Hoopers Island, Maryland – “They don’t realize the beauty of the island in Dorchester County. They stop at Blackwater Preserve and the beautiful Harriet Tubman Museum. If they go just a few miles down, there’s more.” You’ll see a lot of art and culture,” said Kelly Ellis Neal, owner of the bungalow.
The power of chalk has given new meaning to Dorchester County art. The first Hoopers Island Chalk Art Festival made a bold statement.
The event included many local vendors, food and live entertainment sponsored by the Dorchester Center for the Arts and Bungalow. Instead, you are here to see two days of magic and creativity happening before your very eyes.” Dorchester Center for the Arts Community Arts Coordinator Melissa Cooperman said:
Six artists from all over the country used this medium to create colorful masterpieces.
We spoke with Lori Antoinette from Los Angeles, California, who founded the group Chalk Mafia. She says festivals like this are growing in popularity and originated in Europe. “It’s supposed to be just a temporary art form. It’s really performance art, so come see an artist do it,” Antoinette said.
“When people walk by and they feel happy, that’s the story.
Resident artist Ed Krell created ‘The Mural’ on the grounds of the Bungalow on Hoppers Island.
He also lost his best friend 81 in that fight, so the event was held to raise awareness about mental health issues. I thought it was really because he was suffering from mental illness and no one knew how to contact him,” Krell said.
“Like a balloon on a string. Once you let go of that balloon, you can’t get it back. That’s how we humans are. You need someone to hold you.”
But the people we spoke to say art has a purpose greater than itself. We make it an experience,” says Krell.
Organizers say the artwork created over the weekend will be auctioned at the Dorchester Center of the Arts in January.
The goal is said to be to make the event even bigger and better next year.
