Chalkfest 2012 sent a strong message out to Buffalonians today. The message was that there is a strong contingent of believers that are willing to do just about anything to restore the Main Street corridor as a thriving epicenter in the city. It took a collaboration of artists and dancers and musicians to draw hundreds of families to the 500-block of Main Street. While there was plenty of organized artistry to be found, there was also an explosion of artwork contributed by the visitors to the event. It appeared as if everyone had claimed a section of the sidewalk and was busy chalking animals and flowers and monsters.
The energy at Chalkfest was palpable. There was a vibe that swept through the crowd, and no one wanted to leave for fear that they would miss something. Music piped out from the buildings and new food truck called House of Munch was on the scene. Plus there were plenty of new murals to check out. Some of the murals (Collins, Ogre, Tingley) were so explosive that visitors couldn’t draw themselves away from the (normally blank) walls – to watch people interact with the artwork was awesome. It just goes to show you what creative, colorful artwork can do to liven up a city street. Most of these artists live locally and should be enlisted to tackle more and more blank walls in Downtown Buffalo. Here’s what the scene looked like earlier today. Be sure to head back tomorrow for additional fun…