Story and photos By Lisa Carolin
Depending on the weather, you might still be able to see East Middle Street, just east of Main Street, looking like a big easel. On Saturday, more than a dozen artists created sidewalk art during one of the events of the Sights and Sounds Festival.
“This is my first time using chalk and creating sidewalk art,” said Josie Ewald, who was asked by the owner of Global Marketplace to do a chalk drawing.
She created the message “Fair Trade” inside a map of the world and surrounded by the words “Global Marketplace.”
The sidewalk art ranges from colorful shapes to fictitious characters. In the case of father and son Scott and Caleb Peterson, Caleb drew the outlines for two of his favorite Pokemon characters and his dad filled in the rest.
“I’m polishing it off,” said Scott Peterson, while Caleb observed.
Alexis Kole worked on a picture that she said was inspired by the Queen of Clubs.
“I want to be an artist so I’ve been going to festivals all around Michigan,” she said.
Many, many thanks to all the volunteers who made Sounds and Sights Festival possible, all the businesses who support it, and the Chamber and City staff that handle so much of the ‘stuff you never see.’ Without all their work, none of this would be there for those of us who just want to look at the art and listen to the music.
Susan Lackey
You can view all the chalk artwork and the winners can be seen on the Facebook page Chelsea Chalk Art.