Creativity and community pride were on full display recently when Skye Canyon hosted a day filled with art, food and family fun at its fifth annual juried chalk art competition, Chalk & Cheers. The weather was perfect for the annual fall festival, raffle, and art fair at Skye Canyon Park with hundreds of families enjoying the day outdoors.
This year, more than 30 artists of all skill levels participated in the chalk art contest. Each artist creatively interpreted this year’s theme of “The Skye’s the Limit.” Soaring eagles, colorful aircraft, and hot air balloons along with sky high ice cream cones, tall trees and mountains, galloping horses, outer space and pictures of children at play were among the vibrant chalk art entries. The competition was fierce, and the quality of art was beyond impressive in all categories. Families in attendance were awe-struck at the variety and creativity. Ultimately, Joseph Christenson’s powerful illustration of bald eagles soaring amidst the setting sun earned him first place in the professional category for the third consecutive year.
This year’s Chalk and Cheers winners are:
| Professional | Amateur | Student | |
| 1st Place | Joseph Christensen | Kyoko Pleet | Alana Mogel |
| 2nd Place | Jamie Okazaki | Brandi Alexander | Abigail Larson |
| 3rd Place | Debra Giuffrida | Destiny Piel | Kallee Ford |
People’s Choice Award: Destiny Piel (Amateur)
Best 3D Piece: Kyoko Pleet (Amateur)
Best Use of Color: Connie Naill (Amateur)
In addition to the art contest, for the first time ever, Chalk and Cheers featured a “Cheers for Charity” beer tasting, presented by Horse Trailer Hideout. Beer tasters received (4) 4oz tastings of a local craft beer that they could enjoy as they strolled the park and viewed the chalk art.
Free to attend and open to the public, Chalk & Cheers also offered several all-ages activities including an Upside-Down Room photo activation, rock wall, bungee jump, sports and games inflatables, digital caricature artists, a 20-ft. interactive coloring wall, raffle, and a craft tent where kids flexed their creative muscles with a canvas painting activity. Attendees also enjoyed music, live entertainment and food and beverages from a number of popular local food trucks including Alpha Dawg, Rockin’ Reeds Pizza and Joy Pop.
Chalk & Cheers also featured a tented arts and craft fair with more than 30 local artisans and vendors showcasing and selling their creative offerings including everything from intricate macrame to hand-crafted jewelry.
Chalk and Cheers 2021 benefits Skye Serves: the community’s ongoing charitable outreach program. Through the sale of raffle tickets and with the first-ever, “Cheers for Charity” beer tasting, the event raised more $2,000.
Bringing the Skye Canyon community together to celebrate art, family, friendship and fun, Chalk & Cheers 2021 was a rousing success.