Photos by Catherine Stachowiak
The Kern River Valley Art Association (KRVAA) held its very first Chalk Walk Extravaganza, Sunday August 25, at the Station building in Wofford Heights.
Along with the blast of chalk color brightening up the warm day, was great weather with a clear blue sky, and less heat for participating artists creating beneath the shade of the carport. President of the KRVAA Christopher Buffalo Folsom said he was happy with the weather.
He said, “The inspiration (for the event) comes many fold. We have been inspired by the chalk walk that happens in the Bakersfield through the Museum of Art. And before that, long ago, 50 maybe 60 years ago, the chalk thing that they do in Santa Barbara
at the mission was the very first one that I saw. And it was so fantastic. We haven’t accomplished that yet. For me to get down there on the ground and be able to do the chalk it’s fun and a learning experience because I’m a three dimensional artist as opposed to two.”
Folsom said an artist with a house in the valley, for 30 years, who resides in Santa Barbara showed up and did a beautiful piece in the Chalk Walk. A family with a bunch of kids came and other kids started showing up and had fun.
Along side the Chalk Walk Extravaganza, the KRVAA also held an Ice Cream Social. Folsom said, “At around noon we started serving ice cream and everybody loved that. Again this has to do with our community grant and trying to bring the community together. Our community center plays a pivotal role and also gives a lot more exposure to our coffee place, now that we have it open and permitted, and past the first inspection. We’re feeling really good about it.”
Buffalo also joked saying some people thought his horse chalk-work looked like a penguin.
Adult participants were in a separate category from children, in the competition, which winners received different types of prizes.
Folsom wanted to remind the public that the association is inviting the public to the Labor Day Art Festival at Circle Park all weekend long.
