City Of Ames: Chalk The Block Contest Is Sept. 26

Press release from the City of Ames:

09/02/2021 12:00 PM

The City of Ames Public Art Commission, Octagon Center for the Arts, and Ames Community Arts Council are sponsoring a Chalk the Block contest. This chalk drawing contest will take place in the 400 block of Burnett Avenue, just north of Tom Evans Park in Downtown Ames, beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 26. Judging will be at 2 p.m.

“Chalk drawing is an inclusive creative outlet,” said Sara Sherman, Public Art Commission member. “Holding the contest during the annual Octagon Art Festival, which draws thousands of art lovers to Downtown Ames, provides a great opportunity to get community members involved in creating their own art.” The Chalk the Block contest premiered at the 2019 Octagon Arts Festival. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Festival was not held in 2020.

The contest includes three categories: Youth (ages 12 and younger), Teen (ages 13 to 17), and Adult (ages 18 and older). Prizes will be awarded in each category.

Chalk will be provided to the first 20 people to register; everyone else will need to provide their own chalk. Soft pastels or any non-permanent medium that will wash away with the rain are other options to use. Contestants will have a 4-foot by 4-foot square space in which to create their chalk drawing.

Register for the contest by emailing publicartcommission@cityofames.org with the participant’s name, age group, address, phone number, and email address. Space is limited, so register as soon as possible. Same day registration may be possible if space is available.

For more information, please contact Carly Watson, Principal Clerk, at carly.watson@cityofames.org or 515.239.5101.

This press release was produced by the City of Ames. The views expressed here are the author’s own.