Village wants you to draw on the sidewalk
It's OK to write on the sidewalk this time, because it's all for the sake of chalk art.
To commemorate its 10th anniversary, the Hoffman Estates Arts Commission is trying something new -- "Chalk It Up," a chalk mural festival Sept. 11-14.
The research began a couple of years ago, when commission chairwoman Michelle Pilafas found she liked the art form.
"The art doesn't last, but it is memorable and we can archive the event," Pilafas said. "We intend to make video tapes and take photos."
The photos will be enlarged and displayed in the village hall gallery.
The theme, perhaps an offshoot of the village's challenge of "Growing to Greatness," is "Growing the Arts in Hoffman Estates."
Entrants may be of any age and can choose their own mural spot -- using non-permanent chalk. Pilafas hopes folks will get together to plan, design and create.
If designing your own mural isn't your thing, everyone is invited to join in creating the mural, headed up by a murialist, that will be displayed on the sidewalk surrounding the village hall fountain from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 11.
She hopes the art designs will have an impact on the community, encouraging organizations to participate and show how the arts contribute to their successes.
The event also is open to organizations that have Hoffman Estates residents as members. The organizations may display chalk works at the places where members meet. Pilafas envisions artists utilizing walls, playground space and sidewalks, and contacted school representatives in June to urge classes to create murals in front of the school buildings.
Schools will produce their murals indoors on paper, but display them outdoors on Sept. 14. A muralist will give tips to students who need help creating murals.
Judges will award recognition, and each participating school will receive a video presentation of the event.
"We intend to give each school a disposable camera, so students may photograph their works of art," Pilafas said.
Saturday is the registration deadline. Entry forms are available at the Web site hoffmanestatesarts.com and can be returned to Hoffman Estates village hall, 1900 Hassell Road, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169. Or, you can e-mail webmsater@hoffmanestatesarts.com; include your name, address, e-mail, phone number, a description of the mural and how much sidewalk space you plan to use.
Platzkonzert: Arts commission members believe residents do not want summer or its concerts to end, so they will sponsor one last musical event, "Platzkonzert," a word play on the Oktoberfest tradition.
Arts commissioner Joan Jarzemski said music should extend into the upcoming fall season, so "Platzkonzert" will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Village Green of Prairie Stone in Hoffman Estates.
"It's a great opportunity to extend summer and to give us another day to celebrate," Jarzemski said. "One year, we had the event a month later with a spin on Oktoberfest and the weather didn't cooperate. It was just too cold, so we moved the celebration to September to take advantage of what we hope will be better weather."
With German and polka music, yodeling and the use of Austrian cowbells played to "Edelweiss," the Johnny Wagner Band will headline the event. Also featured will be the German Descent Dancers, wearing traditional German costumes, and magician Jack Skalon.
There will be activities for children and lots of prizes, according to Jarzemski, who says she doesn't want anyone to miss the brats, sauerkraut, German potato salad and apple strudel.