2014 Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk, Part One

Kristen Kendall (1st Place Adult), Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Kristen Kendall (1st Place Adult), Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014

This is the time of year for festivals, many of which are smaller portions of the Dogwood Arts Festival. It’s hard to keep up with it all with only one article a day, so sometimes I have to backtrack a bit. The Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk takes place each April and features professional, amateur and just-for-fun sorts of artists. Anyone can sign up for a space and get chalking.

Kristen Kendall, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Kristen Kendall, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
SAFTA, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
SAFTA, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Nicole Durham, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Nicole Durham, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Megan and Jim McElroy, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Megan and Jim McElroy, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014

Awards are given out in a number of categories by age and by school. A “People’s Choice Award” is given and the awards are based on voting by the general public. You can see a complete list of winners here. Co-chaired by Kathy Slocum and Jim Dodson, it really is one of the most inspiring events of the year.

Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014

Linda Johnston, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Linda Johnston, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Krista Murphy, Taylor Ford, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Krista Murphy, Taylor Ford, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014

This year was a one day event with a nine-hour window for artists to finish their work, with the judging following immediately. I really enjoy seeing the beginning of the works and passing through a couple more times during the day before seeing the results at the end.

Kalina and Maya Scarbrough, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Kalina and Maya Scarbrough, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Jeff and Emery Cross, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Jeff and Emery Cross, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Gray Davis, Virginia Gray and Ginny Gray Davis, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Gray Davis, Virginia Gray and Ginny Gray Davis (hmm those names sound a little fishy), Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014

One of the difficulties with the Market Square location, which is the obvious choice, is that it becomes impossible to walk through or to see the drawings because of the large number of people. At times it is nearly impossible just to walk through. I would have loved to take photographs when the drawings were fresh, but it just wasn’t possible. I’m not sure of an alternative and I love having it in that spot, but it was almost impossible.

Eric Johnston, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Eric Johnston, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Deirdre Pokrzywa, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Deirdre Pokrzywa, Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014

One of the results of the heavy foot-traffic on Market Square is that the drawings begin to deteriorate immediately. I’m happy to say there are some people who try to walk around the drawings even into the next day. Unfortunately, I also see many who walk across them without a thought.

Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014

Worse, this is the second year in a row that someone or some group has come by overnight on bicycles with the apparent idea that it would be fun to destroy as many of the works as possible. I don’t understand this kind of thinking. Maybe it is the same crowd that destroyed some of the flowers along Gay Street the night before Rossini or the ones who tag blank spaces downtown.

Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014

With just a little thought and decency the paintings could be enjoyed for two or three days. As it was, I took these photographs at 7:00 AM the next morning and they are pretty worn. My apologies to the artists for the poor representation. Also, I’m sorry I don’t know the names of the artists who drew each picture. I noted them when I knew.

Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014

Still, the event is spectacular, with thousands of people enjoying a lovely day with art. It’s an event that pulls in all ages and skill levels. Small children are given chalk to make their own drawings in the middle of the action. When the sun shines, as it did this year, there’s hardly a better way to spend a day.

Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014
Chalk Walk, Knoxville, April 2014

I reduced my 180 photographs to less than 90. Still, it’s too much for one day. I’ll limit it to two and post only about half the photographs here, with these and the rest to be posted on my Facebook page. Go there later, “like” it if you haven’t already and enjoy even more photographs.