Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno checks out Denise Marie Stewart’s photography at the Chalk for Change event on Court Square Saturday. Sarno was joined by son Stewart Carmello and niece Cady Ramsey. Stewart works from DomDee Photography Studio in Indian Orchard.
SPRINGFIELD – When dozens of artists create work in Court Square Saturday afternoon or present works of art, large crowds unite between displaying and listening to live music.
They are all part of the Chalk for Change event that is sponsored by the Transfer Trust Project, the Springfield Cultural Partnership, Commonwealth Murals, the Behavioral Health Network, the School of Community Music and the Springfield Department of Health and Human Services.
In addition to the artists who work in Court Square, the event includes spray paint artists who create works throughout the city, said Vanessa Ford, Project Manager for Transfer Trust and faculty member at Community Music School of Springfield.
“Our aerosol artists are circling the city creating messages of hope and healing on the sidewalks that are allowed,” he said. “We got a special piece of sidewalk art that was done directly on the stairs of City Hall with a special message that was desired by the mayor.”
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno was among those present.
“They asked me,‘ Mayor, what are you going to say at City Hall, ’and they did well here,” said Sarno, looking down at the large graffiti style work on the stairs of City Hall. “I want a proud Springfield and a strong Springfield. It only unites people from all walks of life, regardless of color or belief or background, forgive my art, which builds a beautiful mosaic of the City of Springfield.
Also setting the display at the event is the Baystate Health Network mobile vaccination clinic offering on-the-spot vaccinations for COVID and flu, the Springfield Armory Museum and other agencies that visit the community.
Despite the show’s name, Chalk for Change, only one artist actually uses chalk in his work. Frankie Barrero carefully layered different colors of chalk on a flat black canvas to create a picture of his father helping his toddler daughter on a playground slide.
“Lime is actually my favorite medium,” Barrero said. “But I’m color blind, so I have to write all the colors in my sketches, so basically I know what’s on the board.”
The colors set on a black background actually represent the opposite of what you would expect when he built the image.
Aerosol artist, who we usually think of as spray paint, Mark Austin prepares the background for the image that he expects.
“I’m going to choose someone from the community and do a portrait now,” he said.
The visual artist and designer said that he decided to set up a square to help with the event.
“I came to the Trust Transfer Project to benefit the community here right now.”
Austin works in his studio at 143 Main Street in downtown Springfield.
Master of Ceremonies Ford said that this was the second year the Chalk for Change event was held in Court Square and provided a variety of works to the community.
“We have live art here in the square with our excellent artists. We do puppetry, children’s arts and crafts, live performances from local artists, as well as in all over the city where people will find the aerosol artists.
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