Written by Abby Chadwick. Photo courtesy of SCAD.
Maybe you can chalk it up to good timing because SCAD’s 41st annual Sidewalk Arts Festival is coming up soon on April 23! Spectating is allowed (and encouraged,) but if you want to take your involvement to the next level, become a sidewalk artist yourself! Registration is open to current undergrad and graduate SCAD students, as well as high school students and SCAD alumni. To sign up, click here.
The day begins at 10 a.m. in Forsyth Park (between the main fountain and tennis courts.) Check-in and chalk distribution will take place at the distribution tent, and from there you will be given a map to locate your own personal sidewalk square. Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., artists should feel free to let their imaginations go wild as they help to turn Forsyth Park into a colorful mosaic of their own individual masterpieces.
Of course, the fun of participating is enough to make someone want to sign up. However, to further sweeten the deal, SCAD is offering over a dozen awards to registered participants (all of which are accompanied by a cash prize.) A few of these awards include the SCAD Peace Award (given to the artist who best represents harmony or joy,) the SCAD Homage Award (given to the artist who best incorporates a pre-existing painting made by a well-known artist) and the SCAD Student Spirit Award (given to the artist who shows the most school spirit in their work, which also must incorporate the beloved Art the Bee).
A few rules for the event: all work must be family friendly so refrain from the inclusion of profanity, nudity or any other type of explicit content; all work must remain in one’s own square and be created mainly in chalk or any other washable materials; any three-dimensional sculptural elements must not exceed two feet in height and must be removed by 5pm; no spray fixatives may be used; and no materials that emit odors may be used.
Also keep in mind that the Sidewalk Arts Festival is happening during Family and Alumni Weekend! So, after the event, feel free to take a tour of the college or pop in to either the SCAD Museum of Art, Ex Libris Bookstore, Arts Cafe, SCADstory or all of the above.
For a comprehensive list of rules, schedule times and other information, click here.
Abby Chadwick is District’s Chief Social Media Strategist and an interior design major at SCAD. She has been involved with District since her freshman year, with this year being her third as an editor. Apart from her role at District, Abby can be seen around SCAD walking to and from Clark Hall and enjoying the Savannah coffee scene. (Her go to is an espresso tonic, if you were wondering!)
