Art overtakes Onset sidewalks at annual Chalk Festival

Matthew Bernat

Aug 28, 2016

Justin Cifello of Buzzards Bay puts the finishing touches on his entry in Saturday's Chalk Festival held in Onset. BY MATTHEW BERNAT

Andrea Beaupre stands next to the landscape she started at 10 a.m. and wrapped up around 4 p.m. on Saturday. BY MATTHEW BERNAT

People's Choice Award winner Ben Alan of Wareham shows off his chalky hands in front of his creation. BY MATTHEW BERNAT

The sea was a popular theme at Saturday's Chalk Festival. BY MATTHEW BERNAT

Festival coordinators Jeff Burrows, left, and Milly Burrows with People's Choice Award winner Bhen Alan of Wareham. BY MATTHEW BERNAT

Over 18 first place winner Amanda Sellars of Dennisport created this sidewalk portrait of Prince for the festival. BY MATTHEW BERNAT

Justin Cifello of Buzzards Bay puts the finishing touches on his entry in Saturday's Chalk Festival held in Onset. BY MATTHEW BERNAT

Andrea Beaupre stands next to the landscape she started at 10 a.m. and wrapped up around 4 p.m. on Saturday. BY MATTHEW BERNAT

People's Choice Award winner Ben Alan of Wareham shows off his chalky hands in front of his creation. BY MATTHEW BERNAT

The sea was a popular theme at Saturday's Chalk Festival. BY MATTHEW BERNAT

Festival coordinators Jeff Burrows, left, and Milly Burrows with People's Choice Award winner Bhen Alan of Wareham. BY MATTHEW BERNAT

Over 18 first place winner Amanda Sellars of Dennisport created this sidewalk portrait of Prince for the festival. BY MATTHEW BERNAT

When concrete is your canvas, just about anything goes.

Sidewalks near the Lillian Gregerman Band Shell were transformed by artists of all ages and abilities at the third annual Chalk-Full-O-Fun Onset Street Painting Festival on Saturday.

Nautical scenes, children’s doodles, a portrait of the late musician Prince, Grateful Dead bears and many more subjects were chosen by the professional and amateur artists who participated.

Each was given a square or two of sidewalk space to work with and approximately six hours to create before a panel of judges awarded prizes.

Artists were divided into three categories: under 12 years old, 12 to 17 years old and over 18. Winners took home cash and gift certificates to local businesses.

The People’s Choice Award, which came with a $100 cash prize, went to Bhen Alan of East Wareham for the second consecutive year.

A professional artist, Alan said he paints figures in a variety of mediums, including oils and charcoal. His winning entry featured a woman blossoming from an abstract floral design. Bees and the planet Earth were added motifs.

“While there’s a lot of nature imagery, I wanted to leave it ambiguous,” said Alan. “Viewers can interpret it how they want.”

East Wareham resident Andrea Beaupre took a more straightforward approach. She chalked up an expressive lighthouse scene. This was Beaupre’s second year participating, and she couldn’t wait to get going.

“I’ve been here since 10 a.m.,” she said. “I’ve been waiting all year to come back.”

Beaupre said her mother taught her how to paint when she was 6 years old. It’s a skill she passed on to her own children, who spent the day making their own sidewalk art.

Nearly 100 people participated, said event organizer and artist Milly Burrows, the event's founder.

Burrows announced the winners at the end of the festival, which included the over 18 first place winner, Amanda Sellars of Dennisport.

Usually Sellars works in acrylics, but this time she used her chalk skills to create a portrait of Prince, the purple-clad musician who passed away earlier the year.

“I love him, and since he just passed away I wanted to do a tribute,” she said.

Below is a complete list of the festival winners.

People’s Choice

Bhen Alan

Honorable Mention

Olivia McCarthy-Kelley

Under 12 years old

1st: Meghan O’Hara

2nd: Abigail Gates

3rd: Ava Regan

12 to 17 years old

1st: Raphael Vache