Hands on Main Street
Folks of all ages mark up downtown sidewalks during Chalk It Up!

Dawson Bowers couldn't remember exactly what the image of Marines raising the American flag at Iwo Jima looked like, but his chalk drawing of the famous event in American history was one of 150 works of art created on

Cabell Brand, 12, shows off the chalk on his hand as he takes part in the annual Chalk it Up! on Main Street. (PATRICK SULLIVAN/TIMES-NEWS)

Chalk It Up! 2005 results Winners 5 and under • Jericho Thomas • Eliza Barber • Tristan Ladika • Quinn Ladika • Valerie Gessler Winners 6-8 years old • Mara Cobb • Kelly Knott • Hayley Hawkins • Katie Henderson • Sara Hines Winners 9-12 years • Delia Hines • Anna Rose Trevillian • Emily Patterson • Connor Nevel • Caleb Hughes • Melissa Malteis Winners 13-20 years old • Lauren Lampley • Beverly Russell • Cody Hughes • Sharon Hucksmeyer • Bethany Gessler Winners 21 & over • Zelle McCarthy • Yoriko Russell • Skip Marsden • Margaret Marsden • Pam Gessler Charity Winners • Joanna Collier • Cindy Bock Professional Winner • Katherine Hughes-- $100 prize, donated by Touchstone Gallery Evidence of Yesterday Theme Winner • Beverly Russell-- $100 prize, donated by The Portrait Source

downtown Hendersonville sidewalks during the 9th annual Chalk It Up! event.

"That's pretty good I guess," the 13-year-old from Columbus, Ga. said, as he studied the finished product in front of the Skyland Arts Cinema. "I didn't have a picture to go by."

Bowers and other artists of all ages spent a couple of hours Saturday morning transforming sidewalk squares into outdoor mini-museums, being creative and having fun at the same time. He said his love of history was the reason for his choice of subject matter.

"I'm really into World War II stuff," he said, grinning.

History was an important part of this year's Chalk It Up!, since the theme was tied to the 100th anniversary of the historic courthouse on Main Street. Sidewalk drawings did not specifically have to depict the courthouse or Henderson County history, but they did have to depict a historical event or person.

But not every drawing had a theme tied to history. Jack Crowley, of Louisville, Ky., dedicated his drawing to one of his favorite rock groups, KISS. The rock band is known for wearing the white Kabuki makeup. His drawing also features another person famous for wearing makeup, Ronald McDonald.

"I'm a big fan of KISS, so I thought I would draw them and I had an empty space so I put him (Ronald McDonald) in it," the 13-year-old said. "It's fun."

The contest featured categories for ages 5 and under, 6 to 8 years old, 9 to 12 years old, 13 to 20 years old, 21 and over, professional and charity. There were five winners in each age category and local merchants have donated the prizes for those winner. The top winner in the professional category received a $100 prize. Winners in the charity category each receive a $50 U.S. Savings Bond.

Narnia Studios owner Barbara Hughes, who sponsors the contest, said this year's event was one of the best.

"It was probably the smoothest one ever," she said. "There were very few cancellations and it didn't rain. I think the artists are really planning more and striving harder to do the best that they can do because it really shows in the quality that comes out. We had some spectacular drawings this year."

Leigh Kelley
Times-News Staff Writer
leigh.kelley@hendersonvillenews.com