Sidewalk stories year 2

The chalk box is under our community bench again this year,
 and I've been enjoying the art that people have left on our sidewalk. 
Here's some of my own:

Chalk artist Julianne has stopped by a few times too.

This version flummoxed a young reader...

So I translated.

Maybe I should offer 

a sidewalk chalk cursive writing course

this summer?

I'm hoping for more sidewalk art 

once this heat wave abates.

Stay tuned for more neighbourhood

sidewalk stories.

And if you want to see last year's,

click here.

Don't you just love summer?

Sidewalk stories

In April I discovered 
a box of unused sidewalk chalk in a cupboard, 
and decided it needed to be used. 

So I put some pieces 
into a pretty chocolate tin marked CHALK, 
and went out to encourage people to draw on my sidewalk.

The first artist 
to participate
drew her own flower, 
wrote that she liked my garden,
and signed her work
Julianne.

Someone else

(a good neighbour, I think)

wrote "Hello Friends!"

in beautiful flowing cursive.

I didn't see all this happen,

and it rained before I took a picture.

A few days later,

a couple stopped

and left me 

a shamrock

and a smiling cat.

Last week,

I caught my first glimpse 

of Julianne when she and three friends

drew moon cakes and happy faces.

Again, 

Julianne signed her work.

I like that she does that.

Of course,

rain washed everything away.

On Tuesday I went out

and chalked

CHALK 

with an arrow pointing to the box

like I always do.

Then I thanked

Julianne and friends

for their efforts.

I happened to be sitting in our front room

with my windows open

when Julianne and a friend came by 

and she read my message.

"Thanks for the art,

JuliANNE AND FRIENDS!" 

she squealed with delight.

They left more art for me.

I'll be sad when school ends

and Julianne 

doesn't walk past 

as often.

But there might be

a few more

willing participants,

like the couple last night

who gave me 

this garden scene

and high-fived as they walked on.

Thanks, 

neighbours,

for sharing your art

with me!

Taken any Chalk Walks lately?

One of the things I have loved about this covid time is that suddenly, there are children in our neighbourhood. I mean, there have always been children, but now, because they aren't at school all day long and their parents aren't trucking them off to numerous extracurricular activities in the evenings, I actually get to see them hanging out where they live, or at least, see evidence of their presence.

The chalk art that seems to have sprung up everywhere overnight with the arrival of spring is a delightful give away. Hopscotches with 142 jumping places, long wiggly lines from one end of the block to the other, creative "obstacle courses" made by moms for kids to follow instructions like, "spin here," "do five jumping jacks," and "RUN!" and greetings to elderly neighbours make me smile. Then there are the sweet self portraits, cartoon characters, and hopeful messages about love. "We're all in this together" seems to be a popular line. So is "Stay home, stay safe."

On our after supper dog walk these last two evenings, my husband and I came across some grown ups on their knees with chalk in hand. When I commented to a young man how happy I was to see him creating an art walk, he laughed and said, "Mike, the guy across the street, is calling it The Chalk Walk." Mike is probably my age, and he uses stencils for song lyrics. 

This afternoon, my daughter and I took a walk to record a few images before it rains. It's enough to make me want to go out and find some more sidewalk chalk! But it's the little kids' art that I really love, and I'm staying home... except for my chalk walks!