Chalk art draws Davis community closer

PHOTO: Many families are coping with the shelter-in-place through engaging activities like sidewalk chalk art. In South Davis on April 21, one family decided to draw circles using chalk on a crosswalk.

By Averi Brayton,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

Over the past month and a half, students, working parents and everyone in between have been at home to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). After staying inside so often, many Davis residents have been going out to their front yards to express their creative sides through chalk art.

All over Davis, you can find chalk sidewalk art in the streets, on the sidewalk or in driveways. For students who like to draw and are looking to try new things, the sidewalk is the new canvas and chalk is the new paint. 

Senior Andres Avila, who loves to draw in his free time, has recently found himself outside drawing with chalk.  

“It is just something new to do if you get bored with drawing inside your house,” Avila said. “You can only do something so many times in quarantine until you get bored of it.”

While some people use it as another way to express their artistic side, others, like senior Alberto Machado, use sidewalk art as a fun way to hang out with his family.

“Instead of sitting around all day with my family, I like to go out front and draw with my younger sister […] It’s a fun way to spend time outside not cooped up in your house day after day,” Machado said.

Sidewalk chalk art is not only a fun activity for artists to do during shelter-in-place, but something for other people to enjoy looking at. The variety of different designs drawn on the street can brighten up the neighborhood and improve the moods of passerby.

Senior Molly Nichols has seen sidewalk chalk art all over her neighborhood while going on her daily runs.  

“It is so nice to see such great art people can make while in quarantine […] I love the good vibes it brings my neighborhood,” Nichols said.