Tacoma Urbanist
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Jul. 10, 2009 at 12:17am
The Best Chalk Artist Today Wins a Computer at Frost Park
THE RETURN OF FROST PARK FRIDAY LUNCH CHALK CHALLENGE... 12 noon - 1 pm Today is the weekly chalk off competition at Frost Park located at 9th and Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma at noon.
THE PRIZE FOR THE CHALKIE VICTOR : A computer and other fantastic prizes.
Living Through the Next Ten Years...
"[guessing] neither progress nor conservatism because there's nothing left to conserve and no direction in which to progress. So what you get is transition. Transition to nowhere."
~ Bruce Sterling 2009
Friday, July 10
Larry Frost Memorial Park
Downtown Tacoma, WA 98402
1 hour. free chalk. community art challenge. win prize(s)!
Corporate Sponsorship
this weeks episode is made possible by the free thinking TACOMA ATHEISTS with a charitable donation of a $40 DOLLAR gift card to Tacoma's only CROWN BAR (see http://www.tacomaatheists.com/archives/1729) BUT THAT IS NOT ALL as a special bonus the winner shall receive a brand new MACKINTOSH COMPUTER iMAC (circa 2004? see http://i.feedtacoma.com/Thorax%20O'Tool/good-home-computer-needs-new/) This is the very same computer our very own MAYOR BILL BAARSMA used once to send a turgid email to the Mayor of Seattle. GUARANTEED! BUT WAIT RIGHT THERE PARTNER!!! THERE'S MORE!!!!!! This Friday we celebrate the birth of chalking zealot PATRICIA MENZIES. She will have cinnamon buns for anyone so inclined. EAT A BUN FOR VICTORY!
check in with feedtacoma.com for LIVE, FULL COVERAGE!
* * SPOILER ALERT * *
last weeks BEST ILLUSTRATOR IN THE UNIVERSE winner: Adam the Alien!
Prize: Mystery Science Theater 3000 COMPLETE DVD set Vol. 4
Sponsor: Cartoonists League of Absurd Washingtonians (The CLAW)!
see photos:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/774718@N22/pool/
History:
http://www.holisticforgeworks.com/chalk/ frost park on twitter:http://twitter.com/FrostParkVoting For A Winner
Please vote for your favorite chalk art entry in the comment section below. Explaining why you voted for a particular entry may add more meaning.
Each person/avatar gets one vote. Votes will be accepted until midnight on Friday after which the winner will be declared. Votes will be accepted starting at 1:00 p.m.
For more information see:
Tacoma Chalk Off Cumulative Scoreboard
comments [66] | posted under tacoma
Comments
 by Erik on 7/10/2009 @ 12:25am | Former councilmember Bill Evans said he might stop by. That would be cool. |
 by ElectricElliot on 7/10/2009 @ 12:41am | Triple sweet. |
 by Thorax O'Tool on 7/10/2009 @ 2:02am | It's more like circa 1999. |
 by nigelzfinch on 7/10/2009 @ 6:31am | mac would be cool... and anything would be an upgrade to a 10 year old blue screen of death dell! An ol artist would be a fool to miss this. No excuses! |
 by KevinFreitas on 7/10/2009 @ 6:49am | Looks to be a great day with some great prizes available (thanks Atheists and Thorax!). Weather should be stellar but wear a hat or sunscreen out there. See y'all at noon!
Oh, and especially for anyone new but really for all chalkers, make sure to sign your name clearly on your piece so everyone knows who you are when posting pictures of your work for voting. |
 by Mark Monlux on 7/10/2009 @ 6:59am | I know what I'm going to draw! Beware All! Bu wa ha ha ha ha! Hey! Where is the Chalk Off Scoreboard for this year? |
 by Dave_L on 7/10/2009 @ 8:26am | I'll be working up in Issaquah today and can't make it. But I'll drive by later. I'm sorry I've been terrible the last few weeks at getting down to FP to clean the walls. I could use some help spearheading that if someone else is more available than I, and can fetch water from Scout's, if Kevin has the key.
I wish I still had my Timex/Sinclair computer to donate as a prize. |
 by Joel 413 on 7/10/2009 @ 11:45am | I'm working in Seattle today as well, and am unable to make it this week :(
@Dave_L we need to coordinate better, yes! There's an RR gallery there that needs some attention, but now I almost don't want to wash it off! |
by KevinFreitas on 7/10/2009 @ 1:47pm | Here are my pics of the entries as of 1pm:
by Electric Elliot 
by Jim and Patricia 
by unknown 
by Van 
by Andrea 
by Mark 
by Thorax 
by Adam the Alien 
by Stowe 
by Brian Bartlebaugh More over at KFnet Happy Birthday to Patricia and great job everyone! Plenty of happy people walking by enjoying the art and I'm sure will be after we leave. I gotta vote Stowe for his amazing shark. The detailing is incredible and I really want his kids to get the use of that Mac up for grabs today. |
by Thorax O'Tool on 7/10/2009 @ 2:16pm | The shark is pretty slick, but I like my robot, dammit. I vote for me because I like robots way more than sharks. Sharks=Cool Robots=Very Cool And for sure we need to coordinate cleanup. Anyone got a pressure washer? I got a truck to move it with... |
 by NineInchNachos on 7/10/2009 @ 2:31pm | amazing shark. Nice 3D robot. Nice circuit diagram. Really like the plate spinner too. Sorry I missed everyone! |
by Thorax O'Tool on 7/10/2009 @ 2:35pm | Where were you, RR?
The throngs of people in the crowd were raising their voices in solidarity and mourning once it was realized you were not present. The weeping and gnashing of teeth would move even the cold steel heart of Robot 581 |
by nigelzfinch on 7/10/2009 @ 2:39pm | Ooops. Apparently nigelzfinch (Van) forgot to sign his finch on skateboard so it piggybacked on the work beneath it - her work ( "keep on track" - "777" ?) therefore got Van's name on it too. Sorry 'bout that Kevin. Only the finch is van. And van is bad, bad, boy! Nigel will punish him for you. |
by KevinFreitas on 7/10/2009 @ 2:39pm | I also wanted to give Thorax kudos on his piece. Best one to day, imho. Great illustrative style! |
by NineInchNachos on 7/10/2009 @ 2:53pm | surprise 'company appreciation party' choking on 2 stroke exhaust fumes at indoor go cart tract. I admit I was outside my comfort zone but it was interesting playing pole-position with my physical body. |
by ElectricElliot on 7/10/2009 @ 2:54pm | Great white, hands down. I vote Stowe. |
by NineInchNachos on 7/10/2009 @ 2:54pm | HAPPY to see Stowe and Andrea back though. How cool is that? |
by NineInchNachos on 7/10/2009 @ 2:56pm | I think Mark Monlux crossed the line with his obscene chalk entry. Socked! He was our most wholesome claw member. |
 by jamesstoweart on 7/10/2009 @ 2:57pm | I am breaking an often broken personal karma rule and voting for my shark. I really want that iMac for my kids... it would be perfect for them.
In fact, if I win I'm willing to give the Crown bar gift certificate to the 2nd place runner up. I'd keep the title though... cause that is where the real treasure lies. Anyway...I digress. VOTE FOR SHARK... AND IT WON'T EAT YOU. |
by NineInchNachos on 7/10/2009 @ 2:58pm | Hey and make sure you catch the first episode of TIME SHOWER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDI-zSd1fMA |
 by thriceallamerican on 7/10/2009 @ 3:03pm | surprise 'company appreciation party' choking on 2 stroke exhaust fumes at indoor go cart tract.
Ha. I did that as a work function once. I could physically feel the brain cells dying. |
by nigelzfinch on 7/10/2009 @ 3:04pm | James, Nigel says he'll put his head in the shark's mouth if you let him have the imac instead of the "Crown!" |
 by NEAL on 7/10/2009 @ 3:05pm | Andrea.
|
by NineInchNachos on 7/10/2009 @ 3:19pm | Yeah big announcement was with the new tax credits available Artifex is going to move forward renovating the 1888 building! We're moving to top floor, and the two street level floors will be rented out. |
 by TacomaAtheist on 7/10/2009 @ 3:24pm | I vote Andrea's death ray pothole maker. Totally. |
 by daydreamer on 7/10/2009 @ 3:27pm | I really like Thorax's best, but I am voting for the shark since Stowe wants the computer so much. Good luck Stowe! |
by Mark Monlux on 7/10/2009 @ 3:36pm | As much as I enjoy Stowe's shark, I believe that Thorax's Robot is closer to this week's theme of ALIENS. I vote for Thorax's Robot because they are Very Cool!  Taste of Elliot  But Mark is ever so yummy! |
 by itsbooyer on 7/10/2009 @ 3:37pm | Great entries this week by everyone. It's between Stowe and Andrea...I'll vote Stowe. |
by Thorax O'Tool on 7/10/2009 @ 3:37pm | 
Stowe, if you had emailed me before Wednesday, 6am you could have just had the machine. Anyway, If I win you can still have the iMac. It's got an 80 gig HDD with Panther on it. So your kids will like it. |
 by Darkain on 7/10/2009 @ 3:39pm | Hey thar!! My pics are now up. :) Click on any pic to see the full gallery. You can also follow my photo posting activity via Twitter: @DarkainCOM
AND SPEAKING OF VOTING!! Please vote for me over at the "My Favorite Photo (I've Ever Taken)" contest!! - repost.me/fw www.darkain.com/gallery/2314_Tacoma_Side... 
 |
by Erik on 7/10/2009 @ 3:54pm | I was set to vote for Stowe, but Andrea's piece looks impressive on film. Tough choice. Via Darkain:  www.darkain.com/gallery/2314_Tacoma_Side... |
by nigelzfinch on 7/10/2009 @ 4:10pm | Yeah, put me down for Andrea's entry. And thanks for the photo update Darkain. |
by Zanna on 7/10/2009 @ 4:30pm | (I vote for Thorax) Thanks to Thorax for telling me how to post!
The Shark makes me wonder if it went up against the Happy Whale who would win? ... We will never know.  |
by NineInchNachos on 7/10/2009 @ 4:56pm | oh the poor happy whale. (s)he never saw it coming. |
by Thorax O'Tool on 7/10/2009 @ 5:48pm | Whale for sure would win. It's rainbow of happiness would smother poor jaws under wholesome goodness in quantities so large the FDA would have to get involved. |
by Thorax O'Tool on 7/10/2009 @ 5:50pm | You know, I think I'd like Stowe's kids to have that computer.
I hereby, in an unprecedented action, officially change my vote to Stowe. |
by NineInchNachos on 7/10/2009 @ 5:54pm | sayWA!? |
by Erik on 7/10/2009 @ 5:59pm | Tonight is going to be close. I vote for Andrea's chalk entry. |
by Thorax O'Tool on 7/10/2009 @ 6:10pm | This week is all crazy! RR absent, me voting for someone else, the return of Andrea and Stowe, giant robots and sharks!
Sometimes I just love this town! |
 by Adam the Alien on 7/10/2009 @ 7:59pm | I have to vote for Andrea for taking the alien theme, making it locally relevant, and for utilizing her drawing to express something that was on her mind. When she arrived at the park, she was ranting and raving about the evils of the potholes, and then ended the conversation by saying she was going to go take out her frustration on the sidewalk. As most people know, I am quite fond of this method. Chalk art is a wonderful form of therapy and self-expression. Plus, I believe i stated many times last year that I effing LOVE epic amounts of black. And that is a lot of black. Though it does seem like there was more black in person than in the photos. |
 by jcbetty on 7/10/2009 @ 8:59pm | Andrea's piece was briilaintly bitchin', and I love the props from the alien, whose work is getting stronger and stronger weekly (sorry, I've been a day late and a dollar short on voting, but I do see the goings-on!)
I have to say, thought, ftw, I saw Thorax's piece and went, oooooh! (it was very futurama-reminiscent and made me happy.) --Then I saw Stowe's piece and went, OOOOOOOOOH! ---the shark is, like... dude. crazy-cool-good. --And then I saw Thorax's goodwill toward kids o' Stowe and have to say I'm in a dead-heat tie for the both of 'em. |
 by Earthdaughter on 7/10/2009 @ 9:23pm | Great work again this week! Love you folks! Talent, humor, warped minds! What else could anyone want?
I do think it's a bit odd, though, to be deciding the winning art piece based on who you want to win the prize. I'm perfectly happy to see the Mac go to Stowe's kids, but I'm voting for Andrea's alien explanation for the "traffic calming devices" that have been appearing on STW. |
by NineInchNachos on 7/10/2009 @ 9:24pm | I vote for stowe. Lets hear it for photo realism in chalk! |
by NineInchNachos on 7/10/2009 @ 9:27pm | my second place vote goes to the plate spinner entry. I believe Stowe is just exploiting an emotional appeal to gain votes which is perfectly legal part of frost park chalk voting; part of the fun. You can say whatever it takes to get votes. the tweet skateboard is pretty bitchin. |
 by Courtney on 7/10/2009 @ 9:45pm | I vote for Stowe. Not because of the computer but because I think it's his best yet. |
 by tacomachickadee on 7/10/2009 @ 10:19pm | I vote Andrea ... though I was tempted by many. |
 by Libby on 7/10/2009 @ 10:30pm | STOWE gets my VOTE. I VOTE for STOWE. Kevin told me it is very important to include the word VOTE in my VOTE for STOWE. |
 by DumpsterDivingDiva on 7/10/2009 @ 10:58pm | Hmmmmmmmmmm!
Stowe, Andrea,Stowe, Andrea,Stowe, Andrea,Stowe, Andrea, Dang! Ok! I VOTE for Andrea. Very nice work from all the chalkies. You all have a great weekend! Deidre |
by Dave_L on 7/10/2009 @ 11:02pm | I had to cheat and look it up, but looks like the heart of the circuit is a photocell, and it sure was a good day for it. So many nice entries. It's so hard and painful to vote for just one because the whole collection gets my vote. Spinning plates was nice. Adam is stronger week-by-week, as well as Thorax. I'm leaving some out.. I really like Andrea's a LOT. But I really like Stowe's, too, and he makes a compelling reason that I can't ignore. My VOTE is for STOWE. RR, I think at my work we looked at part of your building renovation, but regardless of if we're involved, congratulations! (And thanks for the mention in the vid.) P.S. - I hope to see some of you again participating in the Iron Artist competition at the end of this month. (And yo, over there, Deidre!) |
 by Erik Hanberg on 7/10/2009 @ 11:26pm | I agree. Tough choices. I'd like to cast my vote for Stowe. IT's a really great shark. |
 by UnstableArt on 7/10/2009 @ 11:26pm | I gotta vote for my favorite: Adam's craven, alien puppeteer of chalk art. |
 by kaotix on 7/10/2009 @ 11:39pm | My vote is for Andrea. Though the shark nearly won me over. Sorry Stowe. |
by Erik on 7/11/2009 @ 12:30am | Tough choices. I'd like to cast my vote for Stowe. IT's a really great shark.
Nice. Do you like it enough to cast your vote for Stowe's piece? |
by KevinFreitas on 7/11/2009 @ 8:21am | Well, it looked like a tight race but Stowe pulled out the win this week! Here's how the votes stacked up:
Stowe 11 Andrea 8 Thorax 2 Adam 1 Even if you don't count Thorax's change up or Erik's "I'd like..." Stowe would've edged Andrea out by 1 vote still. Great work out there everyone and congrats to all the beautiful chalk artists for helping bring a little art and life to downtown Tacoma each week. |
by Erik Hanberg on 7/11/2009 @ 8:52am | Oops. My "I like" was not intended to be conditional. Yes! Vote cast for Stowe! |
by UnstableArt on 7/11/2009 @ 1:27pm | Congrats Stowe! I didn't expect to even be close to the win this week. A rather close one! |
by jamesstoweart on 7/11/2009 @ 1:31pm | Woo Hoo! I hope my kids dig the iMac. It is good to introduce brand snobbery early.
And true to my word I'd like to make sure the $40 gift certificate to the Crown Bar goes to Andrea. As usual she always gives me a solid run for my money... it is only fair she gets a gift certificate equivalent. Thanks everyone for voting for me (whether it was for the art or the obvious/y brazen emotional ploy involving children). I love coming out to the park every week and hanging out with other artists. I'm glad I broke my Frsot park dry spell. |
by Thorax O'Tool on 7/11/2009 @ 1:40pm | Hey Stowe... email me at: thoraxotool at gmail dot com
to arrange transfer of the iMac. I'll dust 'er off and get all the goodies together. It has the original grape keyboard, 1 button mouse as well as all the OS9 discs. Right now I have Panther on it, and the new HDD is 80 gigs. I upped the ram from 64mb to 160mb as well... it's about as pimped out as an iMac G3 could ever be. I think your kids will like it. |
by Erik on 7/11/2009 @ 5:17pm | Congrats Stowe!
What a great week for prizes. |
by Adam the Alien on 7/13/2009 @ 12:53am | Okay, so the Crown Bar gift certificate goes to Andrea, Stowe?
What about the backpack? Apparently there was a backpack donated with the gift certificate, as well. And since I ended up the temporary guardian of the certificate and backpack, I need to know who the Hell I'm giving this stuff to. |
by Erik on 7/13/2009 @ 1:32pm | Work for Chalk Artists??
From the Art List Server: Laurie from the Gig Harbor Art Festival wants to hire about 3 artists to create art on the sidewalk/cement area of the festival. Want to earn a few bucks for a few hours on Saturday? You're interested now, right? Do you have photos of your previous sidewalk art? Phone pictures are ok, just need something to show her. e-mail Laurie at bldadurham@aol.com or call me "Warren" at 253-444-2341 |
by Dave_L on 7/15/2009 @ 1:13pm | Anyone up for washing the chalk tonight or tomorrow? Perhaps Kevin-with-the-Scout-key for water access? Just askin. It was a pain driving buckets of water down, and I don't want to bug India Mahal again (though they've been gracious). |
by Thorax O'Tool on 7/15/2009 @ 7:10pm | Is the "scout key" shaped like a Plus sign? (+)
I got one of those... |
by Dave_L on 7/15/2009 @ 7:59pm | I mean the key that "Scout" gave Kevin for this purpose, since she has a water spigot available a block away, behind the locked front door..... But we do have to check that water spigot that's somewhere around Frost Park. (Well, I guess her key could be shaped like a plus-sign; I dunno.) |
by Thorax O'Tool on 7/15/2009 @ 8:03pm | Get in with the city on this one?
I mean, you'd think they'd be all over giving us H2O so we can clean the park so they don't have to. |
by NineInchNachos on 7/15/2009 @ 8:28pm | wish they'd fix the fountain |
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A ongoing conversation to make Tacoma a better to live and work through better urban design.
See my downtown Tacoma and neighborhood pictures of coffee, food, people, art, urban blight and Frost Park Chalk Off events.
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