities. Wouldn’t this be a great way to enjoy those late spring afternoons and get the college students mingling with the townees and local kids? It’s not too early to start thinking about it.
The upcoming Spelling Bee to benefit the Northfield Public Library set me to thinking about developing more opportunities for grown-ups to play like kids, so the sidewalk art caught my attention.
You can see more pictures of the chalk art here.
Hi Tracy,
Thanks for your comments. It really is a great festival and a great way to bring the community together. Sacramento is very fortunate to have cooperative weather – it does not rain for several months during the year. It’s safe to say that you’ll have pretty perfect weather every Labor Day. I have seen communities do this in the Midwest as well, so you’re always gambling with the weather. When I lived in Ohio, we put up artwork in storefront windows, and permanent displays in vacant storefronts. Perhaps that is another option. Sacramento has monthly “art nights” called Second Saturdays that barbershops, salons, offices, etc. are transformed into art galleries where local artists display their works. There’s live music all over and it’s wildly successful.
By the way, I love what you’re doing and I’m glad to see a planning commissioner out there in the open like you are. I certainly wish we had more like you. I’ve passed along your site to other planning commissioners getting their feet wet. Someday I hope to write some articles about new web technologies available to planners and how they can better engage the public in discussion (and on smart growth issues). I will certainly mention what you’ve been doing.
[…] blogged about this a couple of years ago under the heading, “Something Else to Do With Sidewalks”. This could be a great enhancement to some of our community events….. perhaps an addition to […]