On Sunday, March 29, PenFed Plaza at Tysons Corner Center bloomed with creativity at the second annual chalk art contest hosted by ArtsFairfax at Blossom Bash, an official National Cherry Blossom Festival event. The highly anticipated chalk contest returned for another year, featuring 12 chalk artists from the DMV area.
The selected professional and emerging artists were chosen through a public call for artists on the ArtsFairfax website and social media platforms. This year’s event saw many new participants, as well as returning artists who were eager to showcase their work at the contest once again.
“This is a great opportunity for all of our artists – professional and amateur of all levels – to really showcase their talents.”
The Blossom Bash chalk art contest, which was supported by the Fairfax250 Commission, invited artists to celebrate America’s 250th by showcasing the natural beauty of America’s flora and fauna by celebrating the plants, animals, and landscapes that make our country beautiful.
“The unique and important part of Fairfax is that there are these wonderful communities. Over the rest of this year, the Fairfax250 Commission will be supporting events across the County as well as organizations like ArtsFairfax that are celebrating the past, present, and the future of Fairfax County.”
Each of the 12 artists were given a set of Blick soft pastels and 3 hours to produce their work for a chance to win the “Judges’ Choice” or “People’s Choice” awards. This year, the judging panel featured Maddy White, District Director for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District; Delegate Holly Seibold, 12th District; and Dalia Palchik, Providence District Supervisor.
This year’s “Judges Choice” winner was Spencer-Grace Hiday, a DC-based live event artist. Hiday’s chalk art incorporated the natural resources found across the United States, reflecting the country’s biodiversity from the West Coast to the East Coast, highlighting a variety of plants and animals that celebrate the spirit of the nation.
For the “People’s Choice” votes, ArtsFairfax invited Blossom Bash attendees to participate in the judging process by submitting their vote at the ArtsFairfax tent, where they could learn more about local arts organizations and upcoming arts activities and events.
By popular vote from over 130 participants, this year’s “People’s Choice” winner was Helena Hanson, an emerging visual artist based in Northern Virginia. Hanson’s work highlighted the striped bass, a fish native to the DC tidal basin, bringing awareness to its crucial role in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
The Blossom Bash chalk art contest offered not only visibility for local artists, but also a unique opportunity to bring the community together through public art.
“We hope to continue to create more events like this to showcase the arts, to support our budding and professional artists, and to really create a place for community. In difficult times like these, there’s nothing better than coming together through the arts, through civic engagement, and by enjoying multigenerational time together.”
