![our chalk giraffe in its initial stages at the cleveland chalk festival 2011 our chalk giraffe in its initial stages at the cleveland chalk festival 2011](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Every September, the Cleveland Museum of Art hosts a Chalk Festival on their spacious back lawn. Their walking paths are paved with large stone squares whose smoothness is ideal for chalking. The museum is a very short walk from Case’s main quad, so every year I’ve ended walking by in time to witness the colorful aftermath. Last year, I swore to myself that no matter what I was doing, I would not miss the 2011 chalk festival.
![brad chalking at the cleveland chalk festival 2011 brad chalking at the cleveland chalk festival 2011](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
So despite being exhausted and haunted by an extremely challenging group project, Brad and I headed down early Saturday morning, the 17th, to pick out our squares and get sketching.
![giraffe and girl with balloons at the cleveland chalk festival 2011 (click for larger) giraffe and girl with balloons at the cleveland chalk festival 2011 (click for larger)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
After multiple hours of laying in the sun on this gorgeous day, this is what we ended up with. (click for an even bigger picture!)
![giraffe at the cleveland chalk festival 2011 giraffe at the cleveland chalk festival 2011](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Participating in a community art project was a new endeavor for me. This was especially fun because there were so many children there… they all had the most delightful comments. Some observations included, “that looks just like a giraffe!”, “i like your grass, that’s really good grass”, and my favorite: the little boy who said, “wow! you’re a really good artist.”
![girl with balloons at the cleveland chalk festival 2011](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
It was exciting because all day people were walking by, and a member of the party would say, “ooh, look at the giraffe!” because they considered our squares among those that should not be missed.
![crowd & clouds at the cleveland chalk festival 2011 crowd & clouds at the cleveland chalk festival 2011](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Did I mention that it was a gorgeous day?
![girls chalking at the cleveland chalk festival 2011 girls chalking at the cleveland chalk festival 2011](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
We also got to walk around and see everyone else’s wonderful drawings. There were so many people, all making amazing things and enjoying the lovely day. It was good for the soul.
![balancing businessman at the cleveland chalk festival 2011 balancing businessman at the cleveland chalk festival 2011](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
This one was drawn by a boy who couldn’t have been more than 11 or 12 years old – it was incredible!
![pancake explorers" at the cleveland chalk festival 2011 "pancake explorers" at the cleveland chalk festival 2011](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Pancake Explorers! See the little guys climbing the pancake? They have a tent!
![sam and brad chalking at the cleveland chalk festival 2011 sam and brad chalking at the cleveland chalk festival 2011](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
After waiting so long to actually participate in the Chalk Festival, it made me really, really happy that we were able to draw something so awesome. In the midst of such a stressful weekend, the opportunity to make something outside in the presence of other creative people was just perfect.