Culture

Garden City Wellingtion Topeka

By Cecilia Harris

Artists of all ages and skills will be creating temporary masterpieces during the Garden City Sidewalk Chalk Contest on April 23 at Stevens Park.

Katy Guthrie, the executive director of Garden City Arts, says the idea for the contest came from a patron who was “blown away” by the artwork at a chalk art festival in Denver.

“We were looking for creative ways to engage the community in the arts,” Guthrie says. “We wanted to encourage people to take part in a new endeavor that appeals to both children and adults, and the Sidewalk Art Contest does that so well.”

The annual contest was first held in 2015, with attendance growing each year. Once the drawings are completed, three judges determine the winners of cash prizes in the professionals’ competitive category. Spectators can vote on their favorites, and winners in those categories will receive a People’s Choice cash prize.

Guthrie says a record number of 44 3x3-foot squares of chalk art were created last year.

“One person mentioned it was their favorite event because they could see the artwork being created from start to finish in person.”

Not one, but two sidewalk chalk contests are planned during the Kansas Wheat Festival July 5–9 in Wellington. Movie themes will be portrayed at the Sidewalk Chalking Contest at the historic Wellington Regent Theatre, while any subject may be drawn at the Kids’ Sidewalk Chalk Contest at the First United Methodist Church.

Boxes of chalk will be placed in front of every downtown business on September 10 for passersby to participate in the Topeka Chalk Art Festival. Organizer Alexander Lancaster also recruits professional artists to take part and share their expertise with others.