When the dust cleared, it was beautiful
Allen Memorial Art Museum will be closed another six months for renovation, but some of the works in the museum would still be visible on the sidewalks around town -- if not for the rain -- through the fifth annual Oberlin Chalk Walk.
Dan Cherney, a professional chalk artist brought in for the Chalk Walk, said he and the other master artists reproduced works of art from the museum collection. Cherney reproduced the photograph "Jonathan," by Rashid Johnson in chalk in front of Ben Franklin/MindFair on West College Street.
"This goes back to the Renaissance origins of this," Cherney said. "Museums used to be really high-minded, so common people couldn't come in. So the artists would go in, look at the art, then come out and do it in chalk on the sidewalk so the common people could appreciate it."
Cherney has been a master chalk artist for 10 years and has participated in the Oberlin Chalk Walk the past four years. He said he'd like to come back as often as he is asked.
"This is the only time I get to do this locally," he said. "I do this all over the world, but this is my favorite. The people are friendly, and it's more cozy than Cleveland, New York, Paris."
Cherney lives in Vermilion and teaches art to first-, second-, and third-graders in North Olmsted. He said Friday he expected his students could help the Chalk Walk break a participation record.
"I told them I would be here, and they all wanted to come," he said. "If only half of them show up, that's 250."
Organizer Barry Richard said the event attracted 497 registered participants. The previous record for registered participation was 355 in 2008.
"It was busy downtown," Richard said. "We had an excellent turnout. And that doesn't include the people who came to watch."
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