One of the best events of the spring, the annual Chalk Walk turns Market Square into a colorful, vibrant center of artistic activity for a full spring day. It’s fun to see the drawings early in the day and watch them as they progress and evolve. By the end of the day, the drawings are judged and awards are given in various categories, such as age, and for individuals and groups. You’ll find a list of this year’s winners here.
I’ve covered the event for a number of years, sometimes doing multiple posts. Here are a few of the past articles and photographs: 2011, 2012, 2012 pt. 2, 2013, 2013 pt. 2, 2014, 2014 pt. 2. This year, instead of doing two posts and trying to include virtually every drawing, I’m only including a dozen or so of the best and including all 104 photographs in the album “Chalk Walk 2015” on the Inside of Knoxville Facebook Page.
Unfortunately, the chalk walk and Rhythm n Blooms share the same weekend, so the two Dogwood Arts events compete against each other, though maybe the overlap wouldn’t be that great. Maybe I’m odd in that I’d enjoy both of them. Also, it may be a good thing to consider that we can have a major event in the Old City (Rhythm n Blooms), on Market Square (Chalk Walk) and the World’s Fair Park (Great Llama Race) and all three can draw large crowds. Of course, we are going to do the same again this weekend when we have Outdoor Fest (Volunteer Landing, etc.), the Market Square Art Market (Market Square, natch) and Earthfest (World’s Fair Park).
As for the Chalk Walk, I love that it encourages children, families and adults to join the fun and make art. And it’s actually pretty hard to make any sort of decent drawing with chalk on concrete. Some of the drawings produced over the years I’ve been watching have been magnificent and this year produced some very nice work. The astronaut you see above won “Best of Show” and it’s hard to argue against the choice.
As for the photographing of these drawings, it’s quite a challenge because of the perspective issue. I’ve learned a couple of tricks each of the last couple of years and put what I know so far together this year and I’m pretty pleased with the results. I know what to do, I just need to get a bit better at doing it.
I apologize for the fact that the drawings are somewhat deteriorated when I photograph them, but it’s hard to photograph them in the Saturday crowds, so I shoot them early Sunday morning and so some natural and human-made deterioration has occurred before I get there. I think this year’s were less damaged than some other years. I also regret that I can’ t identify everyone’s drawing, but many of the name’s have been removed by the time I get there.
I hope you enjoy these and go to the Facebook page to see the others. And if you’ve never seen them, try to make it a point to see them next year. My friend Jim Dodson, art teacher at Jefferson Middle School runs the event and it’s a tight ship. Say, “hey,” to Jim while you’re at it.
