Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest Invites All to Decorate 2nd Street

Patrick Ong
LENA BISHOP illustrates her portrait of Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker. She won 1st place in this year’s Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest.

Belmont Shore’s 2nd Street hosted over 90 artists to participate in Saturday’s Belmont Shore Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest. Artists 16 and up gathered as early as 9 a.m. to prepare their submissions for the contest at 4:10 p.m.

The Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest is hosted and organized by Long Beach resident Justin Rudd, who has been running this event for the past 16 years. The event is funded by his nonprofit, Community Action Team and sponsored by the Long Beach Turkey Trot. It is the main attraction of Belmont Shore Business Association’s Art Walk, which is also accompanied with local vendors selling their art and a station hosted by Inspyr Arts – a Long Beach art studio that offers classes to youth students.

“My mom was an artist and I’ve always appreciated art,” said Rudd.

Originally, he started the event to promote another event of his, the Haute Dog Howl’oween Parade that was scheduled the following week in 2nd Street back in 2003. Artists were required to include a dog in their chalk pieces and were hung in the 2nd Street businesses’ windows. However, the parade has moved to Marina Vista Park and the chalk contest has manifested into its own event – many participants still include dogs in their submissions regardless.

While chalk art might seem juvenile and reminiscent of our elementary days, many artists took to the challenge quite seriously. For good reason, as overall best in show is rewarded with a $350 cash prize. First and second places won $250 and $150 prizes respectively and select participants won honorable mention prizes of $50 and $20.

One artist, David Phon, 31, has entered this event six times. He usually does digital illustration in his home in an isolated setting but makes sure to sign up yearly to work with pastels out in the open. He says that a large appeal of this contest is the amount of people that show their appreciation to artists. For this year’s contest, he wanted to honor movie star Jackie Chan in a street art style portrait.

The contest’s farthest participant, Laura Phillips Gray, comes from Peoria, Illinois. She is a full-time surgical medical RN (registered nurse) that contacted fellow participant Lori Escalera online about the event last year. Escalera convinced her to fly out to participate but Gray lost her design. Distraught, she went to Escalera, who gave her a new design to illustrate. This year, she considers this her shot at redemption.

“It was a big learning experience,” said Gray.

Her submission this year is an original work that represents the universal message: A mother’s love for her child. Gray draws a grand portrait of an elephant – one of her favorite animals – with a much smaller trunk poking out from the side. Gray won 2nd place and said that her piece received many offers.

“It’s a welcome change from last year,” said Gray.

Aforementioned artist Lori Escalera, 62, has competed in the contest almost every year. In addition to participating in the chalk contest, she has done street painting for 25 years. For this year’s event, she illustrated her rendition of a portrait by 19th century Belgian painter Pierre Olivier Joseph Coomans. Escalera won best in show for the first time, winning the $350 grand prize. Despite the accolade, Escalera was shocked by the spectacle and praise.

“It’s a little scary. [Artists] like attention because we are an insecure bunch but this is just the right amount,” said Escalera.

patrick@beachcomber.news

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