Alumni, student to compete in Columbus Arts Festival chalk competition

The Greater Columbus Arts Council is bringing a new medium to the Columbus Arts Festival this year: chalk.

Sixteen artists are set to participate in a chalk art competition (June 6–8 on Washington St. along the Scioto River), including four CCAD alumni and one current student.

Advertising & Graphic Design junior Candice Oates isn't new to the chalk art scene—she's participated in Chalk the Block at Easton Town Center for the past two years. In September, she was awarded third-runner-up for her pixelated self-portrait.

“I guess chalk is a bit more creative freedom,” Oates said in an interview with Columbus Alive magazine. “I used to do a lot more fine-art stuff, but I really haven’t since I’ve been in college. My piece at Chalk the Block last year was just, like, this giant self-portrait. I don’t really get to do things like that anymore.”

CCAD alumni participating in the competition include Hilary Frambes (Illustration 1992), Lea Gray (Fine Arts 2004), Adam Crum (Fine Arts 2006), and Katie Arbaugh (Advertising & Graphic Design 2011).

The 2014 Columbus Arts Festival is June 6–8 at the Downtown Riverfront. Festival hours are Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Oates is from Westerville, OH (Central High School), Frambes is from Plain City, OH (Lake Mary High School), Gray is from Columbus, OH (Sidney High School), Crum is from Columbus, OH (Avon Lake High School), and Arbaugh is from Reynoldsburg, OH (Reynoldsburg High School).