Saturday, August 8, saw Volume One’s Chalkfest 2009 (part of downtown Eau Claire’s Summerfest event). This year’s Chalkfest brought 75 artists to Eau Claire’s Wilson Park for a firestorm of creativity – 56 panels of sidewalk became concrete canvases for the artists, most of whom were locals. Juried awards were given for Best Youth Individual, Best Youth Group, Best Adult Individual, Best Adult Group, and Audience Choice. This year’s event weathered a number of storms and rainfalls, but the park was packed all day long with people viewing the art and enjoying the side activities, food, music, and fun.

Since the rain had (poetically) washed away much of the art and strings of electrical lights don’t play well with lots of water, this year’s “Nightlight Reception” awards ceremony was cancelled and replaced with a brief ceremony earlier in the evening. But that didn’t stop people from stopping down to Wilson Park in the twilight hours.

Photos by Rachel Schumacher