TRUMBULL COUNTY Artists let chalking do their talking

More than 800 people registered for the event.
By MONICA BOND
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Chalk pictures colored the Trumbull County courthouse sidewalks as artists of all ages created everything from simple children's sketches to elaborate pop art.
Andrew Gould, 17, of Cincinnati, came to participate in the annual Chalk on the Walk event Friday with his friend Eric Celedonia, 18, of Warren.
"I love chalk, and I rarely get to do it -- because my parents get angry when I do it on the driveway," Gould said.
His picture, he said, was sending a "subtle social message." He wanted it to be "mind-numbingly bright like Las Vegas, with lots of mixed messages."
For example, one corner of Gould's square was covered in "blah, blah, blah" and the outline of a person's head. He said he got this idea from the recent presidential election, the talk of "flip-flopping" politicians, and the mixed messages they sent.
There was a faint suggestion of a flower on the head, and next to it hot dogs were scattered across a rainbow, next to dollar bills.
"He's wearing a flower that shows nature is important. The meat next to it shows nature isn't important, it's just for consumption," he explained.
Next to Gould, Celedonia's square was a tribute to '20s music and swing dancing.
Dancing musical notes were interspersed among the period hats and instruments. Colorful ribbons drew the onlooker's eye from one image to the next.
"It's telling you to let loose more and really look around at what everything is," he said. "Don't get caught in one detail."
Both agreed they would have liked more chalk to work with.
An eye for talent
As they were working, judges Debby Bailey and William "Doug" Franklin, the city's service director, examined the art in the older age group. They looked for creativity, use of space, shading and perspective, Bailey said.
"We're seeing it all. This is a tough group to judge," Franklin said.
"We were thinking they need more prizes," Bailey added.
The event is sponsored by the Fine Arts Council of Trumbull County as part of the Noon in the Park series. Bobbie Brown, FACT director, said there were 804 registered participants and $2,700 was spent to provide the chalk. Ages ranged from under 2 to 55, she said.
"Kids get their parents to draw, which is great," she said. "My theory is if you can get down on the pavement and get back up, you can draw."
First-place winners were: ages 0 to 2, Paige Campbell, 2, of Warren; ages 3 to 5, Abby Rodriguez, 4, of Warren; ages 6 to 8, Madison Blanchard, 8, of Mineral Ridge; ages 9 to 11, Maggie Woods, 10, of McDonald; ages 12 to 15, Julie Pasini, 14, of Warren; ages 16 and up, Cassondra Gillotti, 17, of Warren.
Funding for Chalk on the Walk is by Trumbull 100, Warren Area Chamber of Commerce's Educational, Cultural and Civic Foundation, First Place Bank Community Foundation, St. Joseph Health Center, First Energy Foundation, Sky Bank and Sprint.