Little artists and the art beneath our feet

By KIMBERLY M. WEYANDT

NARROWSBURG, NY — A hot blacktop was transformed into a colorful canvas at “Chalk It Up,” an event held July 15 at the Tusten-Cochecton branch of the Western Sullivan Public Library.

Flowing from the imagination of local children, down their arms and out through fist-held sticks of chalk onto the blacktop, children’s book characters such as Arthur and the Rainbow Fish came to life. A section of the library’s parking lot was blocked off, and during the course of the day 18 children took turns sweeping parking spaces and creating colorful replicas. The judging, done by Delaware Valley Arts Alliance Executive Director Elaine Giguere, came to a dramatic halt when it was discovered that a brown station wagon had been carelessly parked on top of one of the children’s drawings, but the car was moved to an unoccupied space and the judging was completed.

In first place, winning five tickets to any performance of the Summer 2005 season of the Young Audience Festival at Forestburgh, were Andrew Schray, Nick Pankewytch, Chris Pankewytch, Maya Bidiak and Lydia Schray, with Jan Brett’s The Mitten. Taking second place with his realistic rendition of Arthur was Ryan Bustamente and stealing third place with A Rainbow of Mine was Thomas Muller. All participating artists received prizes.