Chalk the Walk transformed the Viridian Event Center’s outdoor plaza into a vibrant gallery with nearly 60 chalk art entries. On Aug. 30, artists of all ages and abilities gathered at the center, spending hours creating their displays. 

“It’s a chance for the community to come together and see some art and we have a bunch of different age categories, from youth all the way up to adult,” Sarin Wesel said, Viridian’s event coordinator. “It’s an opportunity for people to try chalk art in a low-stakes environment and have fun with it.”

In partnership with West Jordan City, the Viridian Event Center created the free Chalk the Walk event and provided materials for all entrants. Displays made by artists under 12 were not judged; instead, the youth were given the chance to try out the medium, stretch their abilities and learn from more experienced artists. 

Everleigh Curran, 15, is a Millcreek chalk artist. She participated in last year’s Chalk the Walk event and found she had a real skill for it. She said her tribute to “The Cat in the Hat” was simpler than other designs she’d created, but she loved the characters.

“I also am an artist, so I like drawing and I like using stuff that I can blend. So, that’s what got me interested in this,” Everleigh said. 

Quinnley Starr is a regular at Chalk the Walk, winning last year’s adult team category with Patrick Wilkerson and her sister, Winter Starr. This year was the first time she entered as an individual artist.

Starr said she enjoys the chalk art challenge because it allows her to focus on one thing, almost like meditation, making the eight hours of design time fly by. Her piece, “The Wild Robot,” was an acknowledgment of emotion, human and otherwise. 

“I love ‘The Wild Robot,’” Starr said. “It makes me cry whenever I watch it. It’s so sweet. It’s so good. I have discovered, through doing lots of chalk art competitions, that people like colorful chalk art that brings out emotion or makes them think about something they love, like a good movie. I like the color on the duck and on the robot space, where it’s lighting up with love and joy. It brings your attention there.”

Community members were invited to add their own chalk design to the wall around the plaza while enjoying the dozens of chalk art entries. 

After all the votes were counted, Trisha Bhatia won the People's Choice award; Nichole Kleinman took first in the Adult Solo category; Lexie Daley and Tee Jorgensen won the Adult Team division; Drako Woodland finished first in Teen Solo; Sophie Brewer and Sarah Hooper took the top prize for Teen Team; and Carl Brewer, Tesla Brewer and Atlas Brewer finished first in the All Ages category. 

“We have some regulars that come every year and are part of the chalk community, so everyone gets a chance to meet new people,” Wesel said. “It draws people into that community and we were able to draw in some of the library patrons. They came to the library and they saw something going on, and they came and got to participate in the community activity.”

Quinnley Starr chalked a tribute to “The Wild Robot” during the Chalk the Walk event at the Viridian Event Center in West Jordan. (Peri Kinder/City Journals)