Sidewalk Art Promoting Open Manchester Restaurants

MANCHESER, CT — Area artists have undertaken an independent initiative to "chalk bomb" Downtown Manchester to promote restaurants open for takeout amid coronavirus restrictions.

The artists will be creating a "masterpiece" in front of a restaurant and restaurants, artists and passersby are being encouraged to share the artwork by posting to their social media outlets, organizers said.

The artwork will be done while practicing social distancing. This collaboration includes the donation of chalk from the Deptartment of Leisure, Families and Recreation, and artist outreach and coordination by WORK–SPACE.

The first restaurant to be "chalked bombed" was The Angry Egg at 1095 Main St. WORK—SPACE at 903 Main St. is also sporting chalk art.

Because of a limited number of participating artists, restaurants open for takeout are being selected by lottery to be the recipients of the sidewalk art. The longterm goal is to support all of the Downtown restaurants as the number of participating artists grows, organizers said.

As spring showers wash away existing drawings, new drawings will emerge.

"This is just a small way to say thank you to all of our Downtown restaurants who are able to stay open," organizer Lynn Sottile said. "We appreciate their hard work in this difficult time and hope it puts a smile on faces."

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• For questions about the Downtown Restaurant Chalk Bombing Project contact Lynn Sottile at schultz.design@snet.net or by phone at 860 649-3487.
• Manchester businesses that are open can let the public know in the Patch guide to local business. Click hereto add a business and view the guide.
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