Community

City art contest ‘chalks’ up extra July 4 fun

Cole Condit, 12, works on his award-winning July 4-themed chalk art picture of an eagle and an American flag, during the City of Creswell’s Awesome Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest. Gini Davis/The Creswell Chronicle

Visitors walking in downtown Creswell on their way to the Chamber breakfast or parade on the Fourth of July were greeted with 15 colorful pieces of sidewalk chalk art in front of City Hall – entries in the City of Creswell’s first Awesome Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest, held July 3.
Individuals of all ages, families, teams and businesses were invited to participate; entrants were assigned a numbered section of sidewalk to decorate and provided free colored chalk.
The contest was the brainchild of City Administrator Michelle Amberg.
”I just wanted to do something for families that would help decorate City Hall for the parade,” Amberg said. ”I thought it would be fun.”
City Council President Amy Knudsen observed that sense of fun and enthusiasm firsthand: ”Both my young daughters, ages 11 and 8, were very excited when I told them about (the contest),” Knudsen said. ”Their grandma took them over Wednesday morning, and they had a blast.”
Contest categories included Most Colorful, Most Creative, Best Depiction of Creswell’s Fourth of July Theme (”Out of This World”) and Best Use of Space.
”The majority of the drawings were Americana/Independence Day themed; only a few were creative drawings of flowers, Pokémon, etc.,” Knudsen said. While no entrants signed up under a business name, Creswell’s city planner, Maddie Phillips ”created one for fun and signed it ‘City of Creswell’ – but Richard and I did not consider it for any of the prizes,” she added.
Judged Most Colorful was a large, multicolored pastel flower by Jasmine Hernandez; Most Creative went to Nayana Martinez for her red-and-white striped, blue-fronted cat/fox with ”Happy 4th” and ”Peace & Love” written on it.
Best Use of Space went to the team of Kolbiet and Kendall Durflinger and Kale Dumas, for their multiple drawings of flags, fireworks, balloons, candy and happy faces.
Best Depiction of July 4 went to Cole Condit, for his bald eagle and flag.
A Mayor’s Special Award was also presented, to Reagan Dockery for her ”Out of This World” space-themed drawing, similar to Creswell’s 2019 Fourth of July pins.
Each winner received a gift certificate from Creswell’s Dairy Queen.
The contest’s charm made it a unique contribution to Creswell’s July 4 festivities.
”I think this is really great for our community; it’s wonderful to have all these colorful sidewalks and pieces of art,” Zettervall said. For those coming into Creswell for the first time on July 4, the sidewalk chalk art gave them ”something to talk about, and wonder what this was all about,” he added.

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