Public may watch them create Sept. 6
Ten artists, including a Smith College student, a Springfield resident and one of the original creators of a famous women's mural, have been selected to participate, as well as compete for cash prizes, in the fourth annual juried Northampton Chalk Art Festival.
The festival is scheduled during the city's monthly “Arts Night Out,” being held in September on the first Friday of the month -- Sept. 6 -- rather than the second.
Selected artists include former festival prize winners Stephanie Gerolimatos, of Holyoke, Aida Aiyi Zhang, a student at Smith College, in Northampton, and partners Scot Padget and Jon Hanna , from The Living Art Studio in Northampton.
Area artist Robert Markey, known for his mosaic work, on public display in such cities as Springfield, returns to compete again.
Clara Flynn, of Northampton, Jennifer Gutterman, of Easthampton, Aaron Harris, of Springfield, and Dean McKeever of East Longmeadow, will participate for the first time as will Amy “BannerQueen” Johnquest.
Also joining the competition is Rochelle Shicoff, one of the original members of the Hestia Art Collective that created the city's mural, "History Of Women in Northampton From 1600 To 1980" that was updated in 2003. (http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMCKW0_History_Of_Women_in_Northampton_From_1600_To_1980_Northampton_MA)
The selected participants will create their work in chalk on cement canvases, located throughout downtown Northampton, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cash prizes of $250, $150, and $100 will be awarded by a panel of judges for the top three creations.
The public is also invited to an informal “family free draw” at Pulaski Park from 4 to 6 p.m. Chalk will be provided for anyone who wants to participate.
Presentations for the winning artists competing in the festival will be made on the steps of City Hall at 5 p.m.
The public is encouraged to watch the chalk art pieces develop, and to view completed work in the evening while enjoying the city's monthly gallery walk from 5 to 8 p.m.
The Northampton chalk art sites include: William Baczek Fine Arts at 36 Main; First Churches at Main and Center; A.P.E. Gallery at 126 Main; the corner of Main and Old South; Skera at 221 Main; the Academy of Music walkway, Forbes Library and the Smith College Museum.
Along the route, viewers have an opportunity to stop in at venues that participate in Arts Night Out.
A detailed listing of exhibitions appears on the Arts Night Out website at www.artsnightout.org, and is published in the monthly brochures found at participating locations where maps of the chalk art sites are also available.
The festival is sponsored by the Northampton Business Improvement District, Chartpak, Inc., and PeoplesBank. It is produced in cooperation with the City of Northampton and the Northampton Center for the Arts.