Artists Express Themselves with Chalk in Cambridge
Posted by Jill Burrows
on Apr 24, 2016
Whether you’re an aspiring or accomplished artist—or perhaps someone who appreciates art as a dynamic vehicle for visual expression—you won't want to miss Cambridge Rotary Club's annual Chalk on the Walk event, May 1st. on Church Street, that rivals an Italian street painting festival.Artist Bridget Foster Reed first learned about Chalk on the Walk eight years ago when she happened to notice an advertisement for the event during an eventful subway ride. “My interest was immediately peaked. I was convinced that it sounded a bit ephemeral, but also lots of fun.” To prove her point, Bridget has participated in the annual Chalk on the Walk event almost every year since then.
“I’m always impressed that Chalk on the Walk uses art to bring people together to support important charitable causes. It also appeals to a wide demographic, bringing together so many different people and art styles in such a creative way. “The Rotary Club members running the event reach out to participating artists with so much warmth. I think of them as embodying the true spirit of volunteering.”
Bridget is impressed by the extent to which the event draws people of all ages who are fascinated by the use of chalk to make beautiful art, especially the drawings that create elaborate optical illusions. “I also love working alongside the other participating artists who are always encouraging and motivating. We stimulate each other and encourage each other’s creative energies.”
Bridget was first introduced to the joys of making art by being invited into her grandmother’s art studio. “My parents also played an important role in encouraging my interests in artistic expression by introducing me to beautiful children’s books with vibrant illustrations, and by enrolling me in after school art programs.” “They never wavered in their belief that I could pursue art as a chosen career path. My teachers, too, even in the earliest grades, encouraged my strong interest and passion in art.”
Bridget continues to re-calibrate her fascination with the process of making art. “You are automatically driven to use critical thinking skills, or parts of your brain that encourage you to take risks and explore going beyond the usual boundaries.”
“In creating art, whenever I find that I am becoming too ‘comfortable’ with a particular style or medium, I try to switch to doing things that have the potential of creating new pathways in the brain, or put another way, to seeing things, with a fresh perspective. That approach also encourages me to keep learning.”
“I especially enjoy using non-traditional elements to make art, like working with chalk on an uneven surface as you do at Chalk on the Walk. “It gives you a chance to create art you never realized it would be possible for you to produce. When my brother, who had always thought of artists as creating art on paper, was first introduced to Chalk on the Walk, he was captivated by the idea that you could use chalk on pavement that has such an uneven surface.”
“I’m constantly discovering that there are many intriguing ways of producing art using new materials and processes. I learned about the ‘encaustic” process of painting (using hot wax) in a medieval art history class. The Museum of Fine Arts has an example of the process used in ancient Egyptian portraits. I recently stumbled upon the art of painting with smoke at the Portland Museum of Art in Maine.”
Although Bridget currently works in the business office of a theater, she finds that the creative brainstorming she is accustomed to using in her art, also supports her use of different approaches, or ways of doing things, in her office work.
Bridget is also very pleased that her Dad continues to play such a key role in the success of the Chalk on the Walk event, by having his company, Eversource, help sponsor the event each year. “I am very proud that Eversource, that has been so instrumental in supporting Children’s Hospital’s fundraising events, is also a Chalk on the Walk sponsor,” she commented.
Bridget’s enthusiasm and loyal support for Chalk on the Walk have only grown since being introduced to her very first Chalk on the Walk event. “The first two years, I produced creations reminiscent of Peter Bruegel and Van Gogh paintings.” Since then, Bridget indicates that her creations have evolved into being ever more individual and creative. “The highly original art produced at the event can be counted on to be well represented by the vibrant chalk colors that never fail to visually pop!”